JILL'S P.O.V

Isang araw pa lang akong nahiwalay sa kambal ay parang hindi ko na kaya. I badly want to see them. Hindi sila maalis sa aking isip dahil sobrang gusto ko na silang makita. Gusto ko silang tawagan pero naalala kong wala pala akong dalang cellphone.

I groaned and use my left hand to support myself up. Umupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga sa kama. I look at the dark sky outside. Nagsilitawan na ang mga between pati na rin ang bilog na buwan. Gabi na pero hindi ko mapilit ang aking sarili na matulog dahil sa pagiisip sa kambal. Tumayo ako at lumabas ng kwarto. With the light coming from the moon it was enough to be my guide. Madilim at tahimik ang buong paligid. Tanging ang hampas ng hangin at tunog ng hangin lang ang naririnig ko sa buong paligid.

Binaybay ko ang corridor upang hanapin ang kwarto ni Tyrone. Sabi niya sa akin Janina na ang silid na aking tinutulugan ay ang Master's bedroom. So to give me my privacy he choose to stay in another room. I told him na ako nalang ang lumipat dahil nakakahiyang siya ang may-ari ng kwarto at siya sa ang magpaparaya. But he insisted that I should stay in his room kaya wala akong nagawa kun'di ang sumunod.

Mabuti na lang at mayroon akong nahanap na silid na hindi kalayuan ng sa akin. Pero hindi ako sigurado kung nasa loob ba nito si Tyrone. Kumatok ako ng ilang beses pero wala akong nakuhang sagot kaya napilitan akong pihitin ang siradura. Pagbukas ko nang pinto ay bumungad sa akin ang madilim na kwarto. Nakasara lahat ng kurtina kaya waking liwanag ang nakakapasok.

Pumasok ako sa loob habang tinatawag ang kan'yang pangalan. Para akong bulag na kumakapapa sa dilim. Maging ang liwanag na nagmumula sa buwan ay hindi nakapasok sa loob ng kwarto.

I kept on calling his name but I still didn't receive any response and I was about to leave when I stumble on something hard. It was too late when I realize that it was the bed that blocked my way. I was not prepared when my body wobble and fall on the bed. Bumagsak ako sa matigas na bagay. Mabuti nalang at kaagad kong nasuportahan ang aking katawan gamit ang kaliwa kong kamay at hindi tuluyang tumama dito dahil yari ang aking sugat pag nagkagan'on.

I was about to get up nang mayroong braso ang pumalibot sa aking bewang. I heared someone grunted underneath me. Napalunok ako nang marealise ang nangyari.

"What are you doing?" he asked with his husky voice.

I tried getting up but I can't fully support myself because of my injured chest. Gusto kong mapatampal sa aking noo dahil sa paghahanap nagawa. I could have brought a flashlight so that I won't stumble on things.

"I was looking for you and... Uhm... I ended up falling on your bed because I can't see a thing. Wala kasi kahit kaunting liwanag dito sa kwarto mo." I tried explaining.

I was afraid that he would misunderstand me for sneaking into his room intentionally. It would be really embarrassing.

"Why are you looking for me this late? You should be asleep."

"It's just quarter to ten so it's not that late and if it's alright, can I borrow your phone?"

Kinapalan ko na ang aking mukha na manghiram ng cellphone. Sunod-sunod na ang pabor ko sa kanya. But I can't sleep knowing that my twins are missing me.

Inalis niya ang isa niyang braso mula sa pagkakapulupot sa aking bewang at mayroong inabot sa side table. Nalaman ko na ang cellphone pala niya ang kanyang kinuha na binuksan niya ito at umilaw.

"Here, but when you're done doing what you want to do make sure to sleep. It's not good for wounded people sleeping late at night. Understand?"

Tumango ako dahil wala naman akong problema sa mga sinabi niya. Kinuha ko ang cellphone mula sa kan'yang kamay nang inabot niya ito sa akin.

I tried moving to get up but his arms are still around my waist making it impossible to happen. I felt something poking my stomach as I wriggle in his embrace. My eyes went wide in realization. I look at him awkardly with my flushed face.

"C-can you release me now?"

I can feel his intent stare even though I can't see him because of the darkness. I nibble my lower lip nervously. Nang sa wakas ay inalis na niya ang kanyang mga braso sa pagkapulupot sa aking bewang at nakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag. Tinulungan niya akong makatayo nang napansin nahirapan ako sa pagtayo.

"Ibabalik ko na lang ang cellphone mo 'pag tapos na ako."

Tumalikod ako at tinungo ang direksyon papunta sa pintuan. Maingat kong sinara ang pinto at tinahak ang korridor. Mabilis kong sinara ang pinto ng aking kwarto at napasandal dito. The resounding beat of my heart made me out of breath. I grasp my heart and took a deep breath.

That was one hell of awkwardness.

Umupo ako sa ibabaw ng kama at binuksan ang cellphone. It's a good thing that there's no password because I don't want to go there facing another awkwardness again.

I dialled uncle's number and press the call to button. But I went confused when I saw that his number was saved in Tyrone's phone. Nakasave dito ang number niya kasabay ang pangalan na 'Tito Carter'.

'Magkakilala sila?'

Naalala kong sinabi noon ni uncle na isang importanteng tao ang nagbigay sa kan'ya ng invitation noon para sa charity ball. He's also saying that the person was his partner and from Tyrone's explanation i totally get it now. What he meant when he told me that he's a partner is about the organization.

Just after a few ring he picked up the phone.

"Iho, do you need something? Tell me right away so that I can order someone. I'm in middle of my sleep when you called you know?" narinig ko pa siyang humikab sa kabilang linya.

"Uncle, this is me. Please hand your phone to the twins. I badly miss them."  I said without beating around the bush.

Nagulat yata siya nang marinig ang boses ko dahil may narinig akong malakas na kalabog. Nahulog siguro siya sa kama dahil sa gulat.
He groaned in frustration and it made me chuckle.

"Right. I almost forgot that you're with Tyrone. How are feeling? Is your wound that deep? You made us worried. Red was blaming himself for what happened to you. Gladly Tyrone called me saying that you're with him and that he's taking care of you."

If uncle didnt mention it I would not remember about Red. Lalong mas mag-aalala ang isang 'yon. Base on his personality it's likely that he would blame himself if something would happen to me. He's the one who's with me during that time and he let me do what I want because of my stubbornness.

"Maayos na po ang pakiramdam ko. You don't have to worry about me. Tyrone's taking good care of me. Can you hand the phone now to the twins?"

There's some shuffling sound and creaking of the door.

"Why are you in a hurry? You're lucky because they are still awake. If not, you need to wait until tomorrow because there's no way that I am going to wake them from their peaceful sleep," he paused. "Mga apo, your mother's in the phone and she wants to speak with you."

After a few seconds, Tiarah squealed from the other line. "Mommy! Kuya and I miss you! Bakit 'di ka umuwi po? Mommy when are you going home? We miss your pancake."

Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Hearing her voice alone made my day.

"Ang pancake lang ang namiss niyo? How about me? Hindi niyo 'ko namiss?"

"We miss you the most, mommy. When are you coming back?" ani Crown.

Napangiti ako nang marinig ang boses niya. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking sugat at napahawak dito. How I wish to get back immediately but with my wound it'll be impossible.

"Sorry baby. Probably I will get back within this week. But don't worry I'll call you everyday. Be good to your grandpa and grandma, babies. Huwag niyo sila bigyan ng sakit sa ulo."

"Yes mommy." magkasabay nilang bigkas.

Pagkatapos kong kausapin ang kambal at kumbinsihin silang matulog ay nag-usap pa kami saglit ni uncle. Pinaalalahanan niya akong magpagaling para makauwi na ako kaagad. Binaba ko na ang cellphone pagkatapos naming mag-usap.

Humiga ako sa kama ngunit nakatapak pa rin ang aking mga paa sa sahig. I held the phone and randomly open some applications. Wala akong planong bumalik sa kwarto ni Tyrone at muling gumawa ng kagagahan. It'll be better if I'll return his phone tomorrow.

Dahil nawala ang aking antok nung makausap ko ang kambal ay naglaro nalang ako ng homescapes. Naaaliw ako sa laro kasi the rooms that are yet to be unlocked made me motivated. Gusto kong malampasan ang bawat level para makaunlock ako ng bago mga task at nang gumanda ang mansion ni Austin. But unfortunately, after playing for a few minutes I was stuck at a certain level and my life was used up. I need to wait for half an hour before I can play again. Annoyed, I exited the game and opened the gallery instead. I would be intruding Tyrone's privacy. Pero hindi ko nalang masyadong inisip dahil hindi rin naman niya malalaman.

There's no much inside the gallery. Isa lang rin ang album sa loob ng gallery at wala nang iba. Wala akong  na litrato niya sa loob nito and not even a single picture of his fiancee. Halos lahat ng mga nakita ko ay mga litrato ng mga papeles. I got tired scrolling after some time but when I was about to exit the application something caught my attention.

The image was captured almost five years ago and it means that Tyrone's phone is old. Pero hindi ito halata dahil mukha pa rin itong bago sa paningin ko.

Pinindot ko ang litrato upang makita ko ito ng mas maayos. Muntik na akong atakihin sa puso dahil sa mukha ni Crown na bumungad sa akin. But Crown looked slightly younger than the one on the picture. I tried pinching myself thinking that I am just hallucinating because I missed them so much.

But no. I was widely awake and I was not hallucinating. It's exactly Crown's face that I am staring at... Or not.

Maybe it's another person and he looked like Crown as the image was dated almost five years ago. But is it possible for someone to really look like another person even if they're not related by blood? I shook my head and swipe to see another image. It's giving me goosebumps, seriously.

But the next image made no help because it only took me aback. This is no coincidence anymore. Just how in the world did my face ended in this phone?

The woman who looked exactly just like me was holding two big size bear and a man who look like Tyrone was standing beside her holding a child in his arms. The child who have the same features as Crown.

I don't know how long did I stare at the photo. My imagination went wild and many possibilities was running inside my head. Everything's in turmoil. I am so confused.

Then... I felt it again for a second time this day. Tyrone's phone slip from my hand but I didn't bother picking it up as I was focused with different thing. The pain in my head was slowly getting stronger and I can only muffle a cry as I grasp my hair with my two hands. Images came flashing inside my head again. One after another. But time, it's vivid. Clearer.

Voices of a child and a man was calling me.
Scenes that seems so real started surfing into my head.

Everything feels very familiar. As if they are there all the time and only choose this day to show up. I tried recollecting myself and ignoring the pain.

Pero hindi ko kinaya ang sakit dahil unti-unti ay mas lalo lang itong tumindi. My eyes was slowly closing. Before I drifted into the dark abyss, I heard the door opened and someone entered the room.

...
(A/N: please bear with the errors. Advance Happy New Year ヾ(≧▽≦*)o.)