Chapter 20

Race

Marjorie's POV

"Don't cry! Hindi ikaw ang biktima rito!" Nanggagalaiti kong sigaw sa kaniya.

"Marianne, let's just chill for a bit. You need to rest first,'tsaka na natin ito pag-usapan," mahinahong utos sa akin ni Uncle Jomar. Ayoko mang gawin ay umalis na ako sa harapan nila para pumunta sa kuwarto ko.

Pagpasok ay agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko para tawagan si Lizette. Kung ako lang talaga ay ayokong palayasin si Avah rito para mabantayan kong maigi. Pero ang sabi ni Lizette sa akin, mas makikita namin ang mga kilos nila Avah kapag mayroong distansiya. Hindi masyadong malapit at hindi rin naman masyadong malayo. Tama lang para maobserbahan sila.

I still can't get off my mind the thought that there is something between Avah and Allen. Ano naman si Colleen? Where did she stands to all of this?

"Nagawa ko na, Lizette. Pero hindi ko alam kung papayag ba sila sa gusto ko," pagbabalita ko sa kaniya.

"Kung hindi sila pumayag, mayroong dahilan 'yan at yun ang aalamin natin kung sakali man," sagot naman ni Lizette mula sa kabilang linya.

"Mag-iingat ka palagi, Marjorie. May natutunugan man sila o wala, palagi kang mag-iingat sa mga ginagawa o sinasabi mo. Hindi puwedeng mapurnada ang plano natin," paalala niya sa akin na naiintindihan ko naman.

This is a one shot chance. If we failed to win this, then we'll be fvck up.

The line then ended. Just as I was about to put it back on the side table, tumunog ito, hudyat na mayroong mensahe.

From Ate B:

›Your sister is gaining conscious

From Ate B:

›kailan k b ul8 bi²sita d2?

Mag-rereply na sana ako nang maka-received ako ng panibagong message... galing kay Avah.

What's this? Sorry sa text? O pagmamakawa sa text? I was wearing a half smile because of the anticipation kung ano ang maaaring laman ng mensahe niya.

Binuksan ko iyon at nakitang video pala ang sinend niya. I played it without further ado. Baka confession naman na ang laman ng mensahe niya, it was a 3 minutes video showing... my sister dancing with a man... and it was not Allen, t-then they k-kissed?!

From Avah:

› baka lang naman kasi nakalimutan mo 'to, Marianne. Hindi naman sa binablackmail kita, pero parang medyo nakalimutan mo na kasi ang usapan natin.

From Avah:

›Your secret is safe with me as long as I get to live here, right?

What the ef?

Argh! She's really a witch.

So, that's the deal between them two?

Nagloloko ba talaga ang kapatid ko? No, hindi kami pinalaking ganun ni Nanay. She always reminds us before that if ever that we're in a relationship with someone, we must not disrespect them in any means. Kilala ko si Marianne, she will not do this kind of act. Masunurin siya kay Nanay.

From Avah:

› they left. Meet me at the pool area

At bakit ko siya susundin?

From Avah:

› I know you're still up. Let's do a bet. If you're interested with my proposition, get down here.

Iniwan ko ang cellphone ko sa side table at nagdesisyong bababa para pakinggan ang offer ni Avah. Bets were my forte. Palagi kaming nagpupustahan ni Marcus noon and I always won. So, I'll make sure that whatever Avah's challenge is... I will win it.

"What's the deal?" Tanong ko kaagad sa kaniya nang makita ko siyang nakaupo sa sun lounger.

Ngumisi siya at tumingin sa pool. "Two laps. If you'll win, I'll delete the video where you were kissing Adam, Allen's half brother," aniya sa akin.

Nagulat ako sa totoo lang but I did not let it show on my face. She'll take advantage of it, her favorite hobby. Taking advantage of everything that is in favor of her.

Sure, I can swim but this might be another test. Marianne can't swim.

Ngumisi ako sa kaniya, "You know I can't swim, right?"

Hindi pa rin natatanggal ang ngisi niya, "Really?"

And now, I am having second thoughts. That's what I know since we were kids, Marianne can't walk so basically she can't swim. Did she learn? Kaya na niyang maglakad ngayon, does it mean she can also swim now?

"We went to swimming lesson before, right? O nakalimutan mo na, Aria?" Nakangising tanong niya sa akin.

Wearing her pair of bathing suit and me still wearing my shirt and pants, we went down on the pool.

Well, I was once a member of the school's swimming team before, I did not won many competitions but I know I can ace this.

"Two laps, free style," she said while stretching her arms.

I did some stretching too. Natanto kong mabigat pala ang suot ko so I stopped and then decided to get off the pool so I can removed my pants and shirt.

"Bakit? Takot ka na?" nang-iinsultong tanong niya sa akin.

Ngumisi ako at saka mabilis na hinubad ang shirt ko. "Nah, it's unfair, you're prepared. Suot mo pa ang two piece mo na sinuot mo rin no'ng party mo."

Walang problema sa pagsusuot nang damit nang paulit ulit but I know she'll get pissed or offended by my remarks that's why I said it.

Inirapan niya ako kaya mahina naman akong napatawa. After removing my pants sinita ko si Avah.

"Bakit sa baba ka? Ang daya mo naman. Dito dapat sa taas ang simula."

Walang reklamo siyang umakyat. I continue doing some stretching for a warm up.

"On the count of three," aniya pagkaraan ng dalawang minuto.

I fell extra light today, kahit kagagaling ko lang sa hospital. Maybe because I like what's going to happen, the competition between me and Avah.

"One..."

"Two..."

Ano kayang gagawin niya sa akin mamaya? Hihilahin ang paa ko? Sasabunutan ako? O ilulunod ako?

"Three..."

Nauna siya nang kaunti sa pag-dive sa tubig pero nakahabol naman agad ako, I dived perfectly and then immediately reached the other end of the pool. Umikot ako sa ilalim ng tubig at mabilis ulit na lumangoy pabalik sa pinanggalingan namin.

Nang maka-abot ay agad kong itinaas ang isang kamay ko, tanda na nauna ako. I was happy, natalo ko si Avah.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay nakarating na rin siya. Naka-ahon na ako at dinampot ko na ang mga damit ko.

"I won. Delete the video," bilin ko kay Avah gaya ng napagkasunduan naming dalawa kanina.

"I forgot to say something," napahinto ako sa paglalakad at napatingin kay Avah na kaka-ahon lang mula sa pool.

Natawa pa siya ng bahagya. Wala akong pakialam sa sasabihin pa niya basta gagawin niya ang napag-usapan namin. Nanalo ako kaya buburahin niya ang video. Tinalikuran ko siya at astang papasok na sa loob ng bahay nang magsalita siya ulit.

"We went to a swimming lesson but you didn't pursue the sessions, right? You almost got drown the first day of the lesson and you wanted someone dear to you... to teach you how to swim. Paano ka natutong lumangoy, Marianne?" Mariin ang huling tanong sa akin ni Avah.

How stupid of me. Bakit ba nauto agad ako? At bakit wala 'to sa mga impormasiyon na ibinigay ni Lizette sa akin?

Nandidilim na ang paningin ko kay Avah but I don't want to do something to her na posibleng magamit niya laban sa akin. And then there, I saw her phone on the table near the sun lounger. Is she recording our match and conversation?

Mabilis akong naglakad para kunin ang cellphone niya. Hindi niya agad na-gets ang gagawin ko kaya naman hindi na niya ako naabutan pa para pigilan. Dinampot ko ang cellphone niya at ipinukpok sa mesang bakal bago inihagis sa swimming pool.

"There, clean!" Ani ko at saka nagpagpag ng kamay.

"Hindi ikaw si Marianne!" Sigaw pa niya pero binalewala ko na lang. Wala siyang ebedensiyang magpapatunay na hindi ako si Marianne.

"Sino ka?"

Guess what, b*tch? Marianne has a gorgeous twin sister and it's me, Marjorie Agoncillo.