Chapter 7

Dopple ganger

Allen's POV

"Yow, brother! How are you?" He greeted me, I smiled and greet him back. Then we did our brotherhood handshake.

"Who are you with?" I asked him while we take a sit on their sofa

"With our some mutual friends?" He answered in a question-like manner.

Napatawa ako sa sagot niya. Well, being in a fraternity or brotherhood gave us the popularity and the opportunity to gain "a lot" of friends. It's kinda irritating but I won't complain 'cause connections never been bad.

I was about to shoot another question when my phone rang.

"Was it the number 1 or the number 2?" Jerald asked jokingly.

I smiled at hin mischievously. "Number 1," I answered happily then got up from my sit.

"Yes, babe?"

"Hey, babe... are you already there?" She asked sweetly.

"Yeah. I just got here," well that's kinda a lie, I was already here for almost an hour before I bump into Jerald.

"Oh! I thought you are going to pick me up here at my place. Anyways, I gotta go. Wait for me outside!"

I was about to go outside when I felt the urge to take a sip first. Nauna pa kasi ang kuwentuhan namin ni Jerald kaysa mag-shot.
Palapit na ako sa bar counter nang mayroong nauna sa aking babae. Matangkad at pamilyar sa akin ang mukha.

Akala ko ba on the way pa lang siya?

Niyapos ko agad siya sa baywang at hinagkan sa pisngi. Mabuti na lang at wala si Coleen ngayon dito.

"Hi, babe! I thought you're still on your way here? I was about to wait for you outside the bar." Malambing na bulong ko sa kaniya.

I need to keep my role as her boyfriend. We're the great couple not just inside our school but for our family too, especially my family. They are a big connection, hindi ko siya puwedeng pakawalan o pabayaan, hindi namin puwedeng pakawalan ang pamilya nila.

She was stunned. My forehead furrowed especially when I inhaled her perfume, this is not her kind of perfume... but this... smells better than what she usually wears. Ah, I love the scent. I'm getting aroused just by inhaling her perfume mixed with her natural scent.

Oh, come on! What a really big tease-

"2 Jack Daniels!"

Marianne or a random girl? Got the bottles then purposely step on my shoes.

"Shit!" Double shit, men! My toes hurts and I was dumb for thinking that it was Marianne! My babe is just really on her way here. What is the effin fvck I am thinking?!

Pinagpawisan ako bigla. Nagbutil ang pawis mula sa noo ko hangang sa leeg. I need to calm down.

I wanted to move on easily. Gusto kong kalimutan na lang ang katangahan ko kanina but I can't help but to think carefully... she really looks like Marianne, maybe they have differences but all the more, they look exactly the same!

Marianne didn't told me that she has a twin. Or maybe she has but they were not together? Or was it her dopple ganger?

Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal na akong nakatayo, basta, nagulat na lang ako nang mayroong yumakap sa akin mula sa likod.

"I told you to wait for me outside!" Nakangusong reklamo sa akin ni Marianne.

"I was there," well it's lie again but I want to keep my clean image in her mind. "I just have the urge to take a sip. Akala ko matatagalan ka pa ng kaunti."

"Let's go! I really want to sit na para makapagpahinga saglit bago pa dumating sina Kia, Zaira and Coleen... alam mo naman ang mga yun, they are solid dancers!"

"You invited them?"

"Why? It's more fun kapag marami tayong magpaparty..."

Ah... so it's going to be the longest night of my life again? Longest night of restraining myself.

"Wala. I thought this is going to be our solo night out," I answered with a smile.

"Aww, you're really the sweetest, babe! What about let's just have a date tomorrow?"

"I would certainly love that!" Then I give a peck on her lips. She immediately blush. Well this is what I also like about her, she's so transparent with her emotions.

Hindi lang naman ako nasa tabi niya dahil sa pera at impluwensiya, she's also a great catch, a trophy I can brag and brag all over to my friends. She's one of my many possessions that a lot of guys envys to have.

We got what she want. A comfortable VVIP couch. She's sipping on her margarita when I remembered something.

"Hey, babe. I've got a question."

"Huh? If that's about math, I'll have to pass," she answered jokingly. I smiled at that but still continue.

"You're an only child, right?"

"Well, I had a sister but she's long gone now. I bet... it's been a year since she passed away. Why?"

"Nothing. Namalikmata lang siguro ako, baka akala ko lang na kamukha mo yung babae kanina..." kumumot bigla ang noo niya.

I plant a kiss on her upper right temple and then on her cheeks and lastly on her shoulder blades, "No, biggies, babe. My eyes and heart are only for you."

She smiled at me a little, maybe a little bit worried or troubled because someone caught my attention. I was about to shower her with more assuring words when someone greeted us cheerfully.

"Hi, guys! Are we missing something here?" It's Colleen and at her back are the other two girls friends.

Colleen is smiling sweetly but her eyes says otherwise. She's simply jealous again. I can't do anything about that, it's her choice, I didn't forced her to put up with this kind of arrangement.

"Hi, girls!" Marianne beamed at them. At least she's on her cheerful mode now.

_____________________

Marianne's POV

Tumayo ako para yakapin silang tatlo pero hindi pa rin naalis sa utak ko ang itinanong ni Allen. Did he just saw Marjorie?

Pero patay na sina Marjorie at Nanay!

Ang sabi nila noon sa akin ay namatay sila sa sunog. I even visited our old house, nakita ko mismo na halos naabo ang lahat. We were not able to get the remainings of Marjorie and Nanay kaya pinagawan ko na lang sila ng tombstone nila.

Malakas ang kutob ko sa nakita ni Allen. Marjorie is still alive.

Pasimple kong ipinalibot ang paningin ko sa buong club. Pakiramdam ko'y parang mayroong nakatitig sa akin at pinapanood ang bawat galaw ko. Halos manlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang likod ng isang babaeng mayroong hawak na tray. Inilapag niya yun sa isang bakanteng table sa sulok bago lumiko sa isang pasilyo. I need to go after her.

"Uh, I'll just go to the powder room," paalam ko sa mga kasama ko.

Allen was about to stand pero pinigilan ko siya, "Huwag na, babe. Kaya ko naman na, malapit lang naman.

Tumango lang siya sa akin at ngumiti, "Okay, bilisan mo, ha. I don't want to miss you so much."

Agad naman akong kinilig. He's really such a sweet talker.

Collen then raised her hand to call for a server. Umorder sila ng maraming alak and some snacks. Kinuha ko naman ang pagkakataon para umalis na. Pumunta ako sa direksiyong tinungo ng babae kanina.
Wala ng tao sa hallway, hindi na rin masyadong dinig ang malakas na tugtog mula sa stereo. Kinakabahan man ay nagpatuloy pa rin. She might be the answer to my questions right now.

Dahan-dahan ang paglalakad ko nang biglang mayroong humablot sa braso ko. Hindi pa ako nakakabawi sa pagkagulat ngunit mas nagulat ako sa nakita ko.

It is indeed her.

"Marjorie..." I uttered her name under my breath.

She is crying while wearing that faint smile on her face. This might not be Marjorie, right? Because my sister never cry.

"M-Marianne..." Her voice cracked.

Mahigpit na yakap ang ibinigay niya sa akin. Natulala naman ako... my sister is alive... Marjorie is alive!

I should be happy, right?