VINCENT (Free Fall #1) 

Special Chapter

Savannah's POV

"Reed..." I didn't even bother to knock or wait for his permission when I entered his room. I just strutted my way in there, holding two different pairs  of bikinis and sat down on his bed like I owned it.

Pleasantries and introductions weren't my thing. And I still had a fashion emergency to solve, anyways. At isa pa, ano pa ba ang makikita ko na hindi ko pa nakita sa kaniya? 

"Wait I'm not yet---" My jaw slightly dropped when I turned around and finally saw him in all his glory. Seryosong mukha at matalim na titig ang agad na sumalubong sa akin. Sht. No matter how hard I really tried to deny it, my twin brother was simply gorgeous beyond his years. 

I mean, even my confidence was drained out of me as I stood there, practically gaping and almost drooling over his lean and totally exposed torso. Damn. Sobrang daya.

Like how could he looked like some kind of a demigod, that was pulled out straight from the books, while only wearing a fcking towel?

"Sht!" I cursed again under my breath as my sinful eyes travelled down the forbidden path of his torso.

Hindi ko dapat 'yon ginawa pero hindi ko talaga mapigilan.

Masisisi niya ba ako? His towel was dangerously low when he started to move again and it started to bother me so much, that I kept on staring at it. Normal lang naman na reaksyon 'yon hindi ba?

"Uh..." I promptly cleared my throat trying to erase the shakiness in my voice. I also basically pushed myself to forget the turmoil that I was feeling at the pit of my stomach as I watched him ignored me from the other side of the room.

"Kuya," I tried to sound nonchalant as I called him again for the nth time that day.

Nanatili lang siyang nakatayo roon, nagpapatuyo ng buhok, hindi ako kinikibo at walang paki na halos makita ko na ang lahat sa kaniya. I mean, I shouldn't even be bothered at all with the blatant display of skin...and flesh.

Kakambal ko naman siya. Normal lang sa akin na makita siyang ganito o kahit na hubad pa dahil simula pagkabata ay magkasama na kaming dalawa.

But damn, why did I still feel so hot and bothered with him confidently standing there and almost semi-naked, when I was aware naman that he's growing like me?

Yes, he's maturing faster and yes, hindi rin nakakatulong na he's developing in certain parts that I liked and never dared to mention out loud.  Pero ewan ko ba talaga kung ano ang nagbago at sa tuwing naabutan ko na lang siyang ganito ay hindi na mapakali ang kalooban ko at pakiramdam ko ay nilulunod na ako sa apoy dahil sa sobrang pag-iinit. Para  bang naging isa siyang apoy na hahayaan kong lumamon at tumupok sa akin hanggang sa maubos at maging abo ako.

And although I knew better than to play with fire, I still kept on coming back.

I still kept on asking for it.

For him...

Damn.

For a young girl like me who was still new to these kinds of carnal and dark feelings that started to slowly consume me, I would say, that it was damn hard to understand and try to deal with it alone.

Napailing ako sa aking sarili, pinipilit na tanggalin ka agad ang iba't ibang kadumihang biglang pumasok sa isip ko.

Ugh. What the hell is wrong with me? 

"What?" masungit nitong sambit.

Hindi pa rin siya tumitingin. Mukhang dimadam niya talaga ang hindi ko pagpansin sa kaniya nitong pagdating namin sa Maldives.

"Anong mas bagay sa aking bikini, ito o 'yung yellow?" Itinuro ko ang pulang suot ko at 'yung dalawang yellow na dala ko.

Actually, I had already chosen not to wear those yellow bikinis before I even went to his room.

Naghahanap lang talaga ako ng rason para maka-usap ko ulit at makulit ang kakambal ko.

I knew it was stupid of me to avoid him nang dahil lang sa natakot at naguluhan ako sa bigla kong naramdamang bago kapag kasama ko siya kaya sinubukan ko munang umiwas at pahupain ang kung ano mang kahibangan ang sumapit sa akin. 

Alam kong hindi  ko dapat 'yon ginawa dahil mas lalo lang ako nafrustrate. 

I realized that not talking to him for days and not being around him unsettled me. 

I planned out our summer in Maldives to be perfect, pero mukhang tuluyan na 'yon masisira kung hindi ako gagalaw at hahanap ng paraan to make amends with him.

"Kahit ano," ani nito at nagkibit balikat lamang.

Pumunta siya doon sa cabinet niya at walang ano-ano ay ibinagsak ang suot niyang towel sa lapag. 

My senses instantly reached its peak when he did that. His self-confidence and brazen masculinity awakened that carnal feeling inside of me that I tried to hide over the past week. 

Gods.

Umiwas ka agad ako ng tingin kahit na alam kong nakapagsuot na siya ng kaniyang boxers at ibinaling ang atensyon sa nagpapawis kong palad. 

"Saan ka ba pupunta? You're swimming without me again?" 

"So? Hindi naman kailangan parati kitang kasama."

Napanguso ako. "Fine, go without me then."

Ugh. I hated how my voice sounded small and pathetically weak.

Of course he could do anything he wanted by himself or with our other cousins! 

Nakakatampo lang talaga at 'di na niya ako niyaya sa mga ginagawa niya.

We used to do everything together. 

Kaya hindi ko talaga napigilan  magdabog at magtatalon na parang bata sa ibabaw ng kama niya nang naging abala siya bigla sa pagsagot sa phone niya. 

"Kuya naman eh, dali na, kung ayaw mo ako isama, tulungan mo na lang akong mamili ng sexy na bikini bago ka mag swimming or whatever kasama nila Grey."

Napabusangot siya sa sinabi kong iyon. "Kahit ano na! Mababasa din naman 'yan."

Out of my frustration dahil hindi niya pa rin ako magawang pansinin at mas importante pa ata ang ka-text niya ay nag-isip ka agad ako ng kwento na alam kong makakapukaw ng atensyon niya. 

I stood my ground and folded my arms across my chest, waiting for any kind of reaction I might get from him. 

"May nakita kasi akong cute guy kahapon sa main island eh. I just wanna impress him, you know at baka makita namin siya ulit ni Chelsea mamaya kapag mag shopping kami ulit doon. Kaya sige na, please? Help me? And can you join me na rin laters?  Patapos na ang summer break namin tapos ikaw naman babalik ka na sa London next week...kailangan na natin mag bonding!"

He didn't even think about it, he just shook his head and turned his back to me.

Nakakainis! Ano kaya ang pwede kong gawin para pansinin niya ulit ako?

"And can you at least look at me?" I said jumping out of his bed. Tinakbo ko kung saan siya nakatayo at agad siyang niyakap, attempting to get his attention.

"Reed," I whispered. "Look at me please? Pansinin mo na ako."

I tried not to mind the feeling and the heat that my body instantly felt when our body collided nor the alluring smell of his aftershave.

Instead, I diverted my focus on how my body, soft as it was, felt right on his hardness.

Gods.

I knew it was so fvcking sick. I was sick to feel excited and aroused when my breasts touched him. I felt sick when a part of me, wanted him to touch me. Mabuti na lang at agad niya akong hinawi at naglagay ng espasyo sa pagitan namin. At least one of us was thinking straight.

"Your tits are showing. Go change and wear a shirt," utos niya bago niya itapon sa akin ang towel niyang ginamit kanina at dali-daling lumabas na sa kaniyang kwarto.

***

"Omg, Savvy dear, why are you like that ba? Ang pretty ng weather pero your face looks like nabagyo. Can you like drop it? You and your frown are panira na sa beauty ng Maldives." 
Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang pinsan kong si Chelsea habang sumisipsip ng aking mango float smoothie.

Init na init na nga ako dahil sa pinasuot sa aking shirt ni Reed tapos sasamahan pa niya ng ganitong ka-conyohan?

"Shut up and mind your own business," I snapped at her. Narinig ko namang tumawa sa tabi ko si Keira kaya napalingon ka agad ako.

Damn.  Isa pa 'to. 

"You too, K. Get off my ass. 'Di kayo nakakatulong na dalawa, alam niyo ba 'yon." 

I rolled my eyes at both of them and quickened my pace. Nakita ko sa peripheral vision ko si Levi na nakabuntot sa amin at umaastang parang body guard.

He looked bored while eating his apple; I wondered why he insisted to come with us. 'Di naman siya mahilig mag-shopping. Plus, he hated bazaars like this one 'di ba?

"Ito naman, nagtatanong lang!" Hirit pa sa akin ni Keira. Wala akong naisagot sa kaniya at binilisan lamang ang paglalakad hanggang sa mauna na ako. 

Sht. Kahit na tanghali ay marami na ka agad ang mga tao doon sa bazaar na napuntahan namin.

Ganoon ata talaga kapag sa main island mamamasiyal, hindi ganoon ka-exclusive kumpara sa mga private villas and island na nagkalat sa paligid. 

"Come on Savvy, what's your deal ba at bakit ka like nagkaka ganiyan? Don't tell us, nag fight na naman kayo ni Reed? Or dahil ba 'to sa pag-alis na naman niya sa susunod na araw? Is that it?"

I puffed my cheeks and pouted. Madali nila akong naabot. Sabay pa nilang ikinawit ang mga braso at kamay nila sa magkabilang gilid ko, securing me on my spot and stopping me from escaping their interrogation yet again. 

Resigned, I sighed and finally confessed. "Sino at ano pa nga ba," I told them. "Kinausap ko na siya kanina pero mukhang sobrang nagtampo ata at ang sungit-sungit na niya ngayon sa akin!"

"Hay nako. Ikaw at ang mga trip mo sa buhay. Bakit ba kasi hindi mo siya pinansin ng buong linggo? I couldn't remember anything he did that might set you off, Sav. 'Di ba siya pa nga ang pumigil na ma-prank ka nila Grey? And besides 'di naman niya kasalanan na sa London na talaga siya pag-aaralin nila tito."

Tumango ako sa mga sinabi ni Keira. Mas lalo namang lumala  ang guilt na naramdaman ko sa nagawa ko. 

"Ano pa?" giit ni Keira. "Imposibleng 'yon lang ang dahilan mo."

Sumingit naman si Chelsea. "Hmm, is it because he got another girl Savvy? Nag seselos na naman ba ang baby sissy?"

Hindi ako kumibo sa panunukso niya kaya nag patuloy siya sa pagdaldal.

"Or is it because of what your mom told you the other day?"

Agad kaming napalingon ni Keira sa kaniya.

"Anong sinabi ni tita Liz, Chels?" 

"You overheard us?"

Nagkasabay pa kaming tanong ng isa kong pinsan.

Napangisi naman dahil dito si Chelsea at halatang nagugustuhan ang atensyong ibinibigay namin. 

"Yes, Sav. I overheard you. Like duh. Your mom was really loud the other day 'no. And you two were on the verge of having a scream fest,"

Si Keira na walang alam sa nangyari ay nagpabalik-balik na tumingin sa amin ni Chelsea.

"Guys, can you tell  me what's going on?"

Napasapo ako ng aking noo. Ramdam ko ang lamig ng kamay kong may hawak kanina ng smootie sa mainit kong balat.

Ugh. I wanted to go back to our villa and swim so badly! Wala naman kaming mabili rito sa bazaar at na ho-hot seat lang naman ako ng dalawang 'to!

"Mom was just being paranoid, K. She wanted me to stay away from my brother for a while you know. Masyado na raw kaming nagiging close and people are talking na raw. Like what the hell hindi ba? Magkakambal kami, ano pa i-eexpect niya? Gods! Sobrang OA talaga," I told her.

Hindi ko na idinagdag pa na may sarili akong struggle within me, in figuring out why-oh-why I was starting to feel something strange for my twin brother.

Hindi iyon magandang pakinggan. Weird at baka i-judge nila ako. 

"Totally! Sobrang cray-cray ng mom mo!" Gatong ni Chels.

Keira had this look on her face that I didn't quite understand. Tumango lamang siya at tumingin sa unahan. 

"You know what? Fvck him and fvck your mom. Summer ngayon at hindi semana santa. Imbes na magmukmuk ka ng dahil sa kanila, sulitin na lang natin ang bakasyon! Come on, this is what summer's all about right? To have fun and care less!

Tsaka mo na problemahin 'yang kapatid mo at ang pagiging paranoid ng mom mo. What we do now is to find cute boys to entertain us and legit alcohol to fill us. Sawa na ako sa mga beer lang, ano ba."

To further prove her point, she threw the can of beer she was holding to the nearest trash can and beamed towards us. 

Pumalakpak naman at tumawa si Chels nang marinig ang 'boys' at 'alcohol.' I mentally rolled my eyes again. Gods, they were thirsty.

Dahil sila Keira na ang nasunod, iniwan na namin ang boring na bazaar at naglibot na sa buong isla. 

Umuwi na si Levi kaya kaming tatlo na lang ang naghanap ng tourist guide na pwede kaming ipasiyal sa mga spots na sikat doon. 

We even visited a famous tattoo shop that Keira wanted to try. Parehas na permanent tats ang kinuha nila ni Chels. Temporary lang ang kinuha ko. And it was a beautiful tribal design of a snake.

After lunch, we tried different water sports in the area. And we mingled too with some few tourists and locals na nakasabay namin.

Mostly boys, of course.

Desidido ang dalawa kong kasama na makakita ng pwede nilang maiuwi sa bonfire na magaganap sa island namin ng gabi ring iyon. And jesus christ, Maldives was full of hot boys to choose from.

"Savvy! Look!"

I was lounging in one of those beach chairs, getting a nice tan and enjoying my margarita when Chels came and gushed over something.

Keira was no where to be seen, baka nakuha niya na ang kanina niya pang target na Australian.

"Huh? Why?"

"May nagtatanong sa akin about you. And gosh, he's like  so hot!"

"Sino?" I asked, adjusting my shades.

"There! Twelve o'clock! 'Yung naka red shorts. Isa sa mga nag vo-volley ball."

 I casually turned around towards the direction that my cousin told me and scanned through the group of guys who were playing on the sand.

Isa sa kanila ang nakapukaw ka agad ng atensyon ko.

He was wearing some red shorts and sporting a very cocky smirk whilst striking the ball.

I watched him as he flexed his muscles and showed everyone the power he had as he finished the game. Lahat naghiyawan sa paligid niya, including my cousin. 

Nang mapatingin siya sa direksyon namin ay lumawak ang ngiti niya at sabay na kumindat. 

Hmm. He's quite attractive alright and kinda ripped too.

Mukha siyang Brazilian descent with his natural tan and easy smile. Hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit nagustuhan siya ni Chels for me. These men were usually my type. 

"What do you say? He's super hot right? Right?"

I shrugged and sipped my margarita. Pinanood ko siyang nagpupunas ng pawis niya bago ako bumalik sa pagkakahiga. 

"Pwede na."

Bigla akong kinurot sa balikat ni Chels.

"Ow! What the hell?"

My cousin looked pointedly at me and said, "Damn girl, are you noob or what? Flirt with him na!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Uh. Nakalimutan na ba ni Chels na never naghabol para makipag flirt sa isang random someone ang isang Fonacier? And he looked much older than me rin. 

"I'm just a kid, C. He's like what? A man on his late twenties?"

"Uh, duh? Did it ever stop you before? Like, what's the problem naman? You're going to talk and make landi lang naman right? Come on, Sav. It's summer. People do some freaky stuff during summer! This is a season for the reckless and the brave!"

I jokingly pushed her when she started to giggle. "Oh stop being such a drama queen, Chels. Hayaan mo siya. Siya ang magkukusang lumapit sa akin mamaya." 

At 'di nga ako nagkamali. Once na iwanan na ako ni Chels to flirt with his own catch, lumapit sa akin 'yung guy with the red shorts and introduced himself as Carlo.

I forgot his surname the instant he said it and only remembered that he was one of my kuya Seabass' friends from Brazil. 

Pumayag naman siya sa aya kong bonfire sa island namin pero hindi siya sa amin sumama pabalik at hahabol na lang siya kinagabihan. 

When we reached our place, my other older cousins were already starting to prepare everything on the beachfront.

Nauna na si Keira sa villa niya dala-dala ang mga naiuwing mga lalaki.

Gods. Mapapailing ka na lang talaga sa pinsan kong 'yon. Pasimpleng fckgirl.

"Savannah, can you hand me a lighter please?"

I reached for my own lighter lying on the table near me and gave it to Kuya Marco. 

"Do you know where your sister is, kuya?"

Kaming dalawa ni kuya ang naka-assign sa mga grilled meats. While Levi, Ash and kuya Sebastian were the ones who were responsible in collecting driftwoods for the bonfire party later. 

Chels and Keira were supposed to be accountable for the games and other things concerning the party. At ang kapatid ko, si Grey at si Cole naman ang bahala sa alcohol na naasikaso naman daw nila bago sila nagsolo ng lakad.

I heard from kuya Marco na hindi pa nakakabalik ang tatlong bugok na 'yon.

"Ah.  She went back to our villa. Inutusan ko siyang maglabas pa ng maiinom natin mamaya."

"Buti pumayag."

"Kapalit naman ang credit card ko."

Natawa ako sa kalokohan ni Chels. May sarili naman siyang card, talagang kinakawawa niya lang ang kuya niya. "Si Chels talaga..."

Madilim na ng makabalik sila kuya Seabass kaya late na kami nakapasimula ng apoy.

Random people kept on arriving in our docks. Marami kaming hindi kakilala, but it's fine. Marami naman kaming nabiling alak to accommodate everyone. 

"Savannah!" I heard someone shouted my name by the ramp. The party was already in full swing when I saw Carlo and some of Seabass' other friends approached us. May dala silang mga babae at ang iingay nila. Carlo wasn't with anyone but he was holding some beers.

Chels, Keira and Ate Kath were with me when they came, kaya hindi nila ako tinigilang asarin hanggang pinakilala ko sa kanila si Carlo. Hindi naman din matanggal ang malaking ngiti noong isa nang tumabi siya sa akin. Napansin ko ka agad na hindi umalis ang mga  mata niya sa naka expose na dibdib ko. I was suddenly glad I ditched my shirt earlier.

"Wow," he whistled and gave me a quick kiss on the cheeks. His appreciative eyes gave me another once over. 

"I'm sorry for staring." I waved him off, laughing with my other cousins who overheard him. 

"Its okay, I get that a lot," I assured him. 

"Would you want some drink?"

"Sure."

Iginiya namin sila sa main table para ilagay ang mga dala nilang pagkain ngunit sakto naman ding umalingasaw ang boses ni Grey sa paligid.

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa mga bagong dating.

"Sweet! Last beach party of the year! Cole! Reed! Dalian niyo na! I can smell Bacardi already!"

Una kong hinanap ang kapatid ko ngunit 'di siya sa akin tumingin at naglakad sa kabilang direksyon. May nakakabit sa kaniya ka agad na isang babaeng modelo na dala-dala nila Carlo. Inalis ko ka agad ang tingin ko at malakas na sumipa ng buhangin. 

"Dudes you two look vavavoom!" 

Nandidilim pa ang paningin ko nang lumapit sa amin si Grey at inakbayan kami ni Chelsea. Carlo was purposely pushed to the side. 

"Perv," Komento ni Keira. 

Grey just laughed at us. Hinila ko naman ang kulot niyang buhok nang 'di siya matapos tapos sa pang-aasar sa kawalang damit daw namin. 

"Sissy, I'm only appreciating your god given boobs." Nakangisi niyang balik. Agad naman niyang binalingan si Carlo at ang iba pang lalaking sumasabay sa amin.

Sinamaan niya ang lahat ng mga ito ng tingin. Aakalain mo talaga na makikipag-away siya ka agad sa talim ng mga ibinibigay niyang tingin  but I knew him by heart. Chinecheck out niya lang itong mga lalaking kasama namin. 

"Hey you fvckers. Stop looking at their chest. You're not me."

Si Carlo ang unang sumagot sa kaniya na natatawa sa kalokohan ng pinsan kong iyon. "Your cousins are safe with us, man. You can chill."

Nagtaas naman ng kilay si Grey sa akin. "Who's this?"

Tipid akong ngumiti. "Carlo meet my cousin, Grey Del Fuego. Grey meet Carlo. He's one of Seabass' friends,"  pakilala ko sa kanilang dalawa. We stopped by the table and everyone dispersed. Nagkaniya-kaniyang kuha na ng bote at makakain. 



"Hey man," naglahad ng kamay si Carlo para kay Grey pero dahil minsan may pagka isnabero itong pinsan ko ay napamewang lang siya at pinagsingkitan ng mata si Carlo.



"Hmm. I'm watching you. Keep your hands off of her, aight?" Aniya, bago ako niyakap at umalis para samahan sila Cole at Levi sa mismong bonfire. 



"Wow. Your cousin is something," nasabi ni Carlo sa akin nang out of earshot na si Grey. Ngumisi naman ako.

"All of them are," sagot ko. 



Nagkwentuhan na kami matapos noon. Ipinakilala pa niya ako sa mga kaibigan niya. Even kuya Seabass joined us and I was actually having a good time. 

I almost forgot about my brother who was flirting with some girl in front of me if it had not been for my eyes that kept on stalking him.

Damn it. Gusto ko mag-enjoy naman sa bakasyon ko for once nang hindi siya iniisip, 'di ba pwede 'yon?

"...tour me."

Napabaling ako nang wala sa oras kay Carlo nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko.

We were sitting on a log in front of the bonfire and my eyes were glued to Reed and his new conquest that I totally neglected him.

Nakakahiya naman! 



"I'm sorry, what is it again?"

 Nagbuntong hininga ang kausap ko at nilagok ang natitira niyang alak. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko at muling kumuha ng isa pa sa cooler na katabi lang namin.

Hindi pa naman ako lasing pero alam ko na ilang bote na lamang ay matatamaan na talaga ako



"Who is he?" tanong sa akin ni Carlo. 

Sinundan ko ng tingin kung saan nakadirekta ang mga mata niya at humantong ito sa kapatid kong nag heheart to heart talk ata sa babaeng kausap. Tse. 



"Oh, he's just my brother." 



When a joint was passed to me by one of the guys I've talked to, I took three long drags and welcomed the feeling of it within me. Ipinasa ko rin ito kay Carlo pero inayawan niya ito at ibinalik sa nagbigay sa akin.



"Ah. That explains why he looks like he's ready to kill me and all the other guys out here." I snorted. 

"He is?" 

Carlo laughed with me and nodded. 



"He's probably worried. You all look like  playboys who are ready to break hearts," I joked. Ilang beses naman kami nagkaabot ng tingin ah, bakit hindi ko 'yon nakita sa mga mata niya?



"Well not me. I'm different." Binigla ako ni Carlo nang presko niya akong inakbayan. Hindi ko naman ito tinanggal sa akin dahil wala naman akong nakikitang mali. 



"Oh please. Every guy is the same. You're all heart breakers."



"Yeah? Even me?"



"Probably."



"Well, what if you try it for yourself then? Let's hang out."



Mas lalo akong natawa sa sinabi niya. "I'd rather not," I said. 

"I'd already went out with a couple of older men before and I didn't like the experience. All you want from inexperienced girls like me is a night between the sheets before you scurry off and find another one. Plus summer flings always don't work out." 



Mukhang naintindihan naman niya ang sinabi ko at hindi na nagpumilit. Nabawasan naman ang awkwardness sa pag-uusap namin matapos noon. I laughed with him and with the others until I emptied my third refill bottle. Doon ko lang napansin na wala na pala si Reed sa tapat ko.



"Carlo, sorry." Tumayo ako at ipinagpag ang mga buhanging dumikit sa aking katawan. "I need to find my brother."

 

Tumango naman sa akin si Carlo. "Oh sure. I understand. Call me?" 



Ewan ko kung anong sinagot ko sa kaniya at pagewang-gewang na umalis sa gitna ng kasiyahan.

Nagpalakad-lakad ako sa may dalampasigan hanggang sa makita ko ang kapatid ko na nakahiga sa may buhanginan at mukhang natutulog.

'Di ko na muna siya ginulo at naupo sa kinatatayuan. Naglagay din ako ng distansiya sa aming dalawa kung sakali mang ayaw niya pa rin makipag-usap sa akin. Naghintay ako hanggang sa makita ko siyang gumalaw muli.

Patulog na nga ako, mabuti na lang at napansin ko ang pagmulat ng mata niya. 



"Pwede bang tumabi?"



'Di ko alam kung anong oras ba iyon pero sigurado akong lagpas madaling araw na. Malayo kami sa party at sa malakas na tugtugan kung kaya naman rinig na rinig ko ang malumanay na pag hampas ng alon sa pagitan ng katahimikan at hindi niya pag-sagot. 



"Bahala ka."

 Hindi ko na kailangan pagsabihan pa muli at dali-daling gumalaw. Agad akong tumabi sa kaniya. 



"Reed,"



"Yeah?"



"Can you scoot a little closer?"



Sobrang saya ko ng kahit papaano ay sumunod siya sa paki-usap ko at mas lalong lumapit sa akin. Ni hindi niya rin tinanggal ang pagkakayakap ko at lalong lalo na ay hindi ako napagalitan sa ginawa kong pagsiksik sa kaniya. 



"Yay! I missed you!"  I semi-shouted against the roaring waves. Ipinatong ko pa ang kanang paa ko sa pareho niyang hita para hindi na siya makakawala. 

I felt his heated stares. Napangiti ako nang hindi inaasahan. 



"You're so warm. Hmm...Bakit mo rin ba ako iniiwasan?"



"I'm not."



"Liar! Dahil ba sa aalis ka na ulit sa susunod na araw? Sinasanay mo na ba ang sarili mo na wala ako?"



"Palagi naman akong wala."



"Yeah, that's true. Pero kasi dati, 'di ba, hindi naman every school year nandoon ka sa London? But now...doon ka na talaga mag-aaral...tapos hindi pa gaanon kapareho ang academic calendar natin...Kailan na lang kita makikita niyan? Kapag birthday na lang natin?"



"Maybe."

I pouted. Mas humigpit ang yakap ko sa kaniya. Ngayon pa nga lang na halos isang linggo kaming hindi nagpansinan ay namiss ko na ka agad siya, paano pa kaya kung ilang taon kaming hindi magkikita?



"May two days ka pa namang kasama namin sa Montego. Sulitin na lang natin, okay?"

 Imbes na sumagot sa akin ay siya naman itong yumakap at kumausap sa akin. That was the first time in weeks that he initiated a conversation with me. Walang mapaglagyan ang saya ko dahil doon. 




"May boyfriend ka na ba?"



"Bakit mo naman naitanong 'yan?"



"I'm just asking. You no longer tell me about your personal stuff these days."

 He opened his eyes and looked down at me, waiting for an answer. Kumalas naman ako ng kaunti sa yakap niya at pinagtitigan ang buo niyang ekspresyon. It was gloomy and conflicted. Bakit bigla na lang niya 'to naitanong?




"Well, I've got many suitors..." I teased. 

Tipid siyang ngumiti at hinigit ako muli sa bisig niya.

 "How many?"



I laughed at how serious he sounded. Weird naman nitong si kuya. Alam na niya dapat na hindi na mabilang sa kamay ang mga manliligaw ko! Ako pa ba?



"A few. But relax... I haven't answered any one yet but I'm talking to a couple of them on a daily basis. Ikaw ba? For sure, mas liberated ang mga babae sa London...do you have a girlfriend already, Kuya? Come on you can tell me..."



Hindi siya umamin sa akin pero alam kong mayroon. Call it a twin's connection or a girl's instinct talking pero alam kong may babae ng nagugustuhan si Reed. 

His secrecy hurt me a little bit but I instantly shrugged it off before it became more. Instead of looming over it, I just proceeded on asking him the question that was bugging me for a week. 



"Galit ka ba sa akin?"

 Napaupo ako matapos kong tanungin 'yon. Hindi ko kasi sigurado kung seseryosohin niya ako kapag nanatili akong parang lintang nakakapit. 




"No. Why would you even think of that?" Sumunod siya at napaupo na rin. He scooted closer and my body seemed to find him as it automatically leaned onto his direction.  

Reed's scent started to overwhelm me in the nicest possible way. Humalo ito sa nakakalamang simoy ng dagat at halos mapapikit ako para lang masolo ko itong mahinga.

I didn't want to be selfish but gods, I didn't want to ever let him go too.

"Wala lang..." I hesitated and  bit my lips. For someone who was naive and afraid about the turmoil that started to wreck havoc inside of her, the feeling with Reed at that moment was pretty confusing as fck.  


I was overwhelmed with so much emotion that I didn't know what to do. Gusto niyang tapusin ko ang sinimulan ko. Ngunit napalunok lang ako at napapikit.

"The way you were pushing me away..."

 Narinig ko siyang bumuntong hininga. Mas lalo rin niya akong hinigit pabalik sa kaniya. His body was warm against mine and it felt as if I was molded for him.

Hindi na ako nag reklamo, gusto ko rin naman iyon.


"I'm not pushing you away Savannah. I was just...figuring things out on my own," he confessed. He looked bothered again.

Gusto ko siyang tulungan,pero paano?

"What is it? Maybe I can help? We can figure things out together. It will be easier."

Instead of answering, he buried his face on the crook of my neck and placed a gentle kiss on my skin.

Kinilabutan ako.

Gusto ko pa.


"I can't tell you."

Kung nahalata niya ang pagtaas ng mga balahibo ko o ang pagbilis pa ng puso ko ay hindi na siya nag komento doon. Pinagpatuloy niya na lang na mamahinga sa aking balikat.

"Why? We always tell each other everything."



"Not this."



"Is it a boy thing?" I asked. Matagal na namin ipinangako sa isa't isa na wala kaming itatagong sikreto kahit na ano man iyon. Pero lately, habang nag dadalaga at nagbibinata na kaming dalawa, ay may mga bagay na sa buhay namin na kailangang itago na sa isa't isa.

"Yeah," aniya.


Tumango ako at ipinakita na naiintindihan ko ang desisyon niyang 'wag na sa akin ito ibahagi.

"Nakausap mo na ba sila Cole about diyan?"



"Kanina..." 

Imbes na sumagot ay sinuklay ko na lamang ang kaniyang malambot na buhok gaya ng ginagawa niya sa akin kapag may problema ako. Alam kong napapakalma ko siya at napapatigil sa pag-iisip sa tuwing ginagawa ko iyon kaya ipinagpatuloy ko lang.

"I don't want you to go away again," bulong ko sa kaniya.

Naramdaman ko naman ang malalim niyang paghinga. "Me too," he whispered back against my sensitive skin.

"Bakit kaya ayaw ka na lang dito paaralin nila mommy? Hindi naman totoo 'yung sinasabi nila Nana and Papi na bawal magsama ang magkakambal eh."



"They need me to be there, Savannah. I don't know the full details yet but dad said he will explain everything when we go back to Montego this week." 

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko mula sa buhok niya at hinila pahiga sa buhangin.  

We both looked at the vast sky. I saw a familiar constellation that  wanted to show him.

"Regular business? Or..." Hinayaan ko na lang na hindi ituloy ang sasabihin. Alam kong sinasanay na ang kapatid ko sa pag hahawak ng mga illegal na transaksyon ng pamilya namin sa ibang bansa partikular na sa London kaya naman hindi malayo na ito rin ang dahilan ng biglaang desisyon ng mga magulang namin na doon na lamang siya pag-aralin ng tuluyan.


"Or..." sagot niya. "As far as I know, it is just an underground scientific research that costs trillions of Euros or probably more. 'Wag ka mag-alala, hindi naman siguro 'to delikado. Hindi pa naman ako ganoong isinasama ni dad sa mga illegal na transaksyon niya sa ibang bansa, 'di tulad doon sa Pilipinas, kaya siguradong ligtas 'to, lalo na at hinayaan niya na akong mag-isa."



Tumango na lamang ako. Kahit na gusto kong matulungan ang kapatid ko ay ayoko na makarinig pa ng mga ganitong usapan tungkol sa iba pang negosyo ng pamilya namin.

I didn't want to be a part of it ever since. Mas magandang wala na akong alam sa mga transaksyong pinagsasabi nila.

"Just Be safe there, and come back to me in one piece okay?"



"Okay."

He smiled and raised my hands to trace something that in the sky.

Noong una ay naguluhan pa ako kung para saan, ngunit nang makita ko muli ang pamilyar na constellation sa kalangitan ay ibinalik ko ang ngiting ibinigay niya sa akin. 

"What are you---Oh. That's Gemini right?" 
ani ko. "I don't like their story," dagdag ko pa at inialis na ang kamay ko sa kaniya.

Lumingon siya sa akin. Siguro ay naguluhan kung bakit ko 'to nasabi. Simula pa't malaman namin ang tungkol sa constellation na 'yon ay palagi namin itong hinahanap. Paborito namin itong past time dati.

"The twins? Why?"

 I sighed, remembering the story behind the said constellation.

"Because . I hate tragedies, Reed. Ang lungkot kaya ng nangyari kila Castor at Pollux."



"Not really."



"Naunang mamatay si Castor 'di ba? Imagine what Pollux might have felt when he lost him. They've been together all their life. They fight together and they tried to survive together. Tapos maiiwan lang siyang mag-isa? Imagine if that happened to either one of us. Makakaya mo ba?"



"Pero nagkasama pa rin naman sila sa huli 'di ba? Zeus made Castor immortal too just like Pollux and put them in the sky as the constellation that we know today."



"Happy ending siguro for you but I don't like that kind of story. I want happiness all throughout," I admitted.

Siguro noong bata kami ay tanggap ko pang kailangan maranasan muna na maghirap bago mo makamtam  'yung happy ending na pinapangarap mo pero habang tumatanda ako ngayon ay gusto ko na lamang sumaya.

Kung pwede lang talaga na wala na akong hirap na maranasan.

Ganoon na ata talaga 'yon. As you grow older you'll just be fed up with too many shts on your plate that you'll just wish for another life with only positivity and happiness.

"That's impossible, Savannah."

 Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. 

"Pwede kaya," 
I insisted. I was a firm believer back then that if you wanted or wished for something so bad, nothing will be impossible. Makukuha at makukuha mo rin iyong gusto mo. Magiging posible pa rin sa huli ang lahat.

"Hindi. Lahat ng kwento parating may malungkot na bahagi."



"So ibig sabihin kahit na mawala man ako sa'yo... let's say mas nauna akong mamatay, okay lang dahil naniniwala kang magakakasama ulit tayo sa heaven?"


"We're probably not going to heaven Savannah..."



"Pero?"



"Syempre hindi okay sa akin na mauna kang mawala o mauna kitang maiwan, pero kung 'yun man ang mangyayari sa atin, aasa na lang ako na mahahanap muli kita kahit saan man tayo mapunta pagkatapos nang lahat."

Nanahimik kami matapos noon. Hinayaan na lang namin na ang ingay ng dagat ang pumuno sa amin.

Pakiramdam ko ay napakapayapa naming dalawa na nakahiga sa buhinginan na iyon. And eventhough summer was about to end that year, I knew that this memory will be forever engraved in me.

'Yung tipo na kahit mawala pa ang alala ko ay babalik at babalikan ko pa rin itong moment na'to at maiisip kung gaano kami kasaya ng kapatid ko.

"Reed?"

"What?"

"I love you. Don't die before me okay?"

He closed his eyes and leaned towards to give me kiss on my forehead. "For you, I'll try," he promised.

Mas niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit at marahang hinalikan sa pisngi.

"Don't worry, I will try too. I promise."

*

*

*

End of Part One. Part Two will be posted in my profile: Chelsea_13 soon. Reed's POV on this one was already posted in my profile under the story VINCENT