C H A P T E R T E N: SISTER

Ivy's POV

My sister. Mine.

The memories are slowly coming back.
The flashbacks are slowly flowing back.

It feels like new. Fresh. Parang kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat.

She was now talking with a woman...with...

"Ate Jade?"

I whispered under my breath.

So magkakilala sila. They were even hugging each other. They're laughing. Feeling ko, salamin ko yung kausap ni Ate Jade ngayon. Isipin nyo yun, magkamukhang-magkamukha kami ni Ate Ghil.

Ah yes, we're sisters.

I think kailangang kong umeksena. Syempre, aacting akong parang wala lang si Ate Ghil. I'll act na parang hangin lang sya. My point is to greet Ate Jade disregarding Ate Ghil.

Wait! Why am I even calling her 'Ate'? Ew~

Hindi na nga pla kami magkapatid. I'm a Montereal now. I readied myself for a right timing at nung nakatyempo na ako, kaagad akong tumakbo papalapit kay Ate Jade.

"Ate Jade! Oh my gosh...good thing nagkita ulit tayo!" Bati ko flashing a very sweet smile.

"Ivy! How are you? Kamusta kayo ni Kuya?"

I grunted. "Ate naman. Hindi nga kami but by the way, okay lang ako. And...I hope I'm not disturbing your convo with your friend."

Saad ko tapos tinignan si Ate Ghil. Ganun parin naman sya. Mukhang hayop parin. She look at me like she was questioning my looks. Na para bang hindi sya makapaniwala sa nakikita nya.

"Oh yes, Ivy this is Ghil, my high-school friend. Ghil, this is Ivy...my cousin."

"Hi Ghil. Nice meeting you."

I held out my hands for a shake tapos nanginginig syang kinuha ito.

"H-hi Ivy...nice m-meeting you...too."

I flipped my hair tapos bumaling ng tingin kay Ate Jade. "Ate Jade, don't you think that we looked alike?" Pabiro kong tanong. She just gave me a smile as an answer.

"By the way, Ivy...you looked so familiar. You looked like my dead sister."

Tila nagtangis ang bagang ko at dumilim ang paningin ko sa sinabi ni Ghil.

Dead. Yes, your sister is dead. Pinatay ko na.

"Oh? You're dead sister? Gianna right? Aww, I feel sorry for you." 

Sarkastikong sabi ko. Actually, gusto ko na syang sampalin dahil sa sinabi nya.

Dead.

The word keeps repeating in my mind. It's time para ako naman ang bumwelo sa kanya.

"H-how did you know her name?"

Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay bago ako pumameywang.

"Why can't I? Kinalimutan mo na ba ako?"

Alam kong nagulat sya. She even left her mouth opened, then I just saw tears forming in her eyes but she quickly wiped it with her hands. I smiled bitterly.

Patay na ako diba?

"W-what are you talking about?"

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"You saw your sister? What happened after?"

"Wala naman Tita. I just talked to her like I don't knew her. She also said that her sister is dead! It's funny."

Natatawa kong saad sa cellphone. Yes, kausap ko ngayon si Tita Francine. Agad kong binalita sa kanya na nakita ko si Ate Ghil.

"You talked to her? What did she said?"

"Ayun...di makapaniwalang kamukhang kamukha ko yung patay nyang kapatid. Para ba syang nakakita ng multo based on her looks. Alam mong gulat, Tita. She looked so pathetic."

"So now...what's your next move?"

"Next move?"

"Of course. You just finished the first step, awareness. She's now aware of your existence. Wait, did you said that you're Gianna?"

I laughed before answering. "Of course not, Tita. I'm not a fool. Pasabog ang pagamin ko...I'll reveal myself in the right time."

"That's good. Back to the topic, whats your next move?"

"I'll befriend her. Kakaibiganin ko sya...and when we're close, I'll start my revenge."

"But Ivy...please think about it too, okay? She's still your sis—"

"Not anymore, Tita."

I heard her sigh.

"If that's what you want to think then...okay. Di naman kita mapipigilan about that. Malaki ka na. You can now choose your own decision but make sure you'll not regret on the end."

"I'm sure about it Tita. Planado ko na lahat...and I knew I won't regret it. Matagal ko ng alam ang bawat kikilusin ko." Tumayo ako sa couch at tumungo sa kusina. I poured wine in one of my glasses before I take a sip.

"Okay okay. Just take there Ivy. Lagi mo kaming babalitaan ng Lolo mo. I need to go."

"Bye Tita! Ingat kayo dyan!"

"Yeah...bye!"

Tutututttt....

I smiled involuntarily after I ended the call. I just cant believe this day. What if kung magpabalik-balik ako sa mall, maybe magkita ulit kami ni Ghil but when will I start my revenge? Maybe kapag sobrang close na kami. Yes! I will make my grand comeback on my birthday at imbitado ang mga Salvador.

I just can't wait for it.

Nagmumuni muni ako habang umiinom ng alak nang bigla na lang nagvibrate ulit yung phone ko.

I received a message.

From: 0906*******

Hi there Ivy! Can we meet tomorrow please? Since friends na rin na naman tayo, my mom wants to see you. At 10 am okay? Hope to see you.

Btw, here's my number. Ghil here.

Kapal ng mukha. Nakuha pang magpaload para lang matext ako. Syempre, masayang makipagplastikan kaya nagreply kaagad ako.

To: 0906*******

Sure! I'm always free. I'm excited to your mother! Sa mall tayo magkita okay? Near...Starbucks.

Click send.

Isipin mo yun? After twelve years, makikipagtext ako sa kapatid ko na parang wala lang. Na parang hindi nya ako iniwan sa gitna ng gulo. Na parang hindi nila ako kinalimutan?!

Punyeta. Gustong gusto ko na silang pahirapan ulit. Gustong gusto ko na.

Patience Ivy. Masisira ang poise mo nyan.

Right. I should not lose my poise edi nasayang ang ganda ko. Oh my! A big NO!

After a matter of minutes, I received another message again.

From: 0906*******

Okay okay! I'm so excited too! Take care, friend!

Gago?! Friend?!

Ang sarap nyang sampalin! Kung pwede ko lang isama sa reply ko ang isang sampal para straight to the face ni Ghil, ginawa ko na! Maka-friend akala mo super close kaagad kami?!

Plastik! Plastik talaga sya ever since! Nakakabanas! Ugh! Hindi ko na sya nireplyan after that. Ano, uubusin ko ang load ko for her?! Oh my gosh...she's not special. Umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko at umupo sa kama bago binuksan ang drawer katabi ko.

Pagkabukas na pagkabukas ko nun, isang litrato ang tumambad sakin.

It's Gianna and her sister Ghil.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi napangiti. If I could just turn back the time...but I can't so I better face the present than thinking about the past dahil after all, sila rin naman ang nanakit sakin at hindi ako.

Since bipolar ako at nainis kaagad ako sa litrato, I quickly tear the picture in half causing me and sister to fall apart by each other.

I don't want to stay in my past anymore, it will just bring me down.

The past is my weakness.

Kaya dapat hindi na ako bumalik dun. Hindi na ako magpapaapekto dahil dun. Puno ng mga traydor, tanga, masasakit na nangyayari at kung ano pa ang nakaraan ko at pagod na ako. Pagod na akong masaktan.

I throw the picture at the trash bin at tinapaktapakan pa ito bago nasira. Since nasira na rin ito, kailangan ko ng bago.

"Lukring!" Tawag ko sa isa sa mga katulong ko.

"A-ano po yun ma'am?" Pahangos nyang pasok sa kwarto ko.

"I need a new trash can. Throw this one." Maldita kong utos.

"O-okay po."

Then she stared at me.

"Oh? Anong tinutunganga mo dyan?! I said go get me now!" Sigaw ko tapos dali dali nyang ginawa yung utos ko.

Sakto naman pagkaalis nya ng kwarto ko, my phone vibrated again.

Unknown number calling...

Hmm, stalker ko siguro? Maybe.

"Hello?"

"Gianna? Gosh! I missed you!!"

My eyes grew bigger.

"D-dianne?"

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Author's Note:

Napatagal na update. Sana nagustuhan nyo. Love lots.