Chapter 8.2

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Kasalukuyang nasa fitness attire sila ni Alice at Sleia lalo pa't ngayon ay nagjo-jogging sila sa malawak na oval dito sa malapit sa condo nito.

30th Floor ba naman ang condominium building dito at nasa  25th Floor ang condo unit ng kakambal nitong si Sleia.

Gusto din nilang mag-jogging dahil wala naman silang gagawin. It's been two weeks at tigil muna sila sa galaan.

Now they do relaxing at nagja-jogging. Hindi boring at masasabi ni Alice na malamig ang temperatura dito kahit na sumisikat na ang haring araw. 7:45am na kasi and it was great to do this kind of exercise.

Nasa middle of conversation sila and Alice began to change the topic.

"Kambal, do you mind sharing your problem to me. Care to share?!" Panimula ni Alice habang iniba ang topiko nila.

"Uhm, I don't think it's a good idea. You know, it was something big." ani ni Sleia habang di nito kinaklaro ang kanilang sinasabi.

"Gaano ba kalaki yan? Just share it with me. Malay mo matulungan kita or I can give an advice. I'm psychologist right?!" Pangungulit pa ni Alice sa kapatid nito habang nakakapit na sa braso ng kapatid. Ambilis nitong mapatid ang distansya nila. Knowing Alice, minsan lang itong maging clingy.

"Talaga lang ha? I'm not ready to do share it but I think I can spill it now." Saad ni Sleia na pilit pinasisigla ang boses nito.

"Sure, I will listen carefully."nakangiting turan ni Alice.

"It's about me Alice, I will have someone to tie with." Seryosong sambit ni Sleia ng direkta.

"Tie with? Wait, tama ba ang pagkakaintindi ko na - you'll be married soon?!" Medyo histerikal na saad ni Alice.

"Soon? It will be soonest as possible Alice. It was just like that."Seryosong wika ni Sleia na walang paligoy-ligoy.

"Anong just like that. Ano'ng soonest?  As in bukas na?!" Mataas na boses na saad ni Alice habang aligaga ito.

"No it was not just tomorrow hahaha, you cutie." Saad ni Sleia na napatawa na lamang sa ikinikilos ng kakambal nito.

"Wait lang ha, natandaan ko pa na wala ka pang pinapakilalang boyfriend mo Ate, ba't ambilis naman ata."medyo nagtatakang turan ni Alice. Ambilis naman ata nito.

"You don't get it Alice, it was all an arranged marriage just like what Montreal Family's tradition." Pagkukumpirma ni Sleia kay Alice. Knowing Alice, talagang hihimay-himayin nito ang buong detalye.

"No way Sleia, it was already year 2030, arranged marriage is no-no for me and it was not a good idea!" Pagtutol naman ni Alice na kitang-kita na hindi ito pumapayag.

"Can you calm down Alice. Here's the water!" Pagpapakalma naman ni Sleia sa kapatid nito kahit na ang totoo ay mas kinakabahan siya. Alice was always calm and ngayon lang ito tila nag-exaggerate ng malala.

Kinuha naman nito ang mineral water na inabot ni Sleia sa kanya.

"Paano ako kakalma Ate Sleia. I thought my sudden visit here is exaggerated already pero mas malala pa pala ang problema mo. It was not only big but a very huge one!" Mahabang litanya ni Alice habang kitang-kita na tila hindi ito kumakalma. She feels guilty and small about her own selfishness.

"I know, I know Alice. I just don't want you to worry about me." Seryosong saad ni Sleia, she also don't want na sa iba pa malaman ng kakambal nito or worst ay magulat na lamang ito na wala na itong

"Not worry about you? Kailan mo to sasabihin sakin Sleia? Pag natali ka na doon sa lalakong iyon na pina-arrange sa'yo?! Nakaka-g*ga yun alam mo ba?!" Sambit ni Alice at di nito mapigilang makapagsalita ng di maganda.

"Watch your word Alice. Sasabihin ko sa'yo this days pero I-I am not that confident Alice. I know what reaction you could make on my situation. I don't want you to pity me or whatsoever. I'm not that weak. I am the strong Sleia."

"I will not caught back my words Sleia. Malaki na tayo pareho and we are already 27. Even you're a strong one, hindi ako manhid upang malaman na hindi mo gusto ito. My god, mukhang mababaliw ako sa problema mo. Alam na ba to ng magaling nating ama?!"

Natahimik na lamang si Sleia. Napayuko na lamang ito dahil ayaw niyang salubungin ang tingin ng nagpupuyos na kapatid nito. Alam niyang hindi ito kumakalma. Her father? She hit Alice hot spot again.

"Tama nga ako Ate Sleia. Napagaling nga niya talaga. He was the best right? He was my dream father since we parted, just WOW!!!" halos paos na wika ni Alice na halos magwala na dito buti na lamang at sila lang ang naririto sa part na to. The current Alice is becoming furious. Ano pa ang aasahan nito sa ama nila ni Sleia, that f*cking coward.

Mabilis namang napatingin si Sleia sa kapatid nitong si Alice habang lumuluha na itong nakatingin sa kanya. Kahit ayaw niyang tingnan ang nakababatang kakambal nito pero kinakailangan. She must be strong.

"Stop saying that Alice. Dad is always been good to me and taking care of me as best as he could. Just don't rub salt on your wound. If I know that you would act this, I wish you don't know my situation kasi ako ang nasasaktan dito Alice. I am not that good enough or a brave Sleia that you know." And for the first time,  the brave Sleia  crumbled in this open space habang umiiyak na parang bata.

Alice began to stop in her spot. Unable to move while seeing her twin sister crying on the spot. Mabilis niyang nilapitan ito at niyakap.

Hindi nga niya alam kung paano sila nakauwi habang unstable pa rin ang lagay ng damdamin nila. Feeling niya marami siyang kasalanan rito. She was insensitive all throughout this.

Paano ba niya naisip na siya lang ang may problema. Siguro nasanay lang siya na hindi ito nagsasabi ng problema sa kaniya habang siya ay puro problema ang naibabahagi nito noon sa Ate niya. She don't know what to do, she must think rationally now lalo pa't may kapatid siyang ipapapain ng pamilya nila para sa arranged marriage na tinatawag nila.