The Switch: Fara's Turn | On-Going

CHAPTER 18

Hilton stared at Oliver for couple of minutes, reason why Oliver turned to him. Nagtitigan lang sila na parang pareho silang may telepathic ability. I took the chance to cut them off.

"Hilton, uhm, I think you need to go. Naalala ko, may nakaligtaan pa pala kami ni...ni Oli. Sige bye." Nagmadali akong puntahan si Oliver at hilahin siya sa kung saan man na makakapag-usap kami.

Good thing, medyo malapit dito ang mall, at diretso akong pumasok habang hawak ko ang kamay ni Oliver. Nakalagpas kami agad sa guard at medyo dumiretso pa ako ng kaunti. Enough to hide ourselves from the entrance.

I inhaled, and exhaled, trying to calm my nerves. Jeez! The least thing I want was to be busted right this moment.

"So...Lara, huh?"

I immediately faced Oliver that was currently smirking at me right now. Maybe, he finds this funny. Napabuga nalang ako ulit ng hangin sa ere dahil wala na kong choice kundi sabihin kay Oliver ang totoo.

"Someone needs to explain something," he teased.

Napairap nalang ako. Akala ko sa lahat ng seryosong tao, si Oliver ang pinakaseryoso. Marunong din pala tong mang-asar.

"Okay, before I drop the bomb, you have to promise you'll keep it as a secret," I started.

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay na parang hindi niya sure kung magpa-promise ba siya o hindi. "Come on, promise me!"

"Okay, fine," he finally said.

I took a deep breath. "That guy earlier was Hilton. He was...Lara's schoolmate."

I saw Oliver's forehead creased. "But he called you Lara." Napatango ako sa sinabi niya.

"Yes, because he knows me as Lara, but the truth is, Lara is my twin sister."

"Wait, do you mean, you are pretending to be your sister?" he incredulously asked.

"We are... pretending to be each other."

"What?"

Napapikit nalang ako. Mahabang paliwanagan 'to, I'm sure. Pero wala na rin naman akong choice. Kung hindi narinig ni Oliver na tinawag ako ni Hilton na Lara, I will not be here explaining.

I started to tell him why and how we are executing it. The shock on his face was really funny, I might laugh if I am not nervous.

"Wow," he commented after I finished telling him the story.

This time, napatawa na ako. "Yeah, wow." Maybe that's the best word to decribe it other than it's crazy.

"May I ask, are you the one who winked at me?"

Halos masamid ako sa sarili kong laway. Really, Oliver? You're asking that? Agad akong nakaramdam ng kahihiyan sa harapan niya.

I nodded. "Yeah, sorry. Trip ko lang yun gawin that time." Pagpapalusot ko.

"No worries," he chuckled. Sinamaan ko nalang siya ng tingin nang makita kong parang nang-aasar pa siya dahil kinindatan ko siya noon.

Oh right! Bigla kong naalala na bumalik siya after niyang magsabi na mauuna na siya. "Hey, may I ask, bakit ka nga pala bumalik?"

"Ah, sa kabilang direksyon talaga daan ko. May hiniram lang akong libro sa public library." Doon ko lang napansin na may hawak nga siyang nakabalot sa papel na bagay. It must be the book.

Pero napaka wrong timing niya, sa totoo lang.

"Anyway, I shall head home. Nandoon na rin ata driver ko sa tapat ng coffee shop."

"I'll see you off," yaya niya sa akin. Tumango na lang din ako sa kanya at sabay kaming lumabas ng mall.

We were both quiet. It seems like, he was thinking about the revelation I have dropped. Well, I can't blame him, lahat naman siguro, magugulat sa ginawa namin ni Lara. Speaking of, shall I tell her this?

Well, I think, it doesn't matter anymore. We will go back to our respective schools once I solved our problem with Hilton.

I have no choice but to accept his offer and after that, he won't bother us anymore.

"Let me have one day with you, Lara. Just one day...and then you can decide if you still don't want anything to do with me."

Yeah, just one day. I'll survive that one day.

Nakarating na kami sa coffee shop at tama nga akong nandito na ang driver. "Nandito na sundo ko, Oliver. Salamat. Yung promise mo ah," pagpapaalala ko sa kanya.

His lips twitched in a smile and he nodded. "Noted. Don't worry."

Binuksan ko na ang kotse nang magsalita siyang muli. "How will I distinguish you and Lara? I mean, mahirap pa iyon lalo na kung kakikilala palang."

He has a point. "I'll call you Oli when I approach you...and, huwag mo na lang sabihin sa kanya na alam mo na ang tungkol dito. Ako nang bahala." Because this thing is ending soon.

He nodded. "Yeah. Well, hopefully, I met your twin before this switch comes to an end."

I didn't prevent myself to smile. "You already met her," I said and hop inside the car. I saw him dumfounded when the car already left.

Maybe Lara is doing a great job pretending to be me reason why Oliver took no notice. I smiled at the thought.

Nakarating kami sa bahay and my parents already there. Good thing, hindi ako pinagalitan. Sinabihan lang akong maya maya ay magdidinner na. Agad akong pumunta sa kwarto ni Lara at naabutan siyang nagbabasa.

"Hey," I greeted.

"How's your date?" She asked and trust me, I nearly rolled my eyes.

"Hindi iyon date. It's purely academic." Tinawanan niya lang ako.

Sinabi ko sa kanya mga napag-usapan namin ni Oliver about sa paper. I also need to tell her that I'll take the next turn sa Enderun.

It's her turn actually, pero I have to deal with Hilton as soon as possible.

"What? Are you sure about that?" she asked.

Tumango ako sa kanya. "I'll be the one who should deal with Hilton. Kapag okay na, pwede na tayong tumigil. Honestly, I wanted to stay at Enderun for this whole year, sis. Pero imposible iyon dahil pareho tayong nahihirapan. Kaya naman, it's better to stop this habang maaga pa."

Ugh! I finally come to my senses.

"I honestly kinda enjoying the switch, Fara. It's thrilling, but it's scary most of the time."

Napalingon ako sa sinabi niya. Who would have thought that Lara Urquico will enjoy this set-up?

Napangiti na lang ako. "Finally, nagigising ko na ata ang adventurous side mo."

She laughed at that. "Wala pa ring tatalo sa'yo, Fara. Of all the ideas, you come up with this. Ibang level ang pagiging adventurous mo."

"Like you said, it's fun!"

She smiled at me. "I hope I have the courage like yours, Fara. I mean, you're not scared at all to try and experience new things."

I nodded at her. "There are things that you shouldn't let it pass, lalo na kung minsan lang naman darating sa'yo. Pero honestly, I wish I have the prudence like yours, Lara. Sa ating dalawa, ikaw yung nagweweigh muna ng consequences before putting your plan into action. I admire you for that."

Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Well, goodluck, Fara. Hope you braved the waves."

I silently took a deep breath. I hope I really brave the waves.