Les Coeurs Jumeaux

Chapter 1

Serena's POV

The way she looked at me, hindi ko na napigilang manginig.

Of course I'm used to her it. Her deadly glares and snarky remarks. But this one, parang may ibig sabihin eh, parang may message.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Tumingin ako kay Mommy na halos naluluha na. My worry quickly shifted into anger. Ano ba naman 'yan Stacy! Everyday na lang ganito. Walang araw ang natatapos na walang siyang nagagawang ikalulungot ng parents namin.

"Ma.." I started.

She blinked before forcing a smile on her face.

"I'm fine, Serena." Lumunok siya and wipped her face gamit ang panyo na pinahiram sa kanya ni Dad.

"Well," Dad said, "just send the soft copy file to Harper and she'll take care of handling the advertising department. In the meantime, ihanda mo muna yung gamit mo. You don't want to be late. "

"Yes, Dad." Tumango lang ako before I started gathering the papers strewn over the table. May isang nahulog and I realized that it was the drawing I was finished earlier.

I hesitated before smoothening out the paper. Tumalikod ako para ipakita kina Mama pero, wala na sila. Hays.

Dahil early riser ako, kanina pa ako nakapaghanda so there was nothing left to do but put away the posters and send the soft copy to Harper.

I redid my ponytail and retouched the almost non-existent makeup I had on. With a final kiss from Mom and a pat on the shoulder from Dad, I was ready to go.

Sa labas, nakapark pa yung serive car ni Stacy. I hopped inside mine and greeted Mang Oliver before we set off to school.

Diretso ako sa locker ko pagdating ko sa school. As usual, walang pumapansin sa invisible kambal ni Stacy Elizalde. Kaya nga invisible diba.

Inirapan ako ng mga so called "friends" ni Stacy. Wala pa kasi yung leader nila kaya para silang mga nawawalang tuta sa corridor. They can't do anything kasi all of their actions are based on what another person says. Pathetic right? I mean, lahat sila mga walang independence.

Muntik nang maipit ang mga daliri ko when someone slammed my locker door shut.

Tiningnan ko yung girl na naka six inch heels that are obviously killing her, base dun sa way she winces sa bawat apak niya sa lupa.

Ah, si Erika Ocampo. Ang best friend and second in command ni Stacy. Lagi naman siyang second eh.

Shadow ni Stacy. Co-captain ng cheer team. Ang pinupuntahan ng mga leftover boys ni Stacy. Never last yet never first. Second, pangalawa.

I don't know what to feel about her to be honest. Yung tipong naawa ka pero you remember who they are and what they do.

Nakakapagod kaya maging second-best. To be second choice. Pero it doesn't excuse the choices that makes her who she is.

"Aw, 'wawa naman si Serena," she pouted her unrealistically plump lips. "wala siyang kasama."

Their fake shrieks of laughter sounded like nails scraping a chalkboard. It bounces off the corridor walls and echoes in your ears. Nakakarindi.

"Loner."

"Freak."

"Nerd."

"Fashion disaster."

Lumaki yung smirk ni Erika sa "fashion disaster". Nagform yung groupo nila ng half-circle palibot sakin, caging me against my locker. Sa iba, it looks like we're deep in conversation. For me, it means I'm trapped.

"Weak."

Tinitigan ko lang yung maliit na dumi malapit sa paa ni Erika. I silently seethed, my breathing coming ragged breaths as I fought to keep myself together.

"Touched a nerve? Sabagay, weak ka kasi."

For a moment, nakalimutan ko kung nasaan ako at kung sinong kausap ko. Dahan-dahan kong itinaas ang ulo ko, my confidence flaring when I saw all of them flinch.

"Oo, mahinhin ako, mahiyain at tahimik. Pero hindi "weak" ang ibig sabihin non, Ms.Ocampo. It just means that I have more patience tolerating shallow people like you. It means," I said, taking a step forward and marvelling at how the whole squad took a step back. "that I posses the ability to close my mouth and open my mind. But you're too weak to control your mouth aren't you? You would rather open your legs than your mind."

A collective gasp filled the hallway before it erupted in whispers. I had pushed back the group far enough para marinig ng lahat ang sinabi ko.

Shrinking against her friends, Erika spluttered and flushed red in embarrassment and frustration before turning purple in rage.

"How dare you." she fumed, balling her hands into fists. Ako naman ang nagstep back.

Shit.

Sumalpok yung ulo ko sa locker. Dumilim yung paningin ko for a moment and I felt Erika's nails dig into my neck. I clawed desperately at her hand pero lalo niya lang hinigpitan ang hawak niya.

"Stop...Please...Tama...Na." I choked out.

Malapit na akong magblack out when she stopped. I fell to the floor and sucked in rapid and shallow breaths. Narinig kong umalis yung mga tao except for one person.

"Next time, don't fight back." Someone whispered in my ear before waking away.

But it wasn't Erika whose heels I heard clacking away in the nearly deserted hallway.