The Glass Slipper (Short-Story)

Chapter 5 - It fits

      LADY FIRE'S POV

Nagising ako dahil sa phone call. Argh! Aga aga. Ang ingay.

Kinapa kapa ko yung phone ko sa may side table near my bed and answered it without even looking at the screen.

"Goooooodmorning. Hindi ako nakatawag agad nung nakarating ako e. How are you? I miss you! Kumain ka na ba?" The voice on the other line said. Ang ingay. Tuloy tuloy magsalita. Napangiti nalang ako. How I miss my naggy sister.

"Lady Ice." I said. "I'm up!" At tumayo na ko. Hinawi ko yung kurtina sa kwarto.

Dire-diretso lang akong lumabas and Ice started talking "Fire. Dad wants you to go here." And that made me stop walking.

"Fire. Kelangan ka sa company. Si Dad nasa hospital. Tayong dalawa lang ang pwedeng mag-mana. B-but."

"But what Ice?"

"He want you to study again and take up business----"

"Ice No!" I shouted.

"Fire kung hindi ka daw dadating dito bukas, they'll cut our connection. Fire ilalayo nila tayong dalawa."

"Don't let them Ice!" My eyes became teary pero kinontrol ko ang sarili ko not to cry. "They can't control me. And they can't take you away from me. Pinapunta ka na nga nila diyan e! Far from me. And Now?!" I said devasted. "Ice alam mong ayaw ko ng business thingy na yan for crying out loud! I want to be normal. To be ordinary!" Napasabunot na ko sa buhok ko sa sobrang frustration na nararandaman ko.

Its my sister na ilalayo sakin. Hindi ko na nga siya kasama. Tatanggalan pa nila ko ng connection sakanya? Hindi pwede. Hindi ko kaya. Siya nalang pinanghahawakan ko.

"Fire just--just go home here."

"Ice you know---you fvckin know that that place is not my home. Being with them is not my home." Napaupo ako sa hagdan. I was never treated as their daughter. They call me the black sheep. Ni-hindi na nga nila ko sinusustentuhan gagawin pa nila sakin to? All my life I keep on trying to be like Ice. To be the smartest. The most beautiful. The most special. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko talaga kaya. Pero pinilit ko. Napagod lang talaga ko. 

There was always a comparison between me and my twin. Nasasaktan ako sobra sa mga nangyayari at mga nasasabi nila sakin nun. Ice always belong to the star section samantalang ako laging nasa last section. But it wasn't the point. I'm happy. I've been real. 

Kaya lang palagi nila akong napapagalitan. Nagkaroon ako ng mga kaibigan. Kaya lang pinapalayo nila ko. Gusto nila sila ang pipili nang mga makakasama ko. Nang mga taong pepwede lang lumapit sakin. Kaya mas lalo akong nasakal. Lalo kong pinili na lumayo dahil alam kong hindi ko kaya sa puder nila.

That's when I decided to go here in the Philippines. I had money back then nung nasa States kami. I was 15 back then nung tumakas ako sa bahay. Alone. Pero nung nasa eroplano na ko. Nagulat na lang ako nang may tumabi sakin. Unexpectedly, yun ay yung kambal ko.

I was so shocked that time at nakanganga lang sakanya. But she just smiled at me and answered:

We are connected you woman. Alam mo naman na kung nasan ang isa andun din ang isa. Fire would be nothing without Ice. And Ice is nothing if Fire's not around. We should breath the same air Lady Fire. Always.

And I will never forget those words she said. Kaya kahit napagsasabihan kami nun at nakukumpara ako sakanya. Never ako nagkaroon ng sama ng loob kay Ice. She's my bestfriend. And she will always be. Siya lang ang karamay ko sa lahat ng bagay at siya lang ang hindi nangiwan sakin. Tell me, is there any reason to hate her?