My Other Half

3

I am in a library doing something and someone suddenly covered my eyes.

“Guess who?” A male voice asked.

“It’s only you who does this.” I answered involuntarily. Tapos binaba naman ng lalake ang mga palad niya sa mga mata ko. Tumakbo siya sa kabilang dulo ng mesa and he sat across me.

“Katherine, why do you love reading books?” Nakapatong ang arms niya sa mesa at tinitingnan ang mga libro sa harapan ko.

“In books, I can live different lives.” Sagot ko. Pero bakit ako sumagot? I’m not Katherine. I’m Lyra.

Then tumingala ang lalake at tinignan ako sa mga mata ko. Green eyes with a matching black hair.

It’s him again.

Nandito ako ngayon sa Shakeaway kasama si Daniel. Alam kong it’s the middle of November at hindi dapat ako umiinom ng shake dahil malapit na mag winter. Pero who cares? I do what I want and it’s a human thing to do kung ano ang bawal. We can’t help it.

“So what is this brilliant idea of yours?” Daniel asked.

Kagabi kasi, I had an idea kung paano namin gagawin ang experiment namin kaya tinext ko kaagad si Daniel kung anong oras matatapos ang last lesson niya. It’s Friday at wala akong pasok at kaninang umaga lang shift ko kaya nag meet kami ngayon hapon. Kinulit niya pa ako kagabi kung ano ba yung idea ko pero I couldn’t risk it. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin sa kanya by phone dahil I know I won’t be able to convince him.

“So,” Pagsisimula ko. Nakahawak ang dalawang kamay ko sa shake sa mesa sa sobrang kaba. “For experiment, I thought of doing a matched pair design by using twins.” Sabi ko and I waited for his reply pero parang hindi niya pa nage gets ang idea ko dahil hindi pa siya nagagalit.

“Have you found a twin where we could do the experiment on?” Mahinahong tanong niya.

“Yes.” At tinignan ko siya ng maigi. Hoping na sana I don’t have to say it. Na sana he will be able to get across my telepathic message.

And he did dahil his eyes slowly grew larger. “You don’t mean-, no! No way in hell!”

“Oh please Daniel! This will be a special experiment and for sure there won’t be a lot of pairs who can do this type of experiment.” I begged him using my puppy dog eyes but unluckily, it didn’t work.

“Ly, I am a psychology student. I shouldn’t be involve during the experiment as it affect results of the study since I know about the tricks of psychology!”

“I know that! I’ve emailed Professor Lawson last night and he said that this would be a brilliant idea as long as we can come up with an experimental method in which you can’t figure out the aim of the study. I’ll think of it. Just please!”

“You’ve come prepared huh. No wonder you wouldn’t tell me this by phone last night even if I bothered you endlessly. Sorry to tell you but even if I agree, Connor wouldn’t. In case you forgot we are not in good terms right now.”

“Then make up with him! You guys are brothers. Gosh you’re twins! You should not be fighting with him and if one of you have to lower his pride then do it Daniel. It’s for our project.”

“Then that’s more reason why he wouldn’t agree. You don’t know Connor Ly, he’s not easy to please.”

“I’ll talk to him and convince him. You guys are the perfect samples because you have a lot of similarities. Your facial and body features look exactly the same like an actual carbon copy.”

“We are different. We have different hearts.” He said in a low voice. Low enough that it was hard to hear pero I leaned in just to hear it. We are in a debate right now so I can’t lose. During a debate you must have a hundred ears and a thousand mouths.

“I know you two have different personality. But trust me we will do fine.” I looked at him right into his eyes at naaalala ko na naman ang panaginip ko kagabi.

“Dale?” Daniel averted his eyes by looking at the glass window right next to us. And there was a woman standing there with plastic bags in her hands.

“Mum.” Daniel said softly. Tumayo siya at lumabas ng café at pinuntahan ang babae sa labas. Bumalik naman sila agad sa loob and Daniel has all of the bags his mother was carrying.

“Hello there.” Sabi ng Mama niya.

“Hello Mrs. Duke.” Nginitian ko siya at umupo siya sa upuan sa tabi ko since it was a small circle table ay nasa gitna namin siya ni Daniel.

“Dale, have you asked Cole kung pupunta siya tonight?” Tanong ng mama niya kay Daniel at napatingin ako sa Mama niya.

“Excuse me. But are you Filipino?” Tanong ko sa kanya.

“Oh ija, pinay ka ba?” I nodded as an answer at tinignan ko si Daniel. Halata rin ang gulat sa mukha niya.

“You’re Filipino? But your last name is Wang. I thought you’re Chinese.” Tanong ni Daniel.

“I’m quarter Chinese. Ikaw? You’re really Filipino?”

“Yeah. I’m half.”

“Oh ija, gusto mo pumunta mamaya sa bahay? There is a small ocassion. Some of Dale’s friends are coming too. Pumunta ka na rin.”

“Okay po…” I answered unsure. Hindi ko pa gaanong close si Daniel so I don’t think I deserve the invitation.

“Call me Tita Madeline. I will be waiting for you tonight.” Mala anghel ang ngiti ng mama ni Daniel. Tumayo siya sa inuupuan niya at yun din ang ginawa ni Daniel.

“Ma, I’ll carry these bags.”

“No it’s fine anak. I’m going to meet your dad across the road. And you can’t just leave this young lady right here.” Tumingin si Tita Madeline sakin.

“Oh hindi po Tita. It’s okay. Patapos narin naman po kami sa pinag usapan namin.”

“No. I’ll will be fine these bags are not that heavy Dale. Just stay here. Kita kits mamaya?” Hindi ko pa pala nasabi ang pangalan ko.

“Lyra po. Lyra Wang.”

“See you later Lyra.” She smiled one last time at naglakad na siya palabas ng café. Sinundan naman ni Daniel ng tingin ang mama niya.

“Nakakatagalog ka?” Tanong ko sa kanya nang wala na sa paningin namin ang ina niya.

“Nope. I can understand some words but I don’t want to speak it. I sound weird.”

“Come on! Try!”

“No. And for your brilliant idea, it’s a no as well.” He emphasized on the word brilliant with full of sarcasm. He’s really good at changing the subject.

“If I persuade Connor. Then you have to agree too.”

“That’s it if you can. Good luck with that. I’ll text you with the address, just come tonight at 6pm.”

I nodded at him at sabay na kaming lumabas ng café. While walking, ang tanging nasa isip ko lang ay kung paano ico convince si Connor to agree on this project. I hardly know anything about him. What can I do to bribe him? Sighs, this is tough. I’d really need the luck.