Miss Fortune

"Anak, study well okay? Ikaw lang ang tanging tagamana ng company natin at saiyo nakasalalay ang future ng mga pinaghirapan namin ng mommy mo," sabi ni Daddy habang nasa kotse niya kami patungo sa school ko.

This is my first day at ang daming bilin ni Daddy sa akin na mag-aral daw ako nang mabuti. Alam ko naman na ang bigat ng dadalhin ko kapag hindi ako nag-ayos ng pag-aaral ko ngayon.

"I know Dad, but what if I fail?"

"Anak kita Shiera at wala sa lahi natin ang mabigo sa buhay but if you do, take it as a challenge and a chance to be the better version of yourself. I raised you to be like that so I know that you're good as fine baby," sabi sa akin ni Daddy.

Daddy said that I should take these as a challenge and a chance to be a better version of myself but this is already draining me out. How I wish he's still here by my side saying "You can do it, I know you can."

But he's not.

Dad died in an accident when he went to his business trip the month when I'm supposed to be graduating as a Bachelor of Business Management. I don't know what to feel at that moment. It felt like I lost my world.

And now I'm losing my everything, again.

"Ma'am Shiera, are you sure that you don't need anything? Ilang araw ka na po hindi kumakain baka magkasakit na po kayo niyan," nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ng aking assistant.

"Okay lang yan Hannah, wala naman na akong babalikan pagkatapos nito. Hindi na rin naman nararamdaman ang gutom sa kabila ng mga ikinaso nila sa akin. Nag-drugs daw ako sa isang bar, nahuli raw akong nakikipagsex sa anak ng kalaban kong kompanya at iyong shares ko raw sa kabilang kompanya ay ginamit ko upang mapaangat itong Malaya Company na ito. Hindi ko nga alam na may shares ako sa ibang company other than this. Gosh this is so fucked up," pagrant ko kay Hannah. Siya lang kasi ang natitira sa akin, she's with me since I was little.

"Hannah, just don't leave me. That will the last favor I'll be asking from you," sabi ko sa kanya bago siya tumango at lumabas sa office ko.

'Damn this fucked up life of mine. Is this a fucking playlist full of misery?'

Out of frustration I opened the drawer of my table at kumuha ng fortune cookies. Nakasanayan ko nang kumain nito tuwing problemado ako at hindi alam ang gagawin.

Noong bata pa kasi ako ay binigyan ako nito ni Daddy at sinabing "Don't think, just open this and your soul will be blessed and guided with joy," kaya naging paboritong pagkain ko na ito at tinawag pa nila akong Miss Fortune Cookies.

Si Daddy nanaman.

Tumigil ako sa pagkain nang biglang mag-ring ang laptop ko.

"Good morning. Please be informed of the press conference scheduled at 3 in the afternoon concerning the issues under your name."

Hayst.

Nagpetition kasi ang board na kapag hindi raw ako pumayag sa conference ay papaalisin nila ako sa company and will see me in the court. At dahil wala talaga akong maintindihan kung bakit ako ang naiipit sa sitwasyon na ito ay sumang-ayon na lamang ako sa kanila -- para na rin malinaw ang pangalan ko sa lahat ng tao.

"Miss Shiera Smith, totoo po bang nagdadrugs ka?"

"Nakipag-sex ka po ba kay Mister Augusto na anak ng may-ari ng rival company mo?"

"Ma'am-"

I faked cough to make them stop and then I started talking.

"Good afternoon everyone, I am here to inform all of you that I don't know why the issues are under my name. I can guarantee you that I am hundred percent sure that I am not involved in any issues you're holding against me. That's all, thank you," sabi ko bago mag-bow at umalis.

Agad ko namang tinawagan ang private detective ko upang tanungin kung sino nga ba ang nagset up sa akin ng mga issues na kumakalat ngayon.

"Ma'am, hindi ko po alam kung bakit pero kayo po talaga ang nasa footage ng cctv-"

"Ha? How come that I don't remember such a thing? Nagbar ako last friday night -- yes --  but I wasn't that drunk to forget what happened after. Also, the bar that I went to last friday and the bar that they've seen are different. Akira, do your best to find the fucking culprit or else -- you know what I mean," sabi ko bago ibaba ang call.

Gosh, imbis na death anniversary ni Dad ang inaasikaso ko ay mga issues na hindi ko man lang kayang magawa. I don't even know how sex feels like.

Damn.

After the press conference ay sinabihan akong maghintay for further updates. At nabalitaan ko rin kay Iñigo na on-the-go pa rin ang culprit.

"Find the fucking culprit! Do whatever it takes, even if you need to kill it then so be it," huli kong bilin kay Akira bago niya ako tawagan at sabihan na nakita niya raw ako na bumalik sa bar kung saan kumalat na nagdrugs ako.

Wtf?! I didn't even bother to go out because of those goddamn issues.

"Akira lure her out, meet with her. And get some information about who the fuck she is," text ko sa kanya.

I don't know if I misheard her or not but as far as I remember, I have no families left, no brother nor sister. So whoever that poser may be, I'll put her into jail and let her suffer.

Days passed and -- yet -- I don't have a clue on who's the person using my name for her entertainment. The board members also told me that I should stay away from the company's premises until I proved them that it is not me who is playing around and ruining the company's name.

I just decided to watch a documentary when a breaking news interrupted the channel.

Kainis naman eh nasa pinaka-important part na ang pinapanood ko eh. Panira ng kasiyahan.

"Woman, 31 years old, shot dead at Sampaloc, Manila yesterday evening. Identity is still under confirmation.

This is Vicky Sanchez for YOU updates."

Tumunog naman ang cellphone ko at napakaraming text ang bumungad sa akin.

"Omg Sheira I know you're dead already, but I just want you to know that you're the best thing that ever happened to me. "

"Buti nga sayo."

"I'm sorry for everything, I hope you're now okay, wherever you are."

Ano? Dead? Shiera Smith is dead? Wtf?

Shiera Smith died while watching a documentary, tsk.

But what caught my attention the most is Akira's text.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry that I have killed you. I didn't mean to, the bullet was meant for the poser. I'm very sorry."

Even Akira is thinking that I am dead? What the actual fuck? Of all people?

I stopped ranting and grabbed my phone instead. I started dialing Akira 's phone number.

"Oh Akira ? Balita ko namatay na raw ako?"

"Ma- ma'am, I thought it was you but I was mistaken. Ma'am Shiera, I shoot her...dead,"nanghihinang balita niya sa akin.

"Yes I know. Did you get the name of that fucking poser? I swear justice is served now that she's dead. At last wala nang mawawala sa akin. Hindi na mawawala ang mga bagay na natitira na lamang-"

I was stopped when Akira said something.

"The name is Kirra Smith, your long-lost twin sister."

When I thought I was losing everything...

When I thought that I already prevented someone from making me lose my everything...

I just lost what is my real everything.

I just killed who is left for me, my supposed to be everything, my twin sister.