The Switch: Fara's Turn | On-Going

CHAPTER 4

This day is basically a nightmare. Oh goodness, please wake me up! This is not happening!

Alam ko sa sarili ko na halos hindi na maipinta ang mukha ko sa sobrang halo halong emosyon na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

Kakauwi lang nila Mom and Dad from work, and yes, they got me an oh-so-nice news! They called Enderun and they pulling out my tuition fees! So they are really serious huh?

Plus, they called this I-don't-remember-the-name university so I could take entrance exam even though I am so freakingly late for that!

Hindi na ako makapagsalita sa sobrang sama ng loob ko. I ran from the living room and went straight to Lara's room which surprised her by my sudden appearance.

"I can't believe it, Lara! I can't believe it that Dad will do this to me!"

I paced back and forth in my twin sister's room. Hindi ko talaga matanggap ang naging desisyon ni Dad. How come he can do this to me?

Alam niyang gusto ko doon! Alam niya y'on! But what did he do? It seems like he thrown me out.

"Fara, relax. Wala rin namang magagawa kung magagalit ka lang. Talk to Dad again kapag pareho nang malamig ang ulo niyo," my sister uttered.

Ibinagsak ko na lamang ang aking katawan sa kanyang kama at napabuntong hininga. I am so freaking mad!

But yeah, wala rin namang magagawa kung magagalit lang ako. It can't change Dad's decision. I know Dad. He is very firm. When he said no, it is really a no.

I'm doomed!

"Sorry," she said.

Tinignan ko siya na tila ba tinubuan siya ng panibagong ulo sa katawan. What is she talking about? It's not her fault.

"Stop that, Lara. We all know Dad's decision has nothing to do with you. Everything was based on my behavior and attitude."

"Yeah, I know. Pero, I feel bad about it. It's your dream school, Fara. I'm sorry, kasi even me, I can't do anything about it. If only there's a way na makakapasok ka rin doon," she sadly aforementioned.

Natahimik lang ako sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Paulit ulit na nag-play sa utak ko ang mga katagang if only there's a way na makakapasok ako doon...

"WHAT THE HELL?!" I shouted and got up from the bed.

That's it! There's a way!

Nagtatatalon ako at pumalakpak pa nang mapagtanto ang lahat lahat. I can't contain my excitement at nayakap ko pa si Lara na ikinagulat naman ng huli.

"What's with you? Kanina lang you were like a wild cat that cannot be tamed, and now, look at you, you're...happy and...it's weird, sis."

"Thanks to you, Lara! I finally got an idea!"

She looked at me questioningly. "What do you mean?"

I gave her a meaningful smile.

"Let's switch!"

With that, her jaw drops. "You're insane."

Oh, sis. You know I can be.

Hindi ko maialis ang ngiti ko because at last, I finally found a solution. Not an exact solution but atleast, can be used as a remedy.

"No way, Fara! Paano kung mahuli tayo?" I saw nervousness in Lara's face.

"Hindi naman tayo magpapahuli eh," I reasoned out.

"That's so skeptical," she said. Well, yes, she has a point on that, but we could try.

"Come on sis! Hindi naman natin palaging gagawin. Plus, we know each other damn well, so it wouldn't hard for us!"

Napahilamos si Lara sa kanyang mukha. "Fara, ano ka ba? I can't do that. I cannot act like you and be like you. Even though we know each other's attitude, it is hard for me to adjust."

"We could practice. We have one month left, Lara," I said, a matter of fact.

"Oh God, Fara. Stop being so positive!"

Napairap ako sa kanya. There's nothing wrong about being positive. It's plausible naman kasi!

"It's dangerous, Fara. Paano kung may makaalam sa kalokahan natin? Pareho tayong sasabit."

"Learn to take a risk, sis. It's my chance to finally study in Enderun without even changing myself entirely!"

"Fara, kaya ka nga binigyan ni Dad ng consequence para tumino ka, not to add another foolishness. You can study naman in Enderun after a year. We don't have to do this just so you can experience being in Enderun because basically, you'll experience it soon if you deal with Dad's condition," mahabang paliwanag ni Lara.

I see her point. But the fact that I will not start my first year in my dream school makes me sad.

Napaupo na lang ako sa kanyang kama na bigo sa naisip kong plano. Guess, I really have to deal with my consequence, whether I like it or not.

"Sorry, Lara. I won't bother you anymore about this stuff. Good night, sis," I said and went outside of her room.

Pumunta na lang ako sa aking kwarto. In normal days, I will probably go to the living room and watch shows whichever I want. But I was too sad to do that. This isn't even a normal day for me! A lot has happened!

I prepared myself to go to bed. I changed in my nighties clothes. Hindi na ko kakain ng dinner, nakakawalang gana rin naman knowing na kasabay ko sila Dad. I will just sleep and hope na matapos kaagad ang one year.

Jeez, iniisip ko pa lang, ang tagal na!

I was already laying down my bed when I heard a soft knock.

"Fara?" Napabangon ako nang marinig ko si Lara sa labas ng aking kwarto.

I didn't hesitate to open the door. Agad din naman siyang pumasok.

I looked at her and waited for her to speak. She took a deep breath and the next words she uttered really caught me off guard.

"Okay, Fara. Pumapayag na ako. Let's do the exchange."