Davidson Academy: School of Chambers

EPISODE 3

Chapter 3- She's Lying, Right?

Samantha's POV*

Tahimik akong nakatingin sa labas ng bintana at pinagmasdan ang mga building na nadadaanan namin. I don't even remember that I used to walk in this way towards our home but the scenario seems familiar. My mind might have forgotten everything but my heart can remember.

"Something's bothering you, Sam. Saan ka ba nagpunta kanina?" tanong ni Joules. Nagbalik ako sa realidad at tinignan siya.

"Sa rooftop," I answered. Tumango naman siya.

"Nakita mo ba si Math? He loves staying in a quiet place," sabi ni Joules. 

"No, I was alone," I lied. Tinignan ko siya mata sa mata para di niya mahalatang nagsisinungaling ako. He smirked at me.

"Even though you are looking at me straight in the eyes I can say you are lying," sabi niya. I guess he really knows me. But there's no way I'm going to admit I'm lying!

"Any evidence?" I asked as if challenging him. He grinned at me na parang confident siya na mananalo siya sa isang pageant.

"You still have the habit of tapping your fingers when you're lying," nakangising sabi niya. Automatic naman akong napatingin sa daliri kong nakapatong sa lap ko. I am really tapping my fingers!

"T-That's not enough you know," sabi ko. His annoying grin is still plastered on his face.

"I know you too well Sam," sabi niya. I sighed in defeat. I guess he really knows me well.

"W-Why do you think I suddenly changed, Joules? You know, from bubbly to sullen," tanong ko. I can't help but be curious about who I really am.

"I'm not sure, but all I noticed is that you kept receiving glares from your older sister secretly," sabi niya. Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Older sister? Bakit hindi ko alam 'to?

"Sister? I thought I am an only child?" takang tanong ko. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Joules.

"You mean, Tita and Tito didn't tell you that you have a sister?" tanong niya. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko. So I really have a sister! Why did mom and dad hide this from me?

"Yeah, I suppose we are not on good terms?" sabi ko. He said a while ago that my sister kept on glaring at me secretly. So she hates me?

"I think so," sagot niya. Hindi na lang ako umimik.

So that explains kung bakit hindi ko man lang nakita ang anino niya noong nasa hospital ako. I don't know if she's in the house these past few weeks dahil hindi naman ako lumalabas ng kwarto. But the thing is, bakit hindi sinabi ni mom and dad sa akin? Are they hiding something away from me?

"Hey, we are here," sabi ni Joules. Agad naman akong napalingon sa kanya at narealize ko na nasa harap na pala kami ng bahay.

"Thanks sa paghatid sa akin," I said and smiled. He chuckled that's why I can't help but to raise my right eyebrow.

"We are neighbors you know," he said and wiggled his eyebrows. Nagulat naman ako dun. Seriously? Akala ko nag-effort siya sa pagpunta sa bahay para masundo lang ako!

"Which one is your house then?" takang tanong ko. Agad niyang tinuro ang malaking bahay na kulay blue na may kulay blue na gate. Tanaw na tanaw mula sa kinatatayuan ko ang malawak na garden nila. Katabi ito sa bahay namin!

"This is an exclusive subdivision owned by Math's parents. Only four families are living here, your family, my family, Math's family, and Nat's family," paliwanag niya. So that explains kung bakit apat lang na bahay ang nakikita ko dito. This subdivision is too big for four families.

"Who's Nat?" takang tanong ko. Tinuro niya ang bahay na nasa harap ng bahay namin at ito'y kulay pink. Malaki rin ito at parang doll house. 

"She's Natasha Cortez to be exact and I know you are thinking of visiting her but not now dahil galit pa 'yon sayo," sabi niya. Kumunot naman ang noo ko and waited for him to continue.

"It's just her own way of expressing how worried she is. Nagtatampo 'yon dahil kinalimutan mo raw kami," Joules said. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin.

"I'm sorry," sabi ko. If one of them loses their memory, will I act the same? Magtatampo ba ako? Magagalit?

"Here we go again, hindi mo kasalanan kung bakit naaksidente ka, ikaw talaga!" sabi niya at ginulo ang buhok ko. I glared at him. I gave so much effort on fixing and combing my hair and he's just going to make it messy?!

"So that white house must be Math's home," sabi ko. Half of the gate is black and the other is white.

"Yes," tipid na sagot ni Joules. I smiled at him.

"I gotta go, Joules! See you tomorrow!" I said and waved my hand as I entered the gate of our house. Sinilip ko siyang muli and I frowned when I saw no signs of him. Ang bilis naman niya!

Agad akong pumasok sa bahay at dumiretso sa kwarto ko. Iginala ko pa ang mga mata ko sa kwarto and memorized every details of it.

In the right corner, may mga bookshelf and there are lots of books! May mga manga rin and mystery books and I'm surprised to know that I'm a fan of Sherlock Holmes! I'm reading other mystery books at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang I'm a book geek.

Suddenly the thought of having an older sister crossed my mind. Nacurious tuloy ako, do I really have a sister?

Then an idea popped out of my mind. Nasa isang business trip sina mom and dad and the three maids are on vacation. Should I find out who my sister is?

Bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga ko at lumabas ng kwarto. Hindi muna ako nagbihis kaya naka-uniform pa ako.

Sinuri ko ang mga pintuan ng mga kwarto na nasa second floor. Maliban sa kwartong sinabi ni Dad na hindi ko raw dapat pasukin, may isang kwartong hindi ko pa pinasukan.

Huminto ako sa harap ng pintuan ng kwartong iyon. May nakasulat doon na No Strangers Allowed. Huminga ako ng malalim saka pinihit ang doorknob.

Nothing strange, it seems like an ordinary room. May queen-sized bed na kulay blue at wala akong napapansing tao. Nakabukas ang isang libro na nakapatong sa study table. Madilim ang kwarto at tanging liwanag lamang mula sa lampshade ang maaaninag mo.

"You know how to read, but you can't understand what's written on the door so you're useless."

Napapitlag ako nang marinig ang boses ng isang babae. Napahawak pa ako sa dibdib ko. A girl appeared in front of me at galing pa siya sa bathroom dahil basa pa ito at tanging towel lang ang nagtatakip sa kanyang katawan.

Biglang umurong ang dila ko. She must be my sister who loathed me. I don't know but I don't hate her. My eyes are swelling not because of anger, but I felt like I'm longing for her.

"I heard what happened to you my sister, so you must have forgotten your exact position in this family," sabi niya. So I'm right, she's my sister. Pero anong pinagsasabi niya?

"W-What do you mean?" tanong ko. She looked at me seriously at humakbang papalapit sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang name tag na nasa uniform ko.

"You don't have the right to have that last word in this name tag," sabi niya. Nagulat ako nang bigla niya itong hablutin mula sa uniform ko.

"W-What do you mean?" kinakabahang tanong ko. Itinapon niya ang name tag sa sahig at tumawa ng napakalakas.

"So you really forgot everything! I thought you are just pretending to lose your memories to escape!" sabi niya at tumawa ng napakalakas. Mas lalo akong naguluhan.

"I'm not pretending, and what do you mean that I want to escape?" tanong ko. Kinuha ko ang name tag mula sa sahig.

"I'll explain to you everything. You are my little sister who keeps on begging for my love, but I hate you! I hate you to death! But you are so desperate sis, and you said you'll do anything for me to treat you as my sister."

"I hate you! Palaging ikaw nalang! You have the looks, the attitude, you're smart, ikaw nalang! That's why I told you to get rid of all the positive view of yours!"

Nagulat naman ako dahil dun. Iyon ba ang dahilan kaya nagpaka-nerd ako? Just to get her sympathy? Iyon ba ang dahilan kung bakit naging mailap ako sa mga tao?

"You're right my sister, that's why you made yourself an ugly one! And you even became a killer!" she shouted. Tumulo naman ang luha ko na kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

"But why do you hate me?" tanong ko. I don't have anything, hindi naman ako maganda! I don't even know if I'm smart! And she is very pretty kaya di ko alam kung bakit insecure siya sa akin.

"Because we are not sisters after all! Ampon ka lang! Ampon!" she shouted.

Natigilan naman ako. Am I not a real daughter of my mom and dad? Kung ganun, sino ba talaga ako?

"Y-You must be joking," I said and forced a laugh. Maraming nagsasabi na kamukha ko si dad, and I'm holding onto that piece of evidence. Tama, kamukha ko sila.

"I'm not. Why don't you ask them?" sabi niya. Paulit-ulit akong umiling.

If I am the weak Samantha then I shouldn't be. I will be the new Samantha. I need to be strong, and I shouldn't be the one who keeps on begging.

Hindi ko dapat ipagsiksikan ang sarili ko sa kanya. If she hates me, then let her be. I am still Samantha and I can live without her presence.

Ilang beses akong bumuntong-hininga and faced her. I flashed the most serious face I can have.

"You need evidence to prove na isa akong ampon." seryoso kong sabi. If she is the reason kung bakit nagdamit-nerd ako, then I'll say she's the cause of my misery. 

"Wait for me to come back here my big sis, I'll prove to your face that you are wrong," matapang na sabi ko. I smirked at her. "I won't beg for your affection anymore. I'm better than you. I'll slap that to your face until your insecurities eat you."

Pagkasabi ko nun, dali-dali akong lumabas ng kwarto niya. Agad akong pumasok sa kwarto ko and started crying. What if ampon talaga ako? What if she's right?

(end of chapter)