Davidson Academy: School of Chambers

EPISODE 4

Chapter 4- Sunset

Samantha's POV*

"Is there something wrong, honey?"

Tila nagbalik ako sa realidad nang magsalita si mom. I didn't realize that I was spacing out and I was shocked nang makitang bugbog-sarado na ang steak dahil sa kakatusok ko ng tinidor. Poor steak, I'm sorry.

"N-Nothing mom, but why are we the only ones here?" takang tanong ko. Kumunot naman ang noo nilang dalawa at nagkatinginan.

"What do you mean honey?" tanong ni mom. Ibinaba ko ang kubyertos ko at tinignan sila ng seryoso.

"Should I call my older sister out?" tanong ko. Halatang nagulat silang dalawa but they immediately composed themselves.

"I-I'm sorry for not telling you soon, we are just worried na makakasama sa pag-develope mo if you know na may kapatid ka, I don't know the problem between the two of you but you are in bad terms and you don't want to open u--"

"I did not ask you to explain mom, I'm asking if I should call her out," sabi ko. I know mom and dad are just worried about me but it's not an enough reason para itago sa akin na may kapatid ako. I don't want to blame them dahil alam kong nag-aalala lang rin sila. Si Stephanie na rin mismo ang nagsabi sa akin na ayaw niyang malaman ko na magkapatid kami dahil hindi naman talaga kami magkapatid.

Yes, my older sister's name is Stephanie Go. She hates me but I don't resent her. Instead, I pity her. I pity her to have a sister like me.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot nila at umakyat na. My hands are shaking pero hindi ko pinahalata 'yon. I don't even know why but I hate getting rejected by her. In other words, I hate being rejected.

Hindi ako kumatok at tuloy-tuloy lang sa pagpasok. I saw her reading the same book na naiwang nakabukas noong pumasok ako sa kwarto niya kanina. Hindi siya lumingon sa akin at nagpatuloy lang sa pagbabasa.

"If you want me to join the dinner, you already know my answer," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa libro niya.

"Have you forgotten that I'll come back here when I have the evidence?" sabi ko. Hindi pa rin siya tumitingin sa akin.

"Ah, to prove that we are sisters? Show it to me then," sabi niya.

"No, to prove that you are wrong about not having the attention of mom and dad. If you are curious with the evidence, join us. Or maybe you are more interested in mom and dad's reaction?" I said with a smirk. Ibinaba niya ang librong hawak niya at tinignan ako ng seryoso.

"You never failed to challenge me, Samantha. Make sure your gift is surprising." sabi niya. Irritation is written all over her face. My grin became wider.

"You won't regret joining us," sabi ko. Hindi na ako nagpaalam sa kanya at lumabas na ng kwarto niya. Nakatingin sa akin si mom and dad habang pababa ako ng hagdan.

"She'll come," nakangiting sabi ko. Mom and dad smiled too. Umupo ako sa upuan ko at hindi muna ginalaw ang pagkain ko. I still feel sorry for the steak I tortured.

Ilang saglit pa ay nakarinig kami ng footsteps ng taong pababa ng hagdan. I flashed a victorious smile dahil alam kong nagtagumpay ako. Hindi ko siya nilingon at kumuha ng isa pang steak.

Umupo siya sa upuang katabi sa akin. Umusog siya ng konti at ngayon ay medyo malayo na siya mula sa akin. She is so near yet so far from me. Magkapatid kami but we don't act like one. Kung sa bagay, ampon naman ako.

But no, hindi ako ampon. I can feel it. I'll prove to her na mali siya. I belong to this family, and I'll fight until the end because I know I'm on the right track.

"So how's school my two princesses?" nakangiting tanong ni mom. Nginitian ko sila pabalik and Stephanie did not even glance at them at nagsimulang kumain.

"It's good mom," sagot ko. But honestly, it's not good at all! Girls were gossiping in the corner and talked about me being the killer. Tsaka hindi rin ako pumasok kahapon so probably I can't say it's good.

"Liar," rinig kong bulong ni Stephanie. I ignored her because she's right. I am lying dahil ayokong mag-alala sina mom and dad. They are worried about me to the point that they did not tell me I have a sister because they don't want me to remember bad memories.

"It's good to hear but I would rather be hurt by the truth than being comforted with a lie," seryosong sabi ni dad. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin at sinubo ang steak sa bibig ko. They really know when I'm lying or not.

"Honestly hindi ako pumasok kahapon," I admitted. Hindi naman nag-react si mom and dad and they seem to be expecting that one.

"And I heard I killed someone," nakayukong sabi ko. I can barely swallow my food dahil parang nagiging emosyonal na naman ako.

"Yeah, that's true! I don't want a killer in this house!" inis na sigaw ni Stephanie. Ang mga luha na kanina ko pa pinipigilan ay tuluyan ng umagos but I immediately wiped it away. Hindi ko pa naipapakita ang ebidensiyang sinasabi ko.

"Watch your mouth Stephanie! You're hurting your sister!" galit na sigaw ni mom. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa mesa and forced a smile.

"I'm okay mom," I said and flashed a reassuring smile. Napabuntong-hininga naman si mom at kumalma.

Walang umimik sa amin kaya kinuha ko ang bagay na kanina ko pa tinatago sa ilalim ko. Ipinakita ko iyon kay mom and dad. I smiled at Stephanie at halatang gulat siya nang makita ang bagay na hawak ko.

(A/N: I do not own this painting, okay?)

It is a painting of a sunset. There's a tree on the right side but its branches doesn't have a single leaf. It is very colorful at halatang sanay na sanay sa pagpipinta ang gumawa nito dahil hindi man lang nagkalat ang mga kulay na nasa painting.

"It's amazing, Sam! You did this?" nakangiting sabi ni mom habang hinahawakan ang painting. Umiling ako and looked at Stephanie.

"No, Steph did this," tipid na sagot ko. Napatigil naman sa pagsubo si Steph and glared at me.

"Oh my! You did not tell us how talented you are in painting my princess! Manang-mana ka talaga sa akin! Your dad only knows how to collect weapons!" proud na sabi ni mom at lumapit kay Stephanie. Her eyes widen nang hinagkan siya ng mahigpit ni mom.

I smiled when I saw her. She looked like a lost puppy who found her owner. Alam kong naluluha na siya pero pilit niyang tinitigasan ang mukha niya. I know she's longing for mom and dad's love na akala niya'y hindi niya natatanggap. She thought it was always me, at 'yan ang mali sa kanya.

"Too beautiful Steph, where should we hang that one?" nakangiting sabi ni dad. Itinaas ko naman ang kamay ko at itinuro ang pader na nakaharap sa pintuan.

"We should hang that one kung saan madaling makita ng mga bisita!" masayang sabi ko. Nakipag-apir naman si mom sa akin.

"Nice one Sam! Isasabit natin 'to pagkatapos kumain!" masiglang sabi ni mom at bumalik sa upuan niya. Nginitian ko naman si mom at dad saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Mabilis kong naubos ang pagkain ko. I was amused nang makitang naubos na rin ni mom at dad ang kanilang mga pagkain. Halatang excited na silang isabit ang painting.

Tinignan ko naman sa Stephanie. Hindi pa siya natatapos sa kanyang pagkain. Walang makikitang emosyon sa kanyang mga mata because she's good at hiding them. But I know she felt happy deep inside.

"A-Ate, bilisan mo sa pagkain!" sabi ko. Calling her ate feels good pero naninibago ako. Medyo naa-awkward ako dahil nasanay ako sa pagtawag sa kanya ng Stephanie.

"You are not my sister," mahinang sabi niya pero dinig na dinig ko. Hindi iyon narinig ni mom at dad dahil busy sila sa painting.

"Ano naman kung hindi mo ako kapatid? I can still call you ate," mahinang sabi ko. Tinatawag nga ng mga pasahero ang mga driver na kuya kapag pumapara sila! Yung mga bumibili naman nagsasabi ng 'Ate, magkano 'tong sigarilyo?'

"I'm impressed with your little show, but that doesn't mean I'll treat you as a sister." malamig na sabi niya at tumayo. Tapos na pala siyang kumain.

"I don't care. Pumuti man ang uwak we're still sisters," nakangising sabi ko. I don't know na ganito pala ako ka-sarcastic.

"I told you we aren't sis-"

"Yes, blood is thicker than water. Yes, I forgot every piece of my memory. But that doesn't mean na wala tayong pinagsamahan," seryosong sabi ko.

There's a little spark of hope inside me that I will connect with my sister. Kahit ganiyan siya, I still hope that our kinship will be saved. Kahit alam kong malabo na, I still hope. I don't know if that's right or not.

"Let's go! Isabit na natin ang masterpiece ng baby ko!" nakangiting sabi ni mom. I don't want to ruin everyone's mood kaya pilit kong nginitian si mom.

"Stop calling me baby," iritang sabi ni Stephanie. Ngumuso naman si mom at nag-puppy eyes kay Stephanie. Seriously? Hindi bagay kay mom ang magpaka-bagets.

"Sige na nga! Isabit muna natin 'to!" sabi ni mom at pumatong sa upuan para maabot ang pako. Tinulungan naman siya ni dad na sumabit dahil hindi kaya ng powers ni mom. I mean, hindi kaya ng height ni mom.

"S-Stay there, I might fall! Waah!" mom shrieked when dad pulled a joke on her. Bigla kasing yumuko si dad knowing na kumakapit si mom sa balikat niya.

"Trust me. I'll catch you if you fall," banat ni dad and mom blushed! They aren't teenagers for Pete's sake! I'm sorry but their daughter is bitter. I don't know if I experienced having a boyfriend since nakalimutan ko but definitely I'm not into some kind of romance!

"Hayaan mo ngang mahulog," I said and rolled my eyes. Napatakip pa ako sa bibig ko. God! It's not me! My mouth just suddenly said it!

Napayuko ako at sana'y lamunin ako ng sahig namin. I swear, hindi ko sinadya 'yon. I'm bitter but it was really an involuntary movement! Pero aaminin ko, I was just going to say that on my mind pero kontrabida ang bibig ko! Lord, I'm sorry!

"I'm sorry mom," I apologized. Pero nagulat ako nang bigla akong yakapin ni mom! Is she serious?

"Ikaw nga talaga ang anak namin! Shinushungetan mo na mommy mo," sabi ni mom and she did it again. The infamous pout that doesn't suit her. Mukha siyang ewan.

"Stop that mom, you look like an ugly duck." sabi ko. Tumawa naman si mom at tinignan ang painting na successful na nasabit ni mom.

All of us just stared at the painting and we remained silent. Ilang segundo pa ay nagpaalam na si mom at sinundan naman siya ni dad. Umakyat na sila sa second floor at pumasok sa kanilang kwarto. Ako at si Stephanie ang naiwan sa sala.

"That painting proves that the competition between us doesn't exist, na hindi lahat ay nasa akin. I don't even know how to paint," sabi ko kay Stephanie without glancing at her.

"Yan ang problema sayo eh! You are effortless but still, you got everyone's sympathy! I still need to show that painting to get mom and dad's attention!" galit na sigaw niya. Kaming dalawa lamang ang nasa sala and mom and dad won't probably hear us arguing dahil soundproof ang mga kwarto.

"You are getting their attention but you refused to be in the spotlight! You are too blind that you did not even notice the people in front of you!" galit na sigaw ko. Hindi siya sumagot kaya nagpatuloy ako.

"Did you just say I'm effortless? Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi na ginawa ko ang lahat noon just to make you treat me as your sister! And I wouldn't do such an effort to steal this painting in your room! Open your eyes, Stephanie! These people are caring for you!" galit na sigaw ko. She looked away.

I turned my back on her. Umakyat na ako ng hagdanan. Bago ako makarating sa second floor, I stopped but did not face her. I said something and I wished na sana tumatak iyon sa isipan niya.

"You are drunk of jealousy Stephanie, you need to sober up."

(end of chapter)