THE PLEASURE ISLAND

Chapter 4. THE DRAKOS

" Georgi.." She stopped walking . They were in the hallway towards the salon .

"What is it my sister?" Tumigil din sa paglakad si Georgi, humarap ito sa kaniya. " Is there any problem sis..?" He asked about her feelings, he was concerned.

" No, I'm fine ." Dali -dali niyang sinagot ang tanong ng kambal sa kaniya. Nakita kasi Niya ang pag-alala sa kaniyang mga mata. He mistook her anxiety as something concerning.

"I'm fine Georgi, don't worry about me., it's just then that I am, a little afraid of meeting your family. She hesitated.

"Oh that.., Don't worry Mamà Fedora is .. understanding . And André, will understand .. you'll see, don't be afraid..I'm here with you my sister." Georgi squeezed her hand. He nodded at her and smiled sweetly.

What if they didn't like me? Aurora was not able to voice out the question in her mind. Georgi pushes the door to the salon. Aurora's heart skipped a beat.

There were two people sitting on the couch . Isang babae on her early 60's . Elegant and poised. Halata na maganda ito ng kaniyang kabataan pa. She looks like a snobbed queen though.

Sitting on the opposite side of the couch is a man. Aurora almost let out a gasped. The man who looked at her is like a sculpted Greek God model in ancient history. Alam ni Aurora na Isa nga itong Grecian national, pero nabigla siya sa kaniyang kagwapuhan.

"Mamà, André..meet my twin sister , Aurora.. Isn't she lovely.?" Georgi push her gently to the couch. She was kind of annoyed when Georgi's enthusiasm of introducing her to them was being ignored. She didn't hear a reply.

Nagtataka siya , bakit parang ang lamig ng pagtanggap nila sa kaniya. Nakita niyang tumayo ang lalaki na tinatawag nitong André. Nakipagkamay sa kaniya . Aurora studied the man from under he's lashes . He was around 6'3" in height . He has blue eyes , chiseled jawlines, a perfect nose , beautiful lips , tanned skin , muscular arms and legs but not overly, parang muscle beach type man parang si Georgi din .

André Drakos is a drop dead gorgeous man. "Welcome to our home , Miss Gomez..I hope you will find our place to your liking. " He said quietly. Just like Georgi , he had accent when he talked.

His voice however sent shivers down her spine. She looks at their two clasped hands. Kinain ang maliit niyang kamay sa malaking kamay ni André Drakos. The man is looking at her intently, like he was studying her deeply. Naasiwa si Aurora, she looked away . She had the urge to withdraw her hand, however, ayaw naman niyang mainsulto si Mr. Drakos .

Maya-maya pa ay binitiwan na nito ang kaniyang kamay. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag .

Nanatili namang nakaupo ang tinatawag na Mamà ni Georgi.

"Mamà Fedora ," Georgi clear his throat. "This is Aurora my twin sister.." He smiled and kissed her Mom on the cheek. Kumislap naman ang tingin ni Fedora sa kaniyang anak. She held his hand . " Georgi , my son..I hope you are telling the truth.."

Napanganga si Aurora sa narinig. "What the hell happened.." She thought to herself. Bakit parang nagdududa pa rin ito sa kaniya? Harap-harapan nitong ipinadama at ipinakita sa Kaniya na hindi sila naniniwala, sa sinasabi ni Georgi. She could see the viens on Georgi's face twitch. Halata na nagtitimpi ito sa kaniyang sarili.

" Mamà , walang kinalaman si Aurora sa aking sitwasyon , please.." Nagtataka man si Aurora sa daloy ng kanilang usapan , ay nanatili siyang kalmado. Hindi lang maitanggi na dismaya siya sa ipinakita nitong ugali.

" Good afternoon Madame Drakos.." Bati ni Aurora sa matanda, to ease the tension she felt, ay nagkusa na itong magsalita. Fedora Drakos glance at her quickly. Tiningnan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. "Please, be seated.," sagot nito sa kaniya.

At last , gumaan ang pakiramdam ni Aurora kahit papaano , ng ito ay nag -anyaya sa kaniya na umupo. Madame Fedora Drakos didn't offer her hands for a handshake , kaya hindi na rin nag abala pa si Aurora na makipagkamay dito. She had a feeling na baka mapahiya lang siya kung mag offer siya ng handshake.

Umupo si Aurora sa tabi ni Georgi. Umupo na rin si André sa bahagi na kung saan nakaupo siya as head of the family.

"As you were saying, you are the twin sister of my son Georgi?" Tanong ni Madame Fedora nang lahat ay nakaupo na. Aurora nodded her head. "Yes po, as I already sent the pictures and documents through the emails and letter's from my solicitor. " pahayag ni Aurora. The famiy are foreigners, but Georgi said they converse in Tagalog .

Nagdalawang isip lang siyang magsalita ng tagalog , dahil hindi siya sure kung gaano sila ka husay magsalita ng Filipino language. Also, na confused na siya sa pakikitungo nila sa kaniyang pagdating.

Dama Niya na may itinatagong sekreto ang pamilya, base sa pag-uusap ni Georgi at ni Madame Fedora. She note to herself na itatanong Niya iyon Kay Georgi pag- magkausap silang muli .

The old woman didn't reply. " Look at us Mamà, hindi ba halata na kambal kami ? We are the same ..' Nakangiti na sambit ng kaniyang kambal sa kaniyang ina.

Madame Fedora Drakos is looking at her then , to Georgi. Nanatili itong walang imik .

"André , I'm sure you can see the similarity between the two of us..." It was not a question , it was a direct statement.

Nairita si Aurora sa narinig , lumalabas pa na kailangang ipilit ni Georgi sa Kanila na sila ay magkapatid, o kambal.

"I don't see the resemblance.." André finally speak regarding their appearance.

"No, Why can't you see it ? I'm sure if you look at us thoroughly, you can see the similarity." Georgi insisted.

"Perhaps you are overlooking something. You should know that Georgi and I are fraternal twins. I'm sure you know what I meant. We are not identical twins. Identical twins who, as a result of a developing from a single fertilized ovum are alike in all genetic characteristics including s*x and typically very similar in appearance. "

"In our case we are fraternal twins, who as a result of a developing from separate fertilized ova , are genetically distinct and not necessarily of the same s*x or more similar in appearance than other siblings." Aurora explained. She explained to no one particular , bahala na lang kung sino ang sasagot sa kanilang dalawa.

Hindi na nakatiis si Aurora na parang naiinsulto si Georgi sa kanilang malamig na pagtanggap sa kaniya . Alam Niya na to the rescue lamang si Georgi sa kaniya , ang hindi Niya maintindihan ay kung bakit kailangan pang magpaliwanag nito? Ano ba ang purpose ng pag -imbita nila sa kaniya , gayong hindi naman pala sila naniniwala na siya at si Georgi ay kambal?

Fedora cursed in greek under her breath. Aurora ignored the stoic expression of the first lady of the house.

Georgi tensed beside her. She could see that he swallowed the lump on his throat. Hinawakan Niya ang kamay ni Aurora at pinisil.

Hindi nakaligtas Kay Aurora na nakatingin si André sa ginawang paghawak ni Georgi sa kaniyang kamay . He followed Georgi's action. He looked at their entwined hand. Aurora didn't understand , he seemed to be in doubt .

"Thank you for the knowledge that you shared to us Miss Gomez. But perhaps you should know that we do understand the difference between fraternal and identical twins. " André told her flatly .

"Then why , why you seem to be in doubt and refused to acknowledge me as my brother Georgi's twin sister.?" Hindi na maitago ang namumuong galit sa boses ni Aurora.

"That is your claim. You claim to be my brother's twin , and that is subject for investigation, Miss Gomez..It is not up to you to decide whether we accept your claim or not . That is why we invited you here to stay in the Villa, and not Georgi to go there with you in Manila. " Mariin ang pagkabigkas ni André sa bawat katagang binitiwan ng kaniyang mga labi.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Aurora sa narinig. 'What the f**k is wrong with these people.' She thought.

" But what about the document that I sent ? Hindi pa ba sapat na ebidensya iyon? Ang mga pictures , the original copy of our birth certificate.?! " She almost stood up to defend her claim.

André was astonished to see her reaction . However he said calmly. " Again, the purpose of your visit is to determine the truth Miss Gomez. We have plenty of time to do that , right? For the meantime , Georgi will accompany you to your designated room . Perhaps you are tired with the trip. Georgi will introduce you to the rest of the family." He looked at his wristwatch. " Dinner will be served at eight tonight. " He said with authority.

Georgi guided her to stand up. She tried very hard not to roll her eyes. André seems to be the head of the family , kahit na si Fedora Drakos ay hindi na nakapagsalita. Nagpupuyos ang kaniyang kalooban na tumayo at tumalikod .

"Georgi,.." Tumigil Silang dalawa sa paglakad ng tawagin ni André si Georgi. Sabay silang lumingon sa kaniya.

"Don't forget to call Minerva , your fiance kung kailan siya darating dito.."

Aurora widened her eyes in surprise. Namula si Georgi na humarap sa kaniya , nahihiya na iniyuko ang ulo . Hindi nakalampas Kay Aurora ang mga malagkit na titig ni André sa kaniya. Ano pa kayang sorpresa ang naghihintay sa kaniya sa isla na ito ?