Fated 05: Green Pair Of Eyes

David’s P.O.V.

It had been three months already and yet, awkward pa rin ang lahat sa pagitan namin ni Helena. But I must admit, I had always been thinking about that smack kiss. Palagi ko na lang tuloy iniisip… ano kayang nangyari kung mas tumagal pa ang aksidenteng halik na ‘yon, to think na kakikilala pa lang namin?

Helena was my first kiss.

Vanessa was my first girlfriend pero kahit kailan ay hindi ko siya nahalikan sa mga labi. I was already contented with just holding hands and kiss on the cheeks.

Marahil ay ‘yon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya ako nagustuhan nang buo… o baka naman kasi sa simula pa lang ay hindi na niya talaga ako gusto. She only used and treated me like a slave. She was a happy-go-lucky type of girl who was always up for fun and maybe, she found me a little bit of boring!

Speaking of Vanessa? After what happened to us the same day I had that experience with Helena, she decided to transfer to section two — Drew’s section.

She might just realized na wala na siyang mukha pang ihaharap sa akin. I knew I was being mean and bitter, but who wouldn’t? Sa murang puso ko ay natutunan ko siyang mahalin nang totoo, pero anong ginawa niya sa akin? Niloko lang niya ako. She shattered me into pieces and time could only tell when would I be ready to truly forgive her.

On the other hand, it was obvious that Helena kept on distancing herself within my reach. Regardless, I could say that she still kept on competing with me and that — she was still eyeing for the valedictorian title.

I was not threatened as results of our first grading period show that I was still on top. Kahit na pinatawag pa ako ng Guidance Counselor at Principal. It was a good thing that what happened in the garden did not affect my overall standing at St. Augustine’s Academy. They only gave me an advice that it should never happen again.

These past few days, my mind was preoccupied with so many things. Kasama na nga roon ang isiping… paano kung hindi ko nailigtas si Helena no’ng araw na ‘yon? Paano na lang kung nasagasaan siya? Ano kaya ‘yong naramdaman niya no’ng aksidente kaming nagkahalikan? Ako rin kaya ang first kiss niya? But above all these, what I was really curious about was…

Who is Athena?

She was also the one who kept on bugging my head, aside from the kiss Helena and I shared together. I didn’t know but why does it feel like… I had an unknown connection with her?

I saw Helena browsing her tablet with that Athena’s Famebook profile on the screen: Athena Cari Delgado. She looked exactly like Helena, but based on the posts on her timeline — she was already dead.

Helena seemed to be really surprised when she saw me at her back. I lied and I told her that I didn’t see anything, but in fact, I saw everything. Mula sa paghahanap niya ng kung ano mang libro sa halos lahat ng shelves sa library, sa sandali niyang pagkatulala na para bang may malalim siyang iniisip, hanggang sa muntikang pagkahulog ng tablet niya pagkakita niya sa akin. She walked out of the library forgetting her handkerchief and when I got it, I saw Athena’s name embroidered on it.

Was Athena her dead twin sister? Or was Helena having a dual personality disorder?

Damn it! I think, I’m going crazy! Bakit kasi ibang pangalan ang nakaburda sa panyo niya?

“Mr. Rivera, are you even listening?” the voice of Mrs. Cheng suddenly dragged me out of deep reverie.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I beg your pardon,” nahihiyang sabi ko. First time kong hindi nakapag-focus sa klase ngayon. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung anong topic na ang itinuturo.

I must admit, I wasn’t listening from the time she started opening her mouth to discuss something to us. Glancing at both of my sides, all of my classmates seemed to be suspiciously looking at me.

“I think, this is the very first time that you are not listening in my class. Masyadong malalim ang iniisip mo, David. Care to share your thoughts to the whole class?” I could sense from Mrs. Cheng’s voice that she was somehow disappointed at me.

I just bowed my head to silently apologize as I was unable to speak. How could I share to them that I was thinking about Helena, our accidental kiss and that dead Athena’s name on her handkerchief?

“So as I was saying, you and Helena were chosen as the leaders for the Annual Camp that will be held next week. I wanted the two of you to discuss all the necessary things regarding this matter and submit to me your proposal the day after tomorrow. Is that clear, Helena Mari and David Cristoff?”

“Yes, Ma’am!” we answered in unison.

“Good,” Mrs. Cheng remarked before she continued her lecture.

After a few minutes, the bell rang as a sign of break time. My mind had been inattentive all throughout and I must admit, wala akong natutunan kahit na Geometry pa ang first subject — my most favorite of all subjects.

Nag-aayos na ako ng mga gamit ko nang lapitan ako ni Helena. I was more than surprised. I wasn’t expecting her to do the first move, since I was already used to seeing her rushing through the door before everyone came out of the classroom.

“So what’s our plan, Rivera?” she asked.

I sighed. Here we are again… that last name basis again!

Kami na lang ang natira dito sa classroom. Hindi ako umimik bagkus ay matagal ko lang siyang tinitigan… I even looked intently at her lips and that was when I saw the redness of her cheeks.

I must admit, she’s getting prettier now…

“Can you stop looking at me?” mataray na tanong niya, kahit wala naman akong ginagawang masama.

“Can you stop calling me Rivera? You can call me David, Dave or DC. Whatever you want, ‘wag lang Rivera.” nangingiting sabi ko sa kanya.

I really didn’t want to be called Rivera. Not that I hated my surname, I just didn’t want to. It felt like I wasn’t comfortable. I didn’t know what her game was all about, but she would not like it the moment I started playing her games.

“I don’t want to. Now, what’s our plan, Riv—” pilit pa rin niya pero pinutol ko ‘yong sinasabi niya.

“Call me Rivera again and—” siya naman ngayon ang pumutol sa sasabihin ko.

“And what? Nobody scares the hell out of me, Rivera!” nakataas ang kilay na tugon niya. She even let out an annoying chuckle. She was really full of herself.

Hmm, let’s see…

“Okay, madali naman akong kausap eh. Call me Rivera again and I will kiss you!” This time, I didn’t break our eye-to-eye contact to prove to her that I always mean what I said.

Natahimik naman siya, namula at nag-iwas ng tingin. I knew it — she suddenly felt uneasy.

I secretly smiled. “Did I just tame the beast inside you, Helena? Did I just scare the hell out of you?” I asked her, at the same time, mocking her.

“Y-You can’t do that,” she said, still having a hard time to look at me. If I knew, she got frightened the moment I said that I would kiss her… and I was really determined to do it.

“Try me. Say Rivera again and I’ll do what I said!” I started stepping closer to her. She began stepping backwards, until her back was pinned at the wall.

I placed my hands at both of her sides to trap her. Natutuwa talaga ako sa itsura niya ngayon — sobrang pula ng mukha niya while she was trying to look away. Tinitigan ko pa siya lalo and that’s when I realized that she was really beautiful… most especially if those glasses would be removed.

“W-What are you doing?” tanong niya sabay tulak sa dibdib kong hindi naman natinag.

“Try me, Helena. I don’t care if you will believe me or not, but I’ve always been thinking of your soft lips for three months now. I… just can’t get enough of it,” bulong ko sa kanya. I even winked at her while wearing my flirty smile.

What’s wrong with me? And what am I even doing?

I wasn’t used at doing these things. Kahit may naging girlfriend na rin ako, hindi ko nagawa kay Vanessa ang maging ganito.

Sino ka ba talaga, Helena? At anong mayro’n ka that you were able to bring out this side of me?

Buong lakas niya akong itinulak and I must admit, malakas talaga ‘yon para ma-out of balance ako. “A-Ano bang nakain mo, Cristoff? Why do you keep on telling me a lot of nonsense here?” she angrily snapped at me.

I was surprised that her face went bloody red now. I guessed it was no longer because of blushing, but because she got really mad at me. Hindi ako nakasagot dahil sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung ano ang aking sasabihin. There was this unknown side of me na ayokong magalit si Helena sa akin.

Did I push her towards her limits?

She sighed as she pointed me her forefinger, before poking my chest. “I approached you because I wanted to talk about the strategy of making this Annual Camp a success. But what are you doing, huh? You kept on blabbing me about that k-kiss I really don’t care about! Now, I don’t want to believe anymore that you are still running for the valedictorian title. For me, y-you are just like one of those ordinary, flirt, childish and somewhat perverted boys in this school. I don’t want to talk about the accident that happened to us, I wanted to talk about ideas!”

And she really emphasized the word accident, huh? Hindi ko alam pero sa paraan nang pagkakasabi niya ng bagay na ‘yon, bakit parang nasaktan ako?

Padabog niyang kinuha ang bag niya at naglakad na palabas ng pinto, pero hindi pa siya nakakalabas nang magsalita ako, “That explains everything, Helena.” I said na ikinalingon niya.

“What are you trying to say?” She blankly stared at me for a few seconds.

“I scared the hell out of you, right? Mind you, Helena… you just called me Cristoff. Kaya mo naman pala akong tawagin nang hindi Rivera, bakit kailangang takutin pa kita? Now, what? You’re walking out again, huh? I thought you wanted to talk about ideas, let’s start now!” Sumeryoso na ako. Kahit na alam kong ginalit ko siya, hindi ko matanggap ang ikumpara niya ako sa iba dahil unang-una sa lahat, hindi ako manyak!

But who am I fooling here? I knew and I must admit… that she brought out this perverted side of me!

“I’ve changed my mind. Magkanya-kanya na lang muna tayo ngayon. Mag-research ka, magre-research na lang din ako on my own. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

Akma na siyang lalabas ng classroom nang magsalita ako, “Okay then, it’s fine with me… but let me clear things up, Helena. I want you to know that I wasn’t a perverted type of guy! And if that’s what you really think of me, then it was all because of you. I hated to admit but what happened to us was my first kiss, and if for you, it was an accident… well for me, it was an experience.” I said with conviction while my heart was beating freaking faster.

Matagal muna siyang nanatili sa may pinto habang ang likod niya ay nakaharap pa rin sa akin. Hindi na siya lumingon pa. Tuluyan na siyang umalis pagkatapos niyang magpakawala nang isang malalim na buntong-hininga.

I held my chest. Napakalakas at napakabilis nang pintig ng puso ko. It made me confuse. Hindi ko akalaing nasabi ko ang lahat nang ‘yon sa kanya.

Lumabas ako ng classroom and still, preoccupied pa rin ang aking utak. Lalo pang nadagdagan gawa nang naging pag-uusap namin ni Helena.

To divert my thoughts, I decided to go to the Computer Room and started my research about the Annual Camp strategies and methods that we could use for our proposal. Since senior students always lead, it would be my first time to handle this school year’s annual project.

Pagkatapos kong makakuha ng mga Annual Camp information ay hindi muna ako nag-shutdown ng computer. Dahil pwede naman kaming mag-Famebook dito during our break time periods ay binuksan ko na lang din ‘yong account ko.

Then, natukso akong hanapin ang Famebook account ni Helena. I typed Helena Mari Delgado on the search engine and after I clicked the enter key, I found two profiles. The first one joined four years ago while the other one only joined last year.

I opened the one who joined four years ago and her last status update was posted about eighteen months ago: Feeling happy. Traveling to Las Albas with Daddy and my twin. Tagged: Athena Cari Delgado.

After that post, her timeline was filled with different ‘Get well soon!’

messages from her Famebook friends. That was when curiosity striked me so I decided to open the tagged Athena Cari Delgado’s profile.

Wala akong makitang public posts niya aside from ‘Rest in peace!’ posts from her friends on Famebook. Binalikan ko ‘yong ‘joined four years ago’ na Helena and I compared her picture with that of Athena.

Magkamukhang-magkamukha sila! They were unquestionably identical twins with the same skin, face, hair and I guessed, also height… as well as the same green pair of eyes! Though Helena only wore a pair of eye glasses, parang wala talaga silang pinagkaiba!

It was a good thing that their profiles were not private. I found one picture na magkasama sila na nakasuot ng parehong headband, shades, jumpshorts, pati sandals… at hindi mo talaga makikilala kung sino sa kanila si Helena o kung sino ‘yong Athena.

I then looked at the ‘joined one year ago’ Helena’s profile but she doesn’t have posts and her friends would not even reach thirty. I was not a stalker at all. Hindi ko lang talaga alam kung bakit parang may gusto akong malaman — at kung bakit pakiramdam ko ay parang may mali.

Pinagdikit-dikit ko ‘yong mga profile picture nilang tatlo gamit ang Photo Enhance software, at masasabi ko na ‘yong dalawang Helena ay parehong-pareho talaga. That’s when I noticed Athena’s difference and that made me frown.

I didn’t know why but it was Athena’s profile who really captured my attention. I browsed some of her solo photos at bigla na lang akong natigilan nang…

Teka! Bakit parang—

I looked deeply at Athena’s eyes and I just didn’t know why I suddenly felt goosebumps all over my body! There was something in her that I couldn’t set aside. I even blinked twice, dahil hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.

Those eyes… those green pair of eyes!