CHAPTER 04

[ CHAPTER 04: ROOMMATE ]

Wait, what? This is my roommate?! 

We were both shocked and unable to move from where we stood. She stood up and her eyes widened looking at me.

I looked at her from head to toe. She has a cute above the shoulder length black hair.

But...

Why does she look like me?!

I was panicking in the inside. Who is she? Is this what they call a doppelganger? Or is she a spirit that's trying to copy my face?!

I groaned mentally. Now, look at what that jerk made me do. I can only think of scaring myself!

I just stopped thinking when she started to advance.

I swallowed and backed away. "W-who are you?!" I shouted bravely even though I was almost stuttering just to ask that.

She stopped. "A-are you Eletheria? Eletheria Aurelius?" she asked, stopping me from speaking.

I pulled the pillow I got and blocked it in front of me. "What do you need from me?" I ask seriously.

She can't be a stalker, right?

She covered her mouth with her palm and slowly sat on the floor.

What's happening?

"So, you're Ely..." she whispered but I heard her still because she was only a few meters away from me.

I nodded and slowly lowered the pillow. 

Why do I feel like I know her? It seems that I feel better about her quickly.

 "W-why are you crying?!" I exclaimed when I saw a tear fell from her eyes.

She immediately wiped it with the back of her palm and shook her head three times. "No, no. I'm not crying. Uhm, sorry? Because, I-i startled you," she said, stammering.

"I'm just really happy because I saw you."

I just stared at her. It's like I'm looking in a mirror but the only difference is the hair. So, I'll look like this when I have a short hair, huh?

"So... who are you, really? What do you need from me? Why do we look alike? Are you my roommate?" I asked one after another.

She chuckled. "I'm, uhm, Hiraeth. Hiraeth Vergara."

She extended her hand in front of me. I looked at her before shaking her hand.

"Hi, Hiraeth."

She smiled. "Uhm, I didn't know that you're here. I was told at the reception that one of my roommates left and someone else took his place right away. So, uhm, yeah, I'm your roommate," she said awkwardly.

I noticed that she was talking like that since earlier. "Are you okay?" 

Even I was surprised by what I asked. Again, I'm acting weird. Why would I ask her if she's okay if i should be suspecting her?

"I-i'm sorry, what?" she asked lightly.

I faked a cough before shaking my head. "What do you need from me?" I repeated my question earlier but now it's more serious.

She looked down. "I would love to tell you the whole story but, uhm—"

She stopped when we heard a growling stomach.

No one spoke. We were both weighing the atmosphere.

"Uhm... Sorry!" she shouted while covering her face with her two palms.

I blinked. "Can we eat first?" she asked softly while still covering her face.

I just nodded because I was hungry too.

We got up and were about to call room service when suddenly someone knocked on the door.

We looked at each other. Both of our eyes widened in shock and looked away at the same time.

"Uhm, I will open it—"

"I'll open it—"

We both fell silent as we spoke together.

"Ah, okay, you—"

"Okay—"

This is awkward than I thought it would be!

I faked a cough because someone knocked on the door again and we both still haven't moved.

She also faked a cough and looked at me. She motioned for me to speak.

"I'm sorry. I'll just open it."

She nodded and silently followed me with his gaze.

I coughed twice before opening the door to whoever was knocking outside.

"Hi, ma'am! Here are your things. I'm sorry it took a while." He shyly bowed before handing me my shopping bags.

Maybe he was the one who was ordered to take my things. I smiled at him. "It's okay, I understand."

He nodded. "Is there anything else I can do for you, ma'am?" 

I dropped the shopping bags on the side of the door in the room before speaking. "Right! Can you bring us some lunch? Or just inform someone to bring us lunch. It would be much appreciated."

He smiled and nodded. "Sure! Your lunch will be right back."

"Thank you."

"It's our pleasure, ma'am!" he said before bidding goodbye and leaving.

I closed the door with my foot while holding the shopping bags on my hand. Turning around, I saw my female roommate, who looked exactly like me, looking at me.

We were both surprised. Out of panic, she turned around quickly and didn't saw that what's behind her is a wall. So, she end up bumping to it accidentally.

"Ouch..."

I pursed my lips, trying not to laugh because it'll be so rude. Laughing at someone before helping them is a big no no for me.

I approached her. I moved the things I was holding to my right hand before gently patting her on the shoulder with my left hand.

"That must've hurt," I uttered, stating the obvious.

She held his nose because it hit the wall. "Of course..." she answered weakly.

I smirked and shook my head a few times before turning my back on her and placing my things on the unoccupied bed. It's my bed now.

"I told the guy from earlier if he could tell someone from their staffs to bring us lunch. Let's just wait."

I looked at her and she's still holding her nose, slightly massaging it.

"Ouch," she moaned.

I winced because he had been moaning in pain for a while. The impact must've been that painful for her to act like that or she's really sensitive.

Or maybe she's just OA?

She turned to me and nodded twice. "Okay," she answered weakly.

While waiting for the food, instead of talking and explaining, we wasted the time by saying nothing and just sitting in our own beds.

No one looked back. Nothing. Just pure silence tainted with awkwardness.

I reached for the tips of my hair and curled in using my fingers. That's all I did while staring at the elegant wall design of the hotel.

When the doorbell finally rung, which was there but I didn't notice because that guy just knocked earlier, we immediately came back to our senses.

We looked at each other, waiting for someone from the two of us to stand. When she didn't stand up I stood up but when I stood up she stood up too so I sat down again which she did with me again at the same time.

I sighed out of frustration and she looked away, slightly pouting her lips and furrowing her eyebrows. 

She did not speak so I took it as a signal. "You just open it," I ordered.

She did not give any answer before she got up and opened the door.

All I can say is, shit, that was really awkward. It's also confusing and at the same time frustrating because it's just like she's copying me!

And, for the nth time, I sighed as I massage my temple. 

Oh, god. A lot happened today. I don't even know how to keep up!

I heard the door close so I turned to her. I've been itching to talk to her for a while now. Like, really, who is she?

She put the food on the table. She turned to me and beckoned me to come. "Let's eat first."

I nodded. I sighed before standing up and following her. I sat in the empty seat and looked at the food served.

"They said they don't know what lunch they should get us. It's because we, uhm, did not told him. If you don't want it, just say so, so, uhm, we can change it," she said as she bit her lower lips, nervous.

Broth soup chicken (tinolang manok) and rice. It's still hot and it's really good because of the weather. It seems to be her favorite and I'm not sure if I'll change it.

"It's fine. It's kind of cold so it's good to have hot soup."

She smiled in an instant before sitting down.

I reached for the spoon and fork. I was surprised and couldn't move when she herself put the rice and dish on my plate. She even put the hot soup in the bowl for me and poured water into my glass.

Why does she need to serve me? Do I look disabled to her?

I looked at him in wonder. I faked a cough. "I-I can handle it, don't bother," I said.

She stopped and looked at me. She blinked three times before slowly nodding.

"Okay," she said lowly.

We ate in silence. Her prayer before eating did not escape my sight and hearing. Now, I'm feeling embarrassed because I immediately ate when the food was already served.

I want to hit myself for forgetting to thank God. I just thanked for the food inside my mind.

We finished eating without anyone speaking. I just stared at my plate. Maybe we won't be the ones to wash it, right? I don't know how to wash plates!

But, then, again, it's a hotel. I facepalmed at my stupidity and because of that, the girl I didn't who I don't know the name is up until now, looked at me.

"Uhm, are you okay?" she asked softly while blinking.

'Seriously, why does she always do that?' I frowned and asked in my mind.

"Yes, I'm fine. Now, can we talk?" I asked and she immediately nodded her head like a little kid. 

I sat on the floor and she did the same.

I was the first one to talk. "Who are you?" 

She looked at me, her eyes widened then in just a snap of a finger, she was blinking, again.

"Ano, Hiraeth... Vergara. I already t-told you earlier," she said lowly.

I simply winced. "Ah, is that so? I'm sorry, I was too confused that I forgot." Lies. I wasn't really paying attention.

She just nodded. "It's okay." She gave me a small smile.

"Uhm, please don't freak out. I'm not a stalker or what. Hear me out," she said softly.

The moment she told me not to freak out, my brain immediately told me to freak out!

"Why? What's going on? If you're not a stalker, what are you? Who are you really? I mean, aside from the fact that your name is Hiraeth Vergara," I mumbled.

"Besides, I'm still not convinced if it's really a coincidence that we're in the same hotel room. Why do we look alike? Are you a fan? Oh my god! Don't tell me because of too much admiration you copied my face and now you can't undo it?" I exclaimed exaggeratedly. 

I stood up and started walking back and forth again. See? This is why you shouldn't tell me not to freak out because I'll surely will!

She also stood up and came to me. She gently held my arm. "C-calm down, p-please," she uttered nervously.

"I'll tell you everything, but, calm down for now. Please, Eletheria?" 

I only calmed a bit when she uttered my name softly. It sounds so... sweet.

I took a deep breath before returning to sitting on the floor. She immediately followed.

She sighed. "Promise me, first. That you won't react to anything I'll say," she uttered seriously.

I wanted to laugh but she was serious. So, that's how I look when I'm serious, huh? Seriously, my face is scary. That's why they call me rude or grumpy!

"Actually, uhm," he said in suspense.

My eyebrows rose in suspension. I look forward to what he has to say next.

She cleared her throat. "I feel like you'll probably freak out..." she whispered while simply grimacing.

I groaned. "I won't, promise. Go on, continue !" I encouraged her because I was getting impatient.

My inner marites is kicking in again.

She sighed deeply. She smiled hesitantly. She smiled and blinked three times before facing me.

Face to face, eye to eye. She told me the words that made forget the promise I told her just seconds ago. 

"We're twins."

I totally freaked out.