II
"Relax... I just nicked a tranquilizer somewhere," bulong ni Stell kay Juno na hindi pa rin nakakarecover mula sa shock sa ginawa niya.
"Also, this," Stell raised his other hand and let Juno see a scalpel he's holding.
"W-What are you trying to do?" Juno's voice broke. "He... He's your twin..."
"Yeah..." Stell answered in an irritable tone. "He's my twin..."
Itinihaya niya si Tala at hinila niya ang isang braso nito. Hinagod niya ng kanyang hinlalaki ang pulsuhan nito. Saka niya itinapat doon ang hawak na scalpel.
"Don't do it..." Juno pleaded. He can't almost breathe watching the scene.
"Hearing you say that makes me more eager," Stell snarled.
Gamit ang hawak na scalpel, nilaslas ni Stell ang pulsuhan ng kanyang kakambal nang ilang beses. Kitang-kita ni Juno ang dami ng dugo na umagos mula sa sugat ni Tala.
"Please... Try to calm down first and think things over," said Juno again on a more relaxed manner, trusting Stell to listen to him if he's in his usual state. Deep inside, he's scared as hell. His knees are getting weaker every second.
Nilubayan ni Stell ang kakambal. Lumapit muna ito sa pintuan at ini-lock iyon. Lumapit siya kay Juno na umatras hanggang sa napasandal ito sa pader. "Baka ikaw ang dapat na kumalma?" Isinandal ni Stell ang kanyang ulo sa dibdib ni Juno. Pinakiramdaman niya ang pagpintig ng puso nito. "You're heartbeat's crazy. Baka hindi ka na naman makahinga nang maayos niyan."
"I'm fine—" Juno reasoned out.
Itinapat ni Stell ang talim ng hawak na duguang scalpel sa sentido ni Juno. "You really have a good pretty lying face... Whenever I look at you, you seemed really convincing."
Juno can't think of anything to say. Maybe wait for Stell to bury the scalpel on his skin. He could feel a bit of Tala's blood dripping down his face. To his surprised, Stell licked it clean.
Juno closed his eyes in horror. The feel of cold metal in his forehead was gone, yet he could still feel Stell's presence near him.
He felt something brushed his lips. He was being kissed. It tasted bitter because of Tala's blood. Juno was too shaken to respond to it.
"Don't... be... afraid... of me..." Stell mumbled while kissing him. He embraced Juno. "I promise I won't hurt you anymore."
Lumayo si Stell mula kay Juno. Hinubad nito ang suot na hospital gown pagkatapos ay hinubaran din nito ang kakambal na nakahandusay sa sahig. Isa-isang isinuot ni Stell ang damit na suot ni Tala at pagkatapos ay isinuot naman niya dito ang hospital gown.
Inialis ni Stell ang bandage sa sariling pulsuhan at inilaglag lamang iyon sa tabi ni Tala.
Hinayaan na lang niya na nakahiga sa sahig si Tala habang naglalawa ang dugo nito. Mas maganda kung aabutan ito nang ganoon ng mga nurse o doktor. Hinila niya sa braso si Juno. "Let's go."
Habang naglalakad sila sa corridor, hawak ni Stell si Juno sa braso sa paraang maitatago sa pansin ng iba ang pulsuhan niyang may sugat. Inilabas niya ang cell phone ni Tala at id-in-ial ang number ng kanilang tita Andrea.
"Hello, mommy! It's me..."
Juno listened quietly.
"I think we need to talk about Stell..."
