Fit Her Shoe [Gottfred & Lorin]

Kabanata 30

It felt like my heart would choke me as it lumped in my throat. Seeing my twin was the last thing I was expecting.

“Andi! Pakihinto ng sasakyan!” biglaan kong sabi kasabay ng biglaang preno niya.

“Oh, my God! You scared me! Anong problema, Miss Lorin? May masakit ba sa ‘yo?” Both shocked and worried, she asked. “Manganganak ka na ba? Pero hindi pa maaari!”

Hindi ko na siya nasagot pa at dali-daling bumaba ng sasakyan. Hindi pa kami gaanong nakalalayo mula sa guard house. I ran to get there and confirmed that what I had seen was real.

It was her.

It was really Loris.

My twin!

I found my sister struggling to stand near the lamp post, mahigpit ang kapit doon at tila ba hirap na hirap sa pagtayo at habang nakahawak sa tiyan at namimilipit sa sakit.

Mas lumapit pa ako sa kaniya, walang pagsidlan ‘yong pag-aalala. At bawat hakbang ko patungo sa kaniya ay ang paggaan naman ng dibdib ko. I should be hating on her, pero sa halip ay gusto ko siyang yakapin nang mahigpit.

“Reese,” I called.

Sa gitna ng dilim at tanging ilaw mula sa poste at sa guard house ay kitang-kita ko ‘yong labis na panginginig niya.

“Rin,” she cried.

Nalukot ang puso ko at mabilis siyang tinakbo nang akmang mawawalan siya ng balanse. I hugged her, the tightest I could and rubbed her back to make whatever heavy feeling that seemed burdening her right now to lift a bit.

What happened to her?

Tila piniga ang puso ko sa nasasaksihan. The lionhearted Loris was nowhere to be found now. Instead, she looked fragile, so vulnerable. And she was not only crying but weeping uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, Rin. I am really, really sorry,” paulit-ulit na sabi niya habang ibinabalik ang yakap sa akin.

Ilang minuto kami sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa maalala ko si Andi.

“Kambal kayo, Miss Lorin?” gulat na tanong niya.

I nodded my head.

“Can you help me walk her to your car?” tanong ko.

“Oo naman!” tugon niya.

Pareho naming inalalayan si Loris na tumayo. She kept apologizing to me but it was not important right now. She needed to be attended. She looked sick. She looked horrible.

Andi and I put Loris at the back of the car. Tumabi ako sa kaniya at saka mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay niya. While Andi quickly got back on the driver’s seat and drove us to the house.

“Rin,” tawag ni Loris na nagpabalik ng atensyon ko sa kaniya.

Maybe because of the lack of light, hindi ko siya gaanong napagmasdan kanina. But now that she was closer to me and the car was well-lit, napatakip na lang ako sa bibig nang makita ang mga pasa sa mukha niya at ‘yong pumutok na labi niya.