1 Chapter 1: Excitement or Fear

"I told you to stay away from me." mariin kong sabi sa lalaking kanina pa nangungulit sa kwarto.

I was supposed to wake up in the afternoon but my slumber was disturbed by this creature who looks like me. Yes, my twin brother.

"Oh come on Sis. Ngayon na nga lang ako nakauwi ulit dito eh. Sabay ka na saking kumain." sabi nya at nagpout pa.

How can I resist him? He's my only sibling for Pete's sake!

Tumayo ako at lumabas ng kwarto nang walang sabi. Nakita ko pa sa salamin ang repleksyon niya nang sumuntok sya pataas sa ere dala ng katuwaan.

Well, kakain lang naman ako. Yun lang.

Pagbaba ko ng dining room ay nakaset na ang table. Tss. Mataas ang kumpyansa niya sa sarili na mapapababa ako. Ibang klase.

Naramdaman ko ang patakbong yabag papunta sa direksyon ko hanggang sa maunahan ako nitong pumunta sa dining area.

Pinaghila niya ako ng upuan. Inismiran ko lang siya at umupo sa ibang upuan. Hindi naman siya nagpatinag at umupo sa tabi ko. Wala na akong ibang magawa kundi ang simulang kumain at hindi siya pansinin.

Call me brat, rude or such but I really don't have interest in displaying affection towards my brother. Let it be. He's used to my treatment.

He's older than me by 20 seconds but he's more childish than me. You can never tell that he's my Kuya.

"Sis, I heard na may bago kang tutor. Wow, that's a new record. Tatlong araw lang ang tinagal nung last tutor mo and you never had a tutor na tumagal ng 2 weeks." panimula niya sa usapan. Hindi ako sumagot at nilantakan lang ang pagkain. Patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-iingay. Bilib talaga ako sa kanya kasi hindi siya nabubulunan kahit salita siya nang salita.

"I'm done." I said and stood up.

"What? Agad-agad?" tanong niya pero 'di ko siya pinansin at naglakad papunta sa kitchen to get some iced coffee.

Dinig ko pa rin ang tunog ng kubyertos tanda na kumakain pa rin siya. Kaya kinuha ko na ang pagkakataon para pumunta sa kwarto at magkulong.

"Yazryn Brianna Wu!" sigaw niya na umalingawngaw sa buong bahay. Anong klase bunganga kaya ang meron siya?

"Yezlee Brent Wu!" sigaw na isang pamilyar na tinig. It's Mom.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to mention her name out loud? Napakacareless mo! Paano kung may ibang makarinig? Alam mo namang---"

Hindi ko na napakinggan pa ang sinasabi ni Mom dahil sinarado ko na ang pinto ng kwarto ko.

I just heaved a sigh and sat on my bed. Nahagip ng mata ko ang picture namin ni Yezlee nung 8 years old palang kami.

Ito ata ang huling beses na ngumiti ako nang totoo. This was taken on our birthday kung saan pasikretong ipinasuot sa akin ang pambabaeng damit sa unang pagkakataon.

"Hindi ka pwedeng magsuot ng ganyan! Have you forgotten what I said?" inis na tanong ni Mommy. I just answered her fury with silent tears. I felt the tingling pain on my legs as I was whipped earlier.

I saw my twin brother from a distance but the maid dragged him towards his room. My fear even worsened.

"You are a guy! You are Yezlee's twin brother! That's what you only need to survive. I am begging you. Stop being stubborn, or else...kukunin ka nila sakin anak." Mom said and knelt to wipe my tears. She's bursting in tears.

I don't understand. I'm a girl, but why can't I act like one?

That's what I thought when I was 8. But later on, I learnt about the stupid tradition of the Jiang's family, my mother's family, that's been running since Qing dynasty.

Every first-born daughter is required to live in the Empress' palace whereas girls are forced to train to excel in every aspect, mentally or physically.

Luckily, my Mom is second-born. So she didn't undergo such things but her older sister did. And she's the current Empress.

Ugh. Bakit ba ako nag-eenglish? Tsk. Monologue na nga lang eh.

My thoughts were interfered by knocks on my door.

"It's me." I recognized it right away, it's my Dad.

I immediately opened the door and hugged him.

"My precious Bree." sabi ni Dad at hinaplos ang buhok ko habang yakap-yakap ako,

It's been 6 months! Napakabusy niya kasi sa trabaho at bihira lang siya dito sa Pilipinas.

"Let's sit down Dad." sabi ko and broke the hug.

Kapag si Dad ang kausap ko, ako ang pinakamaingay na tao sa paligid. That's how close I am to him. We catch up each other right away and didn't bother to waste time. Dahil parehas naming alam na limitado lang ang oras namin sa isa't-isa at matagal na naman ang hihintayin bago maulit ito.

"Are you still giving Yezlee a cold treatment?" tanong ni Dad.

"Dad, alam mo namang sa iyo lang ako hindi cold." pag-amin ko.

He just laughed at my remarks.

"You should be good to your brother habang nandito pa siya. Alam mo namang napakabusy ng showbiz industry. Sa 15 years na pamamalagi ng Kuya mo sa showbiz, ni minsan ay hindi pa siya nagkaroon ng scandal sa babae dahil ang bawat bakasyon niya ay nilalaan niya sayo." mahabang sentimyento ni Dad.

"I am aware of that Dad, I am trying my best to help him with his work through substituting him kapag gusto niyang magpahinga. I think it was good enough to show him that I care for him. I am not good at expressing affection." sagot ko naman.

Yes, totoo yun. Minsan ay nagpapanggap akong si Yezlee sa tuwing gusto niyang magpahinga o kaya naman may mahalaga siyang aasikasuhin sa company ni Dad. Hindi pa naman kami nahuhuli dahil alam ng manager ni Yezlee ang tungkol sa akin, maging ang personal assistant ni Yezlee sa company.

"That's good to hear, just beware na hindi kayo mahuli." paalala ni Dad. I just nodded in return.

Naputol ang usapan namin nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.

"Dad! You're here!" sigaw ni Yezlee at mabilis na yumakap kay Dad. Natawa nalang si Dad sa sobrang kasiglahan nito.

I moved aside to give space to Yezlee. Napangiti naman si Dad.

"It's good to see you together." pagdadrama ni Dad. Minsan lang kasi kami magtabi ni Yezlee. Pinagbibigyan ko lang si Dad.

"Are you going to stay here for good Dad?" tanong ni Yezlee.

Dad just answered a weak smile. Of course, that's impossible. Nasa China ang main branch ng company ni Dad kaya hindi siya pwedeng magtagal dito.

"Then, can't we just all live there?" Yezlee asked. I remained silent, as I already knew the answer.

Yezlee didn't know that the Empress' palace is in China. It is also one of the rules na hindi pwedeng malaman ng mga lalaki ang lokasyon ng palace hanggang sa makapangasawa sila. I didn't expect that they have to make rules like that to the extent of protecting that Empress reigning.

"This is not yet the time, son." Dad simply answered.

"Okay. Then, why don't we hangout together? Tayong tatlo, no, isama natin si Mom! We've never done this for ages!" Yezlee exclaimed. So stupid.

"We can't Lee, alam mo namang tago ang identity ni Bree." sabi pa ni Dad.

"Dad, what's the use of your connections? We can just privately rent a place for a day. Sige na Dad. Ngayon lang naman eh." sagot niya pa at nag...ew. Puppy eyes kuno. I find it too creepy.

Napailing na lang ako sa asal ng kakambal ko.

"Alright, alright." sabi ni Dad na ikinagulat ko.

That's too risky.

"Ano Sis? Game ka ba?" tanong ni Yez.

I just gave a look at Dad to gave him some clues but he just smiled. Nonsense.

"Mom will never agree." I answered to Yez and heaved a sigh.

"Enk! You're wrong Sis! She already agreed! I actually came here to say that but I got preoccupied. Hehe." Yez exclaimed.

What did he just say? Mom agreed.

My heart skipped a beat. It's throbbing.

I can't decipher whether this feeling is excitement or fear.