Ten years ago...

"Mommy! Look I got a ninety seven at math ang I even get a star! Look po!"

I cheerfully said to mommy as I let her see my star on my left arm.

"Wow! I am so proud at you my baby Venus"

Mommy said happily as she kiss me at my left cheeks.

"— How about you my baby Veronica. What did you got?"

Mom asked as she smiled at Veronica but my twin didn't answer instead she cried and suddenly hugged mommy.

"Why are you crying my baby? May umaway ba sayo?"

Nag aalalang tanong ni Mommy habang pinatatahan niya ang kakambal ko. Umiling lang lamang si Veronica biglang tugon.

"I'm so sorry mommy I didn't get a ninety seven instead I got seventy two average and I didn't even got a great star like Venus! I'm so stupid!"

She shouted crying.

"My baby Veronica don't say that! That's not true! Even if you didn't get a higher grades. Mommy will still proud at you my baby."

Mom said to Veronica as she kiss my twin's cheeks.

"R-really m-mommy?" my twin asked as she sniffed. "T-True po? Your not angry or something?"

"Ofcourse my baby! Don't cry na! Why would I be mad?"

My twin is going to say but I interfere.

"MOMMY!"

"Yes baby Venus?"

"I want black forest ice cream po. Can we eat it? Please mommy! Pretty Please po!"

I asked as I do my puppy eyes. I know she would say "no" to this eyes.

"Ofcourse my baby Venus" mom agreed "How about you my baby Veronica? Do you want some ice cream too?"

Mommy asked my twin as well.

"Yes! yes! Mommy! I want Bubble Gum Flavor!"

My twin Veronica agreed too then smile at mom. I pouted.

"Okay we'll going my twin babies!"

We both cheered as she said that.

"YEHEY!"

"Before we go change muna kayo ng clothes niyo babies. Hintayin na rin natin sila kuya at daddy para makapag-bonding na rin tayo. Okay ba yon?"

"Okay po!"

After we change our clothes my twin and I go the our living room to see if our kuya and daddy was there and just in time we saw them waiting for us.

"DADDY!"

Me and my twin said in chorus as we both kiss daddy's both cheeks. Me on the left and Veronica in the right.

"Oh my beautiful twin baby princesses" daddy said to us "Still beautiful like their mom"

Daddy suddenly look at mommy while smiling. His eyes looks like having a heart.

"Ang cheesy!" Kuya cringed. "Umay!"

I giggled.

"Can we go now mommy." I interfere "Tutal complete na rin naman tayo eh"

Mom didn't answer me instead she smile and nod at me like saying 'Okay baby!'

After that sumakay na kami sa kotse, di na nagpa-drive si daddy sa driver namin instead he drive para daw talagang maging family-date namin to. After an hour or half hour nakarating na kami sa favorite naming ice cream parlour ng kakambal ko sa 'Deliciously Sweets'.

We really have our bonding while eating our own ice creams. Then we go to the nearest park so we can have a family picnic.

Habang kumakain sila mommy at daddy kami ng kakambal ko ay naglaro muna kaso di ako marunong ng nilalaro niya na 'Jumping Rope' kaya naglaro na lang ako ng bola ko. Kaso pagkahagis ko sa malayo di ko na nakita, kaya hinanap ko pero di ko mahanap eh.

"KUYA!" sigaw ko, parang naiiyak na ata ako. "Kuya!" —Hala! Yung bola ko di ko makita! ASAN NA YUN?! I WANNA CRY NA!

"Oh bakit Veroni—"

"It's VENUS!"

I pouted. Alam ko kasi na tatawagin niya kong Veronica eh, kakainis na nga dahil minsan nagkakamali sila daddy at kuya ng tawag sa pangalan namin even our relatives nagkakamali rin.

Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi kasi magkamukhang-magkamukha kami ng kakambal ko ang tanging tao lang ang di nagkakamali sa pagtawag samin ay si mommy, ang sabi niya kasi ang pagkaka-iba lang namin ng kakambal ko ay ang mga mata namin.

Ang mata ko daw ay caramel samantalang sa kakambal ko ay light brown pero kahit na magka-iba parang pareho din daw kaya hindi nila matukoy kung sino si Venus at Veronica saming dalawa.

"Okay, sorry na Venus." Kuya apologized to me

"Hmph! tatawagin mo dapat akong Veronica eh. Hindi naman ako si ate Veronica eh!" I whined as tears down from my eyes "My name is Venus! VENUS!"

"Okay okay sorry. Don't cry, bakit mo ba tinawag si Kuya?"

"Eh kuya di ko makita yung bola ko!"

I almost cried— ANG BOLA KOOOOOOOOOO!

"San mo ba huling nakita?"

"S-sa k-kamay k-ko"

Napahilamos na lang ni kuya yung kamay niya sa mukha niya. Parang namoblema pa siya— IT WASN'T MY FAULT MY BALL IS MISSING

"Pagkatapos non?"

"H-hinagis k-ko"

"Saan?"

"Doon"

Tinuro ko pa yung lugar kung san tumalbog palayo yung bola ko

"— Tas biglang nawala"

"San doon?"

He asked and I burst on anger.

"Basta don nga! H-hanappin m-mo yun k-kuya"

I cried hard. Tuloy tuloy na ang daloy na luha ko sa mga mata ko— Ayaw niya ko Tulungan maghanap

"— Isusumbong kita kela mommy kapag hindi mo nakita yun!"

Namutla naman siya dahil dun.

"Okay sige hahanapin ko na yun basta wag ka ng umiyak, okay?" Aniya habang pinatatahan ako "Sige na tahan na"

"Kuyaaaaaaa!!" sigaw naman ng kakambal ko mula sa malayong parte ng parke.

I scoffed.

"Sandali lang muna ah titignan lang muna ni kuya kung anong nagyari sa kakambal mo. Dito ka lang wag kang aalis." Ani kuya "Naiintindihan mo?"

I scoffed again as I pouted.

"Okay!"

Nakasimangot na kong pasinok sinok— I hate him! Ayaw niya hanapin yung ball ko!

"Dito ka lang ah?"

"Okay nga, kuya, what I mean of okay is yes at hindi aalis, satisfied now?" — ginagalit ako ni Kuya!

"Seryoso ako Venus, kilala kita kahit na minsan nahihirapan akong alamin kung si Veronica ka ba o si Venus ay alam ko ang ugali mo at sinasabi ko sayo na dito ka lang at wag na wag kang aalis hanggang makabalik ako, Naiitindihan mo?"

And that I burst again.

"Oo nga!" sigaw ko "Kulit eh!"

"KUYAAAAAA! KUYA! KUYA! KUYA! KUYA VINCE! KUYA!" Rinig kong sigaw ng kakambal ko sa malayo "KUYA ANO BA?! I'M WAITING HERE!"

"Andyan na!" Balik tugon naman ni kuya sa kakambal ko "Venus, yung bilin ko sayo ah?"

I scoffed as I reply.

"Wag aalis"

Ngumiti naman si Kuya sabay gulo ng buhok ko.

"Good Girl!"

Pagkasabi niya nun ay agad siyang tumakbo papunta kay Veronica. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko nang marealize ang sinabi niya kanina.

"ANONG GOOD GIRL?! KUYA, I'M NOT A DOG!"

•••

I've been waiting for the past few minutes, mga ten o fifteen na ata at hanggang ngayon wala pa rin si Kuya. I was nearly bored here and had really nothing to do so I left there and continue to search for my long lost ball.

Pasipa-sipa lang ako sa tabi na may mga tatlong batang lalaki akong nakita na naglalaro ng 'batuhang bola' aalis na sana ako ng makita ko yung itsura ng bola hinahagis at binabato bato nila.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko yung design nang bola— AKIN YON AH!

"Hey! That's my ball, you thiefs!"

I hissed— Mga magnanakaw ng Bola!

"Ano sabi mo?" tanong nung matabang bata "Hindi kita maintindihan"

"Can't you understand what am I saying?!" I scoffed as I shouted "I said that's my ball!"

Imbes na sumagot ay kumunot lang ang noo nila na parang nagtataka kung anong sinasabi ko.

Napasintido na lang ako sa inis dahil dun— THIS THIEFS!

"Huy! mayaman ka ba?" tanong nung isang chinito na bata "amerikana?"

I scoffed at his question.

"Oo sa una at hindi sa pangalawa" sagot ko sa tanong niya "Bakit mo natanong?"

Pinangewangan naman nila ako. Napataas ang isang kilay ko dahil dun.

"Kung di ka naman pala amerikana bakit mo kami ini-english? Eh nasa pilipinas ka ano tingin mo samin kano?" maangas na tanong naman nung payat na bata "Yabang mo ah!"

I scoffed— Ano naman niyabang ko? I just spoke to them in English.

"Pake mo ba? at tsaka akin na nga yang bola ko" I burst out "Ibalik niyo sa akin yan! Bola ko yan! Magnanakaw kayo!"

"Sayo to?" tanong naman nang chinito na bata na may hawak sa bola ko "Weh?"

He even stick his tongue out. I cringed.

"Yes! It's mine! So give it back! Akin na yan!"

"Kung sayo to pwes hindi na ngayon amin na to" sagot naman nung matabang bata

And that I burst out again.

"YOU BALL THIEFS! GIVE ME BACK MY BALL! AKIN NA YAN!" I shouted  "ISUSUMBONG KO KAYO SA MOMMY'T DADDY KO!"

Pero di nila ibinigay instead they push me kaya natumba ako sa semento, dahil sa sakit kaya ako umiyak— Ang sama nila.

"Buti nga sayo."

They all laughed at me in chorus.

"Sige na nga sayo na to kawawa ka naman eh, pero habulin mo muna. Fetch!"

Sabi nung payat na bata pagkatapos ay ihinagis yung bola ko sa kalsada. Mas naiyak ako lalo.

Umalis na yung tatlong bata at ako naman ay hinabol yung bola na regalo sakin ng lola ko pero pagkakuha ko nga bola ko nagulat na lang ako ng bigla ako itinulak ni mommy at sa bilis ng mga nangyari nakita ko na lang si mommy na nakahiga sa kalsada at—

Duguan.

Nanginig at namutla ako sa takot.

"M-Mommy!"

•••

"Venice! Venice! Venice! Venice Samarah! Mahal! Magpakatatag ka!"

Daddy cried as he hold Mommy's hand. We are all running as we followed, the nurses are the one who's pushing mommy's stretchers to the Emergency Room. Daddy was on mommy's side. Holding her tightly.

"— Mahal ko! Wag kang susuko! Venice! Venice! Mahal ko!"

Pagkarating naming lahat sa Emergency Room hinarang na kami ng mga nurse.

"Sir hanggang dito na lang po muna kayo maghintay na lang po tayo"

The nurse said as they put mommy on the Emergency Room. I saw two doctor's entering there too.

"Daddy, g-gagaling s-si m-mommy di ba?"

Veronica was crying non-stop.

"Oo naman baby" Daddy replied "Mommy niyo pa ba?"

He was smiling but it didn't reached his eyes. I saw nothing but sadness there. My heart aches.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at niyakap siya agad agad.

"S-Sorry daddy"

Daddy patted my head and that I cried.

"Wag mong sisihin ang sarili mo Venus baby, walang may gustong mangyari to sa mommy niyo"

I was about to say something but my twin interfere.

"No, daddy it's Venus fault! Sabi ni Kuya binilinan niya si Venus na mag-stay sa may bench na pinag-iwanan sa kanya pero look what she did? She didn't obey kaya nandito si mommy! Pasaway ka kasi!"

She bursts out. Nakayuko na lang ako dahil dun.

"Walang may kasalanan nito Veronica. Don't blame your twin"

Kuya interfere.

"No! Di ba d-dapat s-siya n-naman yung naospital at n-nakahiga d-doon? P-pero h-hindi e-eh s-si m-mommy y-yon"

My twin suddenly burst out crying. Wala ng nagsalita sa amin lalo na ako dahil ako naman talaga ang may kasalanan kung bakit nandun si mommy eh. I didn't obey kuya kaya nandun si mommy— IT'S MY FAULT! IT'S MY ENTIRE FAULT!

"S-Sorry"

No one replied and I silently cried because of that. We waited for almost nine hours long outside the emergency room nang lumabas na yung doktor— pero parang may mali sa kanya, he wasn't happy— Bakit parang ang lungkot niya?

I'm started to freak out because of that. Yung kaba sa dibdib ko dumagdag lalo nang umiling ito sa katabing nurse. Lumilinga ang ulo nito sa mga nakaabang na mga tao.

"Sino po ang kamag-anak ng pasyente ng si Venice Samarah?"

Agad kaming nagtayuan nang marinig yun.

"Kami po!" Daddy replied  "I'm her husband."

The doctor shook his head as he look at the papers that he was holding.

"I'm sorry, sir, didiretsuhin ko na kayo, we had just loss the patient and we've done everything we can but the patient cannot take it anymore. We also just found out that your wife had a record here this recent months"

The doctor sighed as he looked at daddy

"— Mrs. Venice Samarah Diarez-Vanvuich had a brain cancer and the car crash affected more of her brain and it was damage that cause her death. I'm really sorry Mr. Vanvuich for your loss"

Napayuko kaming lahat nang marinig yun.

"No!" I shouted as I cried "Mommy's alive your lying! P-Please tell me doctor your lying?"

Tumingin sa akin yung doktor at ang katabing nurse neto sa amin nang may awa. Hindi ko sila pinansin at agarang pumasok sa loob ng Emergency Room at nakakita ko yung mga nurse na tinatakpan si mommy ng puting kumot.

Tumakbo ako at niyakap siya habang umiiyak— NO! THERE ARE LYING! YOUR ALIVE! MY MOMMY'S ALIVE!

"M-mommy g-gumising k-ka. S-sorry p-po. P-promise p-po d-di na po a-ako susuway s-sa u-utos." I cried as I hugged mommy's cold dead body "Please, wake up!"

"Mommy!" My twin cried as well as she hugged mommy too "P-please w-wake u-up"

My twin and I just cried as we tried to wake up our cold dead body of our mother but to our disappointment she didn't woke up. Our older brother and daddy silently crying while watching us, they didn't speak but I know they were also in pain— Kasalanan ko to! IT IS MY ENTIRE FAULT!

"MOMMY!"

Sadly, mom didn't wake up