Chapter 04

Chapter 04

“Did I see it right? Or am I just hallucinating?”

I've been staring at Xian's picture in his social media account and comparing it to the man I saw last time we went to Ynes' mansion. I still can't believe it. I mean, the man I saw last time is far different from the man I'm seeing right now.

May kakambal ba talaga si Xian?

Sa tagal kong nakasubaybay sa pamilya nila wala akong nabalitan o narinig na may anak na kambal ang mag-asawang Ynes. So how come there's someone who look exactly like Xian? And his name is Jian?

If Jian is really Xian's twin, why are they hiding him? Bakit ni minsan ay hindi siya nakita sa mga family dinner or occasion nila? Are they really hiding him? And why Janice is telling him those words as if he's locked in their mansion for a long time already?

What's the purpose of hiding that man?

Bumalik ako sa reyalidad nang tumunog ang notification ng phone ko. A message from Leo again and again popped up.

“He's persistent,” I whisper and ignore his message. 

He's been spamming messages to me. It irritates me. I thought he'll be my way to get information from Ynes' family but I'm wrong. Dumagdag lang sya sa sakit ng ulo. 

My way to find out those dark secrets of Ynes family is to befriend Janice then secretly and slowly get the information about Jian.

That man will help me to sabotage his family. I will use him to put a scar on his own family. 

I will play the game his parents used to play with my family before. They play dirty then I will get dirtier. I'll make sure of that.

“Saan daw ang meeting place natin with Janice today, Lia?” I ask while getting inside the van. “Did she message you already?”

“Yes, ate. If pwede raw po sa mansion na nila tayo pumunta? Hindi raw po kasi siya pwedeng umalis for some reason. Ayan lang po ang sinabi niya sa email.”

Napangiti ako. To their mansion it is. Lalong dumadali ang mga plano ko.

“Message her, we'll go.” Sabi ko kay Lia.

“Okay po.”

“Manong, sa Ynes mansion po tayo.”

“Okay po, ma'am.” sagot ni Mang Ador bago pinatakbo ang sasakyan.

Almost two hours before we arrived to  Ynes' mansion. Nagtaka ako nang pahintuin ng guard ang sasakyan namin.

“What's the problem, Mang Ador?" Tanong ko sa driver.

“Hindi ko rin po alam, Ma'am, e.”

Nang maiparke ni Manong ang sasakyan, lumapit ang guard sa bintana ni Mang Ador.

“Anong problema, sir?" Tanong ni Mang Ador.

“Is this Miss HM's car?" The guard asks Mang Ador. 

Without waiting for Mang Ador's answer, I moved a bit forward for the guard to see me.

“Yes,” sabi ko. “Why?”

Tumingin sa akin ang guard. Ngumiti siya bago nag-bow. “Good afternoon, ma'am.”

“Good afternoon, too. Any problem?”

“Nothing, ma'am.”

“So why do you stop us?”

“Ma'am, you are allowed to enter but your driver and assistant are not as per Ma'am Janice said.”

Nagtaka ako. “Why? Last time we went here, Miss Janice let them enter.”

“Sorry, ma'am, nasunod lang po ako sa utos. Ikaw lang po pwede pumasok. Huwag po kayong mag-alala may pagsstayan naman po sila.”

“Okay lang, ate.” tinignan ko si Lia na nasa tabi ko. She's smiling. “Hindi rin naman po kami kailangan ni Mang Ador sa meeting niyo.”

“Opo, ma'am.”

But… isn't it weird? Last time, they let us all in. Why today we can't? They are really hiding something from that mansion.

“Okay.” 

In the end, I walked alone towards the Ynes' mansion. Though the guard wanted to accompany me, I just didn't let him. I keep staring and scanning the mansion while walking. Malaki at sobrang ganda nito. Makalumang istilo ngunit naroon pa rin ang kagandahan. 

Nang marating ko ang main door, may nakatayo na dalawang maid. Nang makita ako agad silang tumakbo palapit sa akin.

“Good afternoon, Miss HM.” bati nila pareho sa akin. “Pasok po kayo.”

I nod my head and lead the way. They are following from behind. They told me to go straight to the salas. 

“Where's Miss Ynes?” tanong ko nang hindi nakita si Janice. 

“Ma'am, umalis lang po saglit si Madama. Wait niyo nalang daw po siya rito. May gusto mo ba kayo? Juice po?”

She's not here? Then, who's in here?

Right…. That man named Jian. I'm sure he's here.

“No need. I'll wait for Miss HM here.” Umupo ako sa malambot nilang sofa.

Tumango sila pareho.

“Maiwan na po muna namin kayo, ma'am. Sa kusina lang po kami kapag may kailangan po kayo tawagin niyo na lang po kami.”

I nod my head and get my phone in my pouch. Umalis sila at iniwan ako mag-isa. Lihim kong sinundan sila ng tingin at nang pumasok sila sa kusina, tumayo ako at mabilis na naglakad paakyat sa hagdan.

Without looking back, I keep walking upstairs until I reach the second floor of the mansion. Hindi ko maitatanggi na kinakabahan ako. But I am determined to know who that man is. Anong koneksyon niya sa mga Ynes. Sino nga ba talaga siya? This is my chance to know the answer to all of my questions.

I tried to find weird and unnecessary things while walking in the hallway. I keep walking until I found a separate room. Hindi naman siya kaduda-duda tignan. But my gut tells me to look inside it.

I look back and see nothing. I slowly approach the room. Ilang hakbang pa ako sa silid nang marinig ko ang tunog ng piano mula sa loob.

Should I look inside?

“This is my only chance… so I'll grab it.”

I held the doorknob. I keep hearing the beautiful sound of the piano inside. With my heart beating so fast, I slowly open the door. And the sound of the piano gradually became clear.

There he is!

The man who looks like Xian. He's playing piano with his eyes closed. 

I don't know what got into me but I felt something weird. I felt my knees become weak and my heart started to beat abnormally.

“H-He's good…” without thinking I just spilled it out. “And good looking…”

My mind clearly became relaxed and I forgot the business I wanted to do. Because of the beautiful sound of the piano he is marking, I also got stunned with how beautiful he is. 

Yes, he and Xian really look alike but… there's something with him that I didn't feel or get while looking at Xian.

Mabilis na sinarado ko ang pinto at nagdahilan para kumalabog.

“Shit!”

Kaba ang unang naramdaman ko dahil sa ginawa ko. I immediately turn my back and walk as fast as I can. 

Thankfully, he didn't get out of his room. Pagbaba ko wala rin ang mga maid. I sigh and sit down.

“I need to get to know him,” I whisper and look upstairs where his room is.