the distance

As we were on our way to the airbase, I could feel the distance between the two of us. She is on the far side of the car seat while I was on the other. None of us talked to each other during the drive until we reached the destination. Almost at the same time we also got off and walked near the runway.

Behind us were my men who were positioned in their places. I also have a security force all over the place in case the worst happens.

I'm still angry at her for what she had decided to do without even saying it to me. And I will never allow her to do what she wants to happen. I have no intention of prolonging our quarrel today. I just wanted to give ourselves some space to think things out. What I can guarantee is the fact that there's definitely no break-up that will happen.

"Even if you reject me now, I'll still tell you the whole story about the past. I don't care if you don't want to listen. It's now or never, Mav."

I slightly turned to Femella who was standing next to me. I can't read her face because of her sunglasses but I can certainly sense her steadfastness.

"I'll provide the details that no detective can give you." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Our clan is known for wealth and power but as much as possible, we keep it low key. That's just who we are and that's how our ancestors survived so we keep on the tradition. Our rivals, the Asturias are not that hidden from the public knowledge. We were on top of every field and industry in our town. We practically ran the whole place. Politicians first consulted us on what they were going to do before they implemented it. But we didn't come that far easily. The tradition is strict and our law. We were a very conservative family who believed in every superstition. We have a funny belief inside the clan that if any of the women in the family will conceive twins, we would fall." She laughed hysterically. "Imagine that! It's so funny isn't it? But we were also a family of crazy and too traditional people so that idea floated on until the next generations. And finally, our mother gave birth to us. My parents were so scared that she hid her other child from all of the family. If that news got out, we would have been killed instantly by our own relatives. Yes, that's how crazy they are."

She sighed.

I remained silent and just let her tell the story.

"So that's it. My mother couldn't hide that she was pregnant so what they did is, she separated Trisha from me. I was the weaker one so they chose me. They sent Trisha to our staff in a distant province. One day, they realized that they chose the wrong one. I don't even have a single musical talent. I always break any instrument I touch. I don't know how to sing. I can't play any musical instrument. For an Alcantara, that's a big shame. Music runs in our blood but I guess it skipped me. On the other hand, they heard that Trisha won a musical competition. They were so elated to know that. They plan to swap us again but it's unlikely that no one will notice. We were not identical twins. I live every day in comparison to them with me to Trisha. Not that it matters that I excel in business. I'm just a woman. I can't hold one because according to our tradition, our grandfather's eldest son will replace the father."

She paused for a moment to catch her breath.

"One day, our parents decided to visit Trisha. I tag along. I also want to see her because I can only see her in the pictures. The one day visit ended in a few weeks. I loved the place that's why I did everything to beg them to let me stay for a while. It was only there that I felt truly free. No rules, no musical classes and no parents who will always compare me to my sister. Trisha and I never got close to each other. She spent her time envying my privileged life while I do the same because of her talent. And then you came along. "

I gasped at what she said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

We heard above the roar of a coming helicopter. We both looked up in the air while Femella answered my question.

"Your parents deported you to the province in your last year of college. It's the same province Trisha lived in. It's also the same time that I lived there. You and Trisha fell in love with each other. It's the reason she's in the same car with you during that accident. Lagma crashed into your car that night. We were just caught by the former but I still saw the dog he was carrying and the tattoo he had on his neck before he finally put Trisha in the van. I called 911 to save you. The accident didn't make the news because they did everything to hide the fact that I have twins but it's too late for our family. It created an internal turmoil which caused our downfall. "

It was as if I became deaf to what I heard. I stood my ground while still mentally processing all these things.

The helicopter landed and blew away Femella's hair. Her glasses flew off revealing her cold hurting eyes.

"You always ask why you're so crazy with me? You ask why you loved me for a very short time? You ask if it's even possible? But I don't think it's me you loved, Mav. You just felt that to me. because you remember her. You are reminded of her through me. Your subconscious recognized our similarity," she said in a controlled voice.

"I never believed for once about your love for me, Fuentebella. Never," she added.

I clenched my teeth at her words. How dare she doubt my love for her? When I am more than ready to forgive her, forget about everything, and offer her everything I got?

Our attention was caught when the car door opened and a woman came out.

"Remember about that story I told you on our last night at the island?"

Though shocked and unable to believe her confessions, I still managed to remember that night. Heck, I remember everything about her. I remember everything we did together and everything related to her.

"What about it?"

My eyes are fixated on the girl descending from the chopper.

"You're about to meet her. That girl."

She started walking to meet the woman.

I remained still on my feet. I try to see the woman's face. When I realized that her face looked like her, I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach.

Suddenly, the woman in my dream had a face. I couldn't move and just waited for what would happen. Femella and the woman talked for a while before Trisha's eyes came to me.

She smiled and then she came running towards me. She suddenly hugged me very tightly while crying. I didn't respond. I can't respond because I don't know how to sift through this happening.

My gaze flew to Femella who averted her eyes from us. Without expression, she turned around and got into the car I didn’t realize had arrived.

I removed the arms of the woman who hugged me to chase the woman I loved but she held me tighter and she cried harder.

I looked back at the helicopter and saw Lagma staring hard at us. I saw Jex handing an envelope to a Lagma staff.

What just happened?