CHAPTER SIX

“WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?” Blue asked as Red entered the room.

“From Katleya’s place,” Red replied, jumping onto the bed and rolling around.

Blue smacked him on the butt. “You’re so restless.”

“Ouch,” Red complained.

“You look like a fool doing that. So, what happened?”

“A very long sweet story,” Red lazily answered.

“A very long sweet story, your face! Tss!”

Red sat up properly and looked at him. “Have you ever been serious about a girl, Blue? You know, the kind of love that overpowers everything else?”

Blue pouted. “That’s so corny, but if you must know, never. I’ve never been in love. All I want is to sleep with them.”

“It actually feels good,” Red said with a smile, recalling his time at the Quizo residence.

“Looks like you’re really smitten with my best friend. Congratulations, you’re finally a real person!”

“Idiot. But it’s true. It feels great here.” Red placed a hand on his chest. “I think the day will come when you’ll change once you meet the girl meant for you.”

“What do you mean by change? I’m perfectly fine as I am! Sure, I may be wild, but I’m a good guy.”

“I mean getting serious about everything in life.”

“Serious, your face.”

“See? You can’t even take this conversation seriously.”

“Whatever. I’d rather take care of myself. I didn’t even get to score with Selena today because I was stuck helping those two idiots with their research. Grrr!”

“There you go again. You’re messing around with a girl you don’t even care about.”

“But I enjoy what I do, don’t I? It feels great.”

“When will you ever grow up? What if I’m no longer here? Who’s going to guide you?”

“No longer here, your face! Guide you, your face!” Blue pulled his boxer shorts down slightly, exposing himself, and began touching himself. “Don’t disturb me. My little buddy will get mad at you.”

Red could only smile as he took off his shirt to change. Afterward, he grabbed a book and started reading, lying down next to Blue, who was still preoccupied with his activity.

“Stop moving so much, Blue. It’s dizzying.”

“Have you ever seen someone doing this while frozen in place, huh? Tell me!”

“Tell me, your face!” Red snapped.

“Yuck! Feeling like Blue. Tss!”

Red laughed. “Oh, by the way, I pretended to be you when I picked up Katleya. It was funny because I managed to fool her for a few minutes, but she caught on halfway when she wiped the sweat off my face, and the mole I drew on myself came off.”

“Don’t do that again. You might get into trouble. You know how many people hate me,” Blue said seriously.

“Okay, I won’t do it again. I only did it because of Katleya, but now that we’re close and have a mutual understanding, I don’t need to pretend to be you just to spend time with her.”

“That’s better.” Blue finished his business. “Ahh.” He stood up. “I’ll wash up in the bathroom.”

When he was done, he lay down next to Red, who was quietly reading. “Go grab some beer downstairs, Red. I’m thirsty. Let’s drink.”

“You go,” Red replied.

“Lazy!” Blue yelled.

Since he couldn’t get Red to help, Blue decided to go himself. He headed downstairs to the bar on the first floor. After grabbing a bottle of beer, he went to the kitchen to get a large mug.

“Manang, can you get some ice from the freezer?” Blue asked. His mother, Crezelda, passed by without acknowledging him. “Mom.” He smiled. “Oh, Blue? Thirsty? Don’t get drunk,” he said to himself with a chuckle.

“Here’s the ice, Sir Blue,” Manang said, handing it over.

“Thank you.”

Blue walked back upstairs, carrying the bucket of beer and ice.

As he ascended the stairs, he crossed paths with his father, Zander.

“Dad,” Blue said. But like his mother, Zander passed by without acknowledging him. He smiled again. “Hi, Blue. Thirsty? Drink all you want, but only what you can handle, okay? You have class tomorrow,” he said to himself, continuing up the stairs.

When he reached the room, he forced a smile at his twin.

“Red, let’s go to the terrace. Come on,” he said.

“You go ahead, Blue. I have to wake up early tomorrow. I’m going to bed.”

“You’re the only ally I have in this house, and now you’re turning me down. Fine, go to sleep. You’re such a good boy,” he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“Psst,” Red said.

“Psst, your face!”

Blue headed to the terrace and drank alone. He poured the beer into a mug full of ice.

“Cheers, self. Fighting!” he said. Red showed up and sat beside him. “Get lost! You said you were going to sleep, didn’t you?”

“Are you upset?” Red asked, concerned.

“Upset, your face. Get lost! I might get scolded for forcing you.” Blue took another gulp. “Cheers, self.”

“Blue, is there something wrong? This isn’t just about me declining, is it?”

“Just leave!” Blue shouted.

“What’s wrong with you?!” Red yelled back, finally losing his temper with his twin.

“I was about to shout at you, but Mom and Dad might hear us. And if they did, they’d come into the room and scold me again. They’d throw hurtful words at me, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything but take it all in. You’re a worthless child. You’re not like your twin. Why can’t you just be like your twin? We raised you well.”

“B-Blue,” Red said, his face etched with concern.

“Blue, your face. Just leave already. You said you didn’t want to drink, right? That’s what you said. I just wanted to drink. I just wanted someone to talk to. Even if I’m annoying, stupid, and crazy, I still get hurt.” Blue clenched his fists in anger.

“Blue, why are you acting like this?” Red asked, worried.”

“Bue, your face!”

“Pull yourself together!” Red shouted.

Blue stood up from his seat and glared at Red. “Get out! Why are you so stubborn?”

“Do you really think I can sleep knowing you’re like this?”

“I’ve been like this every day, haven’t I? And yet, you manage to sleep. You even snore.”

Blue immediately got punched, causing him to stumble.

“I’m talking to you properly, Blue! I’m just worried about you.”

Blue stood up and stared seriously at Red. “This is my world, Red. You’re the one who punches. I’m the one who takes it. I can’t fight back because it would be my fault. All the blame will fall on me, even if you’re the one who’s hurting me. Not once have I ever let my fist land on your face or your body, but in the eyes of our parents, I’m always the bad one.”

“Talk to me when you’ve changed,” Red said, turning his back.

“How do I even change? By being like you?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t say it, but that’s what you’re implying.”

Red glanced back. “If I had known you’d act this way, I would’ve just agreed to your invitation earlier.”

Blue picked up the beer on the table and drank it. He looked at his twin. “Do you think that’s why I’m angry? I’m angry at myself because no matter what I do, Mom and Dad still can’t forgive me. It’s been almost a year, and they still ignore me. I even stopped my bad habits before. I stayed ‘pure,’ Red! For over three months, but it didn’t matter because I’m still a worthless child to them.”

“But you’re still doing it,” Red said, unable to hold back the tears forming in his eyes. “You’re still doing it. You’re still doing the things you want.”

“Because that’s the only way they notice me. If I don’t act out, I’m just air to them—something invisible. You wouldn’t understand because you’re not me. You’re not the one they ignore. They can’t even nod at me. All their attention is on you.”

“So now it’s my fault?” Red asked.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But that’s what you’re insinuating!”

“Why are you shouting? So they’ll hear us? So I’ll get scolded again?” Blue got punched in the face again.

“Is that how you see me?” Red asked.

“Just leave. I’ve already wasted your time with this pointless argument.”

“At least you’re aware.”

Blue sat down and took another swig of beer. “At least you’re aware, your face.”

Blue continued drinking while Red went back inside the room, forcing himself to sleep. It pained him to see what had just happened. He wasn’t used to them fighting.

As hours passed, Blue drank alone until he finished the beer. He went to the bathroom to throw up. Once he felt better, he went to bed. Despite being drunk, he still managed to pray before sleeping. Then, he looked at his sleeping twin.

“You, Red,” Blue said. Red woke up but pretended to be asleep. “I don’t hate you, okay? I love you so much because you’re my twin. You know, you’re my favorite person in this world. You and Granny. Because you two don’t judge me. Unlike Mom and Dad, who only ever see my flaws—everything about me is wrong, wrong, wrong. But you, you see my worth.”

Tears flowed from Red’s eyes. Blue moved closer and kissed him on the cheek.

“Thank you, Red, for being my twin. Even if you punch me, it’s okay because I love you so much. I love you, Red. Sleep well, and may flying vaginas haunt your dreams.” Blue suddenly laughed. Red’s tears stopped for a moment. “Do flying vaginas even exist? What the heck! I’m going crazy. Fine, I’ll sleep now because my head hurts. But just remember, I love you so, so, so much. Lord, please always take care of my twin.”

Blue adjusted his position and hugged his twin. This was what he did whenever he wanted to feel better.

***

MORNING CAME. AT the Montenegro family dining table, their parents noticed the bruise on Blue’s face and Red’s swollen eyes.

“Why are your eyes swollen, Red?” Crezelda asked, then turned to Blue. “What did you do this time?”

“I didn’t do anything, but to make you happy, yes. I did something again,” Blue sarcastically replied.

“Blue!” Zander shouted.

“Sorry. I forgot I’m not allowed to answer back because everything you say about me is always correct, right—” Blue didn’t finish his sentence as his father slapped him.

“You’re always—”

Blue cut him off. “A worthless child? I know. And you’re such great paren—”. Blue received another slap. He looked at his father, holding back sobs. “Is that all you’ve got, Dad? Nothing more painful?”

Red stood up. “Dad! Please stop. Blue’s already hurting!”

Blue stood as well and looked at his twin. “Bless your family. I’ll go ahead.”

“Blue!” Zander called.

Blue turned back. “What is it? Car keys?”

He took the keys from his pocket and threw them onto the table. “Drive both cars, Dad.”

Crezelda stood and approached Blue. “You’ve lost respect for us. You don’t respect us anymore! We’re still your parents!”

Blue’s tears finally fell. “Parents? When? As far as I can remember, you were never parents to me.”

“What?” Zander approached Blue. “Say that again.”

“I’m out of load, Dad. I’m not unli—”

His father punched him in the stomach. Blue fell to the floor from the force.

“Get out of this house! We didn’t raise you to be disrespectful!”

“D-Dad!” Red shouted. He ran to help Blue up.

“Okay. That’s all I’ve been waiting for you to say. Thank you for finally saying it.” Blue wiped the blood from his mouth. “Thank you for raising me.”

Blue left their house. He couldn’t stop crying from the pain he felt.

Red ran after him. “Blue, don’t leave me here.”

“They don’t need me. Go ahead and leave. I’ll see you at school.”

“Ride with me. Wait for me outside.”

Blue nodded and began walking toward the gate. He glanced at the mansion. What happened hurt him deeply, but he forced himself to accept it.