Act 1 : Chapter 1

After Nineteen Years

“Aeina!Aeira!” Mommy shouted.

“Get down! NOW! Can’t you hear me!?” She seems angry.

I was going down on the stairs when I saw Dad watching Detective Drama on our TV.

“Mom! Where are you?” I shouted as I’m looking for my beautiful Mom.

“I’m here at the dining area Aeina, come!” She shouted back.

I don’t know what we did. I have no failed grades in our class. We don’t even attend party that is overnight. I think we’re grounded again damn it. Being grounded means no phone no laptop no desktop no everything! Ugh! I hate this!

“Why mom? You seem to be angry?” I asked.

“No I wasn’t angry. Why would I be? I just want to talk to you both, go get your sister please. NOW! Aeina please.

“Aeira, Mom is calling you! What the heck did you do!? Tell me please. I pleaded to my twin sister when I entered her room.

“What!? No! I’m here in the house all the time when Mom and Dad was at Taiwan. What about you!? Remember you stayed at Tita Jeanne’s? Without notice. How many days was it?”

“I think we’re dead.” That’s the only answer I gave my sister.

“GIRLS!!! Where are you!?” Dad shouted.

“We’re coming Dad!” Aeira answered back.

We’re in front of the food when Mom asked us about our plan on our studies. We’ve been two years at College but every semester we shift courses. My first year on College I took Information Technology while Aeira took Nursing. On the second sem I shifted to Nursing while Aeira took Electrical Engineering. Currently I shifted to Fine Arts while Aeira took Civil Engineering. I took bacon then Dad started to talk.

“Girls, please be serious about studies. I think you both took all the available courses at the school you’re enrolled at.” The tone of his voice is serious.

“Daddy, I want to continue Civil Engineering.” Aeira answered.

“Daddy, Fine Arts are getting interesting, but what do you want me to get?” I asked.

“I won’t allow you to shift to any course anymore. Baby Aeina, just do what you want and be serious about it okay?” His deep voice echoes on the dining area.

“Kagami! Don’t be too hard on them. Let them find what they want.” Mom stopped Dad when Dad was about to talk again.

“But Luna, I’m having a hard time for them. Can we talk privately?” Dad asked Mom with a serious face.

They moved on the living area of the house. But I don’t think they’re arguing. They are even laughing and giggling.

“Girls! Come here!” Mom shouted on us.

We moved where our parents are. Then they;

“Happy Birthday!!!!”Shouted by Mom and Dad while they are grinning like mad.

They handed us two keys. Keys for our new car! Is this the very best gift we’ve received!? YES IT IS!!

“Are we gonna go at cemetery later Mom?” I asked Mom as she hands over the key to me.

“I thought it was gonna be a new phone!” Aeira said while smiling.

“Yes, we will just visit an old friend.” Mom said.

“What’s her or his name Mom?” Aeira asked Mom.

“We call her “Hikari” but that’s Aunt Hikari for the both of you.” Mom answered.

“We haven’t visited her for like 3 or 4 years already. Today is her 19^th Death Anniversary.” Mom bitterly said to us.

Daddy told us about Aunt Hikari. We know nothing about our past since we we’re a child. The memories semms blurry but now, I kinda knew something about the past. Dad also showed us an old video. It’s not even at 720p to be watchable. I think it’s only 640 x 360 and it’s a low quality film.

The video shocked me and my twin. Something inside me ignited, specially the part when they are performing. The vocalist is so beautiful and her pair of eyes seems like mine.

“So, she’s Aunt Hikari eh? She rocks. She’s so cool! I regret now that I didn’t continue playing guitar so that I can be like her.” I spurred out of the blue. Dad also told us that this was the very first performance of the Band that Aunt Jeanne is now handling. They are still very famous up to now. After telling that, Dad laughed.

“It took her about 10 years or more to be like that my daughter.” Dad told me after laughing and I rolled my eyes.

“That’s not her peak performance, that’s about 40% of her energy. That was the time she already had a cancer.” Dad continued while he’s hugging Mom.

“Friggin’ awesome Dad.”Aeira told dad without batting an eye to the film we’re watching.

I was shocked when the fourth song started. Mom was on stage at she was dancing with Aunt Hikari, both of them are has this stunning beauty. I think many of males even lined just to let them know that they will court Mom or Aunt Hikari, that even females will bear sin due to their gorgeousness. How Mom and Dad ended with each other!? God! If you asked me it’s like thousands of miles away! Dad is handsome but not even enough for Mom!

The mood quickly shifted at the fifth song. It became too sad. Her voice is too sad. She’s like singing somebody who’s on the left side of the stage. I think it’s just me.

“Hey! I think Dad really hypnotised Mom!” I shouted that made Mom laugh.

“Aeina! Don’t be like that on your Dad!” Mom shouted back while still laughing.

“Why Mom? Dad did it didn’t he?” I answered back.

“Hey! Don’t I have someone here to save my buttocks? I’m getting burned here!” Dad asked us.

“None!!” Mom and me shouted back to Dad then we laughed. Dad was near on us, he gave us a warm hug after laughing. Aeira frowned for what she heared.

“Dad is life! You both are ugly!” While pointing towards at Mom and to me. And then Dad gave us again a big hug.

The performance has ended, they were rolling the cables used in the performance when somebody stopped them and to my shock, Dad was in the stage with the band. My jaw dropped. Dad sang along with Aunt Hikari and to my surprise, I think that Dad and Aunt Hikari had something special way back then. The emotional song they performed together, you will feel that they used to love each other. The song was old, older than me. But I think I will love the song rather than that, I will love the old rock songs to what I’ve watched.

“Again, Happy birthday to both of you!” Dad happily greeted us again while he kissed us on the forehead.

“Why don’t we check your cars?” Dad asked.

We got at the gate and then we saw two sports car. It’s Mitsubishi Eclipse Racing Type. The body kits are already heavily modified due to having thin side kits. Me and my twin’s hobbies are Circuit Racing and Drag Racing. I don’t know. We love this, yeah I know it’s not for females but our parents aren’t even saying anything to us. The chairs are also already modified. The seat belt covers your whole body. Aeira quickly rode the Sunny Orange one while mine was Icy Blue.

“Whoa! This is so cool!” Aeira shouted. The gate opened, Dad thought that we will park the cars at the garage.

“Why don’t we go at Auntie Paine’s? Let’s visit Eisenhoward.” I suggested to Aeira.

“Let’s go! Let’s spin this!” She enthusiastically answered.

“Hey! Just be careful! I already told Dad that he can give you anything but not car! I cannot imagine you having an accident”. Mom said then proceeds to punch Dad at the sides, Dad laughed on it.

I started the engine; I felt already the excitement on it. I pressed the accelerator and the sound comings from the muffler are so loud. The transmission also can be accessed at the steering wheel.

“You should pack things first! Don’t leave like that girls!” Mom shouted.

I turned off the engine and ran as fast as I can to grab my bag and inserted three randomly grabbed shirts, pants, undies, tank tops, and jersey shorts. Dad didn’t like the idea of short shorts, especially Mom. They are both conservative when it comes to dresses. We obey them of course. It wasn’t that bad to begin with. We only wear revealing clothes when we are on the beach or pool. They thought that I was a lesbian too due to the way on how I dress and my style of my hair, that’s why most of the men doesn’t pay attention to me.

Mom and Dad called us on the living room after packing our things. They told us that they will transfer the Construction firm to us named “Twin A’s”.

“No! I don’t like that idea. You and Dad can take care of it Mom. We don’t even know how to manage that.” I said to Mom, she bitterly smiled. Aeira just laughed and told our parents that “That company will only give me headaches anyway!”

I ran towards to the gate, we waited for Mom and Dad before we left for us to say a formal goodbye. We both can do anything we wanted to, we just have to let our parents know about it. It’s just that we don’t do drugs, anything is fine with them. Cool parents aren’t they?

Mom and Dad are both hardworking on their field of work. Mom owns the biggest internet café chain and Record label Company that makes huge stars. Mom finished Business Management and Accountancy. She has a title of CPA. Dad is a Civil Engineer; at he is now studying Architecture. Mom even told us that; Dad managed to finish Information Technology. Dad even told us that his money is limitless. He bragged on us.

We kissed Mom and Dad then drove away. They told us that they will go to the cemetery. It’s a tradition to them as far I can remember. They don’t force us to do the same cause it’s our birthday and they even told us that we need to enjoy our day because it’s ours.

The trip will be kind of long. I called Aeira.

“Sister, where do we run? SCTEX or Bulacan?” I asked.

“SCTEX! Let’s try this! Use waze to get to Aunt Paine’s.” She told me on the other line.

“Waze? It’s only on Cubao, right? Manhattan Tower 1.” I answered.

“Yes. Let’s race! But before that; let’s fill our gas.” She suggested.

Aunt Paine and Uncle Jheck are staying at Manila. We frequent their house. We have a house at Manila too but it’s under renovation. We can also stay to any of Mom or Dad’s friends. Our favourite to crash by is Aunt Paine’s. Their condo is huge, and Eisenhoward who’s our best friend stays there too.

We’re at the City Proper when we stopped by at the nearest Gas Station we can see. Aunt Jeanne called me. She asked where we would be staying. She told me that they have a show at Naga City later this evening and they plan only to drive it. She also told me that Laureen, her daughter a 10 year old little girl is alone.

“How many days are you gonna stay at Paine’s?” Aunt Jeanne asked.

“Two or three days. We’re test driving this car that Dad gave us.” I answered.

“Oh! So you’re just gonna be breaking in that? Marvellous! You both are really spoiled brats!” She says.

“Yes Aunt." I humbly answered.

“In two hours or less we will be already there. We’re running at 120kph.” I told her.

“WAIT! WHAT!? THAT FAST!? What the heck isKagami and Luna were thinking purchasing you that!?” Aunt Jeanne almost shouted on me like she’s having a hypertension.

“Chill! What’s the use of this when you can’t even reach 100kph? This is built to race Aunt.” I reasoned out to her.

“So you and Aeira are still racing?” She quietly asked.

“Yes Aunt! It’s super fun! I’ll teach Laureen how to drive when you go here at Nueva Ecija.” I bragged to her.

“Damn it. What’s the fun on risking your life when you drive?” She asked again.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you here. I’ll call Paine too so she will be notified. I will bring Laureen to her unit.” She added then the call ended.

“Who’s that?” Aeira asked. She hands me a bottled milk tea. She was wearing her racing attire; she attracts a lot of attention at the gas station. We don’t have much difference when it comes to facial features; the only thing that you can tell who’s who is by looking at our eyes and how we dress. I dress like a boyish while Aeira dresses lady like, more often a daring one like for example today. She wore her leather jacket with a lot of patches. Her sponsor on her live streams, beneath her jacket is her tank top that shows her cleavage. She also wore her tight leather pants. Did I forget to mention that her jacket lacked fabrics? We’re both tall so we do attract a lot of attention. I stand 5’11 while Aeira stands 5’10.

“What? Why? Are we required to wear formal dress or what?” I asked her while I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t even know why you like wearing those!” She angrily replied.

“Crocs slip in sandals? Six pocket shorts? T-Shirt that is loose? What are you? Auber driver?” She said in succession.

“Silly! Hahaha! We’re just going to Aunt Paine’s! It was never required to wear a formal attire isn’t?” I answered with a question which made her eyes roll.

“What the heck? Your hair is a mess! Undercut? Are you even serious? Sometimes I even asked Mom if you’re really my twin! Aeina Beatrix Augustos! Please fix yourself!” She shouted in a little disappointed voice then she walked out.

As she walks, I entered the store behind me. Grabbed some sandwich and chocolate bars. I saw that many people are gathering near Aeira so I hurriedly exited the store. I quickly prepared my keys, I snatch it to my left waist while my wallet is in the right side.

Aeira started her engine and revved her car, a sign that we should go. The gathered people swayed as we start revving the cars. We first proceed to fill up our gas then hit the high way. I was surprised when the dusk came, the side skirts illuminates a blue light while on Aeira’s turned orange. Even the people were surprised how the lights turned out. Aeira quickly accelerated on the high way. The high way got two lanes. I took the left lane while she took the right lane. Aeira entered the “racing mode” of the car. I saw the hydraulics lowered her car and I did the same. I felt the sudden lowering of the car’s suspensions. 

We drove so fast that we didn’t even noticed that we are already entering the express way. Normally it will take you 2 to 3 hours but we got it for 1hr only. We ran our cars at minimum of 100kph.

We’re used driving fast and the buses and other cars were like frozen when we’re taking over. We took another stop over at a FamilyMart along NLEX to purchase anything we might need in case we got hungry along the way.

I waited for Aeira to return, I was still inside of the car and then she knocked. I stepped outside and then she told me -