CHAPTER 3 - LIES EVERYWHERE

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One week later. Friday, March 30th. 4pm.

Kaiya and I have the day free. We always do this since we entered college. We make a timetable in which we don't have classes on Fridays, so we can hang out. It worked for the first semester, so we kept doing that. There are three days of break so it's a win-win situation. We were going to meet at 4pm in front of the metro station near the hospital since I had a project to hand in, in person, before 3pm. My school is near the meeting point, so it is better that way. I don't have to go back home and waste more time. It was already late and Kaiya has her hacking exam tomorrow at 8am. Yup... her plan failed miserably. She was already there when I reached the destination.

"You ready?" I asked.

"More than ever." She replied.

At this point, we are sure that the two babies in the picture are us. No, we are definitely sure. Our life was a lie. We are not babies anymore. It is time to find the truth and we will. Being anxious about meeting the old man for answers, we arrived at the hospital. It didn't take long this time. We knew the way. Even though we went only once, it's like the path is dragging us there. We can't leave the place with no answers.

We enter the hospital quietly so the doctor from last time won't find us. Thankfully, she isn't working today. We asked the receptionist where the department for older is because it wasn't an event like last time. Therefore, they are probably everywhere in the hospital. We told the secretary that we are searching for the old man who doesn't talk to anyone and that we are his granddaughters. She shows us the way and we arrived in the hospital's rooftop. It is a garden, very beautiful. The scenery is all green with a path made of ceramic in form of squares for people to walk easily. We can see flowers blooming since it is finally spring. Roses, violets, tulips, lilacs and many kinds of flowers I have never seen before. The old man was sitting on his wheelchair at the end of the garden, near the border of the rooftop and is facing the city. He is admiring the sky. We can only see his back.

"Isn't the sky pretty?" The old man said when we put our feet inside the garden.

"Wow, I can't believe he talked right away. Normally, you need to be in front of him if you want any signs from him. You must really be his granddaughters." The secretary whispered at us before going back to her job. "I'll let you have some family bonding. Make sure to bring him back to his room. Room 135." With that information, she left us with him.

"You know it is us, right? The girls who visited you before. That's why you talked." I said.

"I know." He replied. "I also know that I'm your grandpa." Shook. We are shook.

"What the fuck?!" Kaiya exclaimed loudly. "How did you know that? We didn't say anything."

The old man suddenly stands up and walk toward us with big steps. He takes both our arms and lift them in front of us.

"This! I know this! I was there when my daughter made them. I found those pearls back in the days. The moment I heard you said twins, I understood. You both grew up together, but in different household. Isn't this what you said as a joke last visit, miss Nilla? I didn't believe it at first, but then I saw your wrist before your friend interrupted you." He looked at me.

"Okay but the real question is: How the fuck can you walk? And fast? Aren't you dying soon?" Kaiya asked out of nowhere.

"Kaiya...! You can't just ask someone if they are going to die soon." I told her. Even though it is inappropriate, I couldn't hold my laughter back. It was just awkward. The old man face says it all. He was disappointed but not surprised.

"My youngest daughter was like you. A rebel I should say." The old man laughed. "By the way, I am not that old, and you must be...? 20?" We nodded. "I travelled the whole world before finding you. It was pure coincidence that we found each other in those circumstances. I shouldn't even be here now. I was in the United States when I collapsed. I woke up in this hospital. When I was conscious enough, I asked them why I was here. They said someone transferred me here. You can already guess who it was. Your dad, Kaiya. Or should I say, fake dad?" He questioned Kaiya.

"I might not be his real daughter, but he raised me well and he made me who I am today so yes, to answer your question, he is my dad." Kaiya said with confidence. She grew up with only her dad. Him and her against the world. She saw how hard her dad works to buy her favorite foods, toys, clothes and an education. She was thankful for his love even though she knows that she always brings a lot of problems home. Her dad never complained. He just helped her no matter what.

"Hold on!" I shouted. So, you've been there for two years?

"Two years?" Kaiya questioned.

"Yeah! Remember that time when you came to my house and we lived together like roommates for two weeks because your dad has some business to do in the US?"

"Oh right! We almost burned your house back then." She smiled. "Thank god your dad arrived home earlier to help us extinguish this fire. None of this would have happen if you didn't forget to turn off the oven, Nilla!

"Excuse you, but you were there too!" I fired back.

"Ahhhh! I'm just so glad to see you back again my children." The old man said happily. "Pack your stuff, we are leaving." He said out of nowhere.

"WHAT!?" Kaiya and I stopped our bickering to scream simultaneously, shocked from his statement.

"Ahh right... I forgot you still don't know it. What I'm about to say will help you better understand your past so prepare yourself." We did. "I was the oldest son of Sangre Island' king before I was banished for good. Therefore, you are the only one left to take the throne." He looks at Kaiya. "You. It is time to go back to where you belong and you," he turns his head in my direction this time, "you're coming with us too. You're the peacemaker of our countries. Your mom had failed. If she succeeded before, there will be no war since she fell in love with a member of the enemy. When you go home, pack your stuff immediately. You'll see there are no reasons left to stay there anymore." He said with sympathy.

7:38pm.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" I asked Kaiya on our way back.

"I think I know what you are thinking." She affirmed.

"He isn't the man from last time, that's for sure. He looks way younger and it is impossible to look that young for an old prince unless he has a gap of ten years with his parents. The youngest child I will understand, but oldest... not really. He should be in his 90's by now and he looks like he's in his 60's or whatever he said."

"You're right. I also feel the same way. Like have you heard what he said? There were no reasons for us to stay here, but like we grow up here so there's a lot. That dude is sketchy. He probably put some makeup to look younger and he speaks like a youngster too." Kaiya explained.

"That's why we never fought lol. We always think the same thing." I winked at her while shooting fire guns with my fingers.

"So cringy! Can't believe my twin is so cringy. I'm about to puke."

"Then puke! Feed the birds!" I shouted while running before she can think of killing me.

"Can't believe we are related!" She admitted defeat and started running.

The route didn't seem long since we have a lot to talk about. We are aware that we are going to start a new life and that everything will change from now on. We will renounce to our normal life so we can lead the islands. Our homeland. We will probably be bad at it at first. I can feel it. Hopefully, people will help us, and we can finally bring peace to both islands like how our mom tried but failed. We will take the lead and accomplish what she never finished. We are in it together. We decided to go. Go visit those lost islands, but only when our finals weeks will be over. It'll be easier if Kaiya and I were together when we will announce the news to our dads today. It won't be a problem to get them in the same place since Kaiya told me her dad had something to discuss with mine, so they are already at my house.

"I can't believe you want to pass your exams before going lol." Kaiya said.

"I'm doing that just in case we were wrong and that they found the wrong set of twins."

"But did you hear the dude? He said there were no reasons for us to stay there. That means tchou tchou Nilla no need to pass your finals, the train is leaving without you. Stay there and try to find a job when you can literally run a whole country." She laughed. "The guy seems sketchy but maybe he doesn't want to scare us you know? So, he acted like us, talking like how a teenager would."

"We are not teenagers anymore bruh!"

"You know what I mean". She reassured me.

8:58pm.

I tend to become paranoid and being anxious for everything new. I can't adapt well to new environments. Five steps. Five steps are what it takes to reach my house. Five steps before the truth comes out. Five steps before greeting my dad. Five steps before the horror. The door was open. Three bodies. Lying on the ground lifelessly. Blood everywhere. In the wall, a mark. A symbol. A wingless butterfly as if its wings have been teared off and only the base of the wings remain on it body. On the floor, the picture we found in the library with a note on the other side.

There is no point in running away. We found you once, we can find you twice. Again and again. As much as you want freedom, you will never have it. Not once in your life you were free. You were under our eyes for so long. You're reaching your twenties soon. It is time to go back home, my dear. Take the throne and finish what your ancestors couldn't. Destroy Sangre Island.

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