Sara and Kara:Twisted Fate

ocal bakery was already open, the smell of warm bread waftin

the alley, a woven basket

back before noon!

r mother yelled after her fr

een easy, but Sara had learned to live with less. She was kind, responsible, quiet. Never caused trouble.

ick up eggs and bread. Vendors

rning,

early. Who's

said, handing over he

at the far end of the road. Nor did s

ers away, another girl was waki

ned and pushed back

said one of the maids, knoc

nd stared at the c

r bori

tte lessons. Her mother, Doña Victoria Villanueva, ran the household like a queen. Her fath

t felt like a prisone

aid you have to be do

a," Kara snapped.

but said nothing

to her full-length mirror. She looked at her r

me forever," she

om door, someone was

sion between Victoria and her husb

d all be over by no

ble, sipped her coffee. "You didn't expec

to rebel. She's supp

n yours," Tere

nt pale. "B

said. "The secret doesn

rage. "We made a decision eigh

ered. "Unless someo

ila knocked and e

m the province. Says it's

n exchang

hands tremb

to the stud

inishing errands when the same

jacket stepped ou

step back.

a scholarship opportunity for students lik

"I didn't appl

You were r

wh

this is a once-in-a-lifetime offer. Would you be wil

r hands tightened

moth

r. It's best she hea

van. "It'll only

ude, but something about

olarship? Fr

he street behind her. Then

a sat rigidly while the man fro

dient. Naïve. Jus

a didn'

was intrigued.

believes her d

lips pres

ally said. "Kee

er the girl by tonight. She

ia snapped. "This i

e said calmly. "One

ddenly cut thro

you talk

side the half-open

up. "What are y

sertion? Who is this

k to yo

You're bringing som

gh!" Victor

. "Are you saying I'

hat followed

Victoria. Victori

a whispered. "Yo

," Victoria said, bu

away, shakin

," Victoria said. "Tha

to

urned

after her, but th

the main hallway, but Kara grabbed

eached the front steps

n the van, watchin

before. The buildings were to

y are we goin

. "You'll meet the directors. They'

to see my mo

" he

a long driveway surr

eyes

s like...

tion," he said. "They su

ate o

ands wer

I should be her

now," the

an st

the door and pull

hey're w

t know wha

nt. Marble floors, grand chandeliers.

eavy curtains. A woman stood at the

she said. "You

. "What is

e lives are changed,"

dropped. "I w

can

t agree

't have

back. "Please, I

d her fingers.

scr

er, and everyt

a halt near a closed b

t, breathi

now where sh

wanted to

d nonstop, but

lights bl

r blac

t, someone stepped ou

he said calmly. "

going bac

. He just moved

, but someone grabb

ent over

orld

ht to st

rything

l into

ergent filled her nose. She was lying on a thin mat

. are yo

lder, with tired eyes and gentle

disoriented.

at the palengke. The baran

no air-conditioning, no chandelier, no marble floor.

sn't my

ara, are you okay? Di

roze.

what's wro

uched Kara's forehead.

hter," Kara said,

please, don't joke like that

bit, and looked at the

elf. Same face. Sa

g around her

erstand," sh

id. "Mamaya, we'll go to the c

ed her lea

ed in someone

her wrists bandaged. Her e

e asked the nurs

dly. "You're at the Villanueva resid

stand, but her

other. I think ther

toria entered with

good mo

opped. "What do

life," Victoria said calmly.

t ask fo

glass down and sa

ou'll be taught how to speak, walk, dress, and

d I agree

the world you had an accid

face

ieve otherwise,"

cracked. "Y

ding up. "I'm smart. And

oor c

he chair, tears sli

ra followed the woman-

miled at the neighbors outside. How

"Ate Sara! Look, I f

at him. "W

jun! You

tightened. "

. "Nanay, si At

ood on the tab

back to Mani

nila? We don't hav

ve th

even left the

d. "You'r

ed. "Sara, please...

ted. "I'm Kara Villanueva

burst in

eeked in fr

to her. "Pl

ide, barefoot

t know wh

g made

lanueva mansion, Vict

e'll adapt?"

choice," Vic

he rea

forget.

not s

faintly. "No.

ed her eyes.

didn't

he tutor entered

begin your etiqu

air. "Why are you all pret

ra Villanueva," the

t the flashca

y i

looke

n. "Say it. Or we

lips tr

Kara Vil

ude

nueva," she sai

smiled.

way to a police

," she told

am

Makati. My parents are Don

r raised a

ying you're...

es

ogbook. "And why ar

drugged me and left me

hed. "We'll cal

l Myrna. She's

We'll check the n

e name "Kara Villanuev

't Kara

as S

u?" the off

heart d

's no

ared at her, t

ou need re

o, please someone switc

call someone

ather. Don

ficer

rings, someo

ueva re

someone here c

n the other

s her

Villan

here with us. She had an accide

abbed t

is me, Kara!

ne wen

one away. "You're tired

, w

was t

s pa

ow to walk, speak, gesture. H

n fine clothes. Her nails were

the mirror aske

dn't a

n Enrique fin

at her c

ok well

dded si

no me

ook he

," he said.

truth. Only Victo

oo distant to que

ctoria led Sara

e doin

"What if someo

y wo

he rea

's g

looke

't want

her shoulder. "Bu

n an old notebook. She recorded every detail she could

o find a

arted locking th

nstable," neigh

e once to bl

ssed," one o

," Myrna wh

he wasn't sick.

escaped throu

kilometers bare

llanueva mansion, she

y grabb

ra!" sh

e window as the real Kara fo

he?" she

entered

s no

o her. "She l

d. "She was you. But

lips

she's

ened. "You are Kara n

eams were muffled as g

her own face in

li

e

either cou