Chapter 6: Dreadful Accident

Athena’s P.O.V.

We were on our way to Las Albas for vacation and summer excursion. It was also our Dad’s treat to Helena for getting the highest rank again. As usual, Helena was at the front seat beside our Daddy. Me? Nothing new. I was always in the back seat—already used to it.

“Athena, can you move here in front? I wanted to lay down to sleep, you know that I can’t sleep here.” Helena pretended to be sleepy when we were at the stop-over. She even accompanied it with a loud yawn. “Pretty please?” My twin even winked at me—a signal that she wanted Daddy and me to get close again.

I just sighed. How could I say no to her?

Daddy did not utter a single word although based on his neutral expression, I knew that he does not want Helena and me to switch our seats. But since her favorite daughter already went out of the car and pushed me to take her original seat, I did not have any other choice but moved to the front seat and wore a seatbelt.

“Helena, hija… you have to be careful, okay? Do not lay down so you can still wear your seatbelt, take a good nap.” Dad anxiously reminded Helena before he started the car again. He did not even mind me.

It’s just fine, Athena. Don’t mind him as well! I silently told myself, almost patting my back for self-comfort.

Sometimes, though I tried not to be affected by how Daddy treated Helena, I could not help myself to be sad knowing that even in my dreams, he could never give that same attention to me. The way how he treated Helena as his princess like she was the only one who exists? It was hard but I already used to suppress my envy.

Even though I was born to be a bad girl, I always reminded myself not to be jealous of her. She was my twin sister and God knew how much I loved her.

And for her, I was so willing and more than willing to sacrifice.

I pretended to enjoy the tranquility of our trip. Dad did not pay any attention to me throughout, so I just covered my ears with my Bluetooth headset. I enjoyed listening to my playlist and the music was raucous enough that up to the middle of his drive, I could say that everything went fine.

Helena fell asleep in the back seat, but she was lying down without any seatbelt. Due to how many times Daddy turned his head to actually check on her and as if the rearview mirror was not enough, he did not notice a huge and rushing truck opposite our way.

“Daddy!” I screamed out of chaos, but it was all too late.

Everything escalated too fast. The last thing I knew was… we bumped against the truck and due to the collision and heavy impact, our car broke down and fell into the cliff right in an instant.

Dad immediately gained back his strength just within one month of his confinement, while I was in a state of comatose for two months. But the most heartbreaking part was… Helena did not survive!

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. My throat began to shrink as a pang of pain stabbed my chest. I could not help but shed a tear in my left eye while still reminiscing what happened…

I woke up only to find Daddy sleeping soundly beside me. He was sitting on a small chair and his not fully bandaged head was buried in my bed. There were still some little marks of blood on his bandage. I slowly touched his hand and he soon awakened.

“Helena, hija! Thank God, you’re alive!” He immediately reached out for my head and neck to check on me as the intensity of his concern was overwhelming. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt, princess? Wait, I’ll just call the doctor!” He was about to rush outside and leave when I grabbed his left wrist to stop him.

“Dad… I… I am… not H-Helena. I am A-Athena,” I managed to tell him even though it was really hard for me.

It was like I did not have any strength to even say those few words… not because I couldn’t, but because he already assumed that I was his favorite daughter… when I was clearly not.

I wanted to deny the feeling but that was what really hurts. It was hurting me more than the scars and fractures I had already endured.

But enough of me, where is she?