No, we can’t read each other’s minds.

Every time people find out I have a twin, the reactions are almost always the same: surprise, curiosity, maybe even a little confusion. Then comes the classic question everyone asks: “Anong feeling ng may kakambal?”

Honestly, I never knew exactly how to answer that—until recently, I found the perfect response: “Anong feeling ng walang kakambal?” Because really, how would I describe something I have never lived without? Having a twin has always been my default, just like for most people, not having one is theirs.

But as an identical twin, I get the curiosity. After all, we have our own unique experiences (twins or not). So instead of beating around the bush, here are 8 common twin questions people have been asking me, along with my honest answers.

1. What is it like to have a twin?

It’s like living with a mirror that talks back.

Having a twin is comforting and chaotic all at once. You have a built-in companion for everything; from all your first day of school, to every awkward teenage phase, to random adulting adventures. You got someone who knows all your weird habits, your best stories, even your silent eye rolls.

But it’s not all rainbows and matching outfits, because it also means sharing—a lot. Your space, your spotlight, your identity sometimes. You get compared and mistaken for each other more times than you can count. And while that can definitely get frustrating , that’s also where a unique connection takes shape, an implicit understanding that respects both individuality and the profound similarity that unites two people.

2. Do your names rhyme? (Or in our case: why are your names so different?)

Whatever your name is, mix-ups are inevitable.

For example, our mom made a conscious effort to give us different-sounding names to lessen the confusion. Did it help? Not really. My twin and I were in the same class from kindergarten all the way to junior high, and teachers would often squint at us like, “Wait, which one are you again?” At family gatherings, our relatives just pick a name and hope for the best, but most of the time, they skip the guessing game entirely and go straight to calling us “Kambal.” And honestly, even our own parents have called us by the wrong name more times than we’d like to admit.

At some point, we come to accept that being mixed up is part of the twin identity.

3. Did you ever switch places?

Maybe?

Most twins have probably done it at least once or twice, like switching seats in class or answering when the teacher calls the other person’s name.

But then people often ask if my twin ever shows up at my job or vice versa. No, and that is not happening (at least not for us). We both love adventure, but we are also responsible adults, and pretending to be each other at work just feels way too risky. Plus, we’re in totally different industries!

Though sometimes I kind of wish we had pulled off the classic switcheroo a little more—before all this adulting took over.

4. Do you always dress the same?

For many twins, the answer is yes… they definitely did.

Personally, our parents loved dressing us alike when we were younger. And honestly? We kind of loved it too. It felt like we were a team. It’s like we’re two matching puzzle pieces.

But as we grew up, we started carving out our own identities, and style became part of that. These days, we have different tastes and fashion, but we still accidentally match sometimes—and somehow, it still feels a little special.

5. Who’s the smarter/prettier/funnier/____er?

Honestly, please don’t make us answer that.

These kinds of questions always make things a little awkward. Though, I get it, some people are just genuinely curious about a twin’s dynamics but most of the time, people just love comparing like they’re in some kind of competition. We are not.

Twins are not two versions of one person; they are two individuals who just happened to arrive at the same time. We have different strengths, different quirks, and totally different ways of looking at the world.

6. Do you read each other’s minds?

Well, not exactly, but it gets weird sometimes.

We can’t read each other’s minds, but sometimes it feels close. There have been moments when we are blurting the same words at the exact same time.

But I’ve realized, growing up side-by-side builds more than just shared memories, it creates deep understanding. And when we say we can tell when something’s wrong just by looking at each other it’s not because we can read minds, but it is because we’ve spent so much time learning each other’s cues. It’s not actually telepathy, it’s empathy.

7. Do you always get along?

Of course not!

Being twins doesn’t mean we’re always in sync. We fight, just like any siblings do. It’s normal, messy, and sometimes hilarious.

8. Do you ever wish you weren’t a twin? (Or do you feel incomplete without them?)

I actually never think of that. So, no.

Some see twins as two halves of a greater whole, inseparable and incomplete alone. But I believe each of us is whole by ourselves, connected by a bond that adds to who we are without taking away our individuality. Being twins doesn’t mean losing ourselves; it means growing together while still being our own person.

So even on days when we’re tired of being grouped together, compared, or mistaken for each other, I’d still choose to be a twin. Not everyone is lucky enough to grow up with someone who’s been there through everything.

Being a twin is part of who I am, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So what is it REALLY like having a twin?

I guess it’s one of those things we’ll never fully understand about each other. But it’s definitely not all about matching outfits and finishing each other’s sentences. It’s a lifelong connection that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it.

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