whisper through the window

The Twins Birthday

Chapter 3 – The Twins’ Birthday

The morning sun slipped through the curtains, casting golden stripes across the room. Victoria and Alexander were already wide awake, their excitement bubbling over. They couldn’t wait another minute.

“Mommy! Daddy! Mommy! Daddy!” they shouted in unison as they burst into their parents’ room, leaping onto the bed. “Today’s our birthday! Today’s our birthday!”

Their mother stirred, stretching and yawning. “Mmm… oh, it’s true. My lovely children,” she said with a sleepy smile. “But you know… you both still have to go to school today. It’s Friday.”

The twins froze, their faces falling. “Oh no! We forgot!” they groaned together.

They turned their attention to their father, shaking him awake. “Daddy, daddy, wake up!”

He cracked one eye open, pretending to grumble. “What is it again?”

“Today’s our birthday!” they chorused.

He sat up slowly, grinning. “Ahh… I didn’t forget. How could I forget? Don’t worry. When you come back from school, I’ll throw a big party for you both. The best party ever.”

The twins squealed with delight, bouncing on the bed again. “Yay! A big party! Jumping, jumping, yeah, yeah, yeah!”

Their laughter filled the room, echoing through the house — a sound Stella could hear from her own room. She smiled faintly, though the shadow of what she had seen yesterday still lingered in her mind.

The morning rush was filled with laughter and chatter as everyone hurried to get dressed. Their parents had promised to drop all three children at school. Since Stella’s school was closer, they stopped there first.

“Bye, Stella,” her mother called as she opened the car door. “We’ll see you later. Have a good day.”

“Bye, sis!” Alexander and Victoria shouted together, waving with big smiles.

Stella forced a smile and nodded. “Bye.” She stepped out of the car, clutching her bag tightly.

The car rolled away toward the twins’ school. As soon as the twins arrived, they could hardly keep still. They ran down the hallway, already whispering to their classmates about the big birthday party. The news spread quickly, and nearly everyone agreed to come. After all, the twins were loved by many, always cheerful and easy to like.

Their father laughed, shaking his head as he watched them. “Don’t worry, children. Your party will be lit.”

That made Alexander and Victoria squeal with delight. They ran off to class, already making plans and imagining the fun to come.

But back at Stella’s school, things were different. Instead of heading straight inside, Stella stood frozen near the front doors. Her hands tightened around the straps of her backpack, and her eyes flicked nervously toward the entrance.

Her heart pounded. She wanted to walk in… but she knew who might be waiting on the other side.

Luke. Rose. Genevieve.

The bullies who never seemed to let her be.

So while her younger siblings were laughing and rejoicing at their own school, Stella lingered outside the doorway, afraid to step inside.

Stella swallowed and stepped through the school door. Her chest felt tight, but she forced herself to keep walking.

Near the lockers, Rose and Genevieve were waiting—leaning against the lockers as if they’d been there forever. The hallway seemed to narrow around them.

Genevieve pushed off the locker and came toward Stella with that slow, satisfied smile. “Well, if it isn’t our favourite,” she drawled.

Stella stopped. Heat rose in her face until she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “What is it? Haven’t you done enough?” she snapped, voice raw. “I’m tired of your sick bullying. I’m tired. Leave me alone.”

Genevieve’s smile widened like a blade. “We never even started, baby,” she said softly. “When we’re done with you, you’ll regret reporting us to the principal.”

“I didn’t report you,” Stella said quickly, voice shaking. “It was Josephine who told—”

Genevieve laughed, low and cruel. “So you think you’re innocent? It was your friend who went running to the principal. That’s on you too. You’re going to pay for that.”

“Why can’t you stop?” Stella asked, panic and exhaustion threading through her words. “I’m already dealing with my own problems. You guys are only making it worse.”

Genevieve’s eyes were hard. “I don’t care if you’re dealing with a thousand problems. I don’t care. You’re going to pay for what you did.”

Rose hovered beside Genevieve, silent and smug, while the lockers hummed with the noise of passing students. Stella felt smaller in the middle of it all, but she refused to step back.

“Do what you want,” she said, voice low. “But leave me out of it.”

Genevieve’s smile didn’t falter. “We will see about that.”

With that, they turned and sauntered away, leaving Stella standing in the hallway with her heart pounding and a fresh, bitter knot of fear forming in her gut.

The bell rang, echoing through the hallways. Students began to scatter toward their classrooms. Stella tightened her grip on her books and walked quickly down the corridor.

As she passed one of the classrooms, she slowed. Jeremiah’s class. But the seat where he usually sat near the window was empty. A flicker of worry passed through her.

Why didn’t he come today? Was he sick?

She shook the thought away and hurried into her own class. Josephine was already there, waving at her. Stella forced a smile and slipped into her seat.

The teacher arrived, and the first lesson of the day began. Stella tried to focus, but her mind drifted, her eyes occasionally flicking toward the door as if expecting Jeremiah to suddenly appear.

When the bell dismissed the class, she leaned toward Josephine.

“Did you see Jeremiah today?”

Josephine shook her head. “Oh, Jeremiah’s not feeling well. He caught a cold yesterday. You know how cold it was.”

Stella let out a breath. “Oh, it’s true. I forgot about that.” Then she added with a faint smile, “We should go visit him after school.”

Josephine nodded. “Of course. But first—your siblings’ party. You know I wouldn’t miss that. Those lovely children? I’ll definitely come.”

Relief softened Stella’s face, though in the back of her mind, the shadow of Genevieve’s threat still lingered.

Genevieve stepped in front of Stella as she tried to hurry to her next class, a predator blocking the doorway. Before Stella could move, Genevieve grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked. Books slid from Stella’s arms and hit the floor in a wet, ugly pile.

“You know I’m not done with you,” Genevieve hissed. She bent to tear pages from Stella’s notebook and scatter them. “If you ever report me to the principal again, it will only get worse. They could expel me—but I already know how to make things happen. I’ll come for you. I’ll haunt you.”

Josephine’s hand flew for her phone. “I’m calling the teacher—” she started.

“No.” Stella’s voice cut through Josephine’s movement. She pressed a hand to her hair where it stung. “Please. Don’t. I’m tired. If I keep reporting, it only gets worse. Don’t you hear what she says?”

Genevieve turned on Josephine with a slow smile. “Oh, so you want to report? Think about it—you’re only making it worse for your friend. Keep it up, and I’ll haunt her more.”

“Why do you always pick on her?” Josephine said, voice trembling but fierce. “What has she ever done to you? She’s quiet—she’s not a target. Why do you enjoy hurting people?”

Genevieve shrugged, careless. “Because it’s easy. Because she lets us. You wouldn’t understand unless you liked bullying people too.”

Stella’s eyes burned. “I’m so tired,” she whispered. “I don’t know why you hunt the quiet ones. Please—just stop. Let me go to class. I’m tired.”

Josephine stepped closer, pleading. “Please, listen to her. Just—don’t do this.”

Genevieve laughed softly, then turned away. “Fine. We’ll go to class. But this isn’t over. Tomorrow might be worse than today. Or maybe it’ll be better for you—if it is, consider yourself lucky.” She sauntered off, Rose at her elbow, smirks left behind like poison.

Stella bent to collect the ruined pages, the words she’d written scattered and damp. Josephine stayed with her until the bell rang, hand on her shoulder. The threat hung in the hall like a cold breath, and neither of them dared pretend it wasn’t real.

When the last class ended, Stella turned to Josephine.

“Do you think Jeremiah is feeling better now?”

Josephine nodded. “Let’s go and check on him before heading home.”

So the two friends walked together until they reached Jeremiah’s house. His mother welcomed them warmly. “You can come in, he’s resting. Just don’t stay too long.”

Inside, they found Jeremiah sitting on the sofa, controller in hand, eyes glued to the TV screen.

Josephine crossed her arms. “Ah-ah, Jeremiah, so this is why you didn’t come to school? You’ve joined a new school of video games?

Jeremiah looked up, startled, then laughed sheepishly. “Oh, you guys came! You think I’m playing instead of going to school?”

“Yes,” Josephine teased. but we came here to check on you that's why we here

Jeremiah said honestly, it’s not what you think. My mother only allowed me to play a little since I’ve been feeling sick.

Stella stepped forward, her voice gentle. “We didn’t come to accuse you. We just wanted to see how you were doing.” She hesitated, then smiled. “And… I also want to invite you to my siblings’ party. It’s today, but they haven’t started yet.”

Jeremiah’s face brightened immediately. “A party? Really? I’ll try my best to come. If I can’t, I’ll at least call. But I don’t want to miss it.”

Josephine clapped her hands. “Perfect! It won’t be the same without you.”

The three friends laughed together, and for a moment, all the worries of the day faded away.

As they left Jeremiah’s house, Stella and Josephine hurried back home. By the time they arrived, the twins’ birthday party had already begun. Music played loudly from the speakers, balloons decorated every corner of the compound, and children were running around with plates of snacks and drinks in their hands.

Victoria and Alexander spotted Stella the moment she walked in.

“Stella!” they shouted, rushing to hug her, faces glowing with excitement.

Josephine laughed. “You two are the real celebrities of today.”

The twins grinned proudly. “Of course! Everyone came. Even our classmates! Look at the backyard—it’s full!”

Indeed, the backyard was crowded. Parents were greeting other parents, children were playing games, and some older teenagers danced near the speakers. The aroma of fried rice, chicken, and cake drifted in the air.

Just then, Jeremiah walked in through the gate, dressed neatly despite looking a little pale. He raised a hand. “Surprise!”

The twins screamed in joy. “Jeremiah came! Yay!”

Stella felt a wave of relief seeing him. She whispered to Josephine, “At least he made it.”

The party went into full swing. The twins cut their big birthday cake as everyone clapped and sang, their parents standing proudly beside them. Victoria made a little wish before blowing out the candles, while Alexander playfully smeared a bit of icing on his sister’s cheek.