Chapter 13
836 Words
Chapter 13
The days blurred into a painful routine. Mia and Sophia had become an unstoppable force, making my life a living hell in the most calculated ways. They never did anything too obvious that could get them in trouble just enough to break me slowly.
Rumors spread like wildfire: I was “obsessed” with Lucian. I had “forced” myself on him. I was “using my body” to trap him. My locker was constantly decorated with cruel notes. My seat in class was mysteriously wet or sticky. People laughed behind my back when I walked by. Every time I entered the cafeteria, whispers followed me like shadows.
I wished Lucian would come back to me. Just once. I wanted to hold him, to tell him I was only jealous and scared. That pushing him away was the biggest mistake I had ever made. But he kept his distance now. He respected my silence. No more texts. No more attempts to explain. The boy who had once craved every curve of my body now looked right past me in the hallways.
It hurt more than anything Mia and Sophia could do.
Sophia, in particular, was everywhere. She moved around Lucian like a magnet. In class, she sat next to him, leaning in close during conversations, laughing at everything he said. She touched his arm casually, flipped her long hair, and pressed her slim body against him whenever she got the chance. And Lucian… he gave her attention. Not in the intense way he had given me, but enough to make my chest ache every time I saw them together.
One afternoon, I was sitting alone under the old oak tree when Mia approached. She sat down beside me without invitation, her posture perfect as always.
“Lily,” she said casually. “Don’t you find Sophia annoying?”
I shrugged, keeping my voice neutral. “Nope. I don’t.”
Mia studied me carefully. “Because I’m definitely not getting involved in anything she’s about to do. Are you sure? Don’t you want her gone from Lucian’s side?”
“Nope,” I replied, sounding more tired than angry. “If Lucian wants her, then he should keep her.”
At that exact moment, Lucian walked past the tree. He stopped for a little while, clearly having heard the last part of our conversation. Our eyes met for a brief second. I saw something flicker in his gaze pain? Disappointment? before he turned and walked away without a word.
A sharp pain stabbed through my heart. He wouldn’t even look at me anymore. The distance between us felt like a canyon now.
Mia snapped her fingers in front of my face. “I’ve got a plan to make Sophia gone out of the picture.”
I finally looked at her, my voice turning sharper. “So you can take care of me also? Don’t you hate me? Why are you here? Don’t let your group of friends see you with your fat, ugly twin. Go have your way, sis.”
Something flickered in Mia’s eyes maybe guilt, maybe surprise. But it was gone in an instant. She stood up gracefully, brushing imaginary dust from her uniform. “Okay. I’ll do my things myself.”
She walked away with her head held high, moving beautifully as she always did. I watched her go, my mind racing. What the hell is she planning now?
The loneliness settled over me like a heavy blanket. I buried my face in my knees for a moment before whispering to the wind, “Lucian… I miss you.”
The rest of the week dragged on in the same painful rhythm. Sophia’s flirting with Lucian became more obvious. She brought him lunch, sat with him during free periods, and even walked with him after school sometimes. Mia watched them with growing irritation. Their new “friendship” was already cracking. Sophia was too focused on Lucian to play nice with my sister for long.
I, on the other hand, stayed in my shell. I threw myself into my studies, spent more time with my small group of real friends, and tried to ignore the constant bullying. But at night, when the house was quiet, I cried. I missed Lucian’s touch. I missed the way he looked at my curves like they were perfect. I missed feeling wanted.
As I was walking home alone, I saw Lucian and Sophia talking near the school gate. She was laughing, touching his shoulder again. He smiled back not the same smile he used to give me, but it still hurt.
I turned away quickly before they could see me, my heart heavy.
Mia’s plan, whatever it was, was probably already in motion. And I was stuck in the middle watching the boy I loved slip further away while my twin and his childhood friend turned my world into a battlefield.
I still regretted ignoring him. I still wished he would come back to me.
- Writer
