Chapter 3 : Counting Down
1139 Words
It was five in the afternoon when I closed the fantasy book I was reading and sighed.
When I open this book again, I better not read what I think I just read.
I was willing to accept the fact that every single fantasy novel now had some kind of romance added, but the characters not being together for no apparent reason? That I couldn't handle.
If you like each other and you live in the same country (and no one is dead), I see no reason for you not to be together.
Absolutely nothing.
The worst thing a writer can do to the characters is to make them like each other at the same time, both of them single and not together, because they are too shy or too scared to admit it to the other person.
I mean, come on! Talk. Start dating. Make out.
Frankly, I don't care. Just don't sit around waiting for something magical to happen so you can be together.
What's the point of even having a crush if you don't tell them you like them?
"Frustrating book?" a voice came from behind me.
Yes, what it showed on TV was true. Twin telepathy did exist.
My literal half. My twin brother, Jake.
Who seemed to know what I was mad about without even having to ask.
"You can't even imagine."
We sat on the grass across from me and lifted our heads to the sky, enjoying the last moments of sunlight.
You know how everyone has that one person they know they can count on, no matter what? Either it was a relative, a friend, or someone else.
You just knew there was absolutely no chance that you would stop being in each other's lives.
Well, Jake was that person.
My person.
The one that would always cover for me. That would take my secrets to his grave.
Mostly, since he knew I would do the same for him, and I had enough information to get him grounded for years.
Even if we weren't the type of twins that did everything together, we had different interests and different friend circles.
He went to music school, which made me wish our parents had soundproofed our rooms, but other than that, he wasn't all that bad.
Book lover, like me.
A plus because we would buy the same number of books each month, but have double to read.
He was also someone who liked me, could talk about books for hours.
“First day of school tomorrow," I commented.
That day always seemed bittersweet, and this being our last first day before university made the situation worse. I
didn't know how to feel about it.
“I know."
“Can I come to your school?" I laughed.
When he started music school, I took it pretty hard.
It was the first time I wouldn't have my twin with me at school.
I used to ask every day for the entire first year if I could go to his school.
Only, I had a voice that could kill cats and absolutely no talent for any musical instruments.
The music gene started and finished with him.
"At this point, I wish you could."
“Problem in paradise?" I asked, knowing exactly what he meant.
"Bernie and I had a fight." Of course, they did.
"Sorry for that," I bit my lip in a (failed) attempt to hide my smile.
"No, you are not." "No, I'm not."
Bernie was his horrible, new girlfriend.
She was obnoxious and controlling.
Completely unaffordable.
She broke up with him every week like he was part of her routine.
Wake up, exercise, skincare, break up with Jake, makeup with Jake…
I hated her, and she wasn't that much of a fan of mine either.
Not that I'm a very likable person, but isn't a girlfriend supposed to try and be friends with her boyfriend's sister?
"Wow… is Lisa?" I asked, with a smirk.
"She is fine," he said, under his teeth.
Now, Lisa—that was the right person for him.
His best friend and the bass player of his band.
According to me—and many of Jake's friends seemed to agree—she was his future girlfriend.
He was so blinded by what he thought was love that he couldn't see what was right in front of him.
He knew very well what my thoughts were on both Bernie and Lisa.
I wasn't going to hold back.
She was perfect for him.
His phone made a fart sound—that was his text notifier, yes.
Did I mention how childish he was? We checked it, made a face I've seen at least a hundred times before, and stood up
"Gotta go."
“She made up with you, didn't she?" I signed.
“Yes.”
Shit.
“And where are you going?"
“Band practice," he turned his back on me.
"Tell Lisa you love her," I yelled before he left, and then added, "And that I said ‘hi'."
"Wait… you." "Aw, love you too."
We got back into the house.
I sighed. Now what? No brother to annoy, no parents in the house.
I was sure as hell not continuing the book—way too mad for that.
I grabbed my phone and checked for new messages, finding the group with Jasmine and Kel blowing up.
Either one of them was in serious danger, or there was tea.
KEL: OMC, OMG, OMG
JASMINE: What do you want?
KEL: OMG
JASMINE: What do you want, you message-maniac freak???
KEL: New Student Alert. I repeat. New Student Alert.
ME: And?
KEL: He is in our class.
ME: And?
KEL: He is hottt.
JASMINE: Send pic NOW.
KEL: It's loading. And you say I'm the maniac.
Kel's three dots appeared for a second, disappeared, and then appeared again.
The ‘Kel sent a new file’ notification popped on my screen.
I giggled.
It was such a Kel thing to do. Sent a whole file.
If there was something he was good at besides swimming, it would be finding everything—and I mean everything—about a person.
If his swimming career didn't end well, he would make an excellent detective
I tapped the screen and, of course, my phone couldn't download it.
The stupid three-year-old phone that couldn't do anything right.
My parents were begging me to buy a new one, but I was too stubborn.
I would buy a new phone before university.
That was my plan, and I would stick to it.
JASMINE: OMC, you are right.
KEL: Stop being surprised. I'm always right.
I chuckled, imagining his smirk..
KEL: Just buy a new phone.
JASMINE: You will see him tomorrow. But buy a new phone, anyways.
I laughed.
One day till school starts.
Tomorrow would definitely be interesting.
- Writer
