WRONG TWIN

A TWIST

Jake rose to his feet after a few minutes of discussion. He was more worried about his brother than interested in anything Ray had to say.

“I should go search for my brother. It was nice chatting with you, Raynold Cliff. I hope to work with you in the business.” He barely finishes his words before heading into the crowd.

As Raynold sat calmly, he heard the familiar, soft, feminine voice.

“Raynold”.

Raynold looked up and froze. There, framed by the warm light of the event, was a young woman moving through the scattered guests toward him. The familiar chestnut hair.

Raynold’s heart lurched. “Vera,” he said in a whisper, his eyes widening in shock.

Lily paused, and then she smiled—a little uncertainly—and walked closer even as her legs shook a little with excitement. She wore the same easy composure that Vera had, the same tilt to her head when she was curious. Raynold stood before she reached him, his gaze fixed on her face, replaying a dozen things he wanted to say.

But he'd made a mistake; she wasn't Vera.

“Raynold?” she said softly, as if confirming what she already knew. Her voice was familiar, but there was something gentler to it—an actual Lily Streford—but Raynold didn’t notice. He stepped forward.

“Vera,” he said again. He stared at the familiar ‘R’ brooch he'd given Vera before he left. He held her hands before she could sit. Lily's heart skipped a beat as he held her hands, she was too excited to speak.

“I thought I’d never see you again. You don’t know how many times I stared at pictures wishing—wishing I’d done things differently. Maybe if I'd refused to go abroad to study, maybe… There are many things I want to tell you, Vera

I want—” He stopped, cheeks burning. Lily's smile falters for a second; he mistook her for Vera, but perhaps that was inevitable. It'd been 8 long years, and they'd changed; they were no more kids, instead fully grown adults.

“You look good, perfect, all grown. You're wearing a blue dress? I thought your favorite color was red. You even told me to get you something red as a gift when I called you a few days back.” He said with a beam, “Vera and Raynold have been communicating?” She said to herself she was shocked.

For a second the event was silent around them, the party feeling like a scene blurred in time. Lily’s smile faltered. In her hand, the glass of wine she just got wavered. She smiles a little, a small, careful sadness disguised as a smile.

“You—” Lily began, but the name that left her mouth was not Vera's; she wanted to laugh over his mistake of calling her Vera and correct him just like every other time she had done when they were kids, but instead. “Raynold,” she said, gentle, close. Her fingers tightened around his—the touch was the same twin warmth the photograph had kept alive—but she stared calmly at him; he expected a clumsy laugh, an amused outburst, a typical Vera Streford dismissive laugh, but he didn't get any of it—she wasn't Vera, but he didn't know. “Would it… I mean, would it be too sudden to say… I love you?”

As casual as his words sounded, it was an outright confession. She grew weak on hearing his words; maybe Vera would take it as a joke, but she wasn't Vera; this wasn't a joke. She smiles a little, masking the ache she felt in her heart. For the first time all evening, her feelings loomed, quiet and heavy under that crooked smile.

Raynold’s face shone with hope and a new vulnerability. “Don't rush. I know I sound crazy,” he chuckles nervously, “maybe it's nothing, just maybe…”

“I love you too,” she said. She didn't think it through; she let her heart do the talking, typical Lily. He searched her face for confirmation that the person he loved was standing in front of him, ready to return everything. “You mean it?” He asked hopefully.

Lily looked down at the hand he’d taken and then up at him again. She could have said anything—corrected him, laughed off his words, told him she was Lily and that Vera wasn’t here—but the words lodged in her throat. She thought such things only happened in the movies, ‘the one you love falling for your sister instead.’ She felt hurt, but Vera was her sister; she couldn't stay hurt forever. “I love you as a friend.” She chuckles softly

“It's me, Lily.” You haven't changed one bit, Ray; you couldn't even recognize me. I feel hurt.” Somehow she playfully revealed her feelings at the end of her statement—somehow. “Oh my!” He had a silly grin on. “I can't believe I still can't tell a twin from the other.”

He massages his temple with a little smile.

“So you stood there watching me speak like a fool, huh?” He boops her nose playfully. “So someone's in love with my sister.” He sighed a little; just when he summoned the courage to confess his feelings, he ended up talking to the wrong twin. “Don't even think of teasing me, dear bestie; it doesn't suit you. Now let's catch up a little. Tell me everything, but please leave your books out of it.” He places both his palms together in front of her in a dramatic supplication. . He took a seat alongside her and began, words rushing out in excitement with laughter and lots of teasing. He told her about the scholarship offer, the long nights studying, and the phone calls he couldn’t answer because he was tired; he even added petty stories in his narration. And finally how his love grew for Vera. As hard as it was listening to his words concerning his feelings, she had to play the role of his best friend by burying her feelings.

“I could set up a date with you and Vera; what do you think?” She offered despite herself. “Really? That'd be nice, but first I need to see her. Where is she?” His eyes roamed around the event searching for Vera. “I'll go search for her; wait for her. She'll be excited to see you.” She got up and headed into the crowd of mingling guests. Lily's tears roll down her cheeks as she stands in the little garden. “I was such a fool to hope.” She whispered to herself, wiping her tears. “Don't cry, Lily. You shouldn't cry.”she She consoled herself, taking deep breaths that seemed to do little in helping her aching heart. She paces the garden, unable to calm her heart, as she paces endlessly, whispering never-ending words to console herself; she hears a sudden noise coming from the opposite area.

Curiosity and fear both gripped her. “Who's there?” She said, suddenly aware of how dark it was, she took a deep breath and followed the sound.

* * * * * * *

Vera stood in King's arms. His hands were wrapped around her waist, holding her flush against the hard planes of his clothed chest. Lewd sounds of their kissing filled the empty garage.

“We should stop. That's enough; I'm done.” She pulls out from his hold, adjusting her dress.

“What's wrong, baby? Scared of being seen, we could go back into the car.” He held her hands pulling her back to his hold as he whispered in her ear.

“f**k off dude. This is just a one-time thing; I was just bored, that's all.” She said bluntly as she forcefully pulled out from his hold, her bag fell to the ground, her effects scattered on the ground with a little noise.

“Look what you did.” Her brow furrows in a frown.

“You're something else. A one-time thing? You think I'd accept that?” Kingsley ignored her fall back; he was still irritated by her earlier statement.

“I have a boyfriend; don't even think of it. It was just s*x, nothing more.”she She reached for her bag.

He held her on her arm and yanked her flush against him. “Fine. Can I at least get a parting kiss?” He palms her ass, giving it a firm squeeze. She looked at him with uncertainty and relief; at least he wasn't like the other guys arguing with her when she refused to date them after having s*x.

“Sure, you did help me get through my boredom; you deserve a kiss.” She leaned in for a kiss; from a simple kiss, she deepens it, delving her tongue into his mouth to explore his mouth in a wet kiss.

“Vera What are you doing?!” Vera froze on hearing the familiar voice.