Chapter 2- ALEX
2018 Words
It's my most hated day today. I still have no idea who decided Monday should be the start of the week. Like, damn. They should've made weekends five days and weekdays only two. Forcing people to endure the same routine day in and day out is painfully annoying. I mean, look at me—I'll be a high school student for five straight days. Well, it isn't that bad, actually. Being part of the basketball team is the sole reason I'm ever eager to go to school—to hold and dribble a ball.
“Alex, breakfast is ready!” Mom's voice echoed from the kitchen.
“I'm still getting ready!” I yelled back.
I slipped on one of my favorite sneakers, a gift from Dad after his business trip last week. He always remembers to bring back something for me, my twin brother, and Mom whenever he's away.
And yes, you heard it right—I've got a twin brother. Unfortunately, we're not on good terms today. Well, actually, we haven't been on good terms for a week now. The reason behind it is so petty that even a third-grader would probably laugh.
“Andrei, come down here now, hon! Your coffee's getting cold!” Mom's voice rang out again, calling for my brother.
“He's probably still dead ass asleep!” I muttered.
“Watch your mouth, Alex! Or else I'll make you eat leftovers from last night!” Mom warned.
I grumbled under my breath as I finished lacing up my sneakers, frustration bubbling up inside me. The tension between Andrei and me had been simmering since our petty argument about which movie to watch for our Friday movie night last week. It was ridiculous, really—how something so trivial could spiral into a full-blown feud between twins.
“Andrei, seriously, we need to talk about this,” I insisted, my voice tinged with exasperation. “I'm tired of us being at each other's throats all the time. Can't we just let it go and move on?”
There was no response from Andrei's room, just the faint sound of his alarm clock buzzing incessantly. I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. It seemed like every attempt to reconcile with him fell on deaf ears.
“Fine, be that way,” I muttered to myself, grabbing my backpack and heading downstairs to join Mom in the kitchen.
As I entered the cozy kitchen, the aroma of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee enveloped me in a warm embrace. Mom was humming softly to herself as she flipped pancakes on the griddle, a serene smile playing on her lips.
“Morning, Mom,” I greeted her, trying to shake off the lingering frustration from my encounter with Andrei.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Mom replied, flashing me a knowing smile. “You know, your brother will come around eventually. It's just a matter of time.”
I nodded, though I couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt gnawing at the edges of my mind. Andrei and I had always been close, practically inseparable since birth. But lately, it felt like we were drifting further and further apart with each passing day.
“Hey, where's Andrei?” Mom asked, noticing his absence.
“By the way, Mom. Are you free this Thursday?”I asked while munching on my pancakes and taking a sip of my coffee.
“Thursday?”Mom paused, probably thinking. “I still haven't checked my new schedule for this week, sweetheart. May I ask why?”
“Well, nothing special actually.. There will be visitors coming to our schools and the team will be told to play against the students that they will be bringing. Hoping you could watch.” I replied
“Oh, how much I love to, Sweetie. Don't worry I'll try everything I can to clear my schedule on that day for you.”she went beside me and kissed my head
“Morning,Mom.”Andrei greeted her the moment he's in the kitchen to join us
“Morning, sweetie. How's your sleep? You came late last night haven't you? May I ask why?” Mom clung to his shoulders while trying to act cute to get some answers out from my twin.
I don't know if Mom still really doesn't know Andrei but knowing him, he won't just give the answer that she wants to hear.
“Just had a drink with my friends.”he simply replied
“Friends? Who?”I eyed him while smirking
“A Friend that you don't know and who also doesn't know you.”he rolled his eyes on me and took the seat across mine.
“You're being mean each and every day, you're aware of that right?”
“Not as mean as someone who just asked Stacey to date him and dumped him the very next day.”He grimaced at his own remarks
“Well, she's not worth it. And besides, it was because of a dare. Not my fault my friend chose her, not me.” I answered
“You're a jerk!”he snapped and throw the pancakes directly to my face
“Hey!”
“Andrei!”Mom called also
“I'm going to school. Let that son of yours take a cab because I'm bringing the car with me.”he said not even glancing at us
“What?!” I protested. “Mom! It's my schedule for the car today!”I whined
“Well, it's his car anyways.”
I stormed out of the house, frustration boiling within me like a volcano on the brink of eruption. Andrei's actions grated on my nerves, fueling the simmering animosity between us even further. As I reached the driveway, I scanned the street for any sign of him, but he was nowhere in sight.
“Great, just great,” I muttered to myself, kicking a pebble in frustration.
“Alex, what's going on?” Mom's concerned voice floated out from the doorway, her brow furrowed with worry.
“It's nothing, Mom,” I replied tersely, unable to mask the irritation in my tone. “Just another typical morning with Andrei.”
Mom sighed, her expression a mix of sympathy and exasperation. “You two need to figure this out. Fighting like this won't solve anything.”
“I know, Mom,” I grumbled, feeling a pang of guilt tugging at my conscience. Deep down, I knew she was right. But pride and stubbornness seemed to be standing in the way of any chance at reconciliation.
With a heavy heart, I trudged down the driveway, resigned to the fact that today was shaping up to be just another day of tension and turmoil. But amidst the chaos and conflict, a glimmer of hope flickered in the depths of my soul—a hope that someday, somehow, Andrei and I would find our way back to each other, stronger and closer than ever before.
But for now, all I could do was brace myself for another day of school, steeling myself for whatever challenges lay ahead, both on and off the basketball court. And as I climbed into the cab, leaving behind the familiar comforts of home, I couldn't help but wonder what the day had in store for me—and whether Andrei would be a part of it.
“He's probably still sulking in his room,” I muttered, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
Mom's expression softened, sympathy evident in her eyes. “Give him time, Alex. He'll come around.”
I forced a weak smile, though deep down, I wasn't so sure. But as I sat down at the table and dug into my pancakes, I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, someway, we'd find a way to mend the rift between us. After all, we were twins—bound together by more than just blood.
“By the way, Mom. Are you free this Thursday?”I asked while munching on my pancakes and taking a sip of my coffee.
“Thursday?”Mom paused, probably thinking. “I still haven't checked my new schedule for this week, sweetheart. May I ask why?”
“Well, nothing special actually.. There will be visitors coming to our schools and the team will be told to play against the students that they will be bringing. Hoping you could watch.” I replied
“Oh, how much I love to, Sweetie. Don't worry I'll try everything I can to clear my schedule on that day for you.”she went beside me and kissed my head
“Morning,Mom.”Andrei greeted her the moment he's in the kitchen to join us
“Morning, sweetie. How's your sleep? You came late last night haven't you? May I ask why?” Mom clung to his shoulders while trying to act cute to get some answers out from my twin.
I don't know if Mom still really doesn't know Andrei but knowing him, he won't just give the answer that she wants to hear.
“Just had a drink with my friends.”he simply replied
“Friends? Who?”I eyed him while smirking
“A Friend that you don't know and who also doesn't know you.”he rolled his eyes on me and took the seat across mine.
“You're being mean each and every day, you're aware of that right?”
“Not as mean as someone who just asked Stacey to date him and dumped him the very next day.”He grimaced at his own remarks
“Well, she's not worth it. And besides, it was because of a dare. Not my fault my friend chose her, not me.” I answered
“You're a jerk!”he snapped and throw the pancakes directly to my face
“Hey!”
“Andrei!”Mom called also
“I'm going to school. Let that son of yours take a cab because I'm bringing the car with me.”he said not even glancing at us
“What?!” I protested. “Mom! It's my schedule for the car today!”I whined
“Well, it's his car anyways.”
I stormed out of the house, frustration boiling within me like a volcano on the brink of eruption. Andrei's actions grated on my nerves, fueling the simmering animosity between us even further. As I reached the driveway, I scanned the street for any sign of him, but he was nowhere in sight.
“Great, just great,” I muttered to myself, kicking a pebble in frustration.
“Alex, what's going on?” Mom's concerned voice floated out from the doorway, her brow furrowed with worry.
“It's nothing, Mom,” I replied tersely, unable to mask the irritation in my tone. “Just another typical morning with Andrei.”
Mom sighed, her expression a mix of sympathy and exasperation. “You two need to figure this out. Fighting like this won't solve anything.”
“I know, Mom,” I grumbled, feeling a pang of guilt tugging at my conscience. Deep down, I knew she was right. But pride and stubbornness seemed to be standing in the way of any chance at reconciliation.
With a heavy heart, I trudged down the driveway, resigned to the fact that today was shaping up to be just another day of tension and turmoil. But amidst the chaos and conflict, a glimmer of hope flickered in the depths of my soul—a hope that someday, somehow, Andrei and I would find our way back to each other, stronger and closer than ever before.
But for now, all I could do was brace myself for another day of school, steeling myself for whatever challenges lay ahead, both on and off the basketball court. And as I climbed into the cab, leaving behind the familiar comforts of home, I couldn't help but wonder what the day had in store for me—and whether Andrei would be a part of it.
- Writer
