The Twins (Part 3)
Title : The Twins (Part 3)
Author : Elizabeth Yenny
Genre : Thriller, Psychological, Drama
Disclaimer : Both the story and the characters are purely fiction. Credit if you want to share it to anywhere else. Thank you.. :)
Warning : The author is not an English native, so please bear with the grammatical errors.
Part 1, Part 2
It’s raining so hard the sky would collapse anytime soon. I took my broken glasses and put them on, then laid on the wooden floor, beside my twin. Her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping peacefully. It was the first time I saw her sleeping like this since she moved from grandma’s farm. I trailed my fingers along her usually smooth golden hair which now was a bit sticky. Her pale skin was tainted in red-a color suited her the most. My hand stopped at the wide slit on her plain neck. My glasses were so in a mess that I could barely see things, but when the lightning struck again, I caught a glimpse of what I recognized as flesh, blood, and perhaps bones, too.
“Does it hurt?” My voice was hoarse and my fingers were trembling in the bleak night chill. “Well, it did, of course.” I pulled my hands and hugged myself instead. “You don’t want to talk about it? Alright.” I turned my head to face the ceiling, picturing the scenes of our past. “Do you remember, sometimes at night we cuddled on the bed, under the blanket, shared everything. About schools, about our first loves, about our new crushes, people we hated. Things only you and I knew. You once said that what’s so special about having a twin was that we could share secrets-just the two of us, didn’t you?” I drew closer. My voice was a soft murmur when I asked her. “Say, how it felt to kiss Ivan?”
12 years ago
It’s been half and a year since Corry left for a high school in Brooklyn. She’s in her last year now. Aiming for a prestigious college. Pursuing our happiness. As Carol. Me? I kept helping grandma with the farm, as Corry. Grandma did give me some pocket money every week but sometimes it was just not enough. I had to buy contact lenses regularly, since Corry’s eyes were completely okay, not to mention hair care, perfume, body lotion, and cute cheap clothes that were just to her liking. Here I learned to be cleverer, if I might say. Well, some missing stalks of corn would do no harm to grandma.
“Young miss, how many time should I tell you that’s not how you tie a sack?!” cried grandma when she saw me struggling with a big plastic bag containing dozens of corn inside.
“But I can’t tie it like you do.”
“Use some strength, will you? It won’t harm your nails.” She pointed my sparkling fingers with her eyes. It’s not I liked to color my nails, though. Corry did. I could only give her a wide forceful grin. “Whatever. Just take the ones that have been tied outside. Lucas is waiting.”
“Alright. Alright.” I did what she had told me. One sack of corn was definitely heavy, so I had to drag it along from the barn to the gate. Lucas, the errand boy, was waiting there, literally standing, waiting, and watching. He was three years older than me. I always thought he was a perfect living model of an ancient farm boy with a dull hairstyle, an oversized checkered shirt, and a worn-out jeans overall. He always came with his dad whenever grandma called and helped us delivering our crops to the market. Apparently, his father was a good acquaintance of grandma. But the son was never a friend to me.
“Just give it to me already.”
“I can do it by myself!” I smacked his hand and gave my best to lift the sack onto the truck, which was completely an embarrassing failure. I tripped over my own foot and almost landed on the asphalt if he wasn’t there to hold me.
“See, I’ve told you.” He overreacted by grumbling and amazingly lifted me up with only a pull. “A weak girl ain’t a match for sacks.” I rolled my eyes and swallowed back my ‘thank you’. He picked up the damn bag and loaded it to the back of his old truck. He sure hid some muscle under those old-fashioned clothes.
“Just bring me something to drink, will ya? I’ll do the rest in no time.”
“Yeah, yeah. Show-off.” I grumbled. “Tea or coffee, sir?”
“Tea, please.”
“Hot or cold?”
“Cold, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, I mind it.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“A glass of plain water will be served in no time, sir. Please wait for a moment.” I smiled at him, then turned and dawdled all the way to the house.
“Well, well, what did I see just now? Corry’s hitting on a farm guy?” Uncle made fun of me when I entered the kitchen. He was helping aunty making dinner for us.
“I thought you have a better eye on guys rather than Carol.” Aunty laughed.
I knew they would be watching from the window so I forced myself acting like Corry for the entire day, which was more than exhausting. I must get an Oscar by now. “Of course I do. Carol may fall for boys like that, but for me, that errand boy is just annoying.” I pouted as pouring water to a glass.
“Careful, young lady. Sometimes a boy you thought annoying could turn out to be your partner for life.” Uncle smirked to aunty.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just giving some advice to my beloved niece. Right, niece?”
“Yes, Uncle.” I chuckled.
“Oh, dear, farm life is never easy for an old woman like me.” Grandma got into the kitchen and had herself a drink. Beads of sweat were dripping from her chin. She must be so tired.
“And that advice will still valid even in your sixties, kid. A boy you thought annoying could be your perspective son in law.” Uncle whispered to me, but loud enough to be heard by the others.
“What?” Now it was grandma’s turn to send a chill down our spines.
“Nothing. Just giving another advice to my niece. Right, niece?”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever, Uncle.”
“You sound more like your aunty.”
“Is that a praise or a complaint, Uncle?” I raised my voice deliberately. Aunty tilted her head a little, signing that she was listening.
“Of course that’s a praise, dearie. Don’t throw your uncle into some unnecessary trouble.”
I sneered at him.
***
I flumped on the bed. It was so tiring I could sleep for an entire month. I could manage if it’s only grandma. She would be on the farm all day. Back into the house only to have lunch and take a quick nap. Then there she went again till dusk. We didn’t really have a good time together except dinner. Grandma was not a good listener, too. She would cut me halfway, give complains here and there, then leave my stories unfinished. I liked her, though. I didn’t need to force myself whenever she’s around. She had never paid too much attention to me and Corry to begin with. I just had to take off my braids-lately I changed them into a ponytail which was simpler and more comfortable-and my glasses. But it won’t work for aunty and uncle. They just knew us too well. Whenever they came for a visit, it’s just like my energy box for a week was emptied in only a day. And I would always need another week to recover. It’s lucky that they only came once in months.
Just when I was about to sleep, my cell phone rang. I smiled seeing Corry’s name on the screen.
“Hello, Corry?”
“Carol! Listen. Last night a friend here held a birthday party and....”
I had to put my phone away for seconds, adjusting my ear to her high pitch voice on the line. She was always in a good spirit whenever she called me.
“...aaahhh he’s just so hot. I’ll send you his pictures next time.”
“Wa-wait. I don’t think I need it. Besides, I bet you’ll get bored soon and start to look for new hot guys. As always.”
“Well, it might happen soon. But I enjoy it anyway. There are so many men in this world, why should I bound myself with only one?”
“You won’t say that again when you finally fall in love, sis.”
“As if you understand that kind of feeling, sis.”
“Well, no.” We laughed. “So, how’s school?”
“Now that you mentioned it, an assignment is waiting for you, Prof. You know, the subject I hate the most.”
“And that’s exactly the subject I love the most.”
“You give me an A, I’ll buy you new dictionaries.”
“Deal. Just text me the detail. I think I have some free time tomorrow.”
“Great! You are the best! Oh no, my roommate is coming. I’ll hang up, okay.”
“Alright. Take care.”
“You too. Bye.”
***
“Grandma, I’m going to the market. Need something?”
“We’re running out of milk. Oh, don’t forget to buy some sugar, too, dear.”
“Milk and sugar. Noted.”
“Get back before dusk, young miss. No loitering at the shopping center.”
“Got it, your highness. Don’t miss me while I’m out.” I could hear some grumbles from the kitchen. She didn’t like to be called like that. But who could resist Corry’s charm? I let out a giggle, quite loud so she could hear. Then closed the door. Ran towards grandma’s old bike. Threw my bag into its basket-where I usually hid some stalks of corn and sold them secretly in the market. And started to trail the highway. I always liked it. Out from home meant I didn’t have to pretend anymore. I could put on my ponytail. And also my glasses. I could be Carol, my own self. Nobody really cared who I was out here. The best thing, I could visit my favorite place in the world: the library!
It was located at the center of the town. Being the one and only source of knowledge here didn’t mean it would full of information seekers. It was the fourth time I got there and I realized that the scene inside was never changed. I never saw more than half a dozen people here. It was so quiet I could hear my footsteps clearly. The place had tremendous kinds of books but they were kind of not being taken a good care of. The wooden shelves were old and brittle. The librarian was the only one adorning the dreary room with her beauty but she seemed to be a hard one to deal with. As I walked between the aisles, rays of sunlight penetrated from the window frames, illuminating the scattered particles of dust in the air. Well, it made a perfect place to study, though. No one could bother me here. Just me and my thought. It’s the best place to restore.
I spent some good hours before realizing that it was already that late. The market would be closed soon. I brought the books to librarian’s desk when suddenly I was hit by something. Or someone.
“Ack!” I stumbled down on my feet and fell on the floor.
“Whoaahh, I’m sorry. You okay?”
An arm was stretched before me. I jerk my head up. A boy, perhaps was in the same age as me, was standing there. He had the finest features I could find in this half-asleep town. Low cut blonde hair. Snow white skin. Red cherry lips. Big bright sapphire eyes. And not to forget the angelic voice-I never heard any, though. I gulped. Captivated, perhaps, I never found a word to say, so I ignored him and started to gather the scattered materials I’d been working on from the wooden floor instead.
“Oh, let me help.” He’s crouching and lifted up several copies of journals. “Big bang. Quantum mechanics. Black hole. Higgs boson. Are you Hawking’s granddaughter or what?”
“I-it’s just for my science project.” I grabbed the papers from his hand and stood there awkwardly, adjusting my glasses. “A-and Higgs boson is not Hawking’s.”
“You.....” He stared at me with widened eyes, as if seeing a ghost.
With knitted brows, I shifted a bit. “What?”
“Not many know that. I mean, no girls in this place know that sort of things. Maybe.”
“So, now you’re calling me a nerd?” Well, I’m used to it, anyway. Everybody in my previous school called me that.
“No, of course no! I...I just need a name.”
His smile brought a warm sensation over my face and that’s just something I wasn’t really used to. Before I got too panic and this strane feeling started to fail my brain, I put the books on the librarian’s desk. “I don’t talk with stranger.” Then walked away without ever turning my head once. And I sighed heavily along my way to the market. It should have been a good opportunity to make new friend. I didn’t have other friends here except Lucas-if I could call him a friend. It could be a good opportunity for a romance, too, maybe. “Wait,” I reminded myself. “That’s just too impossible. You’re not good with boys, aren’t you, Carol? But, hey, I think he’s kind of Corry’s type.” I shrugged.
***
“Wait! How could I forget the theory of relativity?!” I slapped my forehead with a stack of papers. “The assignment must be submitted by the day after tomorrow. Corry said she will be waiting at the caffee tomorrow night. I won’t finish it on time. Except...,” I looked up. It’s still ten to seven. “If I go to the library now, I think I still can make it.”
We usually had dinner at six. Then grandma would take a shower and go directly to her room. She was an early sleeper. I tied my hair into a ponytail-loosened hair was always a bother on the bike. I changed my pajama with something more casual. Took my glasses and bag and also my wallet. I opened the door of my room, walked very slowly on my tiptoes, avoiding every detached planks that could make noises. The lamp in grandma’s room had been turned off. She was already sleeping. Lucky. I dashed to the front door. Unlocked it. Got out and reached for grandma’s bike. This was much easier than I thought.
The road was completely empty. I almost forgot how beautiful the starry sky was, and how fresh the auntumn night breeze could be. Years ago, dad used to take us for a night ride, camping and watching the sky together. Mom would take Corry to the tent, while dad and I would stay up late to watch the stars and the Milky way and the constellations. We could have spent nights like those, too, though, if only...if only.... A tear dripped down my cheek, which was soon dried by the wind. I shook my head, dispelling any painful thoughts. It’s nothing more than a past now. And I didn’t live for the past.
Twenty minutes later I stopped in front of the library. It’s only yesterday I’d been here and now here I was once again. The lamps was still on. When I peered at the big clock inside, I hurrily parked my bike and stepped in. I only had half an hour before the closing time. The librarian was not at her desk. Preparing to go home, perhaps. Nobody was here, actually. I had no choice but to went inside by myself.
“Hawking...Hawking....” I traced the titles on by one with my finger. It’s quite hot here so I had to swipe my bangs to the side repeatedly. “I’m sure it is somewhere around here.”
“Looking for this?”
I gasped. Didn’t anticipate there would be someone else in this building. “It’s just you.” I let out a relieve sigh when I saw the handsome boy standing besides me, holding a book I was looking for. “I need that.”
“You come all the way here, despite how late it is, only for a book, Miss Hawking?”
“It’s still half past seven.” I said in a very low voice. “And don’t call me that.”
“Well, I haven’t received a name yet.” Getting no response from me, he laughed to himself. “Alright. Alright. I’m Ivan. You?”
Okay, I knew I wouldn’t have any other opportunities to talk to a handsome boy, but I really needed the book so “Caroline” was uttered unconsciously, which later made me freeze for a second. It was the most essential part of my twin play. I should be Corry, right? Well, whatever. It’s not like I would run into him again. Instead of reaching his stretched hand, I took the book from his arm and started to skim the contents. I only needed a theory so it didn’t take long. “Thank you.” I gave him back the book and take out my notes, jotting down what I had read so I wouldn’t forget it till I went home.
“You sure are a unique one, Carol.”
It’s been a while since I heard someone calling me by my name so I looked up spontaneously. That smile again! Heck, now I forgot everything.
“What’s wrong? Your face is completely red. You’ve got a fever? W-we have some medicine here.”
“N-no! I-I mean I’m going home. T-thank you. Bye.” I put in my things clumsily to my bag, then walked briskly, avoiding his gentle stare. Just like before. “What’s wrong with me?”
***
“Corry, where are you?”
“The usual seat.”
“Okay, I’m heading there.” I walked into a caffee placed between Brooklyn and my town. Too far from the farm and quite odd for the town inhabitants. It was our favorit meeting spot for no one here knew us. I saw her sitting at the corner near the window. She’s as stylish as ever. Corry always used sun glasses, sometimes with a bobble hat or hood or even scarf. Today, it’s a flutter sleeved blouse. Black skinny jeans. T-strap. What was unusual was the hair. She had it cut in bob.
“Did you really do that to your hair?!” I took a seat in front of her.
“Is that a first sentence you’d say to your long distance sister?”
I giggled.
“And now you drop your braids.”
“Ponytail somehow looks more mature.”
“Well, it suits you better. What did you say to grandma?”
“Meeting an old friend. I’m not that old, though.” I took out something from the bag. “Here’s the paper.”
“A hundred and eighteen pages. Is it a novel?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever. And here are the payment.” She thrusted two volumes of the latest science dictionary into my arms.
“Masterpiece!” I lifted them as high as I could, like a champion getting her gold. My eyes sure lit up right now.
“Your welcome.” She gave a ‘stop overreacting’ laugh to me. “By the way, your phone was ringing just now.”
“Really?” I groped for my phone inside the bag and found an unread text. “Whose number is this?” I opened it and found myself staring blankly at the screen, lost of words.
Evening, Miss Caroline. It seems that there is a mistake in the data of yours submitted by my sister. It was written Coraline instead. I’ll help you to correct it. Btw, a book you borrowed last month is due next week. Be sure to return it on time. Thank you. Your friend, Ivan.
“Who’s that?”
I blinked. “N-no. Nothing.”
Watching me awkwardly putting my phone into the bag, Corry smirked. “A boy! I know it!”
“No! It’s not like that!”
“Then what? You have to see your own face right now, Carol. You’re blushing too much!”
“Shut up, Corry!” I moved to her side and cliched her neck to hide my embarrasment.
“Tell me who he is!” She struggled.
“No!”
“But he might become my brother in law!”
“No way!”
“Why?! To see you in love is almost as impossible as watching aurora from New York!”
Some minutes later, we got scolded by the waiter for being too noisy. Corry might be right. At the end, Ivan turned out to be my first and last. But one thing she’s completely wrong. He never became her brother in law. He became mine instead.
-to be continued-
Author : Elizabeth Yenny
Genre : Thriller, Psychological, Drama
Disclaimer : Both the story and the characters are purely fiction. Credit if you want to share it to anywhere else. Thank you.. :)
Warning : The author is not an English native, so please bear with the grammatical errors.
Part 1, Part 2
It’s raining so hard the sky would collapse anytime soon. I took my broken glasses and put them on, then laid on the wooden floor, beside my twin. Her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping peacefully. It was the first time I saw her sleeping like this since she moved from grandma’s farm. I trailed my fingers along her usually smooth golden hair which now was a bit sticky. Her pale skin was tainted in red-a color suited her the most. My hand stopped at the wide slit on her plain neck. My glasses were so in a mess that I could barely see things, but when the lightning struck again, I caught a glimpse of what I recognized as flesh, blood, and perhaps bones, too.
“Does it hurt?” My voice was hoarse and my fingers were trembling in the bleak night chill. “Well, it did, of course.” I pulled my hands and hugged myself instead. “You don’t want to talk about it? Alright.” I turned my head to face the ceiling, picturing the scenes of our past. “Do you remember, sometimes at night we cuddled on the bed, under the blanket, shared everything. About schools, about our first loves, about our new crushes, people we hated. Things only you and I knew. You once said that what’s so special about having a twin was that we could share secrets-just the two of us, didn’t you?” I drew closer. My voice was a soft murmur when I asked her. “Say, how it felt to kiss Ivan?”
12 years ago
It’s been half and a year since Corry left for a high school in Brooklyn. She’s in her last year now. Aiming for a prestigious college. Pursuing our happiness. As Carol. Me? I kept helping grandma with the farm, as Corry. Grandma did give me some pocket money every week but sometimes it was just not enough. I had to buy contact lenses regularly, since Corry’s eyes were completely okay, not to mention hair care, perfume, body lotion, and cute cheap clothes that were just to her liking. Here I learned to be cleverer, if I might say. Well, some missing stalks of corn would do no harm to grandma.
“Young miss, how many time should I tell you that’s not how you tie a sack?!” cried grandma when she saw me struggling with a big plastic bag containing dozens of corn inside.
“But I can’t tie it like you do.”
“Use some strength, will you? It won’t harm your nails.” She pointed my sparkling fingers with her eyes. It’s not I liked to color my nails, though. Corry did. I could only give her a wide forceful grin. “Whatever. Just take the ones that have been tied outside. Lucas is waiting.”
“Alright. Alright.” I did what she had told me. One sack of corn was definitely heavy, so I had to drag it along from the barn to the gate. Lucas, the errand boy, was waiting there, literally standing, waiting, and watching. He was three years older than me. I always thought he was a perfect living model of an ancient farm boy with a dull hairstyle, an oversized checkered shirt, and a worn-out jeans overall. He always came with his dad whenever grandma called and helped us delivering our crops to the market. Apparently, his father was a good acquaintance of grandma. But the son was never a friend to me.
“Just give it to me already.”
“I can do it by myself!” I smacked his hand and gave my best to lift the sack onto the truck, which was completely an embarrassing failure. I tripped over my own foot and almost landed on the asphalt if he wasn’t there to hold me.
“See, I’ve told you.” He overreacted by grumbling and amazingly lifted me up with only a pull. “A weak girl ain’t a match for sacks.” I rolled my eyes and swallowed back my ‘thank you’. He picked up the damn bag and loaded it to the back of his old truck. He sure hid some muscle under those old-fashioned clothes.
“Just bring me something to drink, will ya? I’ll do the rest in no time.”
“Yeah, yeah. Show-off.” I grumbled. “Tea or coffee, sir?”
“Tea, please.”
“Hot or cold?”
“Cold, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, I mind it.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“A glass of plain water will be served in no time, sir. Please wait for a moment.” I smiled at him, then turned and dawdled all the way to the house.
“Well, well, what did I see just now? Corry’s hitting on a farm guy?” Uncle made fun of me when I entered the kitchen. He was helping aunty making dinner for us.
“I thought you have a better eye on guys rather than Carol.” Aunty laughed.
I knew they would be watching from the window so I forced myself acting like Corry for the entire day, which was more than exhausting. I must get an Oscar by now. “Of course I do. Carol may fall for boys like that, but for me, that errand boy is just annoying.” I pouted as pouring water to a glass.
“Careful, young lady. Sometimes a boy you thought annoying could turn out to be your partner for life.” Uncle smirked to aunty.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just giving some advice to my beloved niece. Right, niece?”
“Yes, Uncle.” I chuckled.
“Oh, dear, farm life is never easy for an old woman like me.” Grandma got into the kitchen and had herself a drink. Beads of sweat were dripping from her chin. She must be so tired.
“And that advice will still valid even in your sixties, kid. A boy you thought annoying could be your perspective son in law.” Uncle whispered to me, but loud enough to be heard by the others.
“What?” Now it was grandma’s turn to send a chill down our spines.
“Nothing. Just giving another advice to my niece. Right, niece?”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever, Uncle.”
“You sound more like your aunty.”
“Is that a praise or a complaint, Uncle?” I raised my voice deliberately. Aunty tilted her head a little, signing that she was listening.
“Of course that’s a praise, dearie. Don’t throw your uncle into some unnecessary trouble.”
I sneered at him.
***
I flumped on the bed. It was so tiring I could sleep for an entire month. I could manage if it’s only grandma. She would be on the farm all day. Back into the house only to have lunch and take a quick nap. Then there she went again till dusk. We didn’t really have a good time together except dinner. Grandma was not a good listener, too. She would cut me halfway, give complains here and there, then leave my stories unfinished. I liked her, though. I didn’t need to force myself whenever she’s around. She had never paid too much attention to me and Corry to begin with. I just had to take off my braids-lately I changed them into a ponytail which was simpler and more comfortable-and my glasses. But it won’t work for aunty and uncle. They just knew us too well. Whenever they came for a visit, it’s just like my energy box for a week was emptied in only a day. And I would always need another week to recover. It’s lucky that they only came once in months.
Just when I was about to sleep, my cell phone rang. I smiled seeing Corry’s name on the screen.
“Hello, Corry?”
“Carol! Listen. Last night a friend here held a birthday party and....”
I had to put my phone away for seconds, adjusting my ear to her high pitch voice on the line. She was always in a good spirit whenever she called me.
“...aaahhh he’s just so hot. I’ll send you his pictures next time.”
“Wa-wait. I don’t think I need it. Besides, I bet you’ll get bored soon and start to look for new hot guys. As always.”
“Well, it might happen soon. But I enjoy it anyway. There are so many men in this world, why should I bound myself with only one?”
“You won’t say that again when you finally fall in love, sis.”
“As if you understand that kind of feeling, sis.”
“Well, no.” We laughed. “So, how’s school?”
“Now that you mentioned it, an assignment is waiting for you, Prof. You know, the subject I hate the most.”
“And that’s exactly the subject I love the most.”
“You give me an A, I’ll buy you new dictionaries.”
“Deal. Just text me the detail. I think I have some free time tomorrow.”
“Great! You are the best! Oh no, my roommate is coming. I’ll hang up, okay.”
“Alright. Take care.”
“You too. Bye.”
***
“Grandma, I’m going to the market. Need something?”
“We’re running out of milk. Oh, don’t forget to buy some sugar, too, dear.”
“Milk and sugar. Noted.”
“Get back before dusk, young miss. No loitering at the shopping center.”
“Got it, your highness. Don’t miss me while I’m out.” I could hear some grumbles from the kitchen. She didn’t like to be called like that. But who could resist Corry’s charm? I let out a giggle, quite loud so she could hear. Then closed the door. Ran towards grandma’s old bike. Threw my bag into its basket-where I usually hid some stalks of corn and sold them secretly in the market. And started to trail the highway. I always liked it. Out from home meant I didn’t have to pretend anymore. I could put on my ponytail. And also my glasses. I could be Carol, my own self. Nobody really cared who I was out here. The best thing, I could visit my favorite place in the world: the library!
It was located at the center of the town. Being the one and only source of knowledge here didn’t mean it would full of information seekers. It was the fourth time I got there and I realized that the scene inside was never changed. I never saw more than half a dozen people here. It was so quiet I could hear my footsteps clearly. The place had tremendous kinds of books but they were kind of not being taken a good care of. The wooden shelves were old and brittle. The librarian was the only one adorning the dreary room with her beauty but she seemed to be a hard one to deal with. As I walked between the aisles, rays of sunlight penetrated from the window frames, illuminating the scattered particles of dust in the air. Well, it made a perfect place to study, though. No one could bother me here. Just me and my thought. It’s the best place to restore.
I spent some good hours before realizing that it was already that late. The market would be closed soon. I brought the books to librarian’s desk when suddenly I was hit by something. Or someone.
“Ack!” I stumbled down on my feet and fell on the floor.
“Whoaahh, I’m sorry. You okay?”
An arm was stretched before me. I jerk my head up. A boy, perhaps was in the same age as me, was standing there. He had the finest features I could find in this half-asleep town. Low cut blonde hair. Snow white skin. Red cherry lips. Big bright sapphire eyes. And not to forget the angelic voice-I never heard any, though. I gulped. Captivated, perhaps, I never found a word to say, so I ignored him and started to gather the scattered materials I’d been working on from the wooden floor instead.
“Oh, let me help.” He’s crouching and lifted up several copies of journals. “Big bang. Quantum mechanics. Black hole. Higgs boson. Are you Hawking’s granddaughter or what?”
“I-it’s just for my science project.” I grabbed the papers from his hand and stood there awkwardly, adjusting my glasses. “A-and Higgs boson is not Hawking’s.”
“You.....” He stared at me with widened eyes, as if seeing a ghost.
With knitted brows, I shifted a bit. “What?”
“Not many know that. I mean, no girls in this place know that sort of things. Maybe.”
“So, now you’re calling me a nerd?” Well, I’m used to it, anyway. Everybody in my previous school called me that.
“No, of course no! I...I just need a name.”
His smile brought a warm sensation over my face and that’s just something I wasn’t really used to. Before I got too panic and this strane feeling started to fail my brain, I put the books on the librarian’s desk. “I don’t talk with stranger.” Then walked away without ever turning my head once. And I sighed heavily along my way to the market. It should have been a good opportunity to make new friend. I didn’t have other friends here except Lucas-if I could call him a friend. It could be a good opportunity for a romance, too, maybe. “Wait,” I reminded myself. “That’s just too impossible. You’re not good with boys, aren’t you, Carol? But, hey, I think he’s kind of Corry’s type.” I shrugged.
***
“Wait! How could I forget the theory of relativity?!” I slapped my forehead with a stack of papers. “The assignment must be submitted by the day after tomorrow. Corry said she will be waiting at the caffee tomorrow night. I won’t finish it on time. Except...,” I looked up. It’s still ten to seven. “If I go to the library now, I think I still can make it.”
We usually had dinner at six. Then grandma would take a shower and go directly to her room. She was an early sleeper. I tied my hair into a ponytail-loosened hair was always a bother on the bike. I changed my pajama with something more casual. Took my glasses and bag and also my wallet. I opened the door of my room, walked very slowly on my tiptoes, avoiding every detached planks that could make noises. The lamp in grandma’s room had been turned off. She was already sleeping. Lucky. I dashed to the front door. Unlocked it. Got out and reached for grandma’s bike. This was much easier than I thought.
The road was completely empty. I almost forgot how beautiful the starry sky was, and how fresh the auntumn night breeze could be. Years ago, dad used to take us for a night ride, camping and watching the sky together. Mom would take Corry to the tent, while dad and I would stay up late to watch the stars and the Milky way and the constellations. We could have spent nights like those, too, though, if only...if only.... A tear dripped down my cheek, which was soon dried by the wind. I shook my head, dispelling any painful thoughts. It’s nothing more than a past now. And I didn’t live for the past.
Twenty minutes later I stopped in front of the library. It’s only yesterday I’d been here and now here I was once again. The lamps was still on. When I peered at the big clock inside, I hurrily parked my bike and stepped in. I only had half an hour before the closing time. The librarian was not at her desk. Preparing to go home, perhaps. Nobody was here, actually. I had no choice but to went inside by myself.
“Hawking...Hawking....” I traced the titles on by one with my finger. It’s quite hot here so I had to swipe my bangs to the side repeatedly. “I’m sure it is somewhere around here.”
“Looking for this?”
I gasped. Didn’t anticipate there would be someone else in this building. “It’s just you.” I let out a relieve sigh when I saw the handsome boy standing besides me, holding a book I was looking for. “I need that.”
“You come all the way here, despite how late it is, only for a book, Miss Hawking?”
“It’s still half past seven.” I said in a very low voice. “And don’t call me that.”
“Well, I haven’t received a name yet.” Getting no response from me, he laughed to himself. “Alright. Alright. I’m Ivan. You?”
Okay, I knew I wouldn’t have any other opportunities to talk to a handsome boy, but I really needed the book so “Caroline” was uttered unconsciously, which later made me freeze for a second. It was the most essential part of my twin play. I should be Corry, right? Well, whatever. It’s not like I would run into him again. Instead of reaching his stretched hand, I took the book from his arm and started to skim the contents. I only needed a theory so it didn’t take long. “Thank you.” I gave him back the book and take out my notes, jotting down what I had read so I wouldn’t forget it till I went home.
“You sure are a unique one, Carol.”
It’s been a while since I heard someone calling me by my name so I looked up spontaneously. That smile again! Heck, now I forgot everything.
“What’s wrong? Your face is completely red. You’ve got a fever? W-we have some medicine here.”
“N-no! I-I mean I’m going home. T-thank you. Bye.” I put in my things clumsily to my bag, then walked briskly, avoiding his gentle stare. Just like before. “What’s wrong with me?”
***
“Corry, where are you?”
“The usual seat.”
“Okay, I’m heading there.” I walked into a caffee placed between Brooklyn and my town. Too far from the farm and quite odd for the town inhabitants. It was our favorit meeting spot for no one here knew us. I saw her sitting at the corner near the window. She’s as stylish as ever. Corry always used sun glasses, sometimes with a bobble hat or hood or even scarf. Today, it’s a flutter sleeved blouse. Black skinny jeans. T-strap. What was unusual was the hair. She had it cut in bob.
“Did you really do that to your hair?!” I took a seat in front of her.
“Is that a first sentence you’d say to your long distance sister?”
I giggled.
“And now you drop your braids.”
“Ponytail somehow looks more mature.”
“Well, it suits you better. What did you say to grandma?”
“Meeting an old friend. I’m not that old, though.” I took out something from the bag. “Here’s the paper.”
“A hundred and eighteen pages. Is it a novel?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever. And here are the payment.” She thrusted two volumes of the latest science dictionary into my arms.
“Masterpiece!” I lifted them as high as I could, like a champion getting her gold. My eyes sure lit up right now.
“Your welcome.” She gave a ‘stop overreacting’ laugh to me. “By the way, your phone was ringing just now.”
“Really?” I groped for my phone inside the bag and found an unread text. “Whose number is this?” I opened it and found myself staring blankly at the screen, lost of words.
Evening, Miss Caroline. It seems that there is a mistake in the data of yours submitted by my sister. It was written Coraline instead. I’ll help you to correct it. Btw, a book you borrowed last month is due next week. Be sure to return it on time. Thank you. Your friend, Ivan.
“Who’s that?”
I blinked. “N-no. Nothing.”
Watching me awkwardly putting my phone into the bag, Corry smirked. “A boy! I know it!”
“No! It’s not like that!”
“Then what? You have to see your own face right now, Carol. You’re blushing too much!”
“Shut up, Corry!” I moved to her side and cliched her neck to hide my embarrasment.
“Tell me who he is!” She struggled.
“No!”
“But he might become my brother in law!”
“No way!”
“Why?! To see you in love is almost as impossible as watching aurora from New York!”
Some minutes later, we got scolded by the waiter for being too noisy. Corry might be right. At the end, Ivan turned out to be my first and last. But one thing she’s completely wrong. He never became her brother in law. He became mine instead.
-to be continued-