CHAPTER 3

"Tiarra! Let's go straight to the practice room!"

"You go first. I need to change my clothes." Renjo, one of my classmates, just nodded at me and then ran out of the classroom.

I immediately arranged my books and notebooks  that were scattered on my armchair so that I could follow him immediately.

Time has passed quickly since I entered college three months ago.

I told myself then that I had no intention of making friends but I ended up making friends. Aside from Mace, I also had other friends in other faculties because I joined the university’s dance troop. My father would not be pleased if he found out about my hidden activities.

Mace joined the Music Club since she loves to play instruments and her voice is amazingly beautiful. Margaux, on the other hand, joined the theater club.

When I left the room, I immediately went straight to the dance studio. I'll just change my clothes there since there's a CR nearby and our lockers are also there. It's perfect for me to put my books in the locker so I don't have to carry it all along.

As I was walking towards the dance studio I saw Margaux with her friends. There are five of them together but my sister is more noticeable not only because of her height, but also because of her beauty. It seems natural that she was born to stand out.

I basically wanted to ignore them but one of her companions suddenly spoke.

"Magie, that's your twin, isn't it?"

I don't know where they found out that we were twins because apart from the fact that I wasn't telling anyone well aside from Mace, it was far from impossible for Margaux to tell them about me being her twin.

Anyway, I won't be surprised where they found that because there are also natural gossipers at this university.

"Bhie! Don't say bad words! I said that, didn't I? Don’t ever as in never mention that I have a twin," Margaux said, disgust is evident in her voice while swinging her hand dismissively.

I mentally rolled my eyes. I just kept walking because I had no intention of arguing with them and I also didn’t want to have a fight with Margaux again just because of this petty thing.

"Don't be hot-headed, girl. I just saw her. Besides, you're really different from each other aren't you? You're way way better than her." One of her companions said using her mocking tone. She didn’t even let me walk past before she said such things. 

"I know right. So please, don't mind her because in our home, we don’t acknowledge her existence," Margaux said as they all laughed.

My grip on what I was carrying tightened because of what Margaux had said. Does she really need to say that?

I want to argue with them, but what will I get in return? Nothing. It will be bad on my side because if the information that I was fighting with my co-students reached Dad, I’ll be the only one to be blamed and not Magie. So I just kept walking until I passed them. I could still hear their laughter and Margaux's simple insinuations about me.

This isn’t the first time we’ve met at university. Because she joined the theater club, our practice room was in the same building. Every time we crossed paths, aside from the stern and sharp gaze she gives me, her mouth never stops saying bad things about me.

I don’t know what her intention is but, maybe she just wants to spread the word throughout the school that I don't belong to the family. 

Am I really included though? Or am I the one who thinks I'm still included in that damned family?

Before I entered the practice room I did everything I needed to do first. When I get in they already start our stretching exercise.

"Sorry I'm late." I apologized and immediately accompanied them on the stretching they were doing.

"Okay guys, since Freshmen's Night is approaching, this is the last day we go home early for practice. Next week we'll end our practice at 9pm. So I need you to get your parents consent so that we will not have a problem of you going home late.”

Everyone immediately agreed except me.

Daddy didn’t know I joined the dance troupe. So I don’t know if he’ll let me stay outside until 9pm. It’s not like he cared about me being home late, but his instructions when I entered college were crystal clear that my academics is the sole focus of my attention. Also, it would be bothersome to Tata Berting if I would instruct him to pick me up at that time.

"How about you Tiarra? Is going home at 9pm okay with you?" Ayna said, staring intently at me. She is our club president and is currently in her third year, taking up Fine Arts.

"Hmm. It's okay. But I'll need to talk to my father first," I answered because I didn't want them to get in trouble just because of me.

"Okay good! Now, formation and let's start!"

We immediately took our positions with her signal. I understand that we need to make time for practice because it's only three weeks before Freshmen's Night will be held. The Dance Troupe and Music Club were assigned to perform for that night, so we all need to practice hard now, especially since they required all the freshmen in each club to perform. It’s like our initiation night for surviving three months in college as freshies.

So Mace and I only got the chance to be together during class and breaks because after our whole day class, we needed to work our ass off for practice.

It’s already six o'clock in the evening when our practice ended. As we exited the dance studio the lights were already off in other practice rooms. Looks like our club were the only ones left here.

"Goodbye guys! See you on Monday. Don't forget to get your parents consent for our upcoming practice. Rest your body well.”

We said goodbye to each other when we finally reached the front of the school. Most of them have their own car and motorcycle. Renjo and I were the ones left to walk. 

"Is someone going to pick you up?" he asked.

"No. I'm going to walk to the terminal to ride a jeep."

"Does your twin commute too?" He suddenly asked. It was as if I suddenly lost my interest to talk to him because I felt like he just wanted to talk to me so he would know something about my sister.

"Nope. She has our family driver for that." I replied.

"What about you? Why can’t you just call your driver to pick you up? Rather than getting tired of commuting."

Tss. Why does he have to be this annoying?

"I can handle myself. I don't want to be a burden and I’m used to it."

"What do you mean you're used to it?"

I want to be a bitch to him because of his relentless questioning. But I don’t want him to think that I am so damn rude because his questions are harmless and all I need to do is answer nicely.

“I’m used to not being taken care of and not being considered special,” I replied again. I could feel how stunned he was by my answer. But I just shrugged my shoulders with his reaction and just kept walking.

He also immediately followed me when he was able to recover from the shock, but he never spoke again.

I didn't say anything because I had nothing to say and my mind was also wandering far away. In fact, I can just book a Grab so that I won't have trouble commuting but I prefer long walks because my mind is free from any negative thoughts.

The silence between us was broken when suddenly my phone rang. I answered it immediately when I saw who was calling.

"Tiarra, where are you? Are you still at school? I'll pick you up."

I smiled when I heard his gentle voice.

"It's okay Tata. You don’t have to pick me up. I’m already on my way home. I’ll be there anytime soon." A small smile still plastered on my lips.

"Okay, if that’s what you want. It's up to you. I'll wait for you at the guardhouse at the entrance of the village so that you have a companion while walking towards the house."

"You don’t have to do that. I don’t want to bother you. Don't worry Tata, I'll be fine . I'll just call when I'm already there." I refrained Tata Berting from doing what he intended to do. Because I know he was serious when he said that he’ll wait for me at the guardhouse at our village just to make sure that I am fine.

"I'm just worried about you, Tiara. You know that you are not allowed to get tired. Go ahead and be careful on your way home. Just call me when you're there. Your Nana Selya and I will wait for you and let's eat dinner together because your father and Magie already ate dinner. "

"Thank you Tata," I said and turned off the call.

"Who's that?" I raised an eyebrow at Renjo's question. Oh, he’s still here huh? Is he listening while I’m talking to Tata Berting on the phone?

"Our family driver," I answered simply and started walking again.He didn't ask again after that. The two of us just kept quiet until we reached the jeep ride.

"Hey, this is already the terminal going to our village. See you tomorrow," I said to Renjo and was about to bid my goodbye when he suddenly spoke.

"Tiarra, don't ever think that you are not special just because of what you have experienced and are experiencing. You don't know, there's so many people out there who are willing to make you special. Just open your heart and you will see them. Be careful on your way home."

I was left stunned after he turned away without warning after he said those things.

My forehead furrowed in confusion.

What the heck is his problem?!