CHAPTER 6

"OMG! Finally we got to spend time with each other after school."

I ignored what Mace said as I fixed my stuff and prepared to go home. We both have no practice today and we both don’t know why. I mean, we should have a tight practice this week because Freshmen’s Night will be held three days from now.

"You want to go to the mall? Just to kill time since it’s too early to go home." I just nodded to her and walked first out the room and she immediately followed me.

I have to go home, but I still don't want to go home. It’s good that Mace suggested the idea of going to the mall. Since the day my father and I argued, I've been too lazy to go home. I feel suffocated every time I am at home. I feel like the house is too small for the three of us.

Before, Dad’s eyes always looked at me like he’s going to kill me. There’s always a glint of anger whenever his gaze was on me. But now, there was no emotion that could be seen in his eyes. No anger nor hatred, just nothing. It’s like he's looking at me like I’m a useless thing. It’s like I’m just an air inside that house. It seems that Margaux is the only one who notices me there but she keeps on pestering me.

I only told Nana Selya that I would always go home late because of dance practice. She was always waiting for me to go home because she wanted to make sure I was okay.

I'm fine. That was the only choice I had.  I need to be okay.

"Tiarra!"

I stopped on my tracks when someone called me. My forehead furrowed when I saw Renjo running towards our way.

What is his problem again this time? I can still remember how he walked out on me after saying some weird things.

"Are you already going home?" he asked.

"Not yet." I answer sparingly. I consciously raised my eyebrow because I’m confused as to why he’s asking us. Yes, we knew each other because apart from being classmates, we both belong to the University Dance Troupe, but we are not that close. We are just civil to each other.

"Are you planning to go somewhere?" He asked again.

"Yes we plan to go somewhere. Why?" This time it was Mace who answered. Maybe she was also confused because this was the first time Renjo approached us.

It's weird because Renjo is one of the most quiet people on our block. If you don't talk to him, he won't talk to you either. We were even surprised when he joined the dance troupe. He is the definition of snob and loner type.

Just like me.

But yeah, I've got Mace so I'm not a loner.

"Can I come? I don't want to go home yet." He asked shyly as he scratched the back of his neck. 

Did I just see him blush?

"Are you serious?" Mace asked again.

"Uhm.. yeah?"

Mace turned to me as if asking permission. I just raised an eyebrow at her. Why is she asking me? Like hello? If he wants to go with us, then go. 

"Alright. Tho it's so weird because this is the first time that you approached us, you can come with us," Mace said as if she was carrying a burden.

"Thanks." Renjo smiled at us which made Mace and I stop.

I immediately turned my look away because I felt my cheeks heat up and I don’t know the reason why.

We decided to go to the nearest mall to our University. We didn’t have to take public transportation because it’s just a walking distance. While on our way there, Mace and Renjo were the only ones who’s talking. 

I can't believe what I'm hearing because Renjo is so talkative. He was able to match Mace's eloquence. They are talking about our future performance at the upcoming Freshmen's Night.

When we got to our destination,we went straight to the bookstore. I also don’t know why we went straight here. It seems like our feet have already decided where to go even though we weren't talking.

"Are you going to buy anything here?" Renjo asked.

"No. We'll just smell the book pages." Mace said seriously as she started opening various books.

I wanted to laugh at Renjo's face because he was obviously weirded by Mace's answer. But instead of laughing, I just started looking for a book.

I just feel like I need to buy even if I don’t have a plan of reading them.

Ugh.

After hanging out at the bookstore for almost an hour, we decided to go out and find something to eat because the three of us felt tired from the tour that we did inside and we went out with only the ballpen that Mace had bought.

"You're so quiet, are you okay?" Renjo asked me.

"Are you not used to that? She’s always quiet just like you. Although,  I'm really surprised that you're so talkative. It's not like you!" Mace said and even pointed at Renjo who just laughed at her.

We stopped for a moment to talk about where we were going to eat because the two of them couldn't agree on where we should go.

Why is it that when you are outside, it is hard to decide where and what to eat?

Tsk.

And because we stopped and were facing each other, we didn’t notice the woman approaching us. She didn’t seem to notice us either because she seemed to be in a hurry. It's too late for me to avoid her colliding with me and because luck is really not on my side, the coffee she's holding spills on my clothes.

"What the hell? Why are you blocking the way?!"

I was shocked when I heard her voice. From my dress I looked up to see him.

"Magie," I spoke softly. She also looked surprised when she stared at me and couldn’t believe that I was here now at the mall.

"Don't Magie me! What the hell are you doing here?!" She asked, annoyed. There was a trace of irritation on her beautiful face.

Whether I want to answer, I don't know why there seems to be no voice that wants to come out of my mouth.

"Does Dad know that you're here? You clearly know that you can't go anywhere after school! Do you really have nothing else to be a pain in the ass?!" She asked aloud. This time, I bowed because I could no longer meet her eyes that were always piercing me.

I also noticed that Renjo and Mace were just staring at us. They also seemed surprised to see my twin.

"I was about to go home," I replied.

"Was about to go home? Look what have you done! This is the reason why you're not allowed anywhere because you always make trouble! Don't you know how to avoid it when you see someone was about to bump into you? You wasted my coffee!"

"Margaux, can you be more rational? First of all, if you saw that I was blocking the way, you should have avoided me!"

"Are you saying that it is my fault?"

I want to argue with Margaux but decided to hold myself back because first, we are in a public place and we’re starting to draw attention because Margaux, apparently, just wants to make a scene. Second, I’m with Renjo and Mace and I feel so embarrassed because they will see how my dear  twin sister treats me. Third, this will cause another reason for me to feel bad for existing.

"Excuse me, but it was an accident. You're not both dumb for not avoiding each other if you're both looking at the direction you're heading?”

Margaux and I were both surprised when Renjo suddenly spoke.

Aside from the fact that he intervened, what he said was insulting! And the way he said it, he’s being sarcastic.

I could tell Margaux was flustered since her cheeks became beet red and her gaze became fierce.

"And you are?" Margaux asked using her bitch tone.

"Tiarra's friend." Renjo answered simply.

Margaux raised an eyebrow and a dangerous smile escaped from her lips.

"Friend huh? Do you know there's always trouble when you're with this woman? Because when you're with her, bad luck is natural." Margaux smiled as the two frowned.

It's coming. She will embarrass me again. What's new? This alway happens when she finds out I have a new friend.

What am I gonna do?

Nothing.

I just watch them and wait for what will happen and what will be their decision.

"Be my friend. I’m a better friend rather than wasting your time with this loser." Margaux offers while looking at me foolishly. I just bowed my head down. Because I’m afraid that I’ll lose a friend again today.

"No, thanks." I looked at Mace as she spoke. She's looking straight at Margaux. When I looked at Margaux she was obviously surprised.

"Why?" Margaux asked. The shock on her face was still evident but she chose to be calm.

"We'd rather be friends with what you call a loser than with a bitch like you." Mace's answer was bold and mixed with a goofy tone. Renjo just laughed next to her and nodded, a sign that he agreed with what Mace said.

"Tsk. Losers." That was all Margaux said and she turned his back on us. But before she could go far, she came back and threw the leftover coffee from the cup she was holding on my clothes.

The three of us couldn't move immediately because of shock! I could feel the look of the people around us because of what my cursed twin had done.

And as for Margaux, she marched away as if nothing had happened.

When we recovered from the shock, the two approached me immediately.

"Come to CR, Tiarra, you need to fix yourself." Mace pulled me and Renjo followed us. I just stared at them while still lowering my down low because of embarrassment.

"Wait." 

Before we could enter the CR Renjo stopped us. Even before Mace could speak Renjo handed me a black Tshirt.

Use my spare shirt. I know you're not comfortable with what you are wearing right now," he said and he himself put the shirt in my hand. He glanced at me for a moment and then nodded.

Mace and I went in immediately and that's when his annoyance for my twin exploded.

"Damn your twin! I’m too tempted to tweak her hair! What does she think?! She's beautiful?! Well, yes she's beautiful but you're more beautiful! That bitch!"

"We look alike."

"I know! Did I say something that you don’t look alike? Aren't you twins? You probably look the same! But you're more beautiful than her!"

I was speechless as Mace continued to say things about my twin.

"Fix yourself! My blood is boiling when I see that coffee stains on your clothes! "

I just followed her. After I washed, I also wet a handkerchief to wipe my body before I changed my shirt.

While changing, I couldn't help but smell the shirt that Renjo let me borrow.

In fairness, the scent is so good. Obviously, it is a new laundry.

When I finished changing my clothes, Mace and I went out. The wrinkle on her forehead was still there and she was obviously still annoyed by what happened.

"Are you okay now?" Renjo asked kindly when we got out. I just nodded.

"Duh? She looks really okay because it looks like she's used to being bullied by her twin! I promise, Tiara, if this will happen again, I will not hesitate to slap your bitch twin." Mace said. I’m right. She was still annoyed by what happened. 

But, my eyes started to water because of what she had said.  This was the first time.

"I’m telling you Tiarra, don’t cry! I’ll really go smack your sister tomorrow if you cry in front of me!”

"Thank you, guys." I took a deep breath to stop my tears from falling. They both looked at me tenderly. Aside from Nana Selya and Tata Berting, they were the only ones who looked at me like they cared for me.

"We don't know your story but we're your friends, Tiarra. We will not allow anyone to hurt you even if it is your bitchy twin, " Mace said while smiling at me.

I looked at Renjo and he just smiled at me and messed up my hair.

"And I don't accept your thank you. You need to treat us.” I laughed at Mace and nodded at them.

We walked side by side and started to find a better place to eat.

I’m feeling wonderful right now.

Because this is the first time that someone choses me to be their friend. 

They chose me because they want to. Not because they want something from me.

This was the first one that I have chosen before my twin.