CHAPTER 10 Twin Trouble

Tamsin pushed out of the lecture hall, head still replaying everything that happened inside with Matteo.

The hallway was mostly empty. She cut through the side corridor to avoid the crowd– that's when she passed the half open door of an empty lecture hall.

Inside four pair of eyes were on her.

Leo Fernandez leaned back on his chair, laptop open, smoke in hand. On screen: the video of Tamsin slapping Valentina back after she hit her. The clip was paused right on Tamsin's face.

“Pause it,” Leo said. He was tall. Sharp jawline. Dark hair, handsome feature. Same major as Hugo. Same program too. And hell he hated Hugo.

He hated him always being ahead in class. He hated that the only girl he had loved was wrapped around Hugo's fingers and he used her like a puppet. He was always first in everything. In grades. In ranking.

“That's her,” Leo said, nodding at the paused video. “That's the girl who had the guts to touch Valentina.”

Dario Iker scoffed from the window. He had Mario's eyes and lips, but that was where the comparison ended. 

Nobody knew they were twins. They never did anything together. Infact they hated each other, and the hatred only seemed to deepen when they both came to IE last year. Dario ran with Leo's crew because he liked control, and also the power to bully the weak.

“Valentina and Hugo have history. You know that right?” Dario said casually. “She's been a puppet to him ever since she came to IE.”

Leo waved a hand dismissively. “I don't care about that right now. I'll deal with Hugo later, but for now I care about this.” He tapped the screen. “Bitch thinks she can put hands on Valentina and walk away?”

Lucas Martinez was busy filming tiktoks on his phone, but he looked up. “Bro she's sexy. I think we should —”

“Don't,” Leo cut him off. “ She embarrassed Valentina. In front of everyone “

Martin Luther, the quietest of them, finally spoke. “What do you want to do? Kidnap her and then what?”

Leo smirked. “No. We are going to make an example. HIMS boys think they run this school. They think they're the fucking kings of this school. Hugo thinks he's untouchable. We start with his stepsister.

Dario raised a brow. “She’s Hugo's stepsister?”

“Yeah. More reasons to deal with her. He's always first right. Let's see how he likes being last to know something this important.”

Lucas with lustful eyes. “Leo can't we have a little fun with her? Like damn she's endowed. We can't just –”

“We can do a lot,” Leo said standing. He closed the laptop. “We stalk her. We corner her and then make her apologize to Valentina publicly on her knees, with her face on the floor. On video. Then we leak it. And she's publicly embarrassed too. Done.”

Martin frowned. “And if she says no?”

“Then we make her life hell. We kidnap her, then ruin her reputation by leaking it online they she sleeps with men for money. That way she learns how to not mess with our people.” Leo said. His voice was low now. “Hugo wants to be the hero. Let him try saving her reputation now.”

Dario laughed once, sharp. “I'm in. For the chaos if nothing else.”

Lucas and Martin both looked like predators, smirking evilly.

Still inside the room, Leo picked up his phone. “ Get her schedule.” He told someone over the phone. “And tell Valentina that I want to see her.”

The door clicked shut and they filed out. Four boys. One target. One prey. And a plan that was about to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in IE.

                                  ★

Tamsin and her girls were back from lectures. The time was 6:45 already. The fresher party at sector 4 started at 8pm and ran till sunrise.

“Pool party, bikini's and shorts. Booze. Seduction, and stuff you can't imagine.” The poster had said.

Music was already blasting from Vega’s speaker. Wap by cardi B playing loudly.

Vega was in front of the full-length mirror doing the most. Petite, but built like a model

She was already in her bikini– a pink triangle bra, strings barely there. Black bikini bottoms. And over that, she'd tied a pink and black scarf around her waist, making her hourglass figure come out perfectly.

She was striking poses in front of the mirror, whining her waist and biting her lips at her reflection.

“Do I look like trouble or what?” She asked nobody in particular.

Rosalia was on the couch, legs crossed smirking at Vega. Red was her colour always.

Her bikini was a red one-piece. But don't let “one piece” fool you. The back was completely open, cut so low it was just a little above her ass. It was tied at the neck.

She'd already styled her hair in soft waves and tied a gold scarf at her waist. She was sipping a drink, while scrolling through I*.

Isidora was dancing in the middle of the room, ass going up and down along with the beat of the music. Emerald green and yellow– her favorite colours.

Tie-up bikini bra, tie-up bottoms. Simple, clean, bright but not hiding her snatched body.

Vega spun around. “Tammy love! Aren't you going to be dressing up? The party starts in an hour, babes.”

Tamsin smiled a little. “ I'm coming. Just thinking about something.”

Rosalia sat up worriedly. “About what? School? Hugo? The VASA girls? Talk to us babe.”

“About Teodora,” Tamsin said, looking at Isidora. “I didn't see her in class today. What happened?”

Isidora still, dancing. “Ohh she called telling me that she was sick and couldn't attend classes. But she'll be fine tomorrow.”

“Ohh then is she coming to the party?”

“Yeah she is. You'll meet her tonight.”

Tamsin's face lit up. “Nice. I can't wait to meet her. 

They all got quiet for a second. Then Vega flopped on the bed next to her.

“Okay but is that the only thing disturbing you? You've not been acting like yourself all evening.”

Tamsin hesitated then laughed lightly.

“ Do any of you know of a professor Matteo Ruiz in BBA? He teaches business communication.”

The whole room erupted in screams.

“OH MY GOD,” Rosalia sat up so fast, her gold scarf fell off her waist. “You mean Matteo Ruiz? The most handsome lecturer in this whole school?”

Isidora covered her mouth. “The one who never talks to his female students? That Matteo?”

Vega pointed at her. “The one Valentina was chasing before she switched to Hugo? Him??”

Tamsin was laughing now, embarrassed. “Nooo it's not like that. I don't know or care about what happened between him and Valentina. He's just a childhood friend of mine. We just met once. When we were kids. In this city. And that was 14 years ago, plus we just talked for like 30 minutes tops.”

“Details Mamacita,” Isidora said impatiently.

So she told them. The ice cream. The ribbon. The promise. 

What happened today in class. And how he asked her to hang out with him at the Fresher party.

When she finished, all three of them were staring at her with mouths wide open.

Rosalia was the first to speak. “Girl. He asked you to grab a drink. Professor Matteo does not do that. He cuts off every social interaction with girls. Like literally. He acts like they're plagues to him. Even with Valentina before she gave up and went to Hugo.

“If he's talking to you and asking you to hang out…. I think he likes you babes.”

Isidora nodded fast. “Yes. I'm hundred percent in support of that. If he really likes you tams, aren't you going to give him a chance?”

Tamsin's enthusiasm reduced a bit. She looked down at the white bikini in her hands.

“I have a boyfriend back home. We're doing long distance. She said softly.

Silence. Then….

“WHAT?” Vega whisper-yelled.

“A boyfriend?” Rosalia asked looking genuinely hurt. “Tams, why didn't you tell us about him? Didn't you trust us or what?”

Tamsin sniffles. “No it's not like that. I trust you all.” She smiles a little. “You guys are like the sisters I never had. It's just…. just that we've not really been taking since I moved here. He wasn't really happy about my move and we fought some weeks before I moved.”

Isidora hugs her affectionately. “I'm so sorry Tammy. I'm sorry you had to leave home because of everything with your dad. I wish you had told us sooner.”

Vega immediately joined in the hug. “I'm sorry too last born and remember we're always here. We're not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Rosalia also engulfed all of them. “Yeah, Mamacita. We've all got your back. And if you don't feel like having that drink with Prof Matteo, then I'm in full support.”

Tamsin smiling in their midst. “You guys are the best. I love you'll so much.”

Rosalia, Isidora & Vega: “We love you too Mamacita.”

After they pull out from the hug, Tamsin shrugs. “I’m going to be fine. Maybe I'll call him after the party. Talk express myself. Everything. But before that…. I'd like to get that drink with Matteo.” She says smiling awkwardly.

Vega squeezed her hand. “Yeah. Go girl. I wish you the best of luck, but first let's drink and dance till we drop dead. She says increasing the volume of the music.

The mood shifted back to hype. Music back up.

Okay but Mamacita,” Rosalia says eyeing the bikini. “Aren’t you going to put that on?”

Tamsin held it up. Black strings, tiny. “I'm Shy,” she admitted.

Vega gasped. “Don't be last born. You have the most sexiest body among us. Don't be shy to show it.”

“Okay, okay,” Tamsin laughed. “When we get to the party I'll go change in the rest room. Promise.”

“Deal”. All three said together.

For the next hour, the room was chaos.

Music. Booze. Shots.

Vega teaching Tamsin how to take a tequila shot without making a face. Rosalia fixing everyone's hair. Isidora taking videos for her story.

“POV: ‘About to turn some heads’ tonight.” She typed on her phone.

At 7:30 they finally moved.

Vega in pink and black, scarf flowing.

Rosalia in red with gold.

Isidora in green and yellow, her sheer dress and a beach straw hat.

And Tamsin, still in her bumshorts and tiny crop top. Black and white bikini folded in her tote bag. 

“I'll change there,” she had promised.

They linked arms and left the female wing.

                              ★

The girls screamed out of Rosalia’s red Lamborghini, roof down, wind slapping their faces. The whole car was a music video.

Rosalia was in the driver's seat, driving like she owned the road, swerving through traffic like the speed limit was a suggestion.

The rest of them were standing up through the open roof, hands in the air, screaming the lyrics to Blackpink’s “how you like that” at the top of their lungs.

“Look at you now, look at you now–”

    “Now look at you!”

Isidora was laughing, tossing her hair.

Vega had her pink and black scarf tied around her head striking poses everytime they stopped at a red light. 

Tamsin was in middle, singing loudest like she didn't care who was watching, and still looking effortlessly cool while doing it.

                             ★

They hit sector 4 fifteen minutes flat instead of the usual twenty .

The house was massive.

Black and white, all sharp lines and glass, with light spilling out onto the driveway. Two huge bouncers stood at the gate, checking phones for invites.

The second they saw Tamsin, one of them grinned.

“Oh– you're Hugo's sister! Welcome, welcome. No need to check your phones.”

Tamsin blinked cut off guard. “I’m not Hugo's sister.”

The bouncer just winked and waved them in. “Okay, okay. We understand you.”

A waiter in a black vest immediately ushered them towards the back. “Pool’s this way, ladies.” 

They followed the waiter as he guided them towards the sound of loud music and voices. 

                             ★

The VASA girls had already arrived and as usual were drawing attention.

Valentina, Aitana, Sofia and Ariadna. All four of them in tiny bikini bras and g-strings. High platform heels, heavy makeup, hair styled like they walked out of a photoshoot. Under the pool lights, their skin glowed.

Valentina had the widest hips and the biggest chest. Her bra top barely covered anything but she didn't give two fucks.

Ariadna and Aitana were slim with pleasing aesthetic features, while Sofia had that hourglass figure.

They moved like they owned the room, brushing past people without even apologizing.

The moment they stepped in, every head turned. Phones came up. Whispers started.

“Bro the VASA girls are here.”

“Why do I feel like Valentina wore that outfit just to provoke Hugo? Gosh look at those hips.”

“Wow Aitana and Ariadna be looking so good in those bikini’s.”

“Sofia’s hourglass body is to die for.”

But then the doors opened. Tamsin and her girls catwalked in.

And all conversations shifted.

The music was still blasting, but it felt quieter. Every single person– boys, girls, the VASA girls included turned.

Vega, being the attention seeker she was immediately started swaying her hips, playing with the ends of her scarf. A little smirk on her face.

Rosalia leaned on the doorframe, one hand on her hip, sunglasses still on even though it was night, striking a pose like she was on a magazine cover.

Isidora walked in calm. Shoulder back. Head held high. That quiet confidence that made people stare anyway.

And Tamsin. Tamsin in her black shorts and tiny crop top, and that unbothered walk right in front. She didn't pose. She didn't smile. She just walked.

The pool area was dead silent for half a second before the whispers exploded.

“Oh my God, who are those girls?”

“Wait are they first years?”

“I can see Rosalia there. She's a second year.”

“And that's the girl who slapped Valentina. Heard she's Hugo's stepsister.”

“Omg! Really?” 

“Yeah. Though I don't know if it's just rumours.”

After the whispers died down a little, Tamsin adjusted her shorts and crop top, the pool lights catching her skin.

“Babes I'm heading to the restroom to go change,” She told Rosalia and the rest.

Rosalia smiled. “Okay Mamacita. We'll grab seats for you and get drinks too. Don't be too long.”

“Okay.”

She spotted a waiter and asked to be led towards the restroom. He nodded and guided her.

When she entered the restroom, there was already a girl at the sink, head bent washing her hands.

The girl didn't look up even after she heard the door open. She was in exactly the same outfit as Isidora, the only difference with her's was that it was burgundy and yellow instead of emerald green.

Tamsin ignored her and went to the other sink. She dropped her bag, washed her hands, and started re-fixing her hair.

The party had already started and she had to change into her bikini. 

Then she raised her head– and froze.

In the mirror, staring back at her, was the exact replica of her best friend and roommate, Isidora Castillo.

Same face. Same eyes. Same height. Same defined hourglass figure.

The only difference she could spot was the colour of her hair: which was dark brown and then the shape of her lips were different, and she had a piercing on her nose.

Tamsin's heart jumped with surprise.

“Wait,” she said turning fully to face her. “Are you Teodora Castillo? Umm…. Isidora’s twin sister?”

Teodora didn't raise her head immediately even after the question. When she finally did, she gave Tamsin that kind of look—like she didn't Care. Rude, cold, unbothered.

“Who's asking?” she replied flatly.

Tamsin blinked once. “Tamsin Alaric Dawson. Isidora's best friend and roommate.”

Immediately she said that, Teodora’s face turned colder. Her expression changed. Her eyes, which were flat and unbothered now, had something in them. A look that carried resentment and something similar to hatred.

Tamsin decided to ignore her and just continue fixing up her makeup, but when she was bringing out her lipgloss it fell on the floor and Teodora picked it up. 

She slowly straightened and faced Tamsin, eyes full of evil malice. “Here's your lipgloss, Isidora's new best friend,” she said with a smirk, acting like she was handing it over to Tamsin.

Tamsin stretched her hand to collect it but Teodora intentionally dropped it back on the floor and kicked it far away to the other corner of the restroom. 

She stood up glaring at Tamsin, eyes full of unhidden hatred.

“Oopsie there goes your lipgloss sister snatcher,” she said with every form of venom she could muster.

“What the heck!” Tamsin said, looking shocked.

"You're the new best friend right? The bitch who she hasn't stopped talking about for the past two days.”

“Excuse me,” Tamsin replied, genuinely confused. “Why the fuck are you calling me a bitch when we just met? Heck I barely know you.”

The girl just gave a small humourless laugh.

“Interesting. Because the last time I checked, I was her sister and best friend not some Manhattan bitch she just met. 

Now let me give you a fair warning. I don't want to see you around Isidora again. I want you to fucking stay away from her. Stay the hell away from my sister, cause if you don't then I'll be forced to teach you a lesson you won't be forgetting in a long time.”

“I can't do that Teodora or whatever the fuck you call yourself,” She shot back.

“Heck she was the first person to talk to me nicely in this goddamn school. So ‘NO’. I can't fucking afford staying away from her. Get that into your thick skull.” She said also getting angry.”

“And how is that my business. I've warned you beforehand. Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. My. Sister.”

“BITCH.” She said intentionally bumping shoulders hard with Tamsin before leaving.

Tamsin froze in the restroom, speechless. The door had just slammed shut behind her.

“What the hell did that bitch just do?” She whispered to herself, still in shock. “She intentionally bumped shoulders with me.

Tamsin shook her head, anger rising. “I can't believe this.”

She took a deep breath and

straightened her hair while looking in the mirror. Her jaw tightened.

“Fuck I'm so telling Isidora that her sister is a spiteful bitch and there's no two ways we can get along.” She said angrily while entering one of the stalls to change into her bikini.