CHAPTER EIGHT

BLUE WAS IN his room, sulking under the covers. The deafening silence unsettled him. He wasn’t used to it, but there was nothing he could do. It was his fate now… to be far from his family.

He got up from bed and walked toward the balcony of his room. From there, he freely looked out at the beautiful lights coming from various buildings. When he noticed a red light on one of the structures, sadness washed over him. It reminded him of Red. This was the first time they had been apart.

Minutes later, Blue returned inside the room. He checked his phone and saw multiple missed calls from his twin.

He called him back. It didn’t take long before Red answered.

“Red,” Blue said. “Do you miss me? Come on, Red. Say something.”

“Blue,” Red answered softly.

Tears welled up in Blue’s eyes as he heard his twin’s voice. Like Red, he was also holding back.

“I miss you, Red.”

“Come home. I’m not used to you not being here.”

“Come home your face!” Blue snapped.

“I don’t have anyone to cuddle with anymore.”

“Use the pillow—my pillow. Just imagine it’s me.”

“I already do, but what I’m looking for is your tight hug,” Red replied.

“Why don’t you run away too?” Blue suggested.

“Crazy. Tsk.”

“Then stop being sad.”

“Okay. Blue?”

“Yeah?”

“Is Auntie Belinda being mean to you?”

“What do you expect from Dad’s evil twin?”

Red sighed deeply. “Just... don’t let them treat you badly, okay? Tell me if they do.”

“They better not try. I’ll post the first thirty seconds of my s*x scandal on I*.”

Red burst out laughing. It seemed like he was feeling better.

“You’re insane. Auntie might devour you alive again like she did back then.”

“Blue! You are such a disgrace to this family!” Blue mimicked what Aunt Belinda said during the height of his s*x scandal on social media.

Red laughed hard. “What did you say again that made Auntie faint and get rushed to the hospital?”

“Disgrace your face! Want me to send you part two?” They both laughed at the memory.

“Anyway, changing the topic—have you eaten? Don’t starve yourself, okay?”

“Not yet. Grandma hasn’t signaled yet. But, Red, can you bring some of my clothes tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks. By the way, how are things with you and Kat?”

“I’m courting her now,” Red said happily.

“Really?” Blue sat up and fixed his posture, genuinely happy with what he heard. “Red, let’s do a video call. I miss your stupid face.”

“Crazy! Alright, let’s go online now.”

Blue opened Messenger, and the two started talking about Red’s courtship of Katleya.

“But how did that happen? So fast.”

“At her house last night. I asked her parents for permission—then asked her, too.”

“Why didn’t you tell me last night? That’s a bit hurtful. Do you love Kat more than me now?” Blue pouted.

“Crazy! So jealous. I wanted to surprise you once she said yes.”

“Then why are you telling me now?”

“I know you’re sad. And I know that hearing this would make you happy, even just a little. My happiness is your happiness, right?”

“Gay. Tss!”

“I love you, Blue.”

“Love you your face.”

There was a knock on the door. He turned to look.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Dinner’s ready,” the housemaid replied.

“Okay. Thank you.” Blue turned his attention back to the phone. “I’ll go eat now, Red. Bye.”

“What about my ‘I love you’?”

“Fine. I love you, Red. Put your cheek against the screen,” Blue requested. Red immediately did as told, and Blue kissed the screen. “Mwah. I love you. Bye.”

Blue turned off his phone and headed to the kitchen. His relatives were already at the dining table. Everyone, especially Belinda, gave him harsh looks. He ignored them and sat beside Rosa.

A few minutes later, Blue went back to his room. He lay down on the bed. When he looked up at the ceiling, his heart ached again as he remembered everything that happened the previous year.

***

YEAR 2017

RED WAS RIDING piggyback on Blue as they laughed on their way into the mansion. Red was holding his twin’s ears and pretending they were reins tied to a horse.

“Yah!” Red shouted.

“Neigh!” Blue neighed like a horse.

Blue ran like a horse until they both tripped and fell. The two rolled on the floor, laughing like children. Truthfully, they were already eighteen and in their first year of college.

When Blue got up, an idea popped into his mind. He pinned his twin down and held him tightly so he couldn’t escape.

“Weakling! Weak!”

“Blue! You’re heavy! Get off!” Red complained.

“Password. Kiss me.”

Red grimaced. “We’re not kids anymore.”

“‘Not kids anymore’—your face! Just say you don’t love me anymore,” Blue said, releasing him and walking away.

“Blue!” Red stood and chased after him.

He threw an arm around Blue and kissed his cheek. “Mwah.”

“I was born strong. I’m not weak,” Blue reminded him.

“Really?” Red kissed his cheek again, thrice. “Mwah. Mwah. Mwah.”

Blue stopped and smiled.

“Who’s not weak now?” Red teased.

“Guess I am. I remember now,” Blue laughed.

They were about to climb the stairs to their room when they saw their mother coming down.

“Hi, Mom!” Blue greeted.

Crezelda ignored him and looked at Red. “I heard you made the Dean’s List. Congrats.”

“Mom, I didn’t make the Dean’s List, but my grades are really high,” Blue said cheerfully.

“Blue’s telling the truth, Mom. His grades are high,” Red confirmed.

“What could I expect from your brother?” She looked at Blue. “You’d better just go to your room.” Then she turned back to Red and hugged him. “I’m so proud of you, son.”

Blue could only sigh. He looked at Red and their mother as they talked happily while he headed upstairs.

“I wish everyone felt proud,” he thought.

When Blue reached his room, he changed clothes immediately. He took his Baby Tartar from the wall, the guitar he had cherished for more than six years. It was a gift from Rosa when he graduated elementary school.

He went back to bed and started singing. But then he stood up—someone had just kicked the door open. His parents entered, eyes blazing with fury. He also noticed his twin crying, as if trying to stop their father.

“Pierce Blue!” Zander shouted.

“Yes?”

Zander suddenly lunged and punched Blue in the face. Red tried to stop him but was thrown aside by their father's strength.

Blue’s eyes widened when he saw his father hurt his twin. He rushed to Red and helped him up.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Blue glared at their father. “Why did you hit Red, Dad? And what did I do to deserve this? I studied hard!”

Zander rushed at him again and punched him a second time.

“Ow, Dad. That hurts.” Then he saw his father reaching for the guitar. Blue’s eyes widened. “Dad, that’s my baby. What are you going to do?”

“What am I going to do?!” Zander screamed, holding up the guitar and slamming it hard to the floor. It shattered.

Blue was stunned. Tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn’t speak—his most cherished possession had just been destroyed.

Zander approached and grabbed Blue by the collar, but Blue no longer cared. His eyes were glued to the shattered guitar.

“We raised you well, Blue! Where did we go wrong?” Zander shook him. “What got into your head to make a s*x scandal?!”

Blue stared at his father. Crezelda came closer and slapped him hard across the face.

“All you bring this family is shame! We raised you and Red the same, so why did you turn out this way? If we had known this would happen, we would’ve rather not had you as a son!”

Zander let go of him and left with his wife.

Blue dropped to the floor, crying silently. He tried to piece together his broken guitar.

“Baby Tartar,” he sobbed.

Red came closer. “Blue, the s*x scandal between you and Teressa leaked online.”

“Baby Tartar,” Blue said, still crying.

“Come on, Blue! It’s just a thing!” Red shouted, also crying.

Blue looked at his twin while wiping his tears. “To you, yeah, it’s just a thing.” He hugged the shattered guitar. “But to me, he was my friend. Tartar witnessed all the tears I shed. Tartar heard every sob. Tartar was with me when I was being ignored. Tartar was the friend who never judged me. You wouldn’t understand because you’re not the one who’s always hurting. You’re not the one who feels worthless. You’re not me—the one our parents think is a f*ck-up!”

Blue ran to his bed and hid under the blanket.

Red followed. “Blue.”

“I’m fine. I’m used to it.”

“Your scandal is everywhere now.”

“What else can I do? I don’t even know how it got out… but it’s fine. Didn’t Mom and Dad finally pay attention to me because of it? They even came here. It’s like they love me now.”

“Blue.” Red crawled under the blanket with him. “I’m here for you.”

“I know. I feel it. You won’t hurt me, right? Not like they do, every day?”

“No, because I love you.”

He smiled while still crying. “I wonder when I’ll hear that from them.”

“They love you, Blue.”

“In what way? Through insults? By comparing me to how great you are? But, Red? What does it feel like to be told ‘I’m proud of you, son,’ ‘I love you,’ ‘You’re amazing,’ ‘Keep up the good work’? I’m just curious. I’ve never heard those words from them—even before I turned into this ‘disgrace.’ All they ever call me is ‘useless.’”

Red had no words. He just wrapped his arms tightly around Blue, knowing that, in this moment, that embrace was what Blue needed most.

“My heart hurts,” Blue whispered.