Vyf.

Chapter Five.

I had been up in my room for a while and it seemed like no one had still taken note of my absence. It seemed like they had already replaced me with a new and improved version.

And what new and improved version of a Mia is better than her twin with more fashion sense and serves as good, quality company?

I mean, I probably shouldn’t be surprised because what was I expecting? To come back home after four years and think that things would still stay the same?

Well, yes.

I had not really made any new friends back there, only acquaintances, and I had hoped that they had not too. And inspire of the fact that it was against what I wanted to feel for my sister, I could not help it. I could not help but think that I had been betrayed by her.

Had she been waiting all this while for a chance? For me to just make a move out just so that she could make her move? Step into my life and make it hers, but only better?

I wanted to fight. To fight everyone— Davina, Elna, Imka, Zuri, Anele.

Why were they so hellbent on denying the facts? Even Elna, the sweetest one of us who had always found it difficult to tell a lie was doing the same thing as they were. I hear a squeal from downstairs and recognise it as my sister’s. Only she would make a sound like that and it would still sound somewhat musical.

“I don’t know, but he might even propose soon!” She said in a very loud voice.

I was wondering why she couldn’t have said it like any normal person would, but then I got the memo. She was trying to get my attention.

At least, that was what I thought could be the only reasonable cause for the unnecessary loudness.

“Oh God, you’re were is definitely one of the most handsome male beings in the world!” Imka’s voice.

“Tell me about it. If he did not belong to you, Davina, I would have loved to have him for myself.” Zuri. Of course.

“You’re saying that as if he would want to have you if he were to be a single were.” Davina said and I rolled my eyes. It was the ego for me.

Normally, Zuri would have been ticked off on hearing such a comment, but surprisingly, she only laughed it off. They all did.

And yes, very loudly.

I walked to the balcony that was conjoined to my room, hoping to see something that would attract my attention. Looking down, I only saw my mother, who waved excitedly when she saw me as she was about to get into her car.

“Having a good day?” She yelled.

“Yes mom, thank you! What about you?” I yelled back.

“Just perfect, my daughter. Thank you too. Go have some fun with your friends!” She yelled, making a shooing motion with her hands. I giggled, knowing that there was no way in hell that I would return down there, so I just stayed in my room instead.

I lay down and then my phone started to ring, a Billy Eilesh song playing through the speakers. I was so entranced  by the song and then I started to sing along. But then the song stopped and then I realized that I had just missed a call. I lay on my bed, having no motivation to get up and get the phone.

I only hoped that the person would call again, because I was the definition of physically drained for some reason. My phone began to ring again, and I got up, groaning before taking it off its charging spot and slipping the black and purple case back on it.

It was a video call from Tolu on ChatApp. I was not in the mood for a call, but then again, I was bored, and the only option was to re-read the books that I had already re-read. Or to go down and join Davina and Zuri and the rest of the girls.

With a soft sigh, I picked the video call.

“Hi Tolu! What’s good?” I smiled into the camera.

Tolu waved from where he sat. “Hi Mia! I am okay, how’re you?”

“I’m good, I’m good.” I nodded, studying his environment carefully. “Where are you?” I asked.

“Well, I’m at work.” He smiled proudly.

“Thought you said that you mostly work from home. Today is not a home day then?”  I looked at him, creasing my brows. He had better not lied.

“This is my home. I’ve got a home office here, do that’s where I’m at now. And I’m on break.” His face became larger on my phone screen. He was looking into the screen, to see my face?

“Are you okay? The last call we had was not exactly rainbows and sunshine at the beginning.”

“Yes boss. I’m completely fine. What are you working on?” I asked, mainly out of the want to chance the subject, but with a bit of curiosity too.

“This is the work plan for a software that Denary’s and I have been working on for a while.” He said.

“Oh really? How long were you in England exactly?”

“Well, I had only been there for a few days. I went to visit a clothing company over there as my small organization was the one working on their new clothing app.”

“Woah, that sounds complicated. Is it a difficult thing do? And does it pay wall? Do you enjoy it?”

“I called you to say hi and here I am being interviewed. Is this for the papers, ma’am?” He said with laughter in his voice.

“Yes, now answer.” I said with a straight face.

“Well, some projects could prove to be a bit difficult, but yes, they pay is good. I get a lot of money from this. And it’s fun once you know the ropes. I really can’t imagine myself doing any other thing.” He said.

“Oh woah.” I pretended to adjust my imaginary glasses, I could hear the girls as they shouted their goodbyes to my sister and then I could hear the front door as it shut loudly downstairs.

I adjusted my focus, turning back to Tolu. “So, you would be doing this for a long time, I see.”

“I hope to. Hopefully Mawu would not take my chances away:”

There was a slam. My room door was pushed open, abs standing in the doorway was none other than my sister herself.

“Davina.” I said, making it obvious that I was slightly irritated by her entrance.

“What’s up, sis?” If she had noticed my irritation, she did not let it show. She looked me up and down. “You look great.”

“Thank you very much, I am grateful for the compliment, you may leave now.” I pointed at the door.

Davina looked at reflection as she sat down at my dressing table set. “I’m not leaving yet, I only just came. Did you enjoy the foreign life?”

“Yes.” I rolled my eyes, knowing that she would not leave until I answered her questions. “It was fun and I had a proper social life!” I gave a fist bump into the air.

“Uh, Mia? Should I call back some other time? Looks like you’re a bit busy.” Tolu’s voice came in.

I had completely forgotten about the video call with Tolu. Davina’s eyes widened and then she hurried to my bed.

“Oh God, who is that?” She squealed, curiosity oozing out of her. I ended the call quickly and turned to face her.

“Nothing! No one! You are invading my privacy, that’s rude.” I frowned at her. “Please, find your way out of here!”

Of course, that had no effect on her, as she was Davina and all.

“Who was that guy? I heard his voice, tell me who he is or I’m telling mom!”

I had to stop to wonder if she was actually going to treat us like we were children. An adult woman telling me that she’s telling mom?

“Your childishness really comes out of you at the weirdest of times, right?” I retorted, knowing that it was lame but I folded my arms anyway. Davina rushed towards me and pushed me out of the way. Then she took my laptop and turned it towards her.

I had needed the call earlier, but she didn’t know that. I looked at her smugly and she groaned.

“Is he your boyfriend? Is that why you are hiding him? A dirty little secret, sis?” She taunted me and I growled at her.

“I told you that he is no one, he’s not my boyfriend or anything. He is just a guy that I know.” I was supposed to ignore her. Paying attention to Davina’s taunts has never ended well for me.

“You know, when most girls say that a guy is ‘just a guy’,” she said, making air quotes with her hands. “they usually mean that they’re not in a relationship, but that they are friends with benefits still.”

Like I said, my sister everyone.

“Shut up, Davina. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Most of the time, I do. But now, it is possible.” In a small voice, she said. “I could be wrong for the first time, I’m so sorry Mia.” She frowned as if with pity and I could not resist the urge to roll my eyes.

She had always been a drama queen.

“Whatever, please get out of my room.” I turned back to lie down.

“That guy definitely is not your boyfriend, he can never be your boyfriend just because!” She slumped into a couch and smirked at me. Waiting for me to speak or blink.

This was what she always did with her boy toys when we were still very young teenagers.

“You know that we know everything about each other. I know how much you wanted that Xolani boy to go out with you. But he ran away when you grew balls and decided to ask him. And you know why.” She said slowly, looking at something else.

Of course, my sister tries to point out the obvious differences between us. How we look alike, but somehow, she manages to be very attractive and me? Nought.

“Yes, he did say that he did not like anyone at that moment.” I tried to suppress the mental image.

“Oh did he?” Davina met my eyes and smirked.

Images of Davina and Xolani locking lips under the large Baobab tree got into my mind and I tried to shake them off. It was not so long after my father had died and the news of his death had brought so much grief, and then seeing my sister with the boy I had a crush on at the time—

“Well, we were very young and stupid.” I said lamely.

“I was not. I knew my way around things quite easily.” Of course she did.

“But you—”

“Fine!” I roared. “Fine you got me, you stupid selfish bitch I’ve got as a sister! Tolu is my boyfriend, are you happy now?” I screamed, the lie burning as the words passed through my throat.

Davina looked unshaken as she gave and easy, clean smile. “Well, his name is Tolu, huh?”

I sat on my bed, and then I refused to answer her.

“Now that you have a guy, you can’t go around like you always do. You need to look better.” She said and stood up to fiddle with my hair.

“We are twins. Identical twins.” I raised my eyebrows. If I looked bad, then she probably did too. Although that was most likely not the case with us.

“We are, but I always look good, you know?” She said with an air of  humility. Not the sarcasm.

“Yes,” I said my voice small and shameful. “You have always looked good.”