Chapter 2 (Lana) – Me, Myself, and Dana

It has already been weeks since Nori made the announcement in front of everyone that his Chosen Mate was no other than my twin sister Dana. 

At first everyone was surprised with that, considering me and Nori were openly close to each other. But soon people got used to it, and they even said things like “how good they match”. It seems nobody cared what I thought. 

What makes it worse is that I started training with Dana on a few magic tricks. 

Being a Mage, Drake has requested me to learn a few things about magic. He was developing some kind of new technique in our combat routine that combines my combat training with my magic knowledge. 

It used to be fun and used to be my bonding time with her. But not anymore.

“Is this the best that you can do?” My sister Dana asked. I knew it was just a way to motivate me to do better, but at present it felt like she was taunting me, which of course made me angry, “You know that Starlight belongs to one of the mage families who have exceptional powers. But right now my dear sister, you don’t even reach the bare minimum of what Starlight magic means.” 

“Well, maybe the problem is not me,” I retorted angrily, “Maybe the real problem is you since students reflect their teachers. And based on my performance, maybe, you didn’t teach me anything at all.” 

Dana pointed at the rock that I was trying so hard to break using the magic spell that she had taught me but failed to deliver. The moment she utter the words that no one can hear, the rock breaks into pieces but did not explode on my face. Instead, they are contained in what seemed like an invincible ball floating in front of me. 

“Stop blaming other people for all your faults, Lana,” Dana said, her words as sharp as knives, “Maybe it’s time you look at the mirror and face all the things that you lack and start improving it rather than being an asshole who can’t get over her insecurity.” 

I look at my perfect twin sister and with that, I utter the words I shouldn’t have, and the rocks that were floating headed her way but stopped just a few millimetres from her. I let the stones drop as I dismissed my anger toward her. 

“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” I said as I turned around ready to leave her. 

“Is this about Nori?” Dana asks sadly. I hate it when she does that. It’s like she was always the victim and I am the bad guy. I turned around to face her, my anger started to resurface. 

“I don’t really understand why you have to always bring Nori into our conversations?” I asked angrily, “What does he have to do with us?”

“I don’t really know,” Dana admitted, “But we were never like this before, Lana. We used to be partners with everything.” 

“Well, I hate to say it to you but I think it’s you who has a problem. First of all, Dana, people change. You changed. I changed. It’s the most common thing that could happen in this world. You can’t stop the world from changing Dana. You’re not a god!”

I took a deep breath and exhaled as I try to keep my emotions away from my thoughts. I need to be rational so that I wouldn’t sound like an emotionally damaged person to the point of being pathetic. 

“I want us to be like what we were before,” Dana said softly as she start to slowly walk towards me, “You know before Nori told me that I was his Chosen Mate.” 

That’s it! I reached my limit for today. I know I should be happy that my best friend has chosen my sister as his Chosen Mate, but my selfish self won’t let me. And because I can’t really say my feelings out loud. My frustrations and unspoken emotions turn into anger. Which is why I always end up getting angry at Dana.

“And here we go again,” I say without hiding my frustrations making her stop from coming close to me, “What is it that you really want Dana?! I just don’t understand why you need to always bring that up. I don’t understand what the hell is wrong with you. Nori’s a nice guy and if you don’t want to be his Chosen Mate, just tell him! Stop making me feel like I am the reason why you can’t be happy with him. Because God knows that I did not do anything wrong!” Once again, I exploded in front of Dana. I know that the root of all my anger was not knowing that my twin sister likes Nori as much as I do. Out of all the guys here in Purpura and Purple Hill, why did she have to fall for Nori too?

“I’m sorry,” was the last thing that I heard from her. I walk as fast as I can away from her. I hate it when she does that. I hate that she doesn’t know that I love Nori more than a friend. I hate that I didn’t know that she likes Nori too. I hate that Nori chose her. I hate that she was my twin and I hate that people always compare us. 

I banged the back door behind me as I entered the kitchen, making my mother jump in surprise. 

“What happened?” She asked, her voice filled with concern. One thing I love about my mom is how she knows when to poke for answers and when to just give me space. 

“I cooked your favourite dish, steak with mashed potatoes,” she said as she laid the plate in front of me, smiling. 

“You know, I can’t resist eating whatever you cook for me,” I said to her as I took my seat making her smile. She rushed to get some orange juice I knew she had freshly squeezed this morning. 

The back door of the kitchen opened but I did not turn to look at the person who entered. I know already who it was with how uncomfortable I am feeling right now. 

“Dana,” my mom called out as she gestured for my twin sister to take the seat in front of me. Dana and I fight a lot but when it comes to our mother we make sure that we never fight in front of her. We don’t want to see her crying like the last time she did when she saw us fighting. Dana took the seat in front of me but never uttered a word to me. Instead, she spoke to Mom to tell her how good her cooking was. 

“I’m done,” I said after I hurriedly finished my meal. I love my mother, and I care for my sister. But right now, I have already exhausted all my patience and understanding to stay and play pretend that everything is okay even though it wasn’t.

“You don’t want seconds?” My mother asked in disbelief. 

“I have training that I need to attend and I won’t be able to do it if my stomach is full.” 

“Wait,” my mother called out as I was leaving the kitchen, she hurriedly pack some food and handed it to me, and pushed me towards the front door. 

“Give some of your co-trainee some food. I put in a lot,” she said smiling, “The bottom lunch box is for Nori, tell him it came from me.”

“Why don’t you let Dana do that,” I protested and my mom looked at me sadly. 

“Nori was your friend first before he became Dana’s Chosen Mate,” my mom said softly, “Don’t hate them for that. It’s something beyond their control.” 

I wanted to tell her that I really don’t care. That I have accepted that fact already. That all I wanted was for everyone to just move on with their lives. But then she did something unexpected. She closed the gap between us and placed her wrinkled hand over my chest where my heart was located.

“You can tell me that it didn’t affect you all you want my dear, Lana,” she said softly her voice, filled with pain, “but a mother sees her children's pain even if they are so good at hiding them. I know that something in here is broken. I just wish that there is one spell from all the spells that I know, that could heal it. But sadly, there is none.” 

“Only you can heal that wound, my sweet Lana,” my mom continued when I found myself lost for words, “Mom is here when you need someone to talk to.”

“I’m alright Mom,” I told her with a smile as I hugged her. 

I waved her goodbye as I walk away from our house. I didn’t know that my mom could see my pain. I thought I was so good at hiding it. And I will continue to hide it until the time comes when the pain is gone and I can be with my sister Dana and Nori without being hurt. 

But one thing’s for sure, it sucks to be the best friend of your sister’s boyfriend. But what sucks more is how you wished he had chosen you instead of her. 

To the cupids out there, I have one thing to say, your aim sucks!