Silvia’s fervent desire to depart the school premises promptly was once again thwarted by an unwanted obstacle—Aiden, his presence an irritating interruption to her escape.
In sheer disbelief, Silvia couldn’t contain her frustration as she facepalmed herself. “What now?!”
With an air of casual indifference, Aiden presented an outrageous request. “Can I meet your sister?”
“What?!”
“It’s the only way to prove you’re not lying to me. I won’t bother you again after I meet her.”
“Are you kidding me? Why do I have to prove anything to you?”
Aiden’s sly grin tugged at his lips. “You want me to tell everyone you’re a girl then?”
Silvia’s furrowed brows betrayed her frustration. “Are you threatening me with baseless rumours?”
He simply shrugged. “Hey, your choice.”
With her patience wearing thin, Silvia reluctantly yielded to his insistent demand. “Fine. Wait at the park closest to school. I’ll tell her to meet you there.”
“Cool. I can’t wait to see her.”
As stress devoured her, Silvia hurriedly dashed back home. She yanked at a chunk of her wig, displaying her utter disbelief over the preposterous predicament she found herself tangled in. “What am I even doing right now?!”
Silvia, dressed as herself and determined to safeguard her true identity, pressed onward along the park’s winding path. Aiden awaited her by a weathered wooden bench, and her heart raced with anxiety. She took a moment to steady her nerves before advancing towards him with graceful steps. Aiden turned his head, his attention caught by the soft, rhythmic sound of her approaching footsteps. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees, and verdant foliage tumbled like confetti around Silvia. She elegantly brushed aside the thin wisps of hair blown onto her cheek, adding an air of enchantment to her arrival that momentarily captivated Aiden.
Aiden, always the exemplary narcissist, sported his customary smug expression. “I remember you. You’re the beauty that came with Camila to my café. No wonder I mixed you up with Silus.”
“And you’re the jerk, according to Camila and Silus?” she responded, her words dripping with disdain.
Her straightforward response slightly baffled him, and he chuckled. “Come on, they’re just baseless rumours.”
“I know what you did to Camila, so don’t think you can pull the same tricks on me.”
Despite the serious undertone of their conversation, Aiden couldn’t resist tossing a few quips. “Is being feisty part of your genes?”
Feeling that the encounter was a waste of her precious time, Silvia turned to leave. “Whatever. Silus has proven his point, so I’m going now.”
However, Aiden had others plans. He seized her wrist, preventing her escape. “Wait, that was too short. We should at least do something together.” With a cunning smirk, he began to lead her away against her will.
Aiden maintained his determined stride, while Silvia struggled to break free from his firm grip, her frustration evident in her futile attempts to escape.
She thumped his back with her fist. “Let go of me already!”
He kept his brisk pace like no tomorrow. “Just be patient.”
“Where are you even taking me?!”
Their journey led them to the kerb of the road, where Aiden retrieved a set of keys from his pocket. He pressed a button, causing a nearby car to emit a beep. Aiden’s sleek black sedan was conveniently parked by the kerb. He walked her over to the passenger’s side.
“We’re gonna go have some fun,” he declared with delight.
“Do you think I’m crazy enough to willingly jump in your car?”
Aiden strolled towards the driver’s door, crossing his arms over his car roof and resting his chin on them. “Let’s make a deal. Come with me to just one place, and I won’t bother your brother at school ever again.”
She scoffed at his proposal. “Is this how you get girls to like you?”
He chuckled. “No, not really. This is probably the first time I’ve put this much effort into convincing a woman to go on a date with me.”
Silvia sighed loudly for Aiden to hear. “Fine. One place, and you better keep your end of the bargain. By the way, this isn’t a date.”
She opened the passenger door and climbed in, slamming the door shut with a sense of finality.
Aiden was quite entertained by her obvious infuriation. “Ouch, my poor car.” He slid into the driver’s seat, ready to embark on his unexpected adventure with Silvia.
The car ride passed in a veil of silence, with Aiden making several attempts to initiate conversation, all of which Silvia rebuffed as her gaze was glued on the passing scenery. After a relatively short drive, Aiden parked the car and hopped out. Silvia, her curiosity tinged with reluctance, followed suit. She still had no inkling of their destination, but Aiden led the way towards a line of fences.
“Where are we even going?” she queried, her patience wearing thin.
He came to a halt and faced her, extending his hand to point ahead. “Here.”
Silvia followed the direction of his gesture, her eyes widening as she took in the breathtaking view of a secluded beach stretched out before her—a pristine expanse of sand meeting the gentle lapping waves. The azure sea and the clear sky blended seamlessly, creating a serene and picturesque scene.
“It’s a nice weather today,” Aiden remarked.
Silvia struggled to maintain her guard, the allure of the tranquil beach and the sound of the waves softening her resistance. She considered making another attempt to leave but hesitated, torn between her determination and the undeniable appeal of the scenery.
Aiden simply smiled at her, his eyes reflecting the serenity of the beach. “Just enjoy it for a bit.”
With the beauty of the beach before her, Silvia found herself gradually giving in to the sudden outing. She descended to the pristine white sand, casting off her shoes, and allowed herself to be drawn towards the shimmering sea. The bright sunlight danced on the water’s surface, creating a dazzling spectacle. Silvia gingerly dipped her toes into the gentle waves, relishing the soothing touch of the seawater. She extended her fingers, letting them caress the cool embrace of the sea.
Unbeknownst to her, Aiden trailed behind, playfulness twinkling in his eyes. He splashed water at her, and Silvia, caught off guard, retaliated with her own splash. Laughter bubbled between them as they engaged in a playful water fight, the cares of the world momentarily forgotten.
As they frolicked, Silvia, caught up in the pure joy of the moment, accidentally slipped on the wet sand. But before she could fall, Aiden swiftly caught her in his arms. Their eyes locked in a brief, intense moment, and then, with a sly grin, he released her, allowing her to sink into the shallow water, drenching her from head to toe. Silvia, her playful spirit still aflame, sought immediate revenge. With a burst of energy, she shoved him forcefully down into the water, ensuring he got just as soaked as she did. Their playful antics continued, and the moments stretched into precious memories.
As the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows over the beach, Silvia’s natural reticence eventually resurfaced. Gasping as the cool breeze met her wet body, she hurriedly scrambled out of the water before Aiden could get a hold of her again.
“Wait!” he urgently exclaimed, reaching out towards her.
Silvia ignored him and hastened to retrieve her shoes. A crestfallen Aiden watched her fade away from his field of vision, his voice trailing off as he muttered to himself, “I never got your name…”
The next morning, Aiden struggled to stifle uncontrollable sneezes whilst trudging through the school hallway. His once-pristine appearance had given way to a red nose and watery eyes that were impossible to ignore. Dane walked beside him, concern etched on his face.
“What in the world happened to you?” he asked, unable to conceal his curiosity.
Despite his evident discomfort, Aiden couldn’t suppress his infectious enthusiasm. “I spent a bit too much time at the beach…but it was absolutely worth it.” His eyes gleamed with an inner radiance. “I need to find someone; I’ll be right back.”
With those enigmatic words, Aiden dashed off, leaving Dane standing there, completely puzzled by his friend’s inexplicable actions.
On the other hand, Silvia found herself in relatively good health and high spirits. She knew that catching a cold would have been disastrous, as it might have revealed her secret to Aiden. However, her relief was short-lived when Aiden abruptly appeared in her line of sight, breaking their agreement.
She was incensed at his broken promise. “What do you want now?!”
Aiden cleared his stuffed throat, his voice raspier than usual. “Can I meet your sister again?”
“What?”
“I know I’ve got a bad reputation and all, but I’m being real,” he continued, his vulnerability surprising her. “Spending time with her felt…different. I felt free for once.”
Her initial anger began to give way to cautious curiosity as she considered his words. This wasn’t the defiance or arrogance she had anticipated—it was a rare admission of vulnerability. “I’m surprised you’re still talking to me. Shouldn’t you hate me for what I did?”
“Are you talking about my ex? Relax, I never liked her.”
His careless reply left her incredulous. “You’re selfish,” she retorted, her anger surfacing. “You take people’s feelings for granted to satisfy your own pathetic desires.”
Aiden seemed to deride her jibe. “…No different from me.”
Silvia’s frustration peaked at his indifference, and she lashed out further. “My sister would never be with someone like you. Just so you know, she’s going to study abroad. Accept your loss and quit bothering me.”
Aiden, unusually silent, seemed to take her words to heart.
Silvia glared at him with resentment. “If you’re really sincere, apologise to all the girls whose hearts you’ve broken.”
Before Aiden could respond, a sudden dizziness overcame him, and he crumpled towards the ground, his vision fading into darkness. Silvia’s anger quickly transformed into shock and concern as she instinctively caught him in her arms. But his heavy weight pressed against her, and they both tumbled to the ground.
A kind-hearted bystander came to Silvia’s aid, helping her carry Aiden to the infirmary. Together, they gingerly laid him on one of the beds. After expressing her gratitude, the helpful student left, leaving Silvia alone to fathom the absence of the school nurse. Aiden groaned in discomfort, his unconscious state evident. Silvia placed the back of her hand against his feverish forehead, feeling the intense heat emanating from him.
With a growing sense of urgency, she quickly fetched a clean face towel and soaked it in icy water. Returning to Aiden’s side, she carefully folded the chilled towel and applied it lightly to his forehead, brushing his damp bangs away from his face.
Aiden, barely conscious, opened his eyes briefly to a fuzzy vision of Silvia tending to him. “It’s been a while since I haven’t felt insomniac,” he pondered to himself, releasing a faint smile before slipping back into slumber.
Suddenly, Dane burst into the infirmary, startling Silvia. His breath was heavy, and his expression was one of confusion. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing—‘Silus’ was there, tending to Aiden.
“There’s news spreading like wildfire that Aiden collapsed on you,” he remarked, still trying to process the situation.
Silvia was still focused on Aiden’s condition. “His body temperature is pretty high, but he should be fine after some rest.”
“I’m surprised you’re here with Aiden.”
“He fell on me. I wasn’t going to just leave him on the floor.”
Dane’s confusion deepened. “You’re the one he wanted to meet?”
“What are you talking about?”
Dane couldn’t comprehend Aiden’s intentions in seeking out Silus, whom he openly disliked.
Silvia decided it was time to leave and began to make her way out. “Since you’re here, I’m leaving before our break ends.”
As she departed, Dane was left alone with Aiden. He calculated the missing nurse and the neatly folded towel placed on Aiden’s forehead, suspecting ‘Silus’ had put it on him.
Dane’s gaze remained fixed on Silvia, who occupied the seat in front of him in their maths class. Their eyes briefly met, but he quickly averted his own, a mysterious tension between them.
The teacher, Mr Harmon, sensing Dane’s distraction, decided to engage him. “Dane, since you seem quite distracted, how about you answer question 8 for us?”
Dane hadn’t a clue, but the kind Silvia came to his rescue. Leaning closer, she discreetly whispered, “Pi over 3.”
Dane promptly repeated her response aloud, much to Mr Harmon’s surprise. “Y-you’re right. Very well, carry on then,” Mr Harmon conceded, impressed by Dane’s sudden correctness.
Dane silently wondered how Silus, whom he considered somewhat academically challenged, could solve a maths problem so effortlessly. “Silus is dumb, but what was that?”
With faith that the twins resided in the same single-storey home he had often visited as a child, Dane navigated his cobalt-coated sedan down the familiar street, and he saw ‘Silus’ enter his abode. Remaining seated in his car, the house stirred memories of bygone days, causing a rush of nostalgia to course through his veins. From the corner of his eyes, Silvia, who was dressed as herself, departed for her part-time job, prompting Dane to discreetly lower his head.
A flush of warmth tinged his cheeks. “Is that Silvia? When did she get this pretty?”
As Silvia disappeared from his field of vision, Dane resolved to approach the front door and thumb the doorbell. To his surprise, there was no response, an unexpected occurrence given that ‘Silus’ had just entered. He pressed the doorbell once more, but the outcome remained unchanged. A growing unease compelled him to dial Silus’ number, only to be met with the soulless voice of an automated message declaring the phone number unreachable.
Perched on the doorstep, Dane waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity. He rang the doorbell one final time, but the house remained eerily silent. “Why won’t he open the door? He’s home, right? I saw him go in…then Silvia came out.”
A disconcerting suspicion began to gnaw at Dane’s thoughts. Reluctantly, he relinquished his efforts and drove away, leaving behind a veil of uncertainty that hung over the enigmatic twins.
Comments (0)
See all