3. First This, Then That

"It's was still night, the stars were in the sky and the moon's light lit the sky, the scenery was so beautiful.

But in that beautiful scenery, I think I just made the greatest mistake of my life.

I just kissed my best friend and my sister's boyfriend.

As I reached to kiss him, I did it slowly, I thought if I did it slowly it would give him time to flee from me and call me gross or dirty or fag, or any of those words people call homosexuals,

But he just stood there and stared at me as I kissed him, almost like he was waiting, watching to see what I was going to do.

So I just gave him a peck on his lips, as soon as I opened my eyes, Melvin just looked at me with bewilderment, then the look in his eyes change from bewilderment to tenderness.

I don't know what came over him after then, he softly placed his hand on my face and caressed me, I was so surprised I didn't know what to think, I didn't even bother thinking, I just loved the way he looked at me.

The look he gave me was just the same way he looked at me at the top of the hill, as if he was enthralled by my face, as if he had an affection for me, a romantic affection.

I was still lost in his eyes, he leaned his face toward mine and he kissed me back, but it wasn't just a peck on the lips, it was like one of those deep kisses he usually has with my sister.

But the only difference was, he was the one who lead the kiss.

He kissed me passionately, for some time, as he was kissing me, I felt his hands going into my shirt, he was touching my bare skinny body, it felt so hot, I have never felt like that before.

He embraced me like he has always wanted me, it made me fell loved by him.

But as he was about to go further, a loud voice came from within the woods

"Alexis! Alexis! At first the voice was faint, but soon enough it's sounded like a bellow, then when the voice sounded like it was a meters away from us, immediately I recognized the voice

It was Alexia! my twin sister and she called for me, like she was looking for me?

I wished she didn't come, because as Melvin heard her voice too he removed his hands from underneath my cloths and stopped kissing.

He just looked at me and said to me

"You should go now Alex.. they are worried about"

Melvin talked to me like as if nothing ever happened between us, like as if that moment we kissed never existed in time,

The way he looked at me just a while ago, changed instantly, he just looked at me normally, like he normally looks at other people,

The moment I saw that look in his eyes… I felt a piece of me torn to pieces, shock gripped my heart, I was devastated.

But, as if he noticed I was not in a good mood, he gripped my shoulder and squeeze it gently, then he smiled at me tenderly and said.

"Alexia's here."

As I heard him say that, I turned to my left side and in turn, to my right side, but I didn't see my twin sister anywhere.

Then I wondered, "what did he mean", I feel like he meant more when he said My twin sister was here.

"Melvin i-" I was about to tell him that I didn't understand what he meant, but he just hushed me, took me by the hand and walk towards the direction of my sister's voice.

I didn't want to go, I knew this little heaven I thought I just entered with Melvin would crumble right away.

So out of stubborness, I took him by his hand and stopped him, I had so many questions to asked and I wasn't going to let that night end like that.

"Melvin … I … I just don't understand what just happened now, I'm confused.... ho...how do you see me now? Please we need to talk about this well”, I told with my voice shaking as if I was about to cry.

Then Melvin replied me, his eyes looking like the eyes of an insecure kid, slowly seeping his fingers into my hair "Alexis I have a lot to tell you, I-"

"What is it you wanna tell him, I wanna hear it too… It must be something really juicy since you guys are holding each other in that position" Alexia cut Melvin off, he wasn't able to finish what he wanted to say, even though I was so eager to hear.

Even after Alexia said that, I looked at Melvin as if to signal him that, it was okay, that he still should complete what he was about to tell me, but he removed his gaze from mine, I even tried to to pull him forward, away from Alexia presence, since it looked like Alexia made him uncomfortable.

But, he just remove his hand from my hair and released his hand from mine.

"It was nothing… I was just gonna remind him how you all were looking for him and how your Mom is worried sick about him" Melvin replied, not wavering his eyes from Alexia's face.

A dubious smirk appeared on her face while she was glancing me. She removed her gaze from me, darting it on Melvin, but her dubious smirk from before instantly changed to a cute and warm hearted smile the moment her gaze fell on Melvin.

I felt Angry at the whole situation, I knew my Twin sister was always out to get me even though I did absolutely nothing wrong to her, but more confused with Melvin, first he embraced me like a lover he has missed for so long, but now he acts even more distant that the bestfriend he should be.

"Little brother, baby Alexis… Mom is worried about you, you should go see her before we have to visit her in a hospital bed" Alexia said to me, but it sounded more like she was pushing me away, and I got that message all too well.

Out of anger, I left them, didn't even look at Melvin once, I didn't feel like seeing the cold expression he might be wearing on his face.

Though, as I walked got to my sister who was just 10 steps in front of me,

I became angered all the more, so my body stopped right by her side, then I said to her

"Just what do you want from me, what exactly did I do to you" my voice sounded so weak, and I hated because I'm sure she didn't take me seriously, I sounded so vulnerable.

"Dear brother, this is topic for another day.. right now you must be tired and cold.. aren't you" she said, but it sounded more like a command than an advice.

Then, she walked away from me and went to Melvin's side, tugging her arm with his, she looked at me and aspitful smile formed on her small cherry red lips.

I couldn't take the sight of it anymore, so I just walked away from them, back the direction Alexia came from, I remember the route home from there, I didn't need their guidance, so walked ahead of them.

While I walked away from them, I remember they were talking to each other, but at the distance which I had covered from them, it sounded even lower than whispers,

Looking back, I wish I had heard what they were talking about, I wish I was a little bit closer to them.

*********

Few minutes later, maybe close to 30 minutes…I think, I came out if the forest and now in my father's backyard.

I was feeling cold, tired, weak and most of all,I felt a number of emotions scramble inside me, I recalled everything that happened in the forest and on the hill.

Then a sweet high pitched voice called out my name from the mansion's back door "Alexis!

“Alexis! my baby boy!"

I raised my eye in reflex to calling I heard, and I saw my mother, I was so relieved when I saw her beautiful face from the far distance of a few meters which I stood away from her.

"Mom!" I called out to her as I ran towards where she stood, by the door.

When she saw I was running to her, she as well ran towards me, and in a few seconds, I was in her embrace,

She hugged me so tightly, like she hasn't seen me in days, when it has only been a few hours,

"Dear boy, why did you get lost and in that forest, do you know how dangerous it is, it is the home of wild beast" my mother told me in a concerning way, while she literally scanned through my entire body.

"This is so unlike you, you are quite a level headed boy who's always calculative and rational" my mother added.

Then, I raised my head from her shoulder, to look at he small frame, she had a heights of 5'5 just like Alexis, with slim, almost skinny body type, she had pale White skin that is so soft, phoenix eyes, a bigh nose and thin lips, long black slick hair, I guess it's true when they say asian women have softer features, because my mom is a living example and people always say I and Alexia look alot like her than my father, but I was a little taller than them.

Anyway, she said I was a rational person, I guess those attributes don't manifest when Melvin is involved.

I wish everyday that I could tell her how I feel and what going with me, but I'm too scared she'd be disappointed in me, I wanna make her proud, I love her that much.

"I'm sorry mommy... I won't make you worry so much anymore" I said to her as I used her palm to rub my face, it felt so soft, it felt so warm.

She just looked at me with a smile, her smile was very warm.

"Come in baby... You face feels too cold"

As we were walking into the mansion, Alexia and Melvin followed behind us shortly after,

I couldn't see her but I could feel her glaring, then I heard her say something to Melvin, but still I couldn't really understand what she said I was to far upfront her.

But I think she said something about how my mom always takes my side more, out of the two of us.

When we had gotten inside, the mansion, I felt amazed as I usually do.

I'm been living inside the Zander mansion for close to four years now, but everytime I walk into my father's house,I'm always mesmerised by it's beauty.

It has the size and structure of a castle,its wall outside were painted white, it's inside walls were covered in gold paint, it was furniture with luxurious chairs and tables, it had everything the house of the CEO of Zander Cooperations (ZD Co.) The number one company in about 120+ countries , and My father Anderson Zander was the person who started this company from the scratch, it wasn't passed down to him.

I respect him a lot for that, and I wish to do something like that as well.

I looked around the house, hoping to find my father, waiting to see me, or maybe he could show some kind of remorse for me or some kind of care, but I didn't see him, not even on his favorite golden chair that was customized specially for him, which was right in front of me once I walked into the living.

Then, with my eyebrow tugged into a sullen expression, I turned to my mother to ask her where he was.

"Ah... your dad... y... your dad... he, he was a little bit worried, but you know him, he has a ton of work to do, so he when to the study upstairs, to get some task done."

Mom said that to me, but I took one look into her pure black eyes and I know she was lying, wherever my mom lies, her pupils shake, and I was sorely disappointed when I saw that.

Dad didn't have the softness to worry about me and he never will, he just wants an amazing HEIR to succeed him, and that's all I am to him, a tool for a task.

With my face dulled from all the disappointment I had experienced today, I made my way upstairs.

"Goodnight mom... Goodnight Alexia" I said with dull voice, I just couldn't find the strength to sound lively, as I was already using the little I had Left to walk up the golden colored spiral structured stairway.

Then I paused , for as second and turned my head to my right to look at the outstanding light brown haired Melvin , who stood out from my mother and Alexia, since he was very tall,

I stared at him for a few seconds, then with my that sounds so low and soft, but loud enough for him to hear, I said;

"Goodnight... Melvin"

"Goodnight Alex... see you at school tomorrow", Melvin focused attentively on my face the gave me a bright smile.

I felt so light hearted... I thought I would cry again.

First he acts so sweet and tenderly to me, acting like his my lover, but the next second he act like a strange to me, even void of the bestfriend warmth he should even show me in the first place!

I really don't know what to think or do when it comes to him, I feel completely helpless.

After a few seconds of staring at his face, he removed his gaze from me as Alexia tapped, I don't know why she always does that, separating him from me.

Out of frustration, I just gave a weak smile and continued to go upstairs,

Then I heard Alexia say "mom! Why did you lie to him about dad being worried about him, you know he couldn't careless."

I don't know if Alexia said that to spite me, but she was certainly too loud because I was able to hear her, even when I had gotten to the first floor,

"Lexa... Stop that, you could hurt him if he hears you... You know how he respects your dad" Melvin tried to correct Alexia ,

"What!..you know its true, I'm only saying the shitty truth, he should know, are you taking his side now... is that it!?"

Alexia became even louder

"Alexia, don't be so loud... Your brother might here you, I just don't want him to be sad" mom said with a voice that was weak, as she was trying to calm Alexia but she just flared up the more,

"I know mom, you only have room for Alexis in your heart, you don't care even a bit about me... tell me mom! WHEN ARE YOU GONNA SEE ME... I'M RIGHT HERE... I'm just in front of you now... and he's not even here" Alexia sounded really pained.

And for some reason it hurt me as well, maybe it was because we're still twins at the end if the day.

Alexia ran upstairs heading to her room, she left my mom looking sad and guilty and Melvin looked like he was pitying her.

As she was running up, I remembered I was still on the first floor and I wanted to hide, but she caught up to me before I could move five steps,

I blame it on my weak body, she is just so physically stronger than me.

As she got to where I was she paused and looked at me with contempt and left, I just stood there, wondering what she must have been thinking at that time to look at me with so much hate in her eyes.

I know she acts dubiously to me most times but I can't deny that I really care about her, and at the end of the day she's still and will always be my other half, my twin sister.