Chapter 1: The Odd Twin

“Oh, your other twin is completely different from you! You seem more feminine than her,” Rye said, chuckling.

Khali exited the swing gracefully, making every motion effortless. Brady and Rye studied her, curious yet suspicious. To avoid blocking her, they maintained their distance. Khali has numerous activities and likes. She enjoys innumerable things. She likes paragliding most.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t want to believe that my sister is feeling suicidal. She enjoys many different sports, but her favorites are the ones that put her life in danger,” Brady said.

When Brady gazed at Rye, a weird stillness fell. While watching Rye, he noticed Khali stroll elegantly toward them. Her long, wavy hair blew in the breeze despite being tied in two ponytails.

Brady chuckled softly as Rye looked at her sister.

“Are you sure you don’t have any feelings for my sister?” Brady asked,

Rye shifted his gaze toward Brady. “Yes! Your sister exudes an air of superiority. She is completely ignoring me. She sees you, and I feel like I don’t even exist in her eyes,” Rye said.

A chuckle escaped Brady’s lips in response to Rye’s comment.

As Khali approached, she said, “I thought you’d be running late, but here you are!”

Rye was standing next to Brady and only needed a glance to notice him. Rye looks at her and smiles, but she doesn’t pay attention to him because she decides to ignore him.

“Hey, practice finished up sooner than expected. Have you wasted a lot of time?” Brady asked.

“I don’t think extreme sports are a waste of time. But I get where you’re coming from.” Khali said. “And I’m so hungry! You should consider feeding your baby sister. It’s a smart choice.” Khali spoke to Brady with a sweet smile.

“Are you serious? So, let me get this straight: you’re asking me to be your driver, and now you’re also expecting me to feed you? You’re so lucky!” Brady said.

“You have tight purse strings!” Khali said. “I’ll just grab my bag.”

Khali quickly turned around and left them standing outside the paraglider’s office.

“How about we grab some dinner? I’ll pay for it,” Rye suddenly said.

Brady looked over at him. “Are you being serious? Oh, Khali is quite the monster when it comes to her appetite! She’s always hungry and tends to spend all your money on food.”

Rye had a smile on their faces. “That’s alright. Oh, it only happens once.”

“Ha, you’re going to have to give up two months’ worth of pocket money just to feed my terrible sister,” Brady chuckles while talking to Rye.

Rye was watching Khali when she walked over to her with a bag.

“Don’t say anything to her! Come on, Brady,” Rye pleaded.

Brady grinned playfully at Rye.

“Hey, let’s go!” Khali asked them to go.

-

Inside the Spanish luxury restaurant, the dining area was silent. They felt elegant entering the establishment. Soft lighting brightened the magnificent space. It had a subtle richness, as if every detail had been chosen for beauty. Brady giggled as their clothes stood out in the crowd, even though it was unusual. Brady wore a light blue polo today. Rye and Khali chose white cartoon female and boy T-shirts. Brady widened his gaze on Rye and Khali. The intimacy makes it seem like they’re dating.

The sympathetic server gave them the most fabulous table, next to each other on opposing ends of the table. Tableside, Rye sat across from Khali.

Sitting near the clean window, Khali watched the spectacle. Beautiful. Thousands of warm bulbs lit the streets as the metropolis stretched out. The city’s bustling streets were full of automobiles, yet the cozy residences amid towering buildings seemed peaceful and comfortable.

“Lovely place,” Khali said in a low voice, full of awe and admiration.

She felt like she was in a love movie when Khali entered. The air seemed to whisper pleasant things to her, enchanting her with sadness. Her best memory was a delicious lunch with her two devoted knights. She mostly ignored Rye. He continued to intrigue her. Rye had always been her crush.

Rye gazed at Brady and nudged him softly with his elbow. “What?” Brady asked, his voice calm.

Rye pouted and pursed his lips as he glanced at Khali. Brady could not resist chuckling. Khali glanced at her sibling, seeming curious.

“Oh, my dear twin,” Khali said. “You look so happy!”

“Hey, I just noticed you two are wearing the same clothes!” Brady said, “Just a couple of shirts.”

Khali and Rye watched each other’s outfits with curiosity. Khali’s face went deep crimson, and Rye’s earlobe went pink. Brady stared at the Khali before him and grinned slyly as he understood.

Brady said, “You guys make me feel like I’m chaperoning.”

“Hey, please stop teasing me, dear brother?” she pleaded. Khali sneakily looked at Rye and said, “Your joke isn’t funny.”

“All I’m saying is that you two are a great match,” Brady said. “Hey, isn’t my twin sister just stunning?”

Rye stared at Brady, unsure whether he would speak. Khali’s voice shattered the silence again before he could talk.

“Would you be happy if I had a boyfriend?” Khali asked.

“Sure, why not?” Brady gazed at Rye and thought, “Why not give you and Rye a shot?”

Khali looked away from Rye and stammered, “Um, I’m not really into him.”

“Why?” Brady asked, and Rye couldn’t take their eyes off Khali.

Khali looked away from them. Khali lied when she said, “I have no interest in boys.”

Brady had a frown on his face. “Hey, are you gay?”

Khali watched Brady’s inquiry as the server approached their table. The waiter handed them the menu as she prepared to respond. When Khali glanced over the menu, the prices surprised her.

“Wow!” Khali exclaimed. “The paella looks delicious!”

“The paella with black seafood is one of our most popular dishes,” the server informed them.

“Hey, do you think paella will be enough to satisfy your monster-sized appetite?” Brady was teasing her.

Khali briefly looked at Rye, but she couldn’t help but look back at Brady, the server.

Khali said, “You know what? Eating paella is a great way to stay healthy. Plus, it just makes me happy, you know?”

“The place is not a problem for you.” Brady jokes, “You’re only happy when you have food! Luckily, you’re not gaining weight, no matter how hungry.”

“That’s just how it is with extreme sports, you know? Try to join me. Oh, you’re going to love my next adventure!” Khali said it with a smile.

“What’s the next big thing you want to do?” Brady said.

“Skydiving! That sounds exciting, right? It would be so much fun if you could come with me, twin brother!” Khali said.

“Why do you like doing these dangerous sports?” Brady said, “Little sister, there are so many sports to choose from!”

“I find women’s sports to be quite dull. I don’t want to be like you, you know? You’re only good at playing basketball and don’t have any other skills. Hey, you know what? Please step out of your comfort zone more often,” Khali pouted.

Rye smiled and listened as they spoke. Brady glared down at Rye with icy loathing. He laughed out loud at Brady’s reaction, making it extra funny. Khali glanced up to meet Rye’s gaze as he attentively reviewed the menu. A little grin appeared on her face.

-

Lightly walking home after eating correctly. Khali grinned as they approached Nanay Remy, their favorite nanny, in the kitchen. Brady and Rye came to the room purposefully and saw the inviting couch. Brady effortlessly switched on the TV with his wrist. As she climbed the last five steps, Khali noticed two males on the couch.

“Hey, bro! I forgot." Khali started. Rye and Brady looked over at Khali as she descended the stairs. “I’m not gay, you know? I don’t want to be the subject of someone’s cruel joke if the guy doesn’t have feelings for me. It’s annoying.”

The two young lads gazed intently into each other’s eyes.

“Oh, hey! I just wanted to say thanks for dinner. I had such a great time!” With a swift pace, Khali ascended the stairs and made a beeline for her bedroom.

Brady chuckled at everything he had heard from his sister. “She worries me.” Brady says, “I almost think she’s gay.”

Rye didn’t say anything, but he had a massive grin that almost reached his ear. Brady glanced over at Rye.

“You know what, man? You might have a chance!”

Rye nodded and grinned at Brady’s gaze.

-

Khali needed the bathroom after entering her room. Cleaning caused her to run to the bathroom. She sought peace in the restroom for almost an hour. An unexpected knock on her chamber door broke the stillness.

“Twin brother, come in!” Khali yelled.

Brady just walked into the room. He had a book and a notepad in his hands.

“How did you figure out it was me who knocked? Brady asked, sounding surprised.

“I guess I’m pretty good at guessing,” Khali said with a smile.

Khali’s eyes remained fixed on Brady’s reflection, captivated by his image in the mirror. He took a seat beside her bed, his eyes fixed on her.

“Hey there, sis! Mind lending me a hand?” Brady asked.

“Oh, integral calculus!” Khali suddenly exclaimed

Brady tilted his head toward her. “Wow, you nailed that guess!”

Khali couldn’t take her eyes off Brady’s book. It was lying on its back so she couldn’t see the title.

Brady said, “If I didn’t know you, I would think you had a superpower!”

Khali couldn’t help but giggle softly as she looked at Brady, a playful glint in her eye. “What superpower would it be, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s like you’re some kind of mind reader,” Brady said.

“Should I ask if I’m similar to Wonder Woman? Could I have the same power level as Professor X or something similar?”

Brady said, “Hey, you’ve got a bald head, just like Professor X!”

As Khali approached the desk, laughter filled the room. Elegantly sitting on the seat, she exuded ease. With an exquisite lean, she accepted Brady’s book and paper quickly. Brady sprang up with resolve and ran to his sister. His steps were deliberate.

Brady approached Khali with a book and a pen. Brady kept gazing at Khali despite glancing at the entire page.

“Hey, could you please stop staring?” Khali didn’t even look at Brady and said, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“How did you find out that Rye already covered the bill for our dinner?” Brady asked

Khali was looking at her brother, and she raised her eyebrows with curiosity. “How do you mean? Oh, it’s pretty clear, my dear twin brother. You’re not paying too much for my dinner, are you?”

Brady couldn’t help but keep looking at Khali. “We’re twins,”

“Yes, we are,” she replied. Khali chuckled and said, “Since birth,”

Brady said, “Hey, I know you’re hiding something.”

“I’m keeping something from you,” Khali asked.

Brady replied with a simple “Yes.”

Khali looked at her brother with shining fire. She gave a harsh glance that conveyed displeasure. She knew Brady’s sentiments were true. Become a detective like Khali’s favorite movies, and Brady would be recognized for his talents and accomplishments.

“Hey, stop staring,” Khali said. “You gross me out.”

Brady suddenly asked, “Hey, I was curious about what Rye likes about you.”

Khali was staring at her older brother. “Hey, do you think Rye has a major crush on me?”

Khali thought about the possibility that Rye liked her romantically. At that moment, she noticed her heart beating faster than usual.

“That’s not what I said, you know?” Brady couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Khali looked confused and made a thoughtful expression. “Are you into him?” Brady asked

The last thing Khalis said was silence. He didn’t say a word. Brady ran to his bed and threw himself onto the soft mattress with a burst of energy. His hand moved quickly, and he turned on the TV without trouble.

“What is it that draws you to investigative and crime films? I thought you weren’t interested in becoming a police officer, right?” Brady asked

Brady worked hard to examine every USB element meticulously. As he read each digital file, he noticed that the collection included crime, mystery, and investigative films.

“All of those are educational programs,” Khali said.

“Watching anime like Shinichi Kudo isn’t a good influence on you,” Brady said.

Khali laughed a little as she gave Brady his book and paper. Then he got up from the bed.

“So, Cassie, are you two dating?” Khali asked.

With a slight tilt, Brady discreetly stole a glance at her.

Brady was speaking in a lighthearted way. “Oh, Cassy has a boyfriend!” He started to leave her room.

“Oh, I thought you and Cassie were getting along well? What’s going on?” Khali asked.

As soon as Brady’s eyes met hers, she felt a wave of awareness that let her see what was going through his mind.

“Thanks for doing this! I appreciate it! You, my dear twin sister, are amazing!” Brady left her room with a grin on her face.

Khali saw her brother and felt there was more to him. Her heart broke as she searched for the enigmatic truth about her brother’s first love.

“The young lady known as “Sherlock” has taken center stage.” Khali smiled