I don't want to hate Irisha. She is actually nice and smart. Occasionally, Charlie and I would make pranks at school and we would dress ourselves identically. I would always dress up as a man because Charlie doesn't like to dress up as a woman. And mind you, Irisha is the only person who could tell which is Charlie and which is Chaise. Ah. Sometimes David, too. But we would always trick him. And he would always end up confused. He is a funny, easy guy. And we like him that way.
Well, David is an important person in our family. He is the only son of Sir Arnaud Beckery Jean Beauchamp, a conglomerate in France. They also own the prestigious university that Charlie and I are attending. I call him Mr. Beckery because well, that is simpler to me.
We have known David ever since we were ten years old. We became acquainted with him because of his family. Charlie and I consider him as someone we were acquainted to. He is not really a friend to us. Although it might appear that way to some people.
David is older than us. He is twenty. We're seventeen. His neat hair is blonde and his beautiful eyes are blue. He is French. He is handsome and elegant and he is really tall. But he is stupid most of the time. That's the only disadvantage of him. He has a crazy character hiding in his sleeves. Sometimes Charlie and I like him. Sometimes we don't.
David is the current president of our eccentric club in Beauchamp University. It is called the "Beautiful Club." His older sister, Elaine, founded the club when she was still attending school. Mr. Beckery, their father, would allow whatever they want on a condition that they would do what he want after they complete their studies. Well, I thought Mr. Beckery and our father were the same. They are both tyrants. Such fathers are scary people!
It is so funny that a woman like me, who wears branded pants and sneakers, is majoring in fashion design. Some people find it funny and ironic but I don't care. I am not born to please people. I am born only to please Charlie. Charlie, on the other hand, is majoring business. He is Dad's successor, you know. But Charlie doesn't like it. Just like me, he loves the fashion industry.
Charlie and I entered Beautiful Club because we loved fashion. We thought it was the best club for us because they do costume playing and photo shoots. The club's primary purpose is to gather beautiful men and women inside the university. If you're beautiful, you're in. No room for beautifully challenged students.
The club itself is really discriminating. We are aware of that. In fact, every day we would always receive a new basher from unknown persons—may it be outside the university or not. But that's how Elaine founded it. Why would you question a club founded by a beautiful, talented woman? Not to mention that she's a daughter of Mr. Beauchamp.
David said she is narcissistic. And so is he. I thought that everyone in the club had a narcissistic side. Everyone has in fact. But, well, no one could beat David's. He is so narcissistic it could be illegal.
Beautiful Club could only cater twenty students per semester. Members are ranked, too. You are ranked according to your popularity and beauty. So aside from beauty, you better be friendly! Brains don't matter here. We're rich kids. Most of us are doomed to become a successor of a filthy rich family, except Irisha, by the way.
The rankings are actually determined by how popular you are in the previous semester. Online polls are necessary. If you maintain your beauty and rank, you remain in the club. Otherwise, someone who is more beautiful and more popular than you would take your place.
We do photo shoots in the club and we auction it online. We would profit from it. The more beautiful shoots you have, the more popular you are. Before the semester would end, the hearts and votes you receive online would be counted. It would determine whether you remain in the club or not.
Every semester there are lots of candidates, and these candidates would compete with beauty and popularity in order to join the club. Who are the candidates? Beautiful students! It don't matter who you are, or if you're rich or not, as long as you're beautiful then you're a possible candidate.
However, once you are in the club, it couldn't guarantee that you would remain forever. If your ratings would sink below 80% of the standard rate, you're kicked out.
You're not beautiful anymore. Sorry. That's how it works.
Obviously, Charlie and I survived our positions for two consecutive years because well, we are so beautiful to be true. Irisha joined the club a year after us. She is surviving till now. But I always think that if it isn't for David's influence, she wouldn't make it. She is David's favorite person, you know. Similarly, if it isn't for Charlie's handsomeness and charisma, I also wouldn't make it. But because I am his twin sister, I am also favored by the crowd. Oh, most of our fans are females. Charlie's fans! And I hate them.
"Chaise!" I jerk in surprise when I heard Irisha's voice.
Shoot. I almost forgot that we are still on the beach. Why are we on the beach, by the way? Charlie and Irisha decided to have fun, of course! I am just dragged along. As always.
I lift my face up to look where she is. I found her sitting next to me. I hate her. She stole my brother from me. But she smiles at me and I am then defeated. How could a smile defeat a grieving soul?
I really, really, hated her. But I also couldn't hate her. How could I hate such a nice person? It is the most complicated part of a teenager's life. When you hated a person but you couldn't because she's just too nice. Why are they allowed to live? They're making the world more complicated.
Sometimes I think she had casted a magic spell on me. You see, I hated her, but this hatred would disappear when she would smile at me. She would call my name the way Charlie called me years ago. And no matter where I look at it, she is nothing but friendly. If she isn't the apple of Charlie's eyes, we could have been best of friends.
"Where's Charlie?" She asks.
"He went to buy some drinks." I reply and she curls her tiny arms around her knees.
She looks at me and asks again, "You always bring a notebook with you. But even Charlie is not allowed to look at it, right?"
I return her stares with mine.
"I use it to dispatch boredom." I tap my pen on my blue notebook.
"You're bored?" She gasps. "I thought you like it here with us!"
I don't like it at all. They're dating and having fun in front of me! Sometimes I feel like I am just ruining their lovey-dovey dates! And I always hated Charlie for tagging me along. He wouldn't even look at me when Irisha's talking to him.
I am getting bored of it. All of it.
I wish we never met her.
I have my limitations, too. If Charlie plans to keep it like this, how will I find my future boyfriend? He is so unfair.
"I love it, but you know," I started, she is waiting at my next words. When she stares at me innocently, I have a small thought. She is like David. She is innocently stupid at times. This thought made me smile. Because when I think of David, I couldn't help but laugh.
I compose myself and say to her, "Well, I'm just ruining your dates with Charlie. I don't have to be here. I'm afraid you might mistake this for being so possessive over him."
But indeed I am possessive over Charlie. I don't like it if people steal his time from me. But among us, Charlie is more possessive.
This kind of setup isn't my fault. It is Charlie who insisted that I should go with him. Ever since Irisha came there are times that I couldn't read his mind. She disturbs both of us—a lot.
"Charlie said you wanted to join with us." She says and I am agape.
I widen my eyes at her.
She adds, "Don't tell me he forced you? Is he possessive over you?" She catches my hands and encloses them with hers. She looks like a worried friend and I don't know why. We're not friends. We just happen to know each other. That's all.
"Why are you saying that? It isn't like that, Irisha!" I pull my hands from her grasp. Then I laugh to ease the sudden tension. I don't want her to think of Charlie that way.
"Irisha!" Charlie calls and we turn to him. He is standing in front of us. In his hands there are three cans of cold drinks. It is strange but I feel suddenly nervous. He gives a can to Irisha but his glaring eyes don't leave mine. I feel like crying. Why would he glare at me like that? I didn't do anything wrong.
I lower my head to focus myself on the beach sand. I feel like crying but I have to suppress it. He is torturing me recently. If he wouldn't yell at me, he would stare at me angrily. I don't even know why. Ever since he fell in love with Irisha he became a different person.
"Vanilla! Thanks, Charlie." Irisha says and she handed me my share. Charlie sits beside her. And he is smiling not to me. He is smiling at Irisha.
I feel the pang in my chest. He is smiling at her the way he did to me when we still had our brilliant world. He changed. He wouldn't smile at me like that anymore unless we're in school. Why is Charlie acting this way?
He doesn't need me anymore, does he?
'But I need you Charlie. You're the only treasure that I have. You're the only one who understands me. You're my twin brother. But ever since Irisha came…you're cold to me. Why?'
I see them laughing. I lower my head and let my curly bangs cover my eyes. I don't want them to see the jealousy in my eyes.
I move a little to distance myself from Irisha. Just a little farther. Just a small space that would separate me from them. Right then, I open my notebook and start scribbling down. Yes, I just want to ease the coldness. I want to let go of this jealousy.
I am getting bored. I want to believe that I am bored. And it is always dangerous when I am bored.
'Don't mind them. Just don't mind them. Yes, you're doing good, Chaise.'