In the realm of elementary school, where friendships bloomed and secrets whispered, my dear friend once shared an interesting notion with me. According to them, it was rather uncommon to navigate those early years without experiencing a crush. Intrigued, I began observing my classmates, both in my grade and the younger ones, and it became evident that many of them were caught in the enchanting web of infatuation. Yet, amidst their fluttering hearts, I stood as an outlier, untouched by those peculiar emotions. However, today marked a pivotal moment in my life as Miciela Arilynn. Determined to embrace the ordinary, I embarked on a personal quest to develop a crush, driven by a longing to be deemed a "normal" primary schooler.
That was the plan, at least. But my mother didn't seem to understand my sudden decision to wear cute twin tails and thought I was adorable. She didn't grasp the significance of it.
With great confidence, I set off on my own towards school. The school was conveniently located near my house, so my mother didn't need to accompany me. After all, I was a big girl now.
"It's not better for you to have a crush!" I overheard a teenage voice say as I walked through the streets. A sobbing voice replied, "I know he doesn't like me, but I can't help but feel miserable when he tells me directly."
The passing conversation between the teenagers caught my 11-year-old ears. I gasped, realizing that having a crush could lead to heartache and pain. Suddenly, I felt a wave of pressure and confusion as I observed the sobbing girl being comforted by her friend.
In that moment, I reached a sudden realization. Perhaps it wasn't necessary for me to have a crush. The idea of liking someone suddenly felt burdensome. Instead, I felt an odd sense of happiness at the thought of avoiding the pitfalls that come with having a crush. I couldn't wait to share my newfound revelation with my friend, Zabi.
Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly spotted someone familiar in the crowd of students near the school entrance. I felt a surge of joy as I recognized my friend and sprinted towards her, deftly maneuvering through the bustling students. Finally reaching her, I enthusiastically hugged her.
"Zabi!" I exclaimed, but my excitement was met with a cold response.
"What are you doing, cheeky kid?" a voice replied sharply.
It wasn't the voice of my mute friend, Zabi. Confusion washed over me, and I couldn't bring myself to look at the person I had just embraced. I took a step back, my face flushed with embarrassment. Did I hug the wrong person?
As I surveyed the scene, I noticed the amused stares and laughter of the other students around us. I felt even more disoriented, but then my gaze shifted towards the person I had mistakenly hugged. My eyes widened as I realized that he bore a striking resemblance to Zabi, from his hair to his face, but with a completely different expression – one of anger. He looked like a male version of Zabi. Could he be cosplaying as Zabi?
He straightened his clothes and shot me an annoyed look. "I don't appreciate being hugged by a stranger. It's weird and creepy. Don't do that to others; they might retaliate," he scolded, then turned his back on me. I stood there, blushing and embarrassed. It was the first time I had ever been so mortified.
"I-I'm sorry! It was an accident!" I stammered, hoping he would at least acknowledge my apology. But he didn't even spare me a glance or acknowledge my words.
****
During recess, I buried my face in the table, still unable to shake off the overwhelming embarrassment from earlier. The desire to cry and vanish into thin air consumed me, while outside the window, the scenery unfolded like a distant dream. Lost in my thoughts, a sudden interruption jolted me. A notebook appeared before my eyes, and upon its pages, a message was carefully inscribed.
"Are you okay?"
I glanced up to find the girl who stood as my sole friend, Xavey Cyrillus, known affectionately as Zabi. With her pretty features and short, shiny, straight hair, she exuded an air of gentle grace. Startled by the sight of my teary face, she wrapped her arms around me in a comforting embrace.
"Zabi, I'm so embarrassed," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Zabi, though unable to speak, possessed a keen sense of hearing. Sensing my distress, she hastily began writing in her notebook, her curiosity piqued by my anguish. She patted my shoulder, signaling for me to release my grip, and I proceeded to read her words.
"Why?"
"Because someone who resembled you caught me off guard, and I accidentally hugged them, thinking it was you," I revealed, my cheeks burning with shame. Though there were fewer students present in the classroom, I couldn't help but speak softly, as if the walls themselves were eavesdropping.
Zabi's reaction was one of shock, followed by laughter.
"Is it a boy?" she scribbled, and I nodded, still hiding my face. Conversations with boys had been scarce in my life, and now I had not only hugged a stranger but also mistaken them for someone I knew. The person in question even wore a boy's uniform.
"You probably met my twin brother, Xayvion," Zabi wrote, a smile gracing her lips.
I gasped, utterly astonished by the revelation, and gently shook her shoulders, a mixture of excitement and irritation coursing through me.
"Why didn't you ever mention that you have a twin brother?" I asked, my words laced with both curiosity and annoyance.
Zabi laughed once more, patting my hand and jotting down her response with haste. "Because you never asked."
I pouted at her somewhat elusive answer, uncertain whether she kept the information from me intentionally or simply didn't feel the need to share. Regardless, I felt a twinge of frustration that she had never mentioned it before.
"Cyrillus," a voice suddenly interjected, instantly filling the air with unwelcome tension. It was a voice we both dreaded hearing.
Before us stood a girl, her long wavy hair oozing confidence, poise, and a hint of arrogance. With a swift motion, she slammed a piece of paper onto Zabi's desk, causing both of us to flinch.
"We're group mates for this afternoon's report," said Rhaella, the classroom president whom we held little fondness for. She emphasized her words by pointing out, "And since you can't talk, you'll be answering these questions."
Zabi, visibly frightened, nodded in compliance. Rhaella's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Just as I expected, Cyrillus. You never refuse any request," she remarked, taking a step back. As she glanced in my direction, our eyes briefly met, and she muttered the word "freak" under her breath. I quickly averted my gaze.
Observing Zabi's hesitation to touch the paper before her, I reached out and gently patted her arm.
"If you'd like, I can help you," I offered, extending my support in her time of need.
But instead of refusing, a smile graced Zabi's face as she shook her head and wrote a heartfelt request.
"It's fine, Miciela. But can I have a hug, at least?"
Tears welled up in my eyes as I read her words, seeing the sadness etched on her face. Without hesitation, I enveloped her in a tight embrace.
"You can always hug me whenever you're feeling down, Zabi," I whispered, my voice filled with sincerity.
Unfortunately, neither Zabi nor I had many other friends. It was only two weeks ago that we found solace in each other's company. Zabi had been abandoned by her former friend, leaving her feeling lonely and alone. On the other hand, I had struggled to make friends due to being labeled as a "weird" girl, despite it being far from the truth.
Lunchtime arrived, and as always, Zabi and I sat together at our table in the classroom to enjoy our meals.
"Oh, Zabi, I forgot to tell you, it's perfectly normal not to have crushes!" I exclaimed abruptly, a sense of relief washing over me.
Zabi looked at me with a puzzled expression, momentarily forgetting our previous conversation about crushes.
"But kids our age usually have crushes. It seems like you're a late bloomer, Miciela," she wrote, her confusion evident.
"I'm not a late bloomer! I simply don't have feelings for anyone," I reasoned, opening my lunch box.
"But you hugged my twin," she teased, causing a blush to spread across my cheeks. Why did she bring that up all of a sudden? Did she sense my desperate desire to hide?
Amused, she couldn't help but let out a silent laugh, thoroughly enjoying my embarrassment.
"Stop it, Zabi," I said, my voice strained with a hint of annoyance. But still, she continued to chuckle, leaving me with no choice but to sigh in exasperation.
After we finished our lunch, I stared at her intently, my eyes stabbing her with silent pleas to cease her laughter, while she struggled to contain herself. Finally, we left the classroom and ventured out into the campus, preferring to escape the noise and incessant chattering of our classmates. Rhaella, whom we despised, would often whisper unpleasant remarks whenever we remained in the classroom.
As we walked down the hallway, filled with other students engaged in lively conversations, I noticed Zabi's twin brother standing among the crowd. Blushing, I instinctively hid behind Zabi. She looked at me with surprise and confusion, glancing between me and the hallway, before flashing me a meaningful smile.
"Don't look at me like that," I muttered, feeling flustered. She attempted to stifle her laughter, hiding it behind her notebook. Determined to avoid the hallway, I turned around, but Zabi grabbed my hand, a mischievous smile adorning her face.
She seemed to derive great pleasure from teasing me, and it was beginning to irritate me.
"I won't!" I protested, attempting to free my hand from her grasp, but she refused to let go. We attracted puzzled gazes from our fellow students, and just as I nearly lost my balance, she released her grip, causing me to stumble towards her.
"Why didn't you tell me about your brother from the beginning?" I whispered, my tone laced with accusation.
But our conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise, causing both Zabi and me to halt our playful banter. We turned towards the source of the commotion and witnessed a boy with glasses throwing a punch at Xayvion, Zabi's twin, as he engaged in conversation with other boys.
"You're... you're such a fool!" The boy's harsh words stuttered out, filling the hallway with an uncomfortable tension. My expression mirrored the shock reverberating through the crowd. Every student seemed startled by the sudden confrontation.
Xayvion, however, wore a defiant smile, his mischievous demeanor unaffected by the verbal blow. He met the boy's gaze head-on, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "What? Did you say something?" he taunted, his voice laced with sarcasm. The boys accompanying him erupted in laughter, eagerly joining in on the ridicule.
Whispers swept through the air, echoing in every corner of the hallway. A mixture of pity and disdain laced the hushed conversations.
"I can't believe the boy with glasses had the guts to stand up to that jerk." "Xayvion is nothing but a bully. I can't stand him."
The revelations hung heavily in the air, a collective realization that Xayvion's reputation as a troublemaker was far from unknown. It seemed that his actions had left an indelible mark on the lives of many students.
Turning my gaze to Zabi, her eyes spoke volumes. A mixture of pity and sorrow filled her gaze as she looked at her brother. Then, her teary eyes met mine, silently conveying a plea for help. With a trembling hand, she began to write on her paper.
"Can you help my brother?" the words appeared on the page, inked with vulnerability.
In that moment, understanding washed over me. I finally comprehended why Zabi had kept her brother hidden from me, why she had never mentioned having a twin. It wasn't out of shame or a desire to shield me from the truth. It was because she didn't want me to harbor any resentment or hatred towards him.
It was the opposite of what she had expected. Despite Xayvion's hurtful words, I found myself incapable of harboring any hatred towards him.
It was peculiar to witness the striking resemblance between them—siblings with contrasting personalities. Yet, it was the accidental hug that had captured my attention, sparking a curiosity within me.