Jeol and his brother

Monday is on and as usual always busy as a bee camp. The girls did converse through the phone this morning and departed for their daily activities. As a habit, Katty is working at home on a project, Apriva finishes some courses online while preparing to be a chef working in a well-known restaurant, Ciara delivers her son to school and heads to her office while Brithney composes to start working as Leonel's secretary and the day goes mischievously ok until the break when she decides to run down to her favorite restaurant to have a second appointment with Romaine after conversing on phone last night, but Leonel calls her in his office.

With positive presumption she doesn't hesitate to answer his appeal as she hurriedly analyses her materials hoping to return sooner but arriving into his office, he shoves tons of files on his work table and she pauses in detestation to what her brain registered.

"I need proper reports registered for the meeting today"

She stares at him disgruntledly before taking in a full breath trying to watch away her unsettled imaginations with the knowledge that he can't mean this moment but as she bundles the files to leave he says "I want it done now!!" above his first pitch.

Well, this was so clear that her neurons quickly settled the information as she darted daggers towards his direction. Even the walls of the room and the air within felt her rage with a cold atmosphere that became bloodily tensed and heated up from the vapor that proceeded out of her tone but already suffocated skin.

"Do you realize I'm on break now?" she gathers words in less time but receives shots of an exaggeratedly impressed profile "I don't recall employing you here to have a break. You are my slave and must do everything I ask of you. So if you still need my responses, I bet you have the answers to it already. Now get back to work!"

She hesitantly jolts away trying to resist the urge of jamming the glass door behind her, rapidly moving towards her office through the corridors with a stone face and bubbling heart which she covers not to overflow, sliding past curious heads who keep peeking over her overly reddish and heated countenance.

As soon as she finds herself in her privacy she groans clashing the files against her table not caring if there's a second party around.

"That beast!!" she roars breathing heavily as a pull of waterfall.

"Calm down…calm down you got this" she tries condoning herself as she settles lazily on her seat with hands ruffling her hair into a mess.

Blowing her cheeks, she looks into one of the files but all she sees is blurriness due to the anxiety within her veins. Placing the file down she picks her phone and dials Romaine nom.

After two rings, he picks "Hey"

She gulps shutting her eyes trying to let out these disappointing words but it doesn't come out properly as she stammers "Hi…uh I-I"

"I get it. You can't make it right?"

"I truly apologize. This was never part of the plan trust me"

"You don't have to apologize about anything. I know how it could be sometimes. Just hope you're ok"

I wished

"Yeah…I'll be fine. What about you?" she inquires

"Like I said I understand this and do not expect you to rush over living your duty. I'll just order for lunch and munch while you hit your head at work"

She sucks her teeth and gulps as her stomach lets out a loud unpleasant sound making her so conscious of her state.

"Thank you so much for the reminder. I should hang up now before I end up eating you alongside the meal you will be served"

He giggles on the other side of the call as she hangs up.

Reckoning reflections of signaling her girls about a spoiled sunny day, her vision swiftly drafts to the restless piled document and she recalls Leonel's words.

"I want it done now!"

There's nothing more annoying and hurting than the notion of you being enslaved by someone, betrayed and abandoned by your family.

Tears threaten to fill her eyes but she fights them back positioning herself and straightening her spine to commence with her task.

**

Ciara prepares herself after taking permission from her generous boss to get her son from school.

Moving towards the parking lot, she receives a call from her mom and instantly responds moving towards the driver's seat.

"Mom I'm heading to get Jack"

"No don't, I fetched for him already"

"Already! That was quick. Thanks, mom" she stops her pace grinding widely

"Well that's not why I called"

"Is Jack alright mom? Tell me…what happened?" she panics hopping into her car.

"Ciara!"

"What happened, mom? Just tell me" her voice goes high as nervousness spread all through her.

"Will you just let me talk first!" her mom yells and she flinches

"He is safe…with me…for now"

"What do you mean for now?" she inquires in an uncomfortable state.

"Jake is in town and he came for Jack" her mom announces while she goes blank as thoughts of her past life cinemas before her.

"Hello"

"Ciara!"

"I'm coming right away" she ends the call before her mom objects and heats her engine then drives off.

**

Apriva sits on a chair directed by Jeol with a beautiful smile plastered on her look. It's break time and she decides to have lunch with one of the twins so she could tell him the truth.

He gracefully takes his seat, pulling it forward and gesticulating for the waiter to bring two menus.

In no time they are handed a well-dressed and designed menu with several food options. He barely takes more than a second to pick his preference while she is still in a scanning process. Waiting patiently so she makes her choice, she finally comes up with one and hands it to the waiter who respectfully receives it.

"You seemed unfamiliar with the list" he speaks first

"I do it because I merely eat in restaurants. Mostly make my meal which I got used to" he straightens his spine looking into her alluring eyes.

"We should have your meal sometime"

She recalls the main reason she accepted this lunch and renders a faint smile.

"Yeah we should…sometime but…there's something I need to tell you"

They are interrogated by the waiter who positions their command accordingly and a bottle of wine, while Joel reciprocates towards his plate and she stares at him blankly.

"I suggest we have our meal now. I'm so hungry and I know you are to" he digs into his plate like a predator on his prey.

Apriva blows her cheek in slight disappointment before going for her utensil which she uses to take up potatoes and green beans from her dish.

Peeking at him once in a while with tormenting guilt, she intentionally hits her fork on the breakable and he snaps his head towards her with folded brows.

"You're ok?"

"No I'm not" she quickly responds receiving wide eyes from him. He places down his tools and sips his wine before mentioning "Bring it on"

"Thank you. I-I am-" she freezes seeing his twin at the restaurant entrance.

He notices her pale face and follows her gaze towards his confused bro "Over here bro"

Turning back to her he apologizes "I'm sorry I didn't tell you my twin was coming but I felt it necessary to introduce you to him before he leaves"

The only person she was focused on was his twin whose eyes were stuck on hers with curiosity and fear. No time to conceive an excuse or hide. Anxiety grew in her and she began dripping in the stillness of breath, posture as well as her surroundings. Joel was probing her with the same feeling as his brother though he was out of knowledge about her abrupt morality.

She doesn't gaze away until he is a meter from her where she finds it impossible to proceed with her staring. she couldn't withstand the pain from his look. Joel motions his eyes towards his brother whose deep ocean eyes are stuck on hers and he instantly grips the message rolling his neck towards Apriva who is looking into her plate.

"You've been sticking around with my brother!?" Joel inquires disapprovingly and she yacks her head at him with a helpless visage.

"Tell him!" his brother speaks and he squints his eyes at her while she flinches after hearing that from his brother.

"Have you?" Joel persists "Yes! Yes, I have and I'm so sorry. I didn't know he wasn't you."

Joel falls his head in disappointment while his brother keeps eyes on Apriva with all seriousness "All these while I knew you were out of town" Joel let out giving his still brother a side look.

"I guess it's clear she has been the one stopping me from leaving"

Joel rapidly snaps his head at his brother looking up at him with narrowed eyes "No way! You can't have fallen for the woman I love" Apriva darts her eyes at Joel who is turning red

For the first time since he walked in, his gaze changes towards Joel in disbelieve. The realization hits Apriva that Joel just indirectly confessed to her.

"Love!? You do not know a thing about love"

"And how sure are you about that?"

He rolls his head towards Apriva who's chest doesn't cease to move and their eyes meet.

"How can you describe the feeling of being mad at someone so much so that you feel you want to hate them but hate the fact that you love the most"

"What's that even supposed to mean?" his brother askes looking between both of them.

Apriva is in full acknowledgment of the meaning of his statement as tears threaten to fill her eyes. She feels extreme joy at the same time stings from her heart because of how hurt he is and what's going to transpire hereafter will be history. She doesn't hope to get in between two brothers because Family comes first but little does she know he sees her more than just a family.

"Coming back to the statement you made, do you still think I know nothing about love?" Joel reproaches his brother and he goes blank

There is silence then his brother lets out "What do you have to say about this Apri"

Death is an understatement to what she prays happens to her now. Babbling with the thought of saying something which may end up hurting both of them, she sits silent.

"I don't suggest now as the right time to force words out of her mouth. She has to speak from her will with all consciousness"

"You have no idea how I feel right now so you shut the fuck up!"

Joel stares at his brother "How you feel! Is this about you? Oh! Sure it is about you. It's always about you"

"Do not take this personal buddy. This is none of your business!"

"Of course it is my business the way you talk to her. It's visible she is uncomfortable and needs time to process this"

"Stop being so touchy! I do care about her feelings and will always do so just let her speak. I wouldn't mind hearing anything she says"

"I doubt you wouldn't"

They throw daggers at each other and Apriva raises her voice above her normal tone enough for them to hear "Both of you need to put yourselves together right now! No one points fingers at anyone. I am the guilty one here"

They both bring their gazes to her in slight shock and confusion "I knew both of you were twin…I mean I discovered recently… but I didn't mean to keep it from any of you. Once again, I don't want to pull your relationships apart. I'm just a stranger-"

"Don't you ever say that again!" Joel stops her and she gulps "You're not a stranger to me. Were you even attentive to what I was saying?" he adds

"Apri…I wish we make this out for good but you have to tell me how you feel"

Joel shoots him another dangerous look which doesn't miss her gaze as she frankly and bitterly lets out "I do not feel anything other than embarrassment and hurt. This…all this is my fault! What part of it don't you all understand?"

"Apriva…" they both call seeing her in tears

"I'm sorry for the third time but I need to leave" she picks up her bag and rises. Joel does the same and she rushes away. He stops looking at his brother for a second then goes after her.

"Apriva!" he calls yet she doesn't slow her pace or makes a sign to stop.

"Please listen to me"

"I've listened to enough Joel! Just let me be!"

"I won't because I love you!" she stops her pace out of the restaurant and stares at the people around who stare at them instead of minding their business.

Joel's words couldn't go unnoticed and she knew she felt the same for him since she spent more time with him. Yet, she feels for his brother and won't want to hurt his feelings.

"I love you and will always do. I've never felt this way for anyone who trusts me. I-I just can't interpret these mixed emotions. But I know this isn't ordinary. I don't want you thinking it's your fault. I don't give a damn if you knew about this or not. All I want is you"

"You don't get it to do you?"

"I'm not sorry and I truly don't get it" he adds "I do understand how you feel right now but I don't want you feeling I will back down because of my brother. What's said is, I choose you over him and that's final"

She shakes her head disapprovingly "You can't choose me over him"

"I just did. He'll remain my family, brother, and blood but he'll never occupy the space I have in my heart for you."

"I need to go Joel…I have to" she walks away and he stands stiff watching her leave.

To be continued…