Short Story (Prose)

MY BROTHER

By: Shiro De Arimasu

Rio and I were different in all aspects, except our face and our parents. Yeah, we were identical twins. Unlike the other twins, I really hated this fate. I didn’t hate God, but I just didn’t like having same face with him.

My brother was a perfect boy, but I was bad. He always got first rank in the school, but I got the last. He schooled in the best high school in our city, yet I did not. He had many girls who admired him, but I didn’t have anyone. He always got everything he wanted, but I didn’t, including our parents’ affection. We were same, but we were so different.

We schooled in different place. My school lay beside Rio’s school. Everybody could seem the contrast. Mine was the worst school in our city, a place where bad boys and girls. Its students never minded about lesson, test, or future. In the other hand, Rio’s school was the best school in the city. The students there always seemed neat, clever, and smart, such as Rio. Our school was just separated by iron fence.

 A year ago, I had being fallen in love with a girl who schooled there. I didn’t know her name. I just knew she was very beautiful and adorable. When break time, she always sat on the chair under tree in the park of her school. I was too afraid just to say hello to her. I just could see her from fence from my school’s side.

This was a lazy Monday morning in winter. I could hear my mom called my name at a thousand times. I knew that I had to wake up and ended my dream about that girl. I felt so dizzy because I spent all night long playing game online.

My body couldn’t move from my bed. I tried to wake up and sat on my bed. “Yeah, I have woken up, Mom,” I said heavily.

I knew the consequence if I didn’t wake up as soon as possible when my mom called me. She would start comparing me with my brother. I really hated when she told about him and his achievements admiringly. My mom always thought he was the best son who she had, but I was not.

I took a towel and took a bath. Then, I wore my uniform and my shoes in disorder. I put my bag school. I opened my room’s door. Unlucky morning, I found Rio in front of my face!

He didn’t wear his uniform, and he was still in his pajamas and his blanket. He was sitting and watching on television. His face seemed so pale and listless.

I knew that he came back late last night. I didn’t know what he did last night in the cold winter.

“Are you sick?” I asked curiously, tried to begin conversation.

“It is not your business, Rei,” he answered flatly.

“Yeah, that’s why I can’t like you. You are annoying guy!” I barked.

I really felt regret why I had greeted him first. He had broken my morning. He was annoying boy I’ve ever known. I didn’t like him, and he did too.

I seldom saw him sick. He always kept his body health even though it was winter. I remembered the last he was sick was when we were ten years old. He wouldn’t let his lesson how difficult condition is. I guessed now he was so sick and really couldn’t go to his school.

Suddenly, I had a crazy idea. I just wanted to beg a chance to feel how he lived just for one day. I just wanted to go to that school and met that girl. I just wanted to know that girl’s name. I just wanted to talk with her once. I just wanted those. I promised, I didn’t beg anything else. The biggest problem was did he want to let me do these? I don’t think so.

Secretly, I went to clothes room on the second floor my house. I took his uniform and his warm jacket and wore it neatly as soon as I got that crazy idea. I combed my hair as Rio did. I went to school secretly without greeting my mom and my dad.

My heart beat so quickly. My breath was not stable. My knees shook uncontrollably. I encouraged myself, “This is first chance and the last for me to do that. All is well.  I believe that nobody can distinguish me and him, except my parents.”

Our school lay near from our home. Therefore, I just went there by walking.

Finally, I arrived at his school. I gazed around the school. I was looking for that girl and my (Rio’s) class while I was trying to control my heart beat which I thought it would break out.

There were three main buildings. I didn’t know which Rio’s class building. I just went straight without knew anything. I came into the biggest building. I watched many students wore uniforms neatly. Every student was bringing many books on their hands. It was very different with my school which every morning its students just felt lazy and gossiped with the others.

I gazed around. Many girls here were watching me admiringly. I knew that Rio was a popular guy. I was look like a celebrity who was walking along red carpet. My heart beat more calmly than before. At second moment, I enjoyed being Rio, popular guy in this school.

When I arrived at the corridor, I heard there was a voice called my brother’s name. I turned around to see the owner of voice. Unbelievable! That was a girl who I was looking for. My heart stopped for a while. I couldn’t breathe or move.

“Hei Rio, wait for me!” she smiled at me.

Oh my God, I could see her face clearly. How beautiful she was. She had long straight hair. She was a kind of beauty in the world. She was more beautiful than Korean actress, such as Song Hye Kyo or Jang Mi Ri who my mom always watched on TV every evening.

I couldn’t say anything. My mouth became freeze. My knee was shaking quickly. She knew me, I meant Rio.

“Why do you look at me like that? I am scared hihihi,” she laughed crunchy. “Let me guess! You couldn’t sleep tightly because of what happened yesterday, isn’t it? That was unforgettable moment that I have. And you?”

I was shocked. What have happened yesterday?  I didn’t know. I was not Rio, but I was Rei. I didn’t know what I had to say or just to call her name. I didn’t know anything.

“Rio, what’s wrong? Is there anything wrong with me?”

“Oh no, I’m just… I’m just… thinking how beautiful you are,” I said awkwardly. Oh my God, what have I done? My cheek became so red. I could hear my heart beat more loudly.

“Hahaha… Really? Thank you,” her face became so red too. “Rio, I have to say something to you after school. Please meet me behind the school building.”

“What will you say to me? Can you tell me now?” I asked so curiously.

She was thinking for awhile, “Ehemm… Ok. Let me tell you. I was very happy when you asked me for watching movie together last night and also when you gave me your jacket to make me warmth last night. I am happy because you were not sick because of what you did last night. Uhmm… I have thought I want to be your girlfriend as you have asked me last night. I can’t believe that you have chosen me of the other girls here who admire you.”

My heart stopped beating for awhile. There was thunder exploded me and made my world become so dark. I could not make a sound.

“Rio, what’s going on? Are you sick? Or I have said something wrong? I am sorry… I don’t know. I just….”

“I… I love you, but I can’t be with you because I am not…,”

“Ok. I get the point. I’m sorry. I’m so shy because of this chaos. I don’t deserve to be your girlfriend,” she cut quickly.

“No, no… I am not...,” I couldn’t make a sound. I just wanted to say that I WAS NOT RIO.

Her tears fell from her eyes. She ran away. I just could see her back.

The ringing of the school bell made me realize it was not dream. I saw all of students come into their classes.

I couldn’t think anything, I just wanted to run and run as far as I can and as fast as I can until I arrived at the river.

I saw my face on the snowy river. I hated myself more than I hated Rio. I realized I am a loser. I had made her cry. Rio more deserved her than me. Rio was popular and she was beautiful. He was more appropriate.

I realized that sometime love was like domino game which I always played every night. I fell for her, but she fell for someone else.

I went home. I didn’t find my parents anywhere, but there was Rio in the living room had waited for hitting my face.

He beat up me as he pleased. I fell down on the carpet and I could feel my blood from my nose. I didn’t against. I thought I deserve these.

“Why do you don’t beat me back, Jerk? You are loser!” Rio barked me.

“I deserve it. I realize I am loser. Hit me again!” I said. “HIT ME!!!” I screamed as loud as I can.

“You are fool! I do this to make you realize that if you want anything you have to try by yourself. I was so angry with you because of what you did to me and Kate. But, I was disappointed with you who are envy of me. Why you don’t try by yourself to be better than me!” he screamed at my face. “You are my brother, but you treat me like your enemy,” he stopped beating me.

“It’s because you treat me cruel,” I cried. “I was envy with you. You always get everything you want, including our parents’ affection and also Kate’s love!”

“Fool! You are my only brother. I always expect you and me can study and play together, but I always think there is far distance between us even though we are in the same home” he cried. “I was not angry because you love Kate. We can be a rival if you want, although we are brothers,” he continued. His tears fell from his eyes. In my memory, it was first time I saw him cried. I never knew that a perfect person also could cry.

“Don’t be envy of me, please. I believe you can do and get I had if you want to try.”

I just kept silent and felt listless. I didn’t know he thought about me like that. I had wrong judgment toward him.

I hold him tightly. ”I am so sorry.”

“Never mind,” he said sincerely.

My mom went home and was angry when she looked all chaos.

After that, I begged Kate’s phone number from my brother. I phoned her and told her the truth. I apologized to her and she forgave me.

Now, Kate and I became friend. Moreover, I realized that Rio was more than just a brother and friend who was always ready to share my problems. He also became my teacher who taught me anytime.