FOURTH'S / ROCHEVEL JAVINENDO'S POV
"Um, why did you join us today?" I questioned him this time, hoping for a good answer.
"I won't win if I don't play the last level. Anyway highway, enough with the interrogation, okay? It's not like I'm a star but get yo heads flippin'!"
"D*mn bastard," I heard Brenille mutter. It was a good thing that Thirzen didn't hear him.
I lowered my head. If I only knew it was like this, I wish my twin brother and I hadn't played. I wish he were still alive with me.
I am a high school student and so is my twin brother, Rochedan. When my brother got a girlfriend, I was very happy for him. Many things changed in him when he met the girl. He became more inspired, more responsible, and more hardworking. I wish nothing but for their happy relationship to last because my brother deserves to be loved. Several months passed, and my brother wasn't in his usual shape. Her girl broke up with him. That was his greatest heartbreak.
I grieved when my grandma died. Then, suddenly, my father is also sick. It was hard for us to live far from our parents now that we had lost our grandma. Temporarily, I only have my brother to be with. I hope that our father and mother can come back to our home so that our father can start his medical treatment, and we will take care of him. I couldn't care less about our finances as long as we are together. We have financial constraints for the medical treatment of the two, especially Papa.
I stopped doing theater arts workshops because of that. I decluttered and sold some of my stuff to buy my school supplies. Since I love cooking, I would also like to cook some snacks and sell them at school so my brother and I wouldn't ask for allowance from our parents. Using my grandma's recipe, my customers will surely buy from me. After their breakup, my brother is eager to study harder to get a scholarship at one of the top universities that our parents want us to attend.
"Ma, Pa! I passed the exams and got a full scholarship. Yahoo!" My brother reported his success to our parents during the video call.
"Wow! I knew you would ace it." Pa is so happy while he's in the hospital for a checkup.
"Well done, Dadan! We are so proud of you. We'll surely go home to see you all before your enrolment starts." Ma cried out in happiness.
I couldn't forget their joyous faces. It is like we never had a problem to begin with. I would like to cherish their happy faces. I would love to see them every day like this.
"How about you, Vevel? You took the exam and submitted your papers, right?" Ma asked me.
I came back to my senses when I heard Ma's question. "U-Um, yes Ma."
"How was it?" Pa asked.
"It was…" I looked at my brother, he nodded. I sighed. "I did not get in. I passed the college entrance exams, but I didn't make the cut for the limited slots scholarship I was aiming for."
My brother applied for an athletics scholarship, while I applied for the academic excellence scholarship. My previous grades and leadership portfolio weren't enough; that's why I didn't make it.
I held the button of my polo uniform. My eyes are tearing. It was too heavy to share the bad news with them. I don't want to see their smiles fade on their faces.
I got startled when my Pa is clapping his hands. "Good job! Congratulations, Vevel and Dadan! You both made us proud by going to the university that we have wished for!"
"That's right! We cannot wait to see you all again." Ma giggled while hugging Pa.
"Dadan, no girlfriend until you finish college, okay? You have learned your lesson. Vevel, you did great, okay? So, process your enrolment papers as early as you can. The slots in that university sell like pancakes." Our Pa instructed us. "Don't worry. Ma and I will handle the rest. Just focus on your studies and take care of yourselves until we get there." They both smiled. I cried.
Yes, I am weak and cry a lot over simple things. I am very sensitive, that's why my brother is overprotective of me. There is no solution to crying, but I can let go of my emotions. This has been my way of releasing my emotions. May it be a happy, woeful, scary, or disgusting feeling. My grandma taught me to cry out the things that I cannot express well. This is my form of escape and face my problems again with a stronger version of myself. Crying won't resolve a problem, but it can lessen the pain.
There will be another game, but this will be the last onee. I am thankful that I became close with Heavien, and she's close with First because I see that they are great players of this tri-games. Brenille and Trake are quick-witted too, but I don't think they would want to be close with me, who's weak. My brother and I support each other to survive by him protecting me and me giving him the information I gathered from other people, especially from First and Heavien for us to survive this game.
I feel like crying again. My beloved brother is gone. No one will comfort and protect me from now on. Whenever I miss my brother, I just look at myself in the mirror. Having an identical twin can be useful at times like this. I'm still grateful that Heavien is still with me, but Myriana… she left us, too. I miss her so much. Her puns, the way she teases me, and how she lightens up the mood. I can't be all by myself, but I also can't let my brother's death be in vain. Big bro, Ma, Pa, Myriana, help me. Please guide me and Heavien.
What should we do?