Disclaimer: FBNFH belongs to its rightful owners
Chapter 4: Denial
"Are you sure you're not going on a date?"
Rein saw herself scowl at the mirror before turning to her twin sister. "No, I'm not. Bright just asked me to accompany him to the mall so he can hear my opinion about the food places he wanted to visit there."
Scratching her chin as she emitted a humming sound, Fine took a step closer to her. "Why are you applying make-up again?"
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Rein slipped her lipstick inside her bag. A laugh in her throat, she explained, "Fine, I do this every day after school. Since you most likely don't know this, we call it retouch. In fact, this is a routine all high school girls do after class. Since it has been a long day, I have to reapply make-up to make sure that I still look as fresh as I am early in the morning. If you're now interested, I can tell you what brands of make-up work magic."
Sadly, the other girl didn't look the least bit intrigued. "I am aware of what you and the other girls do in the CR after class. Contrary to what you may think, I don't live under a rock. And I would rather use my savings to buy cake instead of clothes and cosmetics."
Is that aggravation in her voice? Perhaps Rein should stop lecturing Fine like a doting older sister. But seriously, that girl should change her ways. Seeing her gobble up piece after piece of cake without worrying about the possibility of gaining weight makes her cringe. Girls their age must start giving more attention to their appearance! And it's not just because of boys, mind you. One should always leave a good impression on others. In order to do that, she must exert more effort in making herself look more presentable.
The sound of water dripping down the sink brought her attention back to her twin sister. "If you're constructing another spiel in your head of the reasons why I should act more girly," she spat out the last word like it left a bad taste in her mouth as she washed her hands, the only thing she does to freshen up after class dismissal, "keep it in your mind. You already know that I'm not going to listen, anyway."
Rein waved her hands dismissively. "Alright. I can't expect you to have the same interests and hobbies after all."
"Oh, and before it slips my mind," Fine segued, folding her arms in her chest to adopt a no-nonsense look. "What exactly is your relationship with Bright?"
"We're just friends," the answer came out immediately. She inwardly congratulated herself when she managed to look at her twin's carmine eyes.
"He asked you to go out to the mall with him, right?"
She nodded.
"Just you and him?"
A moment of hesitation took over as she considered Fine's choice of words. Ultimately, she nodded, internally cursing Fine for making it a big deal when it must just be another hangout with a friend in Bright's perspective.
The sly smile the other girl gave her made the bluenette feel like she was looking at a mirror. "So why can't this be called a date?"
Rein's mouth twitched. She wanted to frown and shout at her that no, this is not a date, please believe me but that would be the reaction that Fine was expecting.
"You're thinking it over, aren't you?"
Feeling exposed, Rein broke their eye contact. "A girl going out with her male friend isn't automatically called a date."
"I think I heard you saying otherwise to Toma and Chiffon when they had lunch together in a restaurant," Fine reminded her, the cheeky grin on her face telling her who's winning.
The other twin let out a frustrated sigh. The urge to bolt out of the room and escape Fine's persistent questioning was strong, but giving in to it would make her a hypocrite. Most of the time, she would be the one in Fine's position; relentlessly quizzing her friends about their relationships with their crushes.
She gazed up at the ceiling in an effort to find a response that can finally shut her up without getting distracted by the redhead's annoying expression. "As I said earlier, Bright wanted to try out the food in the mall. But of course, eating there alone won't be fun so he needed a friend to tag along. Which is why he asked me, and I, being a helpful friend, agreed to accompany him to the mall. In case you still don't know for some reason, friends-"
"Okay, okay, I get the picture! Jeez, you don't need to explain it to me like I'm an idiot!"
"Thank you for finally understanding. So will you now leave me alone?" With that, Rein was about to leave the comfort room, not wanting to make Bright wait any longer.
"One thing is bothering me, though."
Gritting her teeth, Rein whirled around to find a very smug redhead.
"Why are you so defensive?"
The bluenette glared at her. "Anyone would be so defensive if you kept bugging them about their relationships with their friends when it's as clear as day that there's nothing going on between them!"
At the tone of her voice, Fine dropped her grin. Her face was now composed as she said, "My twin sister taught me this..."
Should I feel happy that she actually listens to me? Hmm... Probably not.
Because something told her that she's not going to like what will come out of Fine's mouth.
"She said that when someone's being defensive, there's probably something they want to keep as a secret."
Rein struck her forehead with her palm. If only she had known in advance that it would bite back at her someday, she wouldn't make it her job to mess with her friends. She couldn't help it; she had the time of her life making them flustered and splutter. And now, she could just imagine how much Fine enjoyed doing this. Talk about karma.
"Getting a taste of your own medicine, huh?"
If looks could kill, Fine would be nothing more than a charred corpse by now at the intense glower she was receiving. "You better shut your mouth or else, Fine..."
She hoped her face looks scary enough to make the other girl back off. But alas, despite being creeped out by Rein's gleeful expression earlier in the morning, her usually scaredy-cat of a twin sister proceeded to dig her own grave.
"Come on, tell me the truth!" Fine bounced up and down like a child eager to hear a bed-time story. "I won't tell anyone!"
"Oh, Fine...," Rein mumbled as she leaned her back against the wall wearily.
Thankfully, the redhead wasn't as dense as she initially seemed to be as it only took one look at the bluenette's face for her to know when it's the time to stop.
Her earlier excitement vanishing, Fine placed her hands on her sister's shoulders. "To tell you the truth, I didn't believe you when you told me that you had gotten over Bright."
Rein shook her head. "It was only a silly crush. Why won't you believe me?"
"I won't after seeing the way you look at Bright," she explained. "You should stop denying it. I may not know much about these kinds of stuff, but I'm sure that's not healthy."
"Bright only sees me as a friend...," Rein berated herself for failing to mask the longing in her voice.
"Just give him time and he'll know what an amazing girl you are!" The smile the forever clueless girl gave her was so warm anyone even in the gloomiest mood will be influenced to smile back but she couldn't force herself to do it. Not when part of the source of the aching feeling in her chest is her twin sister.
"I've been trying to strike up a decent conversation with Fine, but whenever I am near her, I feel jittery. I didn't know what to say to her all of a sudden," Bright had said earlier. "I hope I'll be able to start one that will not make me humiliate myself if I have a significant knowledge of the sweets Fine loves so much."
Rein wanted to lash out at her, tell Fine how mad she is at her for not having any idea of how lucky she is. However, she wanted Bright to be the one to say it to her so she had to keep silent, even if she was dying to spit the words out.
"I am so pathetic, right? Not having the guts to talk to my crush. But if I were able to do just that, I'd feel very happy."
She was angry at both of them, she realized. At Fine, for being dense. At Bright, for also being painfully dense. Two people who are both somehow ignorant of the crushes certain people harbor for them. Those two are definitely a match made in heaven. If she was in a far better mood, she would get a good laugh at that entertaining thought.
She had been trying to keep this horrible feeling, this jealousy, in her chest for so long but now, it's threatening to burst like a balloon filled with too much air. Her sister's obliviousness was no longer a shield sturdy enough against the chaos in her heart. She didn't hate her sister for gaining his affection without even trying, though. She would never hate her.
She's just freaking jealous.
Thankfully, she was saved from unleashing words she'll surely regret later. It was a double-edged sword however; Fine apparently thought this was the perfect opportunity to drop another bomb on her.
"And if Bright really wasn't the right guy for you, there's Shade."
Shade.
As if moving on to another guy could easily make the rejection she felt disappear. She knew Fine merely wanted her to cheer up but the redhead should know better and keep her mouth shut around topics she's helplessly clueless about.
Shade?
"W-What do you mean Shade?"
"There's Shade!" Fine chirped delightfully as if she just figured out how to solve a complex math problem- which happened as often as she found solutions in boy problems like this. "He likes you, doesn't he?"
"Huh?" Rein placed her hand on her chest -her heartbeat had increased when his name was mentioned. That's... "Ridiculous. I think he likes Mirlo."
Fine was wrong. Of course, Fine would be wrong. Anyway, why was she discussing this like she's an expert on this... headache-inducing (Fine's words, not hers) girl talk? Fine was the one who always tries to avoid it whenever Rein brought it up. And of course, Shade liked Mirlo. The two had already seemed to be at ease with each other at such a short period of time. Rein thought he probably liked girls who were quiet but insanely talented. Girls like Mirlo.
And not girls like Rein.
That thought was supposed to make her feel happy. Happy for Mirlo. Yet, she didn't feel any positive emotion about it.
With a displeased grunt, she filled her hands with water from the faucet and splashed it over her face.
"Rein, you've just applied makeup!"
Ignoring her, Rein instead took out a couple of tissues to dry her face and erase the modest makeup she applied for the day. Might as well stop giving Fine any indication that she wanted Bright to like her back.
She pushed her red-headed sister's hands away from her shoulders. "Shade doesn't like me, Fine. Where did you get that idea?"
"What? You haven't noticed?" Fine asked, her eyebrows rising up to almost her hairline. "D-Do you know how he looks at you? For Princess Grace's sake, you're the only one who can make him laugh!"
Rein took a step back and stared dumbly at her sister. "You noticed that?"
Fine crossed her arms, seemingly insulted at her sister's curt remark. "Of course! I'm your twin sister!"
The bluenette shook her head. She shouldn't listen to Fine. Bright would never truly like her back and Shade absolutely didn't have feelings for her. Even if Altessa told her that she's the girl Bright needed. Even if Shade actually laughed and smiled more whenever she's around him.
Bright wanted nothing more than for Fine to like him back and Shade would develop feelings for Mirlo eventually.
"Look, Rein," Fine took a step forward to place her hands on her sister's shoulders once again. "I just wanted you to be happy."
"If you want me to be happy, shut your mouth!" Rein snapped. Fine was such a clueless idiot it's infuriating. This wasn't the first time she wished for a twin who held the same interests as her. Fine would have never gotten her feelings in disarray if she had been more like Rein. "You're the last person to encourage my feelings for people who would never see me as more than a friend! Just go back to talking about food, that's what you're good at!"
She tried hard to ignore the guilt bubbling in her stomach upon seeing Fine's hurt look. But this was all her fault. If only she knew better...
"I'm only looking after you!" The redhead retorted, her voice getting slightly brittle.
"Well, I don't need your concern!" Rein blurted out. Her eyes widened in horror after realizing the hateful words she had just said. She bowed her head shamefully. "Look, I don't want us to fight..."
"Me too," Fine agreed quietly. "Can we forget this happened?"
"No, we can't!" Doing that will only make it worse. These feelings will only grow with time and sooner or later, she will have to let them all out and Fine will know everything. Who knows how she will react?
"It's okay, Rein." Fine looked at her with kind and patient eyes the other immediately knew that she can't refuse. "Bright is waiting for you."
"Rein, do you also like sweets?" Bright asked as they made their way inside the mall.
"Nope. I'd stand aside to let Milky be Fine's number one rival in eating any day, thank you," Rein answered as she gripped the strap of her bag tightly in an attempt to calm her nerves. Why she was feeling nervous, she couldn't fathom.
"Really? I find that hard to believe." At her questioning look, he added, "As twins, wouldn't the two of you pick up on the habits of the other?"
"I don't think that's gonna happen anytime in the future," Rein said with an amused snort. "Fine is particularly possessive when it comes to her food. Her gluttony won't allow her to share her beloved sweets with me even if she had, like, a big box of them. While I may be a bit...selfish when it comes to lending her my jewelry."
The blond let out a chuckle at that, and Rein tried hard to block the thought that his laugh sounded like music in her ears.
Dear pathetic Rein, this is just some casual strolling in the local mall with a friend. Remember, you almost had a fight with Fine over this.
She looked at the floor with downcast eyes as the scene replayed itself in her mind. The buoyant disposition she tried to maintain was gone.
"You alright, Rein?"
The girl blinked repeatedly before looking up to meet her companion's worried eyes. "Y-yeah..."
"Is something the matter?" Was Bright's response to her sad excuse of an assurance.
"Um..." Inwardly chastising her mouth's sudden inability to produce sensible words, she settled for the second option to get away from this awkward atmosphere: through actions. So she took his wrist and started dragging him.
With no specific store in mind.
Taking note of this, she scanned the several shops lined inside the mall with utmost urgency. Luckily, she found one that must have something to do with sweets. Well, if its name had a relation to what it does, then Sugary Sweet is definitely the ideal place. "There! Let's go there!"
The first thing that crossed Rein's mind upon entering is the sheer number of students wearing the same uniform as them littering the establishment.
Rein pouted in dismay after giving the place a once-over. "Too bad it's full..."
"Don't lose hope yet," Bright prodded optimistically. "Look there! Shade might share a table with us."
Despite the blond's contagious enthusiasm, Rein was rooted to the spot.
Of all the people she least expected to see amidst the gaggle of students inside the cafe, Shade would be at the top of the list. From what she knew of him, he was not one to spend after class in the mall. Of course she didn't expect him to consistently go straight to his home everyday but she had hoped she would not bump into him today. She would bet her precious collection of jewelry what he's going to ridicule her about.
She peered at the other tables for a possibility to avoid Shade's unwanted scrutiny and teasing.
Bright noticed her tenacious search for other available tables. "Are you getting shy around Shade now? You're friends with him too, am I right?"
"Yeah, but-" Rein took one last glance around her but Shade, who sat by himself, is the only one who had two free seats in his table.
Well, this proved Shade's claims of not having or having interest in getting a girlfriend. If she had known he had plans to go to a cafe, she would have pushed Mirlo to accompany him. So lost was she in her thoughts that she didn't immediately register Bright taking her hand and leading her to Shade.
Strange... Before, she was as attentive as a cat when it came to anything related to the blond.
She pushed that thought at the back of her mind to be examined when she got home later. For now, she had to think of an efficient way to handle her current predicament.
Like anyone else, Rein didn't want to look like a bumbling fool in front of people. Especially two gorgeous guys. And it's not just because she had a crush on them.
Correction: one of them.
She must have momentarily slipped out of the real world because the next time she blinked, she suddenly found herself staring at a pair of neutral blue eyes. And in the corner of her eye, Bright had already taken a seat. When did that happen?
"I always knew you were so charming, Bright, but I didn't expect it would come to the point where your date was already in dreamland when you haven't eaten yet." Yeah, this was typical Shade all right. Bringing it up in front of Bright immediately.
The other guy let out a good-natured laugh. "Don't be such a tease, Shade. I think Rein has had enough of your pestering." Turning his twinkling eyes at her, he pulled a chair beside him. "Come take a seat and ignore that awful prick."
Her frown morphing into a smile in an instant, she restrained the urge to hug the guy. Instead, she sat across the other bluenette. Finally, someone gets it! There was a reason why she crushed on him.
Unfortunately, Shade seemed to be set on destroying the mood. He must not have appreciated being called awful even if it's true. "And yet, you didn't deny your date with her."
"I was still thinking about how to convince you that it's definitely not," Bright reasoned, "and this is what I can tell you: two people of opposite genders going out to the mall isn't necessarily called a date. Perhaps they are just friends?"
Rein almost, almost swooned. Thank God there's someone in the same wavelength with her!
Shade, on the other hand, looked utterly unconvinced. Oh, she was absolutely going to erase all skeptical thoughts in his head before they exit the coffee shop. "Enough with the small talk. I want something to drink now."
The blonde cocked an eyebrow at his male friend's peeved tone but didn't address it. "I'll buy our food and drinks. What are you going to order, Rein?"
"Um, I'll have a...," she drew out the last word while she briefly reviewed the menu, "a caffe latte and a blueberry swirl cheesecake."
"And you, Shade?"
The aforementioned guy blinked twice as if he was lost in his thought. "Just a matcha latte."
And with that, Bright left Rein with a sour-faced bluenette and an awkward atmosphere.
Once the blonde was out of earshot, Shade propped his elbows up on the table and placed his chin on his hands. He stayed in that position for what seemed like eternity while his eyes followed Bright as he joined the line of customers waiting to place their orders at the counter.
Normally, Rein preferred a silent Shade than an impish one. Just this time though, she would like to have the latter instead. Anything but that hard face who was suddenly treating her like a stranger who just happened to accompany his friend.
She couldn't, for the life of her, comprehend why he won't acknowledge her. Did she do something wrong? If she were to guess, it must have something to do with her mouth. There must be something she said earlier that irked him. Or maybe, he just had a bad day.
She let out a long breath. God, this feels so awkward she was getting this shaky, uncomfortable feeling...
As if getting bored of watching customers leaving the counter after a few minute delay, his eyes abandoned the dull spectacle and went to her.
Rein looked away so quickly it was almost like it was done on instinct. In an attempt to evade the tension that surrounded their table, she found herself watching a couple, a very cute one at that, sitting at the corner and chatting animatedly.
"You know, for someone who's having her much-awaited dream date, I'd expect at least a little enthusiasm." Finally, her companion decided to speak. "I don't think your Bright is going to appreciate you staring longingly at another couple."
That sure was a very effective attention grabber, if the way her eyes darted to him while she clenched her fist was any indication. It was an unethical one, however, as it made her want to strangle him even if they were currently in a public place.
"We are just friends, darn it! Bright told you already! Ugh, when will everybody wrap their minds around that?"
Infuriatingly, all she got from him is a quirked eyebrow. "Huh." And what's up with that reply?
She knew she should shut her mouth before she says something she will regret but there's something in his face that spurred her on.
"Bright likes Fine, not me. And I want to help him get her attention since that stupid girl's as dense as marble," she blurted out, her hands shakily gripping the edge of the table. "He thought the best way to start is to know more about the thing that Fine's so passionate about-and you already know what that is- so he can gain some sort of connection with her. That's why we are here."
Shade blinked once. Then twice. And then, his mouth fell open and Rein wasn't sure how to react- should she pinch herself to make sure that she's not dreaming or take a picture of this rare moment for future blackmail?
Nah, I think it's better to do none of the above.
She didn't want to make him angry-there's something about the calm and collected ones that she didn't want to get on the wrong side of. And she definitely didn't want to look like an idiot. Especially not in front of Shade.
As if it just dawned on him what he did, he straightened in his seat and covered his mouth with his hand. And for reasons unknown, his shoulders started shaking.
She didn't know what to think. "Are you...laughing?"
Snorting, Shade removed his hand from his mouth and placed it on the table, the expression on his face swiftly reverting to his default impassive one. "Bright's being a moron again, that's all."
Not knowing what to think, she merely stared at him with wonder. She really needed to take a few pointers on how to put her expressions back under control at the drop of a hat from him.
"So you don't really like Bright," he said in a matter of fact tone. Although he sounded like he was only talking about the weather, she detected relief in his voice. Though what he was relieved about she doesn't know.
"Yeah. You better believe that," she told him tersely.
"Good riddance," he grumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"Forget it," Shade asserted, turning away to look at the people standing near the counter. "It's good you're over him. Anyone who is not dense can tell you'll just get hurt in the end if you keep pursuing him."
"I know," Rein agreed, managing a sanguine smile despite still feeling unsure if she's actually moved on. Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind. "Before I forget, is there really not anyone you've got the hots for? 'Cause all you need to do is to say her name and my matchmaking will do its magic!"
"I don't have a hopeless crush on some unlucky girl like that Bright," he answered dryly, still not looking at her.
"Oh come on! You've been getting even moodier lately! Based on my observations of guys with the same disposition, the best solution to your personality problem is getting a girlfriend!"
Halfway through her inspirational speech, she had placed her hand over his without thinking. When Shade turned to her, he looked as surprised as she was.
"Wow, you two sure...bonded," Bright barged in their conversation, smiling his trademark bright (no pun intended) smile. In his hands was a tray laden with snacks and drinks. There was a glint of...something in his eyes.
Feeling her cheeks flush, Rein removed her hand from Shade's as if it was on fire. The other bluenette scoffed and looked sideways, folding his arms on his chest.