Chapter 3

Jason just finished his basketball practice at school. He’s a varsity and the point guard of their team that is going to compete in the upcoming league. Unlike James who is into academics and editorial writing, Jason is into sports and girls. He’s been playing basketball ever since he was a kid. Even though they are twins, you can clearly distinguish them from one another because Jason is more muscular and athletic. Also, James is wearing glasses and Jason has perfect vision.

As Jason was removing his shoes on a bench at the side court, a beautiful young lady with long blonde hair wearing a fitted skirt and cropped top approached him.

“How was practice?” Carla asked, handing Jason his favorite sports drink.

Jason shrugged his shoulders to reject the offer and continued untying his shoe laces. “Go away, Carla.” he said “Don’t you have cheerleading practice?”he asked, obviously annoyed. For eighty-four consecutive days, Carla has been trying to win Jason back by bringing him drinks after practice and bringing him home-cooked lunch at school that he has been rejecting ever since.

“I am the captain of the cheerleading team,” Carla said after placing the bottle on the space beside Jason. “I decide whether we practice or not. And today, I chose to cancel practice because I heard that you’ll be using the gym for training. Where do you wanna eat lunch? I suppose you haven’t eaten yet since you just finished four hours of training. You must be very hungry.”

Jason won’t even look at her. He put on his slippers, placed his shoes in his bag and wiped the sweat that has been dripping down his biceps. The light from the gym reflects through his sweat and emphasizes the shape of his muscles. Carla just couldn’t avoid staring at it.

“Come on,” she insisted, “My treat.”

Jason stood up and walked away, leaving the drink that Carla gave him. He didn’t even touch it. Carla grabbed the bottle and followed him out of the gymnasium, running just so she could keep up with his pace.

“Why do you keep doing this to me?” she asked, frustrated. She managed to overtake Jason and stop in front of him.

Jason paused and looked at Carla starting from her foot, up to her face. His eyes are glaring with exasperation. “Doing what?!” he asked, with a loud but deep tone of voice. “You’re the one who keeps on doing things I don’t even ask for.”

“Don’t you miss me?” Carla sweetly asked after grabbing Jason’s hands “We were together for two years.” She leaned in closer standing on her toes to reach Jason, her face is just a string away from his, her hands caressing his arms, grabbing firmly on his biceps as she breathed slowly. “How can you sleep at night knowing without me wrapped around you? Don’t you miss the heat of my body? Don’t you miss this? Because I miss you. I miss the way you touch me, the way your lips travel around my neck down my spine then slowly creeping back up to my lips. Don’t you miss the taste of my tongue?” She then steals a kiss from Jason but he quickly pushes her, almost making her lose her balance.

“Get it together, Carla!” he yelled “I cringe at the mere sight of you. Everytime I look at you, all I see is a criminal.”

“So you actually believe her?” She asked, pertaining to Geraldine. “What is still not clear to you? I wasn’t even in this country when that happened.”

“Well, who else wanted her dead?” He asked.

“I do want her dead, but do you think I could actually kill her?”

“I wouldn’t know. But being this desperate? I’d actually believe that you could do anything.”

Jason left Carla furious. She threw the bottle that she was holding and when it hit the ground, it cracked open, letting the fluid drain out to the floor. She has her hands on a ball of fist, gripping so tightly as she breathed in and out so heavily. Carla just wanted Jason back and she’s losing patience.

They have no classes that day and Jason just went to school for basketball practice so he went straight back home after. He decided to take a shower at home instead rather than in the men’s locker room. As he was walking down the street, he saw James and Geraldine walking on the other side of the street towards the opposite direction. He waved his hand to signal them and his twin saw him so they waved back. Jason ran and joined the two.

“Why are you so sweaty?” Geraldine asked.

“I was at school for training.” Jason answered. “The basketball league starts next month and the team needs to practice. Well, you know, we’re last year’s champions and we have to keep it that way.” then he smiled, after letting out a cute little laugh “So where are you two heading?” he asked

“We’re just gonna have lunch at a restaurant down the street. Do you want to join us?” she asked

“I would love to,” Jason immediately replied “But I’m all sweaty and,” he sniffed his armpits and the three of them laughed “I’m a little bit stinky so I just have to go home first to take a shower.”

“Why didn’t you just do it at school?” James asked.

“Well, you know,” Jason said “The brat is still bothering me. She brought me drinks this time. I didn’t accept it, as usual.”

“Why don’t you just tell her to stop?” James asked.

“What made you think that I didn’t do that already?” Jason replied. “She’s just too desperate. Anyway, I have to get going. I am straying long enough and I am getting farther and farther from the house. So um, just text me the location, ok? I’ll drive my way there if there’s still time left. I’ll use dad’s Volvo.”

Jason told the two that he’ll see them later before walking back home. James and Geraldine just continued strolling down the street. The restaurant that they’d be going to is just a few blocks away.

“Is Carla still bothering him?” Geraldine asked.

“Apparently, yes.” James replied. “That girl obviously doesn’t know when to stop.”

“Yea.” Geraldine sighed. “Undeniably, she’s still in love with Jason. Isn’t it a clear motive to kill Jess?”

James closed his eyes and exhaled a huge amount of air. Not again. He thought to himself. He has been trying to avoid the conversation ever since he just got out of one early this morning.