Twins (2)

Sabrina didn't miss his unease. She took another step forward, completely invading Ben's personal space. "So, what do you say? It'll be fun. Hugo's going to be there too." She played with a strand of Ben's hair, a gesture meant to be affectionate but mostly a way to assert dominance.

The mention of Hugo seemed to reassure Ben a bit. Hugo was his friend, and the prospect of having someone familiar at the party eased his nervousness slightly. He managed a timid smile. "Alright, I guess it could be fun..."

Sabrina smiled triumphantly. "Perfect! I knew you'd say yes." She gave him one last lingering look before turning away. "See you later, Ben. Get ready to have some fun.~"

Ben watched her leave, and once she was out of sight, he finally let himself relax, letting out a deep sigh of relief.

After a few moments of thought, Ben turned toward the path Kaiser had taken. Just then, he received a text.

*[Kaiser: Look at how you're shaking, you're such a wimp 😂]*

Ben laughed. "Asshole..." he muttered to himself.

Tonight was definitely shaping up to be more eventful for him than expected. Maybe he'd finally wash away the shame of that diarrhea incident!

***

The gym echoed with the sound of balls hitting the floor, shoes squeaking on the hardwood, and voices rising, punctuated by the coach's encouragement and instructions. The overhead lights illuminated every detail with almost cruel precision. Teenagers sprinted across the court, passing and shooting, their bodies tense with effort.

Among them, one figure stood out distinctly. A teenage girl with short black hair, her slightly wavy strands bouncing with every movement. Sweat beaded on her forehead, forming tiny droplets that slid down her temples. Her eyes, focused and piercing, locked onto the hoop at the other end of the court. The rest of the world faded as she prepared to shoot.

With a fluid motion, she dribbled one last time before leaping into the air, her body seemingly defying gravity. Her face, marked by effort, remained serene, as if this moment was just a formality. She released the ball with perfect precision. It spun through the air, following an impeccable trajectory, before gliding through the net without even grazing the rim. Three points.

At that exact moment, the final whistle blew, signaling the end of practice. The sound was immediately followed by exclamations from the other players some relieved, others disappointed they hadn't seized that last opportunity.

She landed softly, her feet touching the ground with surprising lightness.

"I still lost," she murmured to herself.

Her breath was quick but controlled, the only visible sign of the effort she'd just exerted.

Without hesitation, she headed to the bench on the side of the court, where she sat, leaning her back against the wall. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting her body recover, savoring the relative silence after the noise of practice.

Shortly after, another girl joined her, her hair tied in pigtails, plopping down heavily beside her. The resemblance between them was striking, so much so that they seemed almost identical. Yet, there were subtle differences. While Kathy maintained a detached, almost cold expression, her twin sister breathed loudly, still winded from practice, an overflowing energy in her eyes.

"Wow, Kathy," Katrina said, wiping sweat from her forehead, her tone slightly teasing, "I beat you again, didn't I? You've never been as fast as me, but today, I completely outdid you in everything."

Kathy turned her head toward her, staring for a moment before responding in a flat voice, contrasting with her sister's enthusiasm. "Congratulations, Katrina. I'm thrilled for you."

Katrina didn't seem bothered by her sister's response. She was used to her reserved temperament. "Come on, don't make that face!"

"What face?" Kathy replied with a shrug, her tone unchanged.

Katrina observed her for a moment, an amused smile on her lips. "I don't know how you stay so stoic all the time. How do you feel about this school? Not bad, right?"

Kathy merely raised an eyebrow before looking away, clearly uninterested in the conversation.

"Hmm, if you say so."

Letting silence fall between them, the two sisters sat for a few more moments, catching their breath. Eventually, Kathy stood up, grabbing her sports bag with deliberate efficiency. "I'm going to change," she stated simply, before heading to the locker room.

When Adrian, with his three buddies, blocked her path.

"Hey, you up for—"

"Get out of my way, loser..."

In the locker room, Kathy quickly shed her sweat-soaked sports clothes, stuffing them into her bag. She then stepped into the shower stall, letting the hot water cascade over her skin, soothing her tired muscles. Practice had been intense, but she felt neither pride nor particular satisfaction. While Katrina loved basketball, Kathy played it too, but for her, sports were just a routine, a necessary discipline to keep her body in shape, without any emotional attachment.

After drying off, she slipped into black leggings and a comfortable gray sweater. She glanced in the mirror, briefly adjusting her ponytail before turning away, ready to leave the gym.

As she exited the locker room, she found Katrina waiting for her, already dressed in casual sportswear, ready to go. "You ready?" Katrina asked. "The driver's on his way, he'll be here in a few minutes."

Kathy shook her head gently. "No, I'm taking the bus today. I need some fresh air, a bit of a walk before heading home."

Katrina looked at her for a moment, slightly surprised. "You sure? It's chilly out, and you must be tired. We could go together, it won't take long."

"I'm sure."

"Alright, but be careful, the area's not too safe. Text me when you get home, okay?"

Kathy simply nodded before slinging her sports bag over her shoulder and pulling out her earbuds. She placed them in her ears and turned on the music, letting familiar melodies flood her mind, creating a barrier between her and the outside world. She stepped out of the gym.

Twilight enveloped the city in a soft, almost melancholic glow as she walked.

Finally, she arrived at the bus stop.