CLARK
I saw Erin walk away from the group, her hurried steps catching my attention. The concerned look on her face made my heart skip a beat. I knew her well enough to know that she believed something terrible was about to happen. Ignoring the laughter emanating from the group, I instinctively followed her with my eyes.
As she disappeared around a corner, I hesitated, torn between staying with the group and checking on Erin. Curiosity got the better of me, and I slowly backed away, using the excuse of adjusting my jacket to start making my way towards her.
"Hey, Clark!" Jessica's voice rang out, snapping me back to reality. I turned to face her, forcing a smile onto my face as I tried to mask the concern swirling within me.
"Don't ever think about it; I know what you're up to, Jessica," I said seriously, but everyone just laughed as if I was joking.
"Ugh, we're just trying to help you, Clark," Jessica slurred, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, I dare, oh! I mean, we dare you to kiss Erin on the lips," she said while handing me the cup with vodka in it.
"You don't have to do this, Clark; don't force yourself to do what they want, and you might regret it in the end," Klaus, my twin, whispered to me as he noticed my hesitation. His concern was evident on his face.
"No, I won't do it," I answered with determination in my voice as I immediately drank the vodka, but everyone just laughed again.
"Didn't I tell you guys, he's a coward?" My ex-girlfriend Sophie, who was next to Jessica, laughed. Her words stung, but I refused to let her mockery dictate my actions.
"He never kissed me once; he's a virgin and a coward too!" Sophie proudly announced to the group, her eyes fixated on me. She smirked, feeling content with the act of humiliation she had just performed. Waves of laughter erupted from our friends, and as the laughter echoed around the group, I felt my face burn with embarrassment. Sophie, with her confident smirk, seemed to revel in her ability to humiliate me. My heart sank as I realized this was just another scheme to boost her ego, tearing me down in the process.
"He's too afraid to even touch a girl!" she declared, her voice dripping with disdain. The teasing continued as the group chortled at my expense, their laughter echoing in the courtyard where we had gathered.
"Okay, that's it! Hey Sophie! Do you want me to tell them the secret you've been hiding for a long time?" Klaus threatened Sophie with a hint of frustration in his voice. Sophie used to be Klaus' best friend, but after Klaus found out that his best friend was cheating on me by sleeping with Jessica's father he ended their Friendship.
Sophie's eyes widened with surprise, her mocking tone replaced by a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Oh? Well, let's hear it, Mr. Know-It-All."
"I know about your secret passion, Sophie," Klaus finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. His words sent a shiver down my spine.
"Then go ahead, say it!" Sophie said, trying to test Klaus' patience.
"That you cheated on my twin brother and slept with someone else's dad?" Klaus suddenly said, so everyone went silent, including Sophie, her face flushed with embarrassment, who remained silent, seemingly at a loss for words.
"That's enough, Klaus. You're being cruel," Jessica scolded him, her voice quivering with anger and concern, defending her so-called friend.
But Klaus had never been one to back down. He leaned closer to the group, staring into Sophie's eyes with an intensity that made me shiver. "You think it's funny, don't you, Sophie? Playing with people's lives, breaking families apart," Klaus spat, his words dripping with disdain.
"You guys are funny," he added, grinning like a devil.
"When your so-called friend, Sophie, crossed the line and said something terrible to my brother, humiliating him even worse, did I say something, Jessica? Nothing, right? So why don't you just shut up and stop sticking your nose into someone else's business?" Klaus yelled. Jessica's eyes widened in surprise at Klaus's outburst. A proof that she had never seen him so angry before. The tension in the room suddenly amplified, making everyone uncomfortable. Charles approached Klaus cautiously, trying to defuse the situation.
"Klaus, calm down," Charles said, gently laying his hand on my brother's shoulder. "Let's not make things worse," he whispered, but Klaus shook his hand, keeping his gaze fixed on Jessica. The rest of the group looked at the scene unfolding, unsure of how to react.
"We were all just having fun here, Klaus, so chill," Jessica added as if she could calm Klaus down with her words, but she didn't know that she only added fuel to the fire of my twin's anger.
"Fun? Chill? Bitch, please, are you crazy or just insensitive?" Klaus spoke sarcastically as his jawline stiffened.
"Klaus, come on, just calm down," I pleaded, hoping my voice would steady his turbulent emotions. But deep down, I knew that reasoning with him in this state was futile.
He glared at me with eyes filled with rage. "Don't try to defend her, Clark. This isn't just about you; it's about what they said. They don't understand the consequences of their actions."
"You threw words at my twin that he shouldn't hear and made a joke of his past traumas! So what's funny about that, Jessica?" Klaus yelled again. For a moment, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
"You guys suck," Klaus said as he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away from the group, but before we could get away, he turned to Sophie and Jessica one last time and raised his middle finger.
Klaus dragged me back to. He knows me too well; that's why he's mad. He knows how sensitive I am when someone calls me a coward. Years ago, at such a young age, we lost someone important to us because I was a coward.
We were used to being triplets: Klaus, Wendy, and I. People would often comment on how strikingly similar we looked, with our striking dark hair and piercing blue eyes. But beyond our appearance, we shared an inseparable bond; our minds and hearts were intricately intertwined. We were a unit, a force to be reckoned with, facing life's challenges side by side.
Growing up, we were mischievous, always pushing boundaries and exploring the world around us. Whether it was climbing trees, spying on our neighbors, or venturing into forbidden territories, we were always in it together. There was an unspoken understanding among a promise that we would face any obstacles united and fearless.
But then, one fateful evening, everything changed. It was a stormy night; the thunderous roars of the tempest echoed through the hills, and the heavy rain pounded against our windows. Wendy had always been frightened by thunderstorms, susceptible to the bewitching dance of lightning and unable to quell her fear.
That night, as thunder crashed and lightning cracked, Wendy's fear reached a crescendo. She clung to Klaus and me, seeking solace in our presence. But deep inside, a tiny seedling of fear sprouted within me too. The anxiety started as a whisper, urging me to find safety and hide from the storm's wrath.
As Wendy clung to us, I felt that anxiety mutates into something bigger, something uncontrollable. Our once unshakable bond began to fray under the weight of my mounting fear. The realization taunted me that I could not protect Wendy, fueling the darkness lurking in my soul.
In my fear-addled mind, I searched for an escape, a way to shield myself from the storm's unforgiving grasp. Slowly, I detached myself from Wendy's desperate grip, shame plaguing my every movement. The tears streaming down her face mirrored my anguish; her eyes begged me not to abandon her. But I betrayed her vulnerability, letting my fear take over.
As I turned away, seeking the comfort of the basement, the world outside became a blurry, distant realm. The screams of the storm fused with Wendy's cries, and the sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears. Guilt gnawed at me, and my heart was heavy with the weight of my cowardly act.
In my absence, Klaus held on to Wendy, attempting to provide the companionship I had forsaken. But the storm's ferocity had taken a severe toll on her fragile spirit. With every passing second, Wendy grew paler, her weakened body unable to withstand the seeds of fear planted within her.
When I emerged from the darkness, my eyes fell on an empty room. Klaus stood before me, tears tracing desolate paths down his face. And in that instant, I knew. Wendy was gone, forever taken from us by the storm that became a metaphor for my fear.
The guilt that consumed me swallowed me whole. The once unbreakable bond between us shattered irreparably. No apology could undo the pain of my betrayal, and no words could bring back our lost sister. In her absence, there was only an empty void, a constant reminder of the price we paid for my fear.
From that day forward, Klaus and I would carry the weight of Wendy's absence, haunted by the memories of our once cohesive trio. We would come to recognize the power fear possesses when we allow it to engulf us, as it did that stormy night.
For the rest of my days, I would be tormented by the knowledge that it was my fear that caused Wendy's demise, and the price paid for my cowardice was the loss of my sister. No longer triplets, we were forever a duo marked by tragedy, scarred by the fear that tore us apart.
"Can you let me go now, Klaus?" I said to Klaus, and he immediately let go of me and looked at me.
"Don't believe what they say, Clark; remember you're not a coward, okay?" He said that he seemed to be very worried about me.
"I know, so don't worry; I'm fine and I can handle myself. But right now, I want to be alone first, so go ahead and spend time with Charles," I said, he just nodded, and they both left at the same time.
I sighed heavily as I decided to follow Erin and make sure she was alright. I made my way towards the bathroom. When I reached the front of the bathroom, my hand was poised to turn the doorknob, and a sudden memory of Erin's gaze earlier in the day flashed through my mind. Her eyes held a mysterious knowledge-a flicker of understanding that sent a shiver down my spine. It was as if she knew what was going to unfold next.
Shaking my head to dispel the unsettling thought, I took a deep breath and gathered my resolve. I pushed open the door with a gentle creak and stepped into the room. The moment our eyes locked, time seemed to stand still, leaving us both rendered speechless.
Everything around us faded into insignificance as my gaze fixed on her striking eyes, shimmering with unspoken emotions. I traced her delicate features, my eyes traveling downward in a spellbound trance, landing on her lips. Soft and inviting, they seemed to hold secrets of their own.
Then, before I could even comprehend what was happening, I stepped forward, my hands reaching out to cradle her cheeks. Startled, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words escaped from her lips.
In that bewildering moment, I pressed my lips against hers, and my world transformed. My mind raced to make sense of the unexpected gesture, but her lips seemed to instinctively respond. The kiss was tender yet urgent, consuming us both. The warmth of her touch, the taste of her lips-it was all so undeniable, leaving no room for doubt.
But as the haze lifted, reality came crashing back. She pulled away, my eyes wide with shock, breaking the spell that had momentarily enveloped us.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't supposed to happen!" She said nervously as she hurriedly left the room. I stood frozen in the bathroom, staring at the door that she had just hurriedly closed behind her. My heart pounded in my chest, echoing the disbelief that raged within me.
"What have I done?" I muttered to myself, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation.