Steve watched as Jerry looked up at the sky. He sat down close to her. He didn't say anything but watched as she watched the stars. She turned to look at him then concentrated on the former.
"Jerry?" He called.
"Jemaima." She corrected.
He looked at her then noticed at how she fumbled with the hem of her top.
"Jemaima." He repeated the name then smiled having finally known her name.
"I'm very sorry." He apologized.
"I'm surprised I'm not mad at you but.....sad about everything." She shrugged.
"I should never have said that." He pointed out.
"I know." She turned to smile at him.
"It will never happen again." He reached for her hand and squeezed it lovingly.
Her heart began to pound again, slowly at first. Her stomach tightened. When she thought she couldn't breathe, she yanked her hand away from his.
"I'm going in." She told him, dusting her trousers.
******
Days went by. The two moved into another town in the big city. There, Steve and Jemaima got separated for a hour. They searched for each other and in the process, Jemaima collided into her lost sister, Joan.
The twins embraced each other for a while, crying and rejoicing.
"Whom did you say you came with?" Joan asked the other.
"A boy." Jemaima answered.
"Boy? Is he older?"
"Yes, he is. And he is handsome too." Jemaima winked at Joan.
"Don't tell me that you have already fallen in love with him?" Joan seemed petrified.
"Why would that happen?" Jemaima laughed it off then had to change the subject. "Why? Where have you been? Why did you leave my side?"
"I heard from some sources that mum is alive."
Jemaima looked shocked at that. "Mum? Where? How? What sources?"
"I'd knew if I talked you into it, you still wouldn't believe me. So, I went on my own to look for her." Joan said.
"And, have you found her? Or gotten any hints?"
"I haven't found her." Joan waved it off.
"Where is the boy?" Joan changed the subject.
"I lost him, too." Jemaima answered.
"What's his name?"
"Steve."
Joan looked at her sister's clothes and smiled. "Why are you dressed like a boy?" She asked Jemaima.
"Well, you know.... circumstances."
"Like what?"
"I have to act like a boy so I wouldn't be treated ....you know."
Joan laughed at that. "Cool, though."
"No. You are cool. You were barve and courageous to leave me and be on your own. I'll call that cool." Jemaima said.
"I've always admired you too. I've always wanted to be like you." Joan explained.
"But you are special in your own way." Jemaima was stunned by her sister's words.
"You've always told me that."
In that minute, Steve appeared, out of breath and indeed glad to see Jemaima and her twin sister, Joan.
"Where did you find her?" He whispered to Jemaima.
"Right here. We collided into each other while I was looking for you." Jemaima said.
"I'm Steve." Steve introduced himsey to Joan.
"I know and you know me already too."
Joan didn't like Steve. To her, he kept mostly to himself. He could as well be a holigan with the way he looked.
Occasionally, he treated Jemaima with respect and...love? Would she call that love? The way he looked at Jemaima was quite intriguing. It was as if he cared for her.
One eventful day, while they were crossing a community that had a heavy celebration. Jemaima decided to pick some free food, agian.
"Where are you going?" Steve asked Jemaima.
"As always, checking for some free food." She responded in a sweet smile.
"Do you have to bother about that?"
Joan looked at them both. She truly didn't like the way Steve cared for her sister.
"I'm coming with you." Joan said to her sister.
"No Joan. Stay with him, I won't be long." She winked at them, then took off.
Joan stared ahead and turned to face Steve who was still staring at the disappearing figure of Jemaima.
"Where did you say that you met my sister?" She asked him.
"Your sister must have told you, didn't she?" One of his brows shot up inquisitively.
Joan chuckled, she expected an answer not a question. "I see the way you look at her. The way you smile at her." Joan said and stared at him boldly in the eye.
Steve was unmoved.
"It's a pity that you won't give a hint about yourself." Joan went on.
"Why are you so interested.......,"
"I didn't say I am interested," she interrupted him. "I'm only afraid my sister must have fallen for someone like you."
"Why are you suddenly piqued up at me?"
"Why won't I? I don't trust you nor whatever she believes you are meant to do for us." Joan continued.
Steve snickered at that. Joan wasn't the shy girl Jemaima had described. She was outrageously bold to fight for her sister's right.
That night as they laid in one of the empty rooms in a mall, Joan pulled herself to a corner.
"What is wrong, Joan?" Jemaima asked her sister.
"Do you like this Steve?"
Jemaima blinked at that. "Why are you suddenly asking me such a question?"
Joan rolled her eyes balls. "Please, I need a honest answer."
"I can't answer such a question." Jemaima tried to turn away but her sister pulled her back.
"I thought we do share secrets." Joan said.
Jemaima stared at her sister for a while. "Perhaps, another time, Joan." Jemaima turned to go.
"You do like him. You acnnit even deny it! I'm agirk like you and I see it." Joan said out loud.
"So!" Jemaima shot back at her sister.
"I'm not surprised but I hate it!"
"Hate the fact that I like him?" Jemaima was stunned by it.
"You treat me worse than a fool! I don't see anything good in that boy!"
"You better watch what you say!" Jemaima warned with a warning finger.
Joan smiled mockingly.
"Yes, I like him! Satisfied!"
"No, I think you are hiding something and I'm going to find out." Joan started to leave but Jemaima grabbed her hand.
"Do not misbehave." Jemaima said.
"And you can't tell me how to behave." Joan jerked her hand away.