Mirrors (The Academy)

Chapter 3: Faces In Mirrors.

The water of the shower pours down on me. It's getting cold already, and it shouldn't surprise me because of the amount of time I've been in here.

I have a twin.

When I get out of the shower I try not to look at myself in the mirror. I have seen my reflection thousands of times, but somehow this is different. I can't stop thinking about another face which looks like mine.

I put clothes on and try to braid my hair the way I've seen Gabriel doing it all these years, but it doesn't really matter because I can't copy it. I look at the cameras, thinking there's a chance he's looking at me now.

I'd wish he was here. I'd wish they were all here.  But this time, I need to put myself before them. I need to put myself before anyone else right now.

I don't realize I've come to the mirror in my bedroom. When I look up at my reflection, I quit the hair-do and finally look at myself. I move my face, trying to find different angles... trying to see another face in mine. His.  But I can't find him in my mirror, I wonder if he has ever tried to find me in his.

The boys offered to contact them for me so they would know what happened. I'm not sure about this. I'm not sure if I want to know them; before this, happiness with my boys was so easy... but because of the secrets they hid, it's the furthest thing from me.

Everything would have been better if none of this was true. If my birth mother hadn't gone crazy and stolen someone else's child. But, then again, I would never have been here in the first place. It's true I would have never had to deal with my mother's abuse and my father's lack of... every single thing related to me.

But I would never have met the boys. And even now, when I'm hurt... I can't imagine going around, somewhere in this world, just not knowing them. Not knowing the way their kisses feel over my skin, or the laughter every morning after making sweet love (or well, wild) or any of those things.

Either way, it kills me. I stare into the mirror until the light goes down and I see mostly shadows.

They live in Charleston. Maybe we've seen each other in the corner of our eyes sometime. Maybe we've been in the same place, at the mall when Gabriel and Victor would drag me there, or in the streets... but the possibilities are not in my favor since I lived locked in my house for so long. Trapped.

I could say no. Right now I could call them and tell them I'm better off this way, that I don't want to meet them and I don't want to let them know I'm here; because I know there is no coming back after that. My life would be completely different from now. On the other hand, if I don't... everything can go back to normal. I'll still have to figure out about this issue with my boys but... do I want normal? Normal alone, parentless? Knowing I have a twin out there, another half of me? How would my normal be after this?

I close my eyes, not finding anything in the mirror. I wonder if he ever thinks about me. I wonder if it will shock him... them.

My hand finds my phone, and before I can think about it... I make the decision. Maybe it was made this whole time, I just had to find the courage.

"Owen?" I say his name after the first ring when he picks up. "I do. I want to know them."

There is a silence at the other side of the line for a few seconds. "Very well, love. I'll contact them for you" There is a pause. A painful, painful pause. "I miss you. The boys miss you."

"Owen..."

"I know, Sang. I know you asked for time, and we'll give it to you, I promise. I just..."

"I miss you too. And I love you"

He takes a deep breath, "That's all I need to hear, for now."

"For now?"

"Next thing is hearing you say you're coming back to us, so I can hold you under my body and make you feel my love."

His words leaves me breathless. I think he can hear it at the other side of the phone and I wonder if he's smiling, knowing what he's done to me.

"One more thing, love, before we say goodnight: Your brother, he... I once knew him, just for a mission that didn't last long. Well, I knew his team and only had communication with him over the phone...But what I took from that then, is that he is loyal and... intense. He is in an Academy Team and when he finds out about you... knowing you want to get in the Academy..."

"You're afraid he'll take me into his team, the same way Luke took North."

"Yes" he says. After another pause, "Sang, I understand if you want to be close to your family, but... Please, Sang, love..."

I cannot imagine belonging to any other team but theirs. But... "I won't make stupid decisions, I promise"

"Sang."

"I promise".

We kept quiet for a long time, just hearing our breathing.

"We should hang up" I suggest.

"Yes".

Nothing.

"Goodnight, Owen."

"Goodnight, Sang."