Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 01

He loves pancakes.

But then again, he loves pretty much every food his mother makes.

He loves food, especially sweet or spicy ones. Except for anything that has celery in it. He hates celery with a burning passion. Good thing he has never encountered of celery-flavored pancakes.

"Don't put too much chocolate spread on it, young man."

He pretends not to hear his mother but does what he is told, putting down the spreader and picking up a fork to slice the pancake on his plate. One. Two. Three. As he stuffs his mouth with three bite-sized slices of his hot, fluffy food, Poll hums in satisfaction. Nothing can set him in a good mood as a sweet breakfast does.

"Seriously, I have never seen anyone who loves sweets as much as you do, Apollo."

"Mom," he whines in his naturally raspy voice, chocolate-covered pancake still in his mouth. Despite being twenty years old and five feet eight inches tall, he often behaves like a little child to his mother. That is only because he knows the older woman doesn't usually mind him acting like a baby boy. "Don't call me by my real name. Even that jerk Eujae calls me that. Who told him to call me Apollo?"

Those are the other two things he dislikes.

Next to celery, he doesn't like being called by his full name. He honestly can never understand what was running through his parents' minds when they decided to name him Apollo Helios. While he does like the meaning behind the name, it doesn't make it sound any less strange to him. As much as he hates it though, there are times he can be forgiving about it, particularly to people he's newly acquainted with and those who don't know that certain pet peeve of him.

On the other hand, he doesn't have the same tolerance for the ones who call him Apollo to deliberately piss him off. For example, that guy.

Eujae Nigel Castillo. Even hearing his name is enough to ruin Poll's day. He adores people, don't get him wrong. He prides himself on being known as the friendly kid in their neighborhood. He loves making friends as much as he loves eating, but Eujae Castillo is a different story. Somehow, the guy has managed to become an exception. For Poll, that person is like the celery to his food.

"That's your name, isn't it?" a feminine voice, which certainly isn't his mother's, chimes in, bringing Poll back to the conversation.

Across him, a young woman his age is peering at him through her wire-rimmed glasses, her eyebrow raised inquisitively. Normally, people would find that look intimidating but all Poll can see every time he stares at her is a slightly altered reflection of him. The same dark brown eyes and black hair, only hers is longer and a bit wavier. She also has a softer feature, but other than that, they look almost the same. Given they are twins, Tem is like a female version of Poll, and vice versa.

Not a bit unnerved, Poll stares back at his twin sister. "I hate it," he deadpans, referring to his real name. Without noticing the glower that his mother has thrown in his direction, he continues eating his breakfast.

"Apollo Helios Torres!"

Poll winces, not because his mother sounds mad as he is pretty sure the older woman is feigning upset. It is just that he is not happy with the mention of his full name.

"Mom!"

"You, ungrateful child." Mrs. Torres mocks glare as she brushes off the fact that her son is starting to sulk. "I gave you that name."

At his mother's last statement, Poll rolls his eyes. As if he doesn't know that. And as if the knowledge will make him feel better about having a bizarre name. "I love you, Mom," he says matter-of-factly. "But I still hate it. Who names their son Apollo Helios anyway? What? Do you think you and Dad were Hera and Zeus?"