I'm Not You (John and Lenny Pearce One Shot)

* John's POV *

For most, being a twin can be an exciting adventure, especially when you are identical and your parents love to dress you up in a way that you two have similar outfits. Yes, growing up Len and I were inseparable, like peanut butter and jelly, but things get out of hand when he decided to drop me and our planned adventure together.

When I thought that he would have my back any day, I was wrong when I found him telling our parents what I had done. Though in my defense, I was trying to save a friend even if it involved a serious offense, which is why I was caught fighting with another guy, and maybe almost killed him of what he had done to a close friend.

The guy, Lance, had issues with my friend Timothy who had almost died, but because Len and I saw them that day, he was saved and out of trouble.

Except for me who was invited over at the station to get my side of the story. Although, they didn’t lock me up in prison, my parents had thrown me countless profanities they know of and maybe even a few things they have come up with. And I thought my parents would have been proud that I had saved a friend, but it was the other way around.

Since then, Len had become the son they have always wanted, whilst I was known as the black sheep. Even though in reality, I was the planned twin, and Len was the surprise – it felt like the other way around.

***

An arranged marriage is something that is well-known in our family. It was like a heritage that my ancestors would be proud of talking about, and every one of them who were chosen to be a part of that relationship has still been together, despite the obstacles they have been through.

Fortunately, their chosen partners were a match to them which turned out great. Of course, there were some that didn’t like the idea and chose to rebel against their parents, though in the end they ended up with the chosen pairs.

Lucky me, I wasn’t the chosen one. It was my angelic twin brother, Lenny, only because they knew that I would be totally against it. But with Len, he’ll probably go on with it. He was always the obedient son.

In every family, siblings are usually compared. In this case, people always compare me to Lenny. I was the partier, he was the home buddy. I was the snob, he was friendly. I was a jerk, he was the good guy. I was always wrong, he was always right.

Well, I think by now you know the formula.

As I was finishing up with my breakfast, Lenny walked in all formal. Okay, so he was meeting the girl but isn’t he too dressed up?

“Aren’t you getting ready for the big day a little early?” I teased as he was fixing up his neck tie in front of the mirror, checking if everything is okay. He didn’t say a thing but he was smiling, perhaps excited to see the girl.

For all I know, it could be someone he extremely didn’t like and it would be quite funny to hear him say various reasons of why he’s not a good choice. Though, a part of me thinks that wouldn’t happen. Maybe he would rather run away than face my parents and lay down his reasons. Or maybe not, and he would be stuck in that relationship until he has the enough courage to walk off and be the first one to have a failed relationship in the arranged marriage area. And that would impose as bad luck to our relatives.

Thing is, when Lenny found out he was the chosen one, he was pretty excited. If it were me, I think I may have already gone bonkers and would react in a different way than him. I wouldn’t be here to look good the first day I’m going to meet the girl. I’d be a total rebel.

My thoughts on Lenny and his new girl broke out as soon as the room was suddenly filled with my mum’s cooking aroma. The whole house has been busy with the preparations because in a matter of two hours, the girl and her family will be coming, while I was busy with my usual routine.