The Twin Brothers

Liana takes off her apron before falling on the chair, tiredly. She couldn’t believe her desserts sold so fast. She couldn’t even stop baking and working. Mrs. Willy did volunteer to help her but then she back to her work when her cooking was also almost finished.

“Are you okay, miss?” One girl asks.

“Y–Yeah. I’m fine.” Liana straightened her body when saw someone come in.

“It’s okay, miss. I’m sure you’re younger than me, yes?” The girl asks.

“I’m 19 years old.” Liana looks down.

The girl’s jaw drops and her eyes widen in shock. “19–what!? I–I thought you are 14 or 15 like that!!” She brings her hands to her mouth, dramatically. Liana didn’t know what to say. Since, most of the time, people always say that whenever they first met. “You look so… young and small. No offense.”

“N-None take.” She grins.

“My name is Daisy. You are?” Daisy smiles brightly.

She looks like a daisy. The thought makes Liana slightly smiles. “I’m D–Darliana. Nice…. N–Nice to meet y–you.” Liana calm herself down first before asking, “How–How old are you?”

“I’m 17 years old. That’s why I’m shocked when heard you are 19 years old.” She giggles.

Mrs. Willy walk-in with her mother’s smile on her face. “What are you girls talking about?”

“Mrs. Willy, do you believe she’s 19 years old!?” Daisy points at her, walking closer to the woman.

Mrs. Willy looks at the girl, scanning her up and down. “Now, I realize it. Well, she’s adorable though.” She slightly chuckles.

Liana slowly stood up, fixing her clothes. She just keeps looking down, avoiding people’s eyes. It was her habit since child already. No matter how many times her foster parents taught her to look at people’s eyes when talking, she couldn’t.

“C–Can I g–go home, now?” Liana asks, afraid if they thought she was rude.

“Oh, dear. of course. It’s time to go home anyway. Daisy, you can go also. Nice work girls, I’m proud of you girls.” Mrs. Willy said.

Liana nods and grabs her slingback. From her corner eyes, she can see Daisy about to say something. Due to her social anxiety, she walks faster from that place.

She felt bad about it but she couldn’t stop herself.

“Ouch!!” Liana bumps into something hard causing her to fall to the ground.

“Don’t you have eyes or what!?” A cold voice snaps. It makes the little girl flinches.

“I-I’m so sorry, sir.” Tears start to form in her eyes. Her hands shake in uncontrol and she tries to hide them with her sweater paws.

“Get up, girl.” That cold voice speaks again.

Liana is too afraid to get up. Out of a sudden, she is picked up harshly with hands under her arms.

“When the boss said get up, then get up, you bitch!!” The men yell behind her. Tears already sliding down her cheeks like a river.

“Felix, let her go.” The men who she bumps just now spokes.

“I’m sorry!! I–I a–am!!” She clutched her hands on her chest.

The men just stare at her. His eyes look from her head to her toe.

So tiny.

The silence of the man makes Liana slightly stop crying. She raises her head only to see the blue cold eyes, black hair with a few strands of his hair color red.

“You got weird eyes.” He states.

“It calls Heterochromia.” The guy behind her talks.

“I know.” He scowls making Liana looks down. “Feel glad I didn’t shoot your head just yet. Walk, little girl.” He glares at her.

Liana didn’t waste her time, running from there with her little feet.

After running for her dear life, she arrives at her apartment. She slams the door closed and locked it. The smartwatch was beeping like crazy showing her heartbeat rising.

“I–Inhaler…” She almost falls to her knees but manages to support herself on the wall. Her hands grab the inhaler from the drawer and inhale it.

The beeping started to slow down, her body leans on the wall. When she calms down, overwhelmed take over her. She brings her knees to her chest, face on her knees, and cries.

“I’m such a baby…” She cried.

__________

*Next Morning*

Leonardo typed on his laptop while Adam eating the dessert that he bought at the cafeteria.

“You don’t have any meeting today.” Adam spokes, putting down his iPad.

Leo just hummed, continuing his work. Then, his phone rang. He picks it up without looking at it.

“What?” He asks.

“Hey, brother.”

“What’s wrong, Enzo?” Leo asks.

Lorenzo chuckles, kneeling in front of the dying guy. “Just wanted to share some good news, that’s all.” Knife dangling between his fingers.

“You got him?” Leo asks, stopping whatever he did.

“You have my word. Just maybe I did a little too extreme.” He chuckles as he saw blood on his head. “You know how I am right? He cancels the shipment of yours and tortures his whole innocent family.”

“Enzo, please don’t tell me he’s dead?” His twin sighs. He rubbed his face in frustration.

“Oh please. I know you need him. We need to the weapon shipment anyway.” Enzo grins and stood up. He turns to Felix, “Tied him up. Make sure the door guard.”

Felix nods before doing what he said.

“Thanks, Enzo. I’m sorry to bother you.” Leo slightly smiles.

“We’re a twin. Brother. Blood share. There’s nothing I can’t do for you, Leo. We’re both the same.” Enzo states

Leo rolls his eyes. “Don’t make it too cringe. I got to go. See you soon.”

He hangs up before letting his twin reply. Leo stood up and walks toward his friend who stuffed his mouth with desserts.

“Lead the way.” Leo stops eating.

“Way–what?” He arches his eyebrows.

Leo let out an annoyed sigh. He hates to speak. Lorenzo always does the most talking but is still cold like him.

Adam’s expression changes when something clicks. “Oh!! You mean, this dessert?”

“I keep hearing rumors about this stupid sweet. Almost 95% of our coworkers eat at the cafeteria.” He crosses his arms. “It never happened.”

“If you say so, I’m more than happy to introduce you to the new baker.” Adam stood up and pats his shoulder. “Trust me. You will like her” He winks at Leo.

“You know I don’t like anyone.” Leo rolls his eyes.

Adam didn’t say anything but instead, he leads the way. “I can feel you will change your mind.” He mutters.

The cafeteria door opens. When both of them walk in, everyone silent and shocked when seeing their boss actually in the cafeteria. He never eats here nor walks in here. It’s always Adam.

Liana puts down the tray that is full of the dessert she made. A huff esca[ed her lips. She didn’t know it will be this tiring and busy. Mrs. Willy told her it was new for them too. They think it is because of her dessert.

“It was such a good thing for me to learn baking when I was a child.” She sighs. The loud ding makes her startled. That’s when she realizes her strawberry cake is already done. “My babies!!” She squealing.

With the tray in her hands, she smells the sweet smell of the cake. “Mmm, smell good.” Liana puts the tray down, staring at it. “Maybe I can taste it.” She grabs the cake and stuffs it in her mouth.

“It’s yummy!!!!” She jumps up and down.

“It does?” The deep voice makes her stop. She slowly turns around only to meet the blue cold eyes again. The first thought is, he’s the one she bump yesterday.

But, this time his hair color is black with a few strands of white hair. His face is also not the same as the guy yesterday but still, when you just glance, it might look like the yesterday guy. Liana is too busy staring t him with cake still inside her mouth making her like a chipmunk. Cream over all over her cheek and some on her nose.

Adam who saw it burst into laughter. Bring the girl out of her thought. She looks at her shoes, blushing. “Peanut!! You are so cute!!” He laughs. His laugh didn’t help her at all.

“I–I’m so–sorry…” She clutched her hands.

Leo usually didn’t care but noticed it. He slightly nudges his friend to stop. Adam looks at her and gasps. “Oh no!! Peanut, I’m sorry!! I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable but you’re just too cute.” He chuckles.

She still didn’t say anything so Adam continue. “This Leonardo. The boss of this company.”

The boss!?

The words make Liana shake in fear. She ate the cake and acted like a child in front of him! There’s no ‘hello, sir’ or professional greet coming from her. It is such disrespectful!! The thought made Liana want to cry.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Peanut? Are you okay?” Adam asks concerned. Then, he whispers to Leo, “You scared her. I’m not sure but I think she has anxiety.”

Leo just watches her, automatically making his way toward her. He grabs his handkerchief out. “Look at me.” He demands.

He brings a dominant aura making Liana looks at him. He can see tears in her eyes only ready to fall. A sigh escaped her lips. “No need to be afraid.” Leo softly said and gently wipes her face. Adam stared at them, stunned.