Difference

Chapter 2
I Liked Me Better

He talked about that girl a lot.

He talked only about that girl.

He was jealous of her.

He was the other twin. The one no one paid attention to.

They favored the kind, sociable, polite, and perfect sister of his. Her name was Rin.

I liked Rin. I liked her a lot. She was nice. She was very cheerful. I liked her.

I didn't know she had a brother. A twin at that.

She never talked about it. No one ever talked about it. Was I the only one who didn't know? Why didn't she tell me? I wanted to meet him. Was he like her? Were they the same?

No. They were different.

They were very different.

He seemed sad all the time. He looked lonely.

Why was that?

I want to know.

He had a piano recital. So did she. They had it on the same day.

He did wonderfully. I could tell that he practiced hard. He did better than her, in my opinion.

They criticized him. They compared him to that girl.

His name was Len.

It was his birthday. It was her birthday too. She was the "older" of the two. They would turn fourteen years old that day.

They gave her a party. They came for her. Where was he? What about Len?

He was invisible.

He stood in the shadows. He is her shadow.

He is nothing but her shadow.

She left him in the darkness. I wonder…does she care about her brother? Does she?

It doesn't even seem so.

She had a beautiful and sweet voice. He had a beautiful and sweet voice. They were very different. They sounded well together.

I don't like her voice without his.

That girl can only shine because that boy is by her side. Does she realize that? Does he realize that?

Do they all realize that? Without him, she will be nothing.

Or will she?

They had a singing contest. Everyone did. I wanted him to win...she won. It was decided from the start, wasn't it?

I told him to cheer up. He brushed me off. I want to help you.

I can't say that out loud.

I'm the same as you. I live in the shadows of everyone else too. But the others can not shine unless I give them the support. So, I am happy with this life.

Do you not understand?

She talked about herself a lot.

She talked only about herself.

I asked her about her brother.

"Who?" she says, as if she does not know who that is.

"Len" I reply. She looks away and does not answer.

"He doesn't matter." She replies.

"Why?" I ask.

"He doesn't matter anymore. He's not my brother." She replies.

She is heartless. I learned that. She doesn't care about him. He cares about her. He doesn't want to care, but he cares. She does not.

They are the same.

They are different.

There were two siblings. They were twins at that.

They were named Rin and Len.

"Rin."

That's the name I hear called out.

I never hear Len. I hear 'Sorry' and 'It was a mistake' too many times.

He tells me;

"I hate her."

"I hate this."

"I hate her."

It makes my blood boil.

I like her.

I like her a lot.

I like her.

I like her.

I like Rin.

I like her.

I like her.

I like her.

I liked her.

I like him better.