Broken Bad Boy

21

PERCIE

Eight months ago…

My parents arranged a three-day funeral for Emma. I was there every day. We bumped constantly, but I

didn’t give a damn about them and their feelings about me.

They loathed me, so I did the same. They disowned me, and I did the same.

Emma was sent to her grave in the late afternoon on the third day. I was with my grandparents, who

were there with me all the time. I left after throwing white calla lily to Emma for the last time. I walked

away without looking back.

I just lost Emma. I lost everything—a reason to live, hope to have a better future, and I just lost the only

person who cared about me. I lost everything that day because Emma was my everything.

I stopped at an old rusty bench just outside the cemetery. I sat and remembered how we met again.

“Percival, come down! I would like you to meet someone.” I heard Dad yelling from the living room.

I ignored him. I was sketching an anime character I created in my sketchbook when he called my name

again.

“Busy. Not interested!” I yelled back.

A few minutes later, I heard a soft knock on my door.

I groaned loudly. “Jeez. Can I have a little time for myself?” But I knew that wasn’t my parents—they

weren’t used to knock.

I stood up from my bed and opened the door. “What?” I snapped.

My heart leaped from my chest. I knew for sure my eyes were wider to see who was right in front of

me. I swallowed hard. My lips dried instantly. How did it even possible? I even forgot to blink, scared

that she would disappear before me.

She chuckled.

She had the same wavy brown hair as mine. Hers was longer down her chest. We had the same brown

eyes, nose-shaped, and lips.

I was almost a foot taller than her, but the rest, we were almost identical. She was just a girl, and I was

a boy.

“Did you see yourself in me, Percival?” she said with a smile on her face.

How could this even be possible?

I walked closer to her and paused. I watched her closely, scanning her face. I could count every freckle

on her face. That was how close my face was to hers.

“Nicely done. Who’s your surgeon?” I cupped her face with my hands to make sure she was real, or it

was just some kind of hologram.

Her face was warm and smooth.”I didn’t undergo plastic surgery. At least, not yet. I might lift my nose a

little ‘cause yours is perfect.” She was real.

I released her face. “Who are you?”

I saw my parents approaching in the corner of my eye.

“Emma. Emma Peyton Holmes.” She offered her hand for a handshake.

I shook it immediately.

My smile widened. I felt an instant connection with Emma Peyton, or maybe because we both shared

the same DNA.

“She’s staying with us, Percie,” Dad said with a hint of guilt in his voice.

“We’ll talk about it later.” Mom sounded like Dad.

For once, I didn’t care. I already got it without any explanations. Whatever their reasons were, I didn’t

give a damn.

“Good,” I said shortly.

I looked at my parents, grabbed Emma’s hand, and dragged her inside my room. She was looking back

at my parents, but she did neither refuse to come with me.

“So, Emma Emma Peyton, why showed up just now?” I sat back in my bed, leaning against the

headboard.

She sat in front of me, Indian style. It was strange to see a woman version of yourself in front of you.

“My name is Emma Peyton, not Emma Emma Peyton.”

I laughed. “I know. Just messing up with you. You’re beautiful, Emma. So, if I happen to be a girl, am I

gonna be as beautiful as you?

She laughed. “And if I happen to be a boy, for sure I’m handsome as you. Don’t flatter yourself.”

I laughed out loud.

Then she suddenly looked down at her hands. “A couple of months ago, my parents died in a car

accident. Then I found out that I’m adopted. So I searched the address of the adoption center. They

gave me the name of my biological parents. My aunt Emily brought me here. She’s my foster mom for

a while,” she explained quietly.

I felt the anger brewing in my blood at my parents, but at the same time, I was glad we found each

other again.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Emma. And about the adoption. Obviously, we’re both innocent at that time, but

how about your adopted parents, were they good with you. Did they treat you well?”

“Oh yeah. They were loaded just like your parents. I mean, our parents. They spoiled me. I’m the only

child they had. I was happy. In fact, they treated me like their own because I had no idea they were not

my real parents until their lawyers told me.” Her eyes delighted with joy, but I still saw a hint of sadness.

I was glad she was in good hands.

“Did they explained to you? Our parents.”

She nodded. “They said they couldn’t afford to raise two children at that time. When they found out

that the couple would adopt me had a good income, they let them.”

“It’s still unfair, but I’m glad I finally meet you, Emma. I always wanted a sibling, you know. But you’re

not allowed to go out on a date until you’re twenty-one.”

“You can’t stop me if Dacre Montgomery asks me out.” She laughed loudly.

“Who the hell is Dacre?”

“How about you, Percival?”

“Percival Edmund Matthews. Just call Perce. I’m still single, Emma.”

She grinned sheepishly. “Your name is ugly. Sounds oldie. And you can’t stop me if I wanna go out on a

date. And why I’m finding it hard to believe that you don’t have a girlfriend?”

“I haven’t found the lucky girl just yet. And don’t worry, I’ll tell Mom and Dad about your compliment.”

She launched into me to cover my mouth. I caught her hands immediately and let them wrapped

around her lean body. She tried to fight, but she failed anyway. I was stronger and bigger than her.

“We may be twins, sweetheart, but I’m bigger and taller than you.”

She shouted for help when I tickled her stomach. “Stop! Stop! Please, stop. I’m gooooona peeeeeee.”

I laughed so hard. My bedroom door flew open.

“What are you doing to her, Percie?” Mom came rushing to us to release Emma from me.

“She said my name is ugly.” I released Emma and told Mom while looking at her, who was red as a

tomato. Mom and Dad looked amused at what they saw between us.

“Don’t give her a hard time, Percie,” Mom said before they left.

“No promises!”

“So, back to the topic at hand, Emma Emma Peyton. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Are you ready to go home, Percie?” Grandpa asked.

I nodded. “I guess so.”