THE TWINS’ SECRET

NIKOLAI was once again on the verge of crying while watching Mona and Nero's emotional reunion.

"Why are you apologizing for that, Nero?" Mona asked between sobs while wiping the tears off of Nero's face. "None of what happened back then was your fault. Moreover, you were just a child back then. It's our duty to protect you and not the other way around."

"E-Eomma, do you not hate me?"

"I don't hate you, baby– I can never hate you," Mona said, crying. "I should be the one asking you that. Do you not resent me for leaving with Neoma back then?"

Nero shook his head. "I was lonely, but even though I was just a child back then, I knew Eomma and Neoma didn't abandon us. Halmeoni and Harabeoji kicked you out– they're the bad guys who tore our family apart."

Nikolai didn't have his son to live with a grudge in his heart.

However, he also couldn't defend his parents from Nero– he didn't want to. His parents didn't deserve it.

[If Nero wants to hate his grandparents, so be it.]

Even Mona, the kindest person that Nikolai knew, didn't scold Nero for calling his grandparents 'bad guys.'

"I also know that Halmeoni and Harabeoji used their power to prevent you from meeting me, Eomma. Even the gifts that Eomma sent to me didn't reach me because of their meddling," Nero said, still sobbing. "I was afraid Halmeoni and Harabeoji would hurt Eomma and Neoma if I reached out to you first. So I didn't have the courage to even send you a message even though I've been actively monitoring your social media accounts all these years. But that doesn't mean I resent Eomma and Neoma. I actually miss the two of you very much."

Ah.

That was Nikolai's limit.

His tears once again streamed down his face like waterfalls.

He couldn't help it– especially when Mona sobbed hard.

"I couldn't ask Abeoji to help me meet you in secret back then because I knew Abeoji wouldn't take my side."

That hurt.

But Nikolai couldn't blame Nero for thinking that way. After all, he really neglected Mona and Neoma when he lost his memories.

"That's why I was really glad when Abeoji finally recovered his memories," Nero said between sobs. "Even so, I know Neoma wouldn't like to see me again. So I wanted to give her time and space to consider being a family again."

Hmm?

Nikolai was confused, and so was Mona.

[Did Nero and Neoma have a fight that we didn't know about?]

"But after hearing that my sister was rushed to the hospital, I threw all my cautions away to get here," Nero said, then he hugged Mona tight. "Thank you for not hating me, Eomma."

Mona hugged Nero back. "I love you so much, Nero."

"I l-love you, too, Eomma."

Nikolai pinched the bridge of his nose while holding back another wave of tears.

[Ah, I love my family so much.]

***

NIKOLAI WAS nervous while watching Nero and Neoma have a mini-starring match.

If Nero and Mona's reunion was warm and emotional, then Nero and Neoma's reunion was cold and awkward.

The twins were obviously sizing up each other.

[Why are they fighting?]

"Here," Nero said, handing a basket of strawberries to Neoma. "Let's call it a truce for now."

"Alright. Truce it is," Neoma said, accepting the basket of strawberries and hugging it– still glaring at her twin brother. "How many followers do you have?"

"Four hundred thousand."

Neoma's jaw clenched, obviously upset. "Why do you have so many followers when you barely post anything?"

"Well, I'm handsome, young, tall, and rich," Nero said casually, shrugging. "What's your school rank?"

Neoma smirked. "First in the entire school. You?"

Nero clicked his tongue. "Third."

"Hah!" Neoma smirked haughtily. "Weakling."

"Do you have a significant other?"

Neoma lost her smile in an instant. "No, I don't…"

"I have a girlfriend," Nero announced proudly. "You lost, Neoma." He patted his chest proudly. "Now call me 'oppa.'"

"Ah. My stomach suddenly hurts," Neoma said, obviously lying with a straight face. Then she put the basket of strawberries on the bedside table before she hid under the blanket. "Eomma, kindly tell our visitors that they may leave now."

Nero scoffed. "You're such a petty loser, Neoma."

Nikolai and Mona exchanged knowing looks.

They were probably thinking of the same thing.

[This is definitely not the first time the twins met after a long while.]

***

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