"No Longer Alone": Part 10

Jaehyun’s POV

My phone rings frantically. I look at the caller ID and am surprised when I see the name “Brynn.” I convinced her to trade numbers with me a few days ago, but until now, neither of us had put it to good use. 

“Hello?” I ask suspiciously.

“Jaehyun!”

“What!?”

“I…um…well…”

“Hello? Brynn? Are you okay?”

“No. Look at your envelope.”

“You mean the envelope you told me not to look at?"

“Yes.”

I slowly move toward my backpack, rummaging through it until I find my DNA results. Luckily, I returned it to my bag before leaving school.

“Are you sure?” I ask Brynn. “Once I open it, there’s no turning back.”

“Open it.”

I carefully tear open the paper casing and take out the folded sheet inside. I scan the page and my eyes land on what Brynn must’ve seen. My heart quickens as the world blurs around me. 

“Jaehyun? Hello? Are you still there?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I. I just overheard my parents talking–”

“Your parents were talking about me?”

“Technically, they’re your parents too,” She reminds me.

“Right.” Right. My parents. My real parents. This is my chance. “Where do you live?”

“What?”

“Where do you live?”

“I don’t understand, Jaehyun.”

“Nevermind.” I hang up on her. It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’ll see her soon enough. I go downstairs to the kitchen, careful not to disturb Robert and Kareema in the family room. I scour the room, sighing in relief when I finally find it. The phone book. Not sure who still uses these things, but in my case, very useful. I scan the “K” page until I find “Kang.” 5599 Carnation Drive. I head out to the garage, lying to Robert and Kareema about my reason for going. I told them I needed more toilet paper for my bathroom when in reality, I went to steal one of their bikes. Before I take it though, I think through the morality of this decision. If I have a chance to be with my parents, I will take it. I promised my six-year-old self. I go out through the side garage door, for fear of alerting Robert and Kareema if I use the roller door. No turning back now.

I put on Robert’s helmet and mount his bicycle. It’s a little tall, but it’ll do. I start off pedaling slowly, then pick up speed as I become more sure of my decision. Surely if my parents decided to keep Brynn, it was some kind of financial issue. Maybe having twins was a surprise, and they had to let one twin go so that they would have enough money for necessities. Either way, I’m about to go see them now.

What am I even thinking? What am I doing? How do I even know that they want to see me? What should I say? These doubts cloud my thoughts as I continue to ride down the street in the dimming evening light. It’ll be better if I just turn around now. But then what? Just pretend I don’t know who my parents are? Go to school and pretend Brynn is not my twin? Live for three more years knowing Robert and Kareema are not my parents, but also knowing my parents are so close? No. I have to keep going. So I do.