Chapter 6

Tahti and Jorge has been gone for a total of ten minutes. There was no sign of them or if they would come back to get me. Life in the theme park continued while I stood on the same spot without moving. People who passed by were more captivated with their friends or where they should go next. It was though I was non-existent.

I decided to explore by myself. Tahti and Jorgie would be busy for a while, I thought. Maybe I'd find what or who they were looking for if I walked too. I kept my eyes open the entire time to observe the humans. Rarely were they seen alone. They were always with a large group of people. If I happened upon a single person, he would avoid eye contact or take his phone out to stare at it even though he wasn't doing anything. Why?

Over the noise of the human's chatter, two voices stood above all. "I want to go to the Minions Luke."

"I vote for the Mummies Chucky. Minions are overrated anyways."

I smiled to myself as I recognized the voices. Chucky and Luke, the two kids I've met in the mall. They were in the middle of an argument when I went to them. Dark haired, small and skinny. They stopped and stare when I approached. From the way they elbowed each other, they recognized me too.

"Oh look there's bae," Chucky said. He was the shorter boy among the two.

"Bae?" I asked. "Isn't that Danish for poo?" My wide vocabulary allowed me to switch from English to other languages as well. Perks of being an alien, Jorgie said.

Luke scratched his head. "What century are you from Lady? Bae means I heart you. Like boyfriend and girlfriend stuff aight." He crossed his arms in a self-assured manner. "Like when you say, hey bae you down for a little something something?"

I frowned. "What something is that something? And why do you talk like that?" They sounded different from what I was used to. "Is that related to the thug life you were saying before?" I could recall them screaming the word thug life in the store.

Luke chuckled. "No fam. That was the past. We're way above that now. Ain't we Chucky?"

Chucky nodded seriously. "Yeah, we are." He stared curiously at me. "Why are you here? Are you following us?"

"No. I went here with my friends. We split to look for something, then my companion left me to search for a girl."

Chucky and Luke stared at each other meaningfully. "You've been dumped." Luke explained nicely for me. "See when a person leaves you for someone else, you're not the main priority. That ain't good. You should know your worth lady."

"I'm not sure I understand."

Chucky tilted his head. "Come with us."

I've discovered that Chucky and Luke came here with their parents. They were currently playing hide-and-seek with mom and dad. Their parents were so cool to play that game with them in the large theme park. The boys and I walked while talking. It was like the people around us were props to a movie set. We barely noticed them.

"Spill the beans," Luke said.

"Wasting food is bad."

He sighed. "I meant tell us everything. You on crack again." I didn't ask what crack meant.

"Okay." I breathed in before saying, "I sort of like this person, but this person has a girlfriend."

"Where's the girlfriend?" Luke asked.

"I don't know. She ran off." I shrugged. "Anyway, I'm liking this person more and more and I don't know what to do."

Luke touched his chin thoughtfully. "Is it a normal like, or a like-like? Cause there's a difference. When it's a normal like, you can easily forget this person. Says so in the movie I watched. But," he emphasized. "If it's a like-like, you have a problem. Harder to forget fam."

Chucky grabbed my hand. His was very small. "But then you'll be a homewrecker. Cause the person has a girlfriend. And that ain't good."

I nodded to them. "I see. . . Maybe I'll forget my like-like for her."

Chucky dropped his hand and stared curiously at me. "Lady, you gay?"

"I guess. My friends told me I am, but I'm not sure."

Luke pointed to a guy in the distance. "See that dude? Does he wet your diapers? Momma used to say that if you're a girl gay, boys won't do anything to your diapers. She said that because my sister is gay."

I checked the guy out. He was tall. Broad shoulders. Looked like he was searching for someone, but I couldn't quite see his face because it was obstructed by his cap. I shook my head. "No. . . He doesn't."

"You're definitely gay," Chucky said. "What type are you? There's plenty according to my sister." He rubbed his hands together. "There's the femme, lipstick, power dyke, sports dyke, just dyke, baby dyke, butch, hasbian, gayelle, lonestar lesbian, gold star lesbian, and pillow queen." He inhaled deeply, looking like he ran the marathon. "Whew! That's a lot. What do you identify with?"

"I don't know," I admitted. It was hard to take it all in at once. I promised to do a research on it later.

"Whatever," Luke said. "The point is if you like-like this person, just know that there will be consequences. She's taken man. The girlfriend may get mad."

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you." A hand rested on my shoulder. I turned around to see the guy from my dreams last night. "I thought you'd just take a walk around the park, but it took you more than five hours. I had to spend the night sleeping in the truck." He noticed Luke and Chucky standing beside me. "And from the looks of it, you even made some friends Alena."

"I'm not Alena."

"Of course you are." He placed an arm around me. "Say goodbye to your new friends cause we're leaving." Niko removed his hat, nodded to the kids, then dragged me away. I stared helplessly at him. The others were looking for his group. If he was here then Alena was still around too. I should contact Tahti. Slipping my hand inside my pocket, I took my new mobile phone out.

One look at it and Niko grabbed the phone from me. He dropped it on the ground to my total surprise and smashed it with his boots. My eyes watered. Jorgie and Gina has given it to me. "You meanie!" I yelled. "That was a gift." I went down on my knees to collect the pieces. Jorgie would be so mad.

Niko was on his knees too, helping me with a bewildered look on his face. "I thought we weren't going to use that anymore? You said no link to our family right? You were the one who instructed that Alena."

I scowled at him. "I'm not Alena. My name is Aleli."

He stopped moving. Niko stared at me, and I meant really stare at me this time. Realization dawned on his face. "Oh my gosh," he whispered. "Who are you?"

I stood up, the broken pieces in my hands. "I've already told you my name." I wiped the tears angrily. He was such a nice boy in my dreams. Not! He wrecked my phone. "You will buy me a new phone. Before Jorgie and Gina finds out."

He still couldn't get over my face. Niko swallowed. "O-okay."

Niko and I sat silently at the cab. I refused to talk to him while all he did was stare at me the whole time. He couldn't take it anymore. He finally said, "I've known Alena and her family for years. I've never seen you once. Where did you come from?"

The capsule and the island went to mind. I doubt that Tahti and the others would appreciate it if I told him. And I really didn't want to discuss that right now. "I'm not telling until you get me a phone," I said stubbornly.

"Pull over," he told the cab driver.

Five minutes later, I had the exact phone model tucked safely in my pocket. I wanted to call the others but I was afraid that Niko would destroy it again. We walked in the side street to look for a cab for our return trip. "Hey." He took my arm gently. "I got you the phone. Tell me about you."

I yanked my arm away. "I am Alena's twin sister."

"You're an alien too?"

"Shhhhh!"

He stared around foolishly. "Sorry. I always forget." He shoved his hand on his jeans pocket. Niko was taller than I've remembered in my dream. "So," he said awkwardly. "Where did you live before this? And I think you mentioned Jorge and Gina's name. How well do you know them?"

"Well enough to know that they are looking for you and my sister." It was my turn to grab his arm. "Come with me. I'll show you to them."

"I can't. We have a mission to accomplish first." He blinked. "Gosh, you really look like her. I never knew she had a twin. It's like I'm dreaming." I pinched his arm hard. "Ow! What did I do?"

I walked ahead of him, hands on my back. "Now you know that you're awake." I smiled as he followed along with a frown. He didn't pinch back. Niko was a kind soul after all. We decided to walk to the theme park. It was near enough anyway. We just entered the premises when Niko pulled me to the side, where a big group of people were huddled. "What are we doing?"

He placed a finger on his lips, telling me to be quiet. Niko peeked behind the group of people and relaxed. "Nothing. A friend of mine named Chloe passed by. I don't think she should see you."

"Why?"

"Because she'd tell Alena about you, and I don't want Alena to be more confused than she is right now." He removed his cap. "Frankly, I just want to go home, but it's not in the plan yet."

"What's not in the plan?"

Niko groaned when he saw another girl approaching. "I thought I told you to stay in the car?" he said.

The girl stopped in front of me. Her face jumped from my dream. Sapphire was it? Ruggedness and femininity in one package. I stretched out a hand to introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Aleli. Nice to meet you."

Sapphire was about to touch my hand when Niko stopped her. "Alena has a twin," he said quickly. "That she doesn't know of. If this gets out between the two of us, I don't know what I'll do with you."

"Are you threatening me?" Sapphire asked.

"I've never been the type to threaten." His jaw muscle twitched. "But when it comes to Alena and protecting her best interest, I'll be willing to do anything. Even if you're an alien." They stared headlong at each other before Sapphire shrugged.

"That's your issue to resolve I guess," she said. "I'm just here for the ride." Sapphire turned to me with a smile and offered her hand. "You can call me Saph."

"Hello," I said politely.

She wasn't contented with holding hands. She snaked her arms around my waist and murmured. "Where have you been all my life sweetheart?" Niko pried Saph from me with a scowl. "Hey," she complained. Niko stepped between us.

"I don't like seeing this," he said. "It's like you're touching Alena."

"What's the harm?" Saph said. "I'm a girl."

"Who likes girls," Niko supplied. "And as far as I'm concerned, Alena belongs to Tahti. I'll only give her up for one person."

Saph pushed Niko playfully. They've met last night according to my dreams. They were like good friends now. "Cheer up Romeo. This girl is not Alena. You said so yourself right? She's a twin. You can do the moves now."

Niko became fully aware that she was right. "Even so," he said. "You have to respect her like she's Alena. And besides, I've known you for a few hours to understand that you're a lady killer. Not the best person to hang out with."

"Do you like girls too?" Sapphire said sweetly to me. "Because your sister does."

"We came from the same planet." That should explain everything.

Niko remembered something. "Where is Tahti? Why were you alone when I found you?" he inquired.

"They went looking for Alena. Why won't she come home?" It wasn't my own question but something that Tahti and the others were pondering about for months.

"Cause she's being a fool," Sapphire said. "World domination? Ha! Don't make me laugh." She stuck her hand in her pocket, only to reveal a pack of cigarettes. Niko snatched that away and threw it long and hard. I didn't see where it landed. Saph looked uninterested, as if it was nothing new. "Guess old habits die hard."

"I told you not to smoke in front of me," Niko said to justify his actions.

Saph smirked. "You're a big guy, but you nag like a woman." She grabbed his chest and squeezed. "Pity." She looked disappointed as she dropped her hand. "I thought for a while that you're one. Wouldn't it be easier that way? Both for you and that Elektra girl."

Niko's jaw clenched. "I never said I liked her."

"That's why your eyes were shining brightly when Chloe told me about the aliens on earth so far," she scoffed. "Who are you kidding? You like her as much as you do with Alena. Who's the lady killer now?"

Niko was about to answer when his head snapped up. "Alena," he said. "Something happened to her. I can feel it." He bolted away without saying goodbye.

Sapphire's face was full of regrets when she glanced at me. "Guess I have to catch you later then. " She kissed my hand. "See you beautiful."

I've got several questions in my mind. Why did it feel like everyone was leaving me alone for Alena? Was her existence more significant than mine? Why did everyone love her? And more importantly, I thought as I walked away in the other direction. Why did I know that Niko was right when he said something was happening to Alena? Because the moment he said those words, I felt a tightening in my heart like I was dying.