January 8th 2627

I hadn't gotten the chance to follow up with Nardhia about her nervousness regarding the whole dizzying oh-crap-Nardho is-crushing-on-someone-he-shouldn't-have-crushed-on situation. It wouldn't be this awkward if Tony was just a friend of us instead of being romantically involved with her, but I guess stranger things had happened and maybe our situation wasn't as strange as it seemed. Truth be told, however, I had never known any other guy who fell for his sibling's boyfriend.

I wished I could talk to somebody about this, somebody who had been in our shoes before. Why had my life transformed into a soap opera?

I wonder what Johan would have to say about this. He wouldn't be so stupid to think that prayers could magically lead to some epiphany, would he? As cringe-inducing as it might sound, a part of me wanted to ask "Hey, purely hypothetical question, but what if I fancy Kenta?" and watch his priceless reaction as he read between the lines.

As if by fate, my phone rang and the caller ID indicated that it was a call from my older brother.

"Hello?" I hesitated. "Why are you calling, Johan? Is everything okay?"

"It is!" came his cheerful answer. "I just want to check in on how you're doing."

"Not bad," I responded. I wouldn't want him to worry unnecessarily about me and I wasn't technically lying—things could be better but nothing truly awful happened so it was good.

"Not bad? C'mon, you know I want to hear more about your study abroad trip. Kenta got words from Akira that you and your classmates are conducting various researches related to the Kulambas. That's super cool! Tell me more about the dolphin-seahorse hybrid."

"Err, we haven't gotten very far in our project," I admitted. "But we have gathered some data on how the climate in Black Elm makes this planet an ideal habitat for those animals. Next step is to actually visit the Kulambas sanctuary and to connect with local Elmians, especially the ones around Amethyst Archipelago, the Crystal Lilacs tribe."

"That sounds nifty," Johan replied. "How is everything else? You and your friends have fun?"

"I have a question," I sighed. "But promise not to judge me."

"When have I ever judged you, Dho? You can trust me with anything."

"Okay, what if I knocked a girl up?"

"I'd be disappointed but I'd help you out. Wait, did you get Moira pregnant?"

"No, that was just me messing with you!" I laughed. "No pregnancy."

"Oh, whew. You almost had me there. So, what is it?"

"Han... have you ever harbored feelings for anybody else while dating Kenta?"

Silence. I waited for a few seconds and he still did not make a sound. Was I out of line?

"I have," his response finally came. "And believe me when I say he had fancied somebody else too. Temptation is everywhere, it's a normal part of life. What matters is that you're not tempted and stay faithfully by your partner's side."

"I have feelings for Tony," came my admission. "Nardhia is understandably upset. What should I do? Should I conceal my feelings from him and keep on denying it if he ever ask me?"

"I know you do," he answered. "I didn't say anything because I trust the three of you to be mature about it. Listen, why don't you invite Tony to discuss this among yourselves? Bring him to a café or something. If he's truly your best friend, this shouldn't jeopardize your friendship."

"Really? You don't think our friendship is in jeopardy?"

"All friendships go through some test at one point or another, Nardho. If Tony stops being your friend just because you're fancying him, then perhaps you're better off not being friends."

"I'll keep that in mind. By the way, there's an ice cream parlor not far from where we're staying. Perhaps Nardhia and I can talk this out with him over a bowl of ice cream."

"You do that, little brother. Good luck and let me know how it goes."

_____

January 9th 2627

Tony agreed to meet us at the ice cream parlor this evening. We didn't tell him outright what we wished to talk to him about but, judging from how he didn't ask what the meeting was for, we suspected he already had an inkling.

He was already waiting for us with his order of Neapolitan banana split and a generous drizzle of extra chocolate syrup when we came in. I hoped he wouldn't get toothache from all those sugar.

"It has been a while since we sat together like this, the last time we did was when we confronted Nardho about his mental health at the Giant Burger Shack." Tony scrolled down to an old picture on his phone's gallery before smiling at Nardhia and me as we took our seat. "Do you want to have ice cream eating contest? Loser has to do fifty five push-ups and sit-ups." He stuck his tongue out and laughed when Nardhia glared at him. "Okay, bad punishment. What about we make the loser buy the winner more ice cream? You in?"

"Not now, dude," I chuckled. "I've no doubt I'd win but I need you to really focus on what we're gonna drop on you."

"I'm all ears," he pushed his bowl aside. "Let me guess: you're dropping out of college?"

"I can't tell if you're joking or not!" Nardhia scowled at her boyfriend. "But man, you gotta have more trust in Nardho's resilience. He's gonna finish college, just you watch and see."

"Well, I'm glad!" he dramatically faked wiping sweat from his forehead. "I'd be hard-pressed to find someone else willing to be dragged to the gym for a friendly basketball match at the drop of a hat."

"You and your basketball-obsessed ass," I snorted. "You're lucky I love you."

"Oh!" he suddenly stood up. "This is it, isn't it? You were serious when you said on your birthday that you believe I love you more than I love Nardhia."

"Is it true?" my sister whispered while playing with the ice cream spoon. Tony glanced at me and nodded.

"I wouldn't deny that I think of Nardho more than just a best friend," he blushed and looked away. "But I promise you this, Nardhia: nothing will ever come between you and I, not even this newfound attraction toward men."

"Wow," my sister's mouth hang open. "I don't mean to be rude, but when did the attraction begin?"

"I'm not sure," he replied hesitantly while scratching his chin. "It could be that I'm merely bi-curious. Maybe I'm just infatuated. Maybe it's a phase," he twirled his hair before glancing at my twin and me. "But in case this persist, would you two be inconvenienced? I didn't mean to evoke envy in anybody."

"I suppose the heart wants what it wants," Nardhia shrugged. "As long as you don't stop loving me then I can tolerate this."

"Do you believe that humans are capable of loving two people simultaneously?" Tony blurted out. "Maybe not to the same degree or in the same way, but it is still love."

"Yeah, why not?" I raised my glass of root beer float and he toasted me. "We shouldn't put arbitrary limit on how much love a person can give others."

"Alright, I guess there's enough love to be shared among us," Nardhia interrupted. "But Tony, please promise me that I can count on you to shower me with affection."

"I'm fond of you, Dhia," Tony looked at her in the eyes. "Just because I happen to be smitten by your twin too doesn't negate this fondness I have for you," he got out of his seat and moved to my sister's side before putting his arms around her shoulders. "I swear one day I will marry you," he declared. "Assuming you'll say yes."

Nardhia turned as red as a ripe tomato. "Did you just attempt a proposal?"

"I... I guess? Too soon?"

"Way too soon," I nodded. "But you know what, in the end it's up to you two if you want to exchange vows of fidelity."

"I-I can actually see myself marrying Tony a f-few years d-down the r-road," Nardhia said shyly. "Assuming things go well from this moment onward." She took off her Virgo constellation bracelet and handed it to her boyfriend. "Let's seal this promise."

"Why are you giving me a bracelet?" Tony asked uncertainly.

"Well, it's a gift I got from Nardho and he is here today witnessing us promising our loyalty to each other," she explained. "So it would be like his signature as a witness."

"Oh, so it symbolizes my approval?" I surprisingly caught myself smiling. "Alright, you lovesick puppies, stay in love."

"Thank you," Tony whispered. "I'm so grateful I have two wonderful people to love. I'm happy you are parts of my life."

"I feel the same gratitude."

"Likewise," Nardhia chimed in. "And I look forward to keep on sharing my life with you, Anthony Mhoirbheinn. Wait until I tell my mom and Johan that I now have a fiancé."

I didn't expect our conversation to culminate in my best friend spontaneously proposing to my sister, but all things considered it was better than what I had feared: a full-blown drama with a lot of tears and broken hearts. The engagement might be Tony's adrenaline speaking coupled with Nardhia's impulsiveness, and I would admit that it did seem rash for them to be engaged this early, but I would never interfere with other people's relationships. With the situation taken care of and our love for each other solidified, I felt much more relieved.