Betrayed by my twin

I had never trusted anyone after that incident, not even my parents and relatives.

That incident was the most unforgettable and I did not want to experience it ever again.

I had a twin brother in the same class. His name was Joe. That day, I was punished by my formteacher, Miss Lee. I had forgotten to hand in my homework and for punishment, I was told to stayback after school to clean the classroom. I could still remember the icy cold look that she gave me after she left. Her words replayed in my mind, again and again.

"Belinda, I want you to wipe the windows, clean the tables and chairs and mop the floor. I will be back in two o'clock and I want to see the classroom spick and span. If not, I will ask you to run around the field ten times!"

Then, she gave me her icy cold look and left.

I shuddered at the thought of running around the field. I glanced at the clock and realized that it would be two o'clock very soon. Immediately, I wiped the windows. Armed with a piece of rag and a bucket, I headed to the windows. There, I saw Joe in the field, playing soccer with his pals.

The air remained hot and humid despite the fact that the ceiling fans were whirring away furiously. I sighed.

"How nice it would be if I were to take a nice, long break! I would buy an ice-cream. No, no, a packet of potato chips." I thought to myself dreamily.

A loud crash interrupted my thoughts. I could not imagine what had happened when I heard the sound of glass shattering on the floor. I turned around and saw the window panes shattered to smithereens. Not far away was a soccer ball, still rolling on the floor. I gazed at the pieces in dismay. How on earth was I supposed to explain this? I stomped out of the classroom and to the field.

"What happened?"I demanded an explanation from Joe.

"I don't know, Sis! Honest!" Joe blurted out, but guilt was written all over his face.

At that fateful moment, I heard that Miss Lee's voice.

My eyebrows shot up, eyes widening in horror. I spun around, and to my shock, I was face-to-face with Miss Lee. She was so close that I could hear her breathing. Miss Lee shot a barrage of questions.

"Miss Belinda, why have you left the classroom? And why are the window panes smashed on the floor?"

"I... I... didn't do it!" I protested, but was quickly interjected by Joe.

"Miss Lee, Belinda did it. She was the one who broke the window panes," Joe said, feigning innocence.

Joe's pals nodded. By then, I was speechless. How could Joe do this to me?

"I... I... you... Miss Lee, I swear, I didn' tdo it!" I fumed, my face suffused with anger.

Miss Lee ignored me and ordered me to follow her to the general office. Hobson's choice, I followed Miss Lee.

"Damn that Joe!" I cursed silently, seething with indignation.

I felt hot tears welling up in my eyes, but I told myself not to cry. Nobody trusted me at all. Nobody. Life was never fair.

I overheard Miss Lee calling my parents. I, however, was prepared for the worst. Maybe, someday, I would take revenge. I would never, in my life, ever forgive Joe. Never!

Writer Ao Ming Yi, Belinda
P6-9