Morana Ivanova

“You know, the first time I met you, I thought you were dating my brother?” Morana pulls that question out of the blue.

“Sunny, what the hell?” I stutter. “That’s so random, but why?” I ask.

Although we share the same age, Morana beats me at height. She always bullies me about it. She has the face of a doll with a bright smile. Yet her style is the total opposite, wearing a black and white color scheme. It seems she’s trying to fit in.

“You guys were so close I thought there was something going on.” She hooks her arms with ours, with Luka on her right and me on her left.

“Nah, you know better than that.” Luka rubs Morana’s head. “I’m straighter than a line — unlike him.” We burst out laughing.

“Said the guy,” I counter.

Gavril places his hands on Luka’s shoulder and mine, and his chin on Morana’s head. “I hear beef. Who’s winning?”

Laughter fills our walks with great energy. The walk to the pizzeria feels like it only took us five minutes. Though our phones say fifteen. We enter the pizzeria and a waiter shows us to our seats. The seats with a beautiful window view, just how I hoped he’d guide us to.

“Man, I like me a Hawaiian Pizza,” says Luka, drooling. His eyes glued on the menu, looking for more options.

“What? That’s cursed.” Morana gives him a big smile, holding the menu against her chest.

“Are you two even twins?” I grin.

“Aarick, that joke is getting old,” she counters with a half grin and a head tilt.

“Nuh uh, Gavril is.” I try very hard to keep my straight face with my eyes on the menu.

Gavril breaks his eye contact with the menu. “The hell did I do?”

The smell of the Pizzas when they arrived is breathtaking. And! The taste is truly enchanting.

“Thank you all three for bringing me here,” says Morana gratefully. Her arm around Gavril’s shoulder. He returns the gesture.

“Thanks to Luka for winning the tickets and getting us here.” I raise my drink.

“Amen.” He raises his and then the rest follow along.

A few minutes later, we pay our bill. “So happy that you guys are together — in one piece,” says the waiter, then leaves. For a moment, we all locked eyes. Dead silence surrounds us. My heartbeat loses its tempo and so does my breathing.