47. Name of the game

- Pick up the phone. Come on. Pick up! Venla waits Tanja to answer. It keeps ringing but no reply. "Call me ASAP", she textes her. Tanja is usually the first to reply. Now there's nothing. Only silence. Venla feels alone and lost. She got a huge dent into her self-esteem and feels both hurt and betrayed. Like a mindless piece of meat that people just toss around. That's how it feels. She isn't good enough for anyone. It's so clear now. 

 When there's no word from Tanja, Venla calls for another important person she trusts. 

- Hi sis, she manages to say before she bursts into tears. – No. I'm not okay. Can you come?

- What's the name of the game? Iiro looks his brother when they reach Ilari's flat. 

- Hmm? 

– You said you have no interest in Venla, but now there's something going on. Ilari is quiet and he sits down. 

- You're right. There's something about her and I can't stay away. 

- I knew it. Damn, I knew it! Iiro is clearly annoyed. - What about Virpi? 

- It's not going to work, Ilari finally admits. – What I really want is on the other side of that wall. He points towards Venla's place. 

- Wait what? Iiro halts. - She lives there? It was HER we heard before? 

- Mm. But it's better when she's going solo, Ilari gives his brother dirty smile. 

- Are you kidding? 

- It's hard not to hear it. Such sweet moans. 

 - Fuck, Iiro shakes his head and they fall into silence. - This feels so weird. We have always been on the same side, he sighs after a while.

– We still are, Ilari says. 

- But I really don't see it happening that we could share the same woman, Iiro snaps. 

– You are right. That's not gonna happen 

- But...I don’t know. Today, in one point, it felt like we are all going to end into same bed, Iiro smirks. 

– I know. Weird. 

– Could that really happen? 

- Don’t think so. 

- So. What now? 

- Best man wins? Ilari muses.

– Oh man. You're gonna stay so far behind. I don't even take this as a challenge. 

- We'll see! 

- You have been out of the game for too long. 

– Hey. One thing. This isn't gonna come between us, Ilari says. - Promise me. You are the most important person on this planet for me and nothing's going to change it.

 – You are still most annoying big bro in this planet. But you are my brother no matter what. Deal.