Freshmen and identical twins Eric Mejia and Luis Mejia’s relationship is supported by the many things they enjoy doing together, such as playing piano, soccer in the park and the guitar.
“We like to joke around with one another, and we have our own inside jokes and all of that,” Eric Mejia said. “It’s a lot of messing around between the two of us. It’s a very nice relationship, more like a friendship in some ways, to be honest.”
Though at times it may get “irritating,” they don’t mind sharing things with one another.
“Even since birth, we’ve shared a whole lot of things, not just memories,” Eric Mejia said. “Part of living with a twin requires having to share a lot. Even some of my own things are technically his too.”
Growing up, Eric Mejia found it difficult to look at his twin and see a physical resemblance, but eventually the struggle to distinguish themselves in baby photos was made possible by physical media.
“To be honest, whenever I see my brother, I don’t see the resemblance,” Eric Mejia said. “When I look at myself through a mirror, I see the differences. But then let’s say we get a photo of us together, then I see the similarities.”
One of the things that both Eric and Luis Mejia fondly noted was how they take their dogs on walks together every day.
“We just catch up, telling each other about our day or homework and stuff we have to do, and we joke around with one another,” Eric Mejia said. “We try to give one another the best advice possible. I feel like that’s the time where we definitely have a breather from school.”
One of the “biggest advantages” they emphasized was the extent of their mutual understanding of each other, which is “on a different level” as twins.
“It is very special to have a twin, someone that understands you in ways that you possibly didn’t even think you understood yourself,” Eric Mejia said. “Sometimes I feel like he knows me better than I do.”
One of the most cherished memories that they share falls once every year – on their birthdays. Per tradition, they celebrate by spending time with family at home.
“The birthday itself is a special day,” Eric Mejia said. “In some ways, it’s a bonus to share the same birthday as your twin brother that you’ve been with for your whole life. It’s one of those memories that I very much cherish.”
Eric Mejia cannot visualize his life without his twin, as it is a “pleasure” and “comforting” to be able to do simple things like talking to and hanging out with Luis Mejia.
“It’s made me a happier person,” Eric Mejia said. “Without him, I would have been growing up with three older sisters, which I also do appreciate a lot. But I just feel like with a brother, it’s a different experience, because I have grown up with him, played with him, talked to him my whole life. So I feel like without him, there would be an empty void to fill.”
Eric Mejia doesn’t believe in twin telepathy, but he believes there are a few instances that are exceptions.
“Our parents noticed that whenever one of us would get emotional or something, the other one, for some reason, also gets emotional,” Eric Mejia said. “Once one of us gets sick and then heals, then the other one gets sick like three days later. The thing is, no one else in our family gets sick or anything. For some reason, it’s something only between the two of us.”
Luis Mejia ties this back into the present, where the “telepathy” has evolved over time.
“Sometimes when we might be going through a tough time, we can be there for each other and check up on each other,” Luis Mejia said. “Having an identical twin is like having a physical mirror all the time. It’s really cool getting to have someone that knows you front and back. We’re always looking out for each other, and since we’re the same age, we relate to one another easily.”
The first time they had a class together in second grade brought them “closer together,” but the importance of independence endured.
“Despite the fact that both of us look the same, we’re two different people,” Luis Mejia said. “I guess that’s something that people overlook, and think that ‘oh, twins are the same and act the same.’ I feel like twins, despite looking the same, each has their own charm.”
Eric Mejia and Luis Mejia have always been taught to talk things out with one another, and their conflicts usually resolve quickly.
“Gosh this is gonna sound like a debate or something,” Luis Mejia said. “But usually if one of us disagrees, we try to give our point on why we don’t agree on it. It’s a constant back and forth, and we try to prove each other wrong and say ‘oh you’re wrong and I’m right,’ kind of like how other siblings do.”
Besides sharing many similar hobbies and interests, they both also share the same sense of humor that has yet to get them in trouble.
“We find many similar things funny,” Luis Mejia said. “If there’s a scenario where we have to be serious, it gets really funny because of the tension in the room, and we just try our hardest not to laugh. Most of the time we just like to goof off together. Usually it’s dumb things, like throwing stuff at each other or showing each other memes and stuff like that.”
As they enter new chapters in their lives throughout high school, they both know that the other is “always going to be there for them.”
“It feels unrealistic that we’re already in high school,” Luis Mejia said. “Not that long ago, it just felt like we were still in elementary school or just in middle school. When we were both little, we thought ‘getting to high school is never gonna happen, it’s such a long time from now.’ When I get older, I think I will look back at these memories with a lot of joy and gratitude. I’m really grateful that I have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of having a twin brother.”
