TWENTY-NINTH TRIP

I don’t know what it feels like to have a twin sister or brother. The one that looks like you but has a different version. I've read a lot of stories like that. Common friction is compared to each other all the time even in just simple things. I thought it was a small thing but it wasn't. That even if you are yourself, you can compare yourself to her.

Levi left me at this parlor/boutique. He said goodbye and come back for me later. He left with that Mari at the same time so I've been restless for a while.

“Just relax, Ma’am Rae. He will come back here,” Anika told me as she fixed my hair.

I just sparingly smiled at her and went back to my cell phone, waiting for his text.

“I thought I was just hallucinating before, but when I saw Ma’am Mari again, you really look alike. You just look better than her,” she continued so I just listened to her story.

Yeah, that’s what I thought earlier when I saw her. I mean, I met her at Celine’s party before but I didn’t get to see her face clearly because I was drunk then. The only thing I remember that night was Levi’s reaction when her name was mentioned. That’s it.

"What's her relation with Levi?" I couldn't help but ask her because my curiosity was really killing me.

I don't have a good feeling about that woman. Anika paused for a second. I saw how she looks at me in my reflection in the mirror. She seemed to be wondering whether to say what was on her mind or not.

“It’s okay. I’m just curious,” I told her as I saw the hesitation in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. It’s just a secret. Don’t tell anyone I told you,” she told me hesitantly so I just nodded and listened to her story as she adjusted me.

Anika told me that Mari is Levi’s step-sister. Before — even before she knew her real parents. Levi was almost rejected as an Acuzar when the entire Acuzar clan found out that they had a relationship. Incest if you think about it but they are not really siblings. He only regained his parents' trust in him when he agreed to be engaged to Hoseah. Levi’s first love was Mari, Anika explained to me very well.

Suddenly I thought of the real reason why he approached me and recognized me. Was it because I look like Mari? His first love and maybe, greatest love? The fuck.

Levi

I’m on my way there, Love.

I just stared at that text message from him. When I decided to trust him that night, I do. There are no mixed lies. No doubt or anything else. Maybe I’m the only one thinking about it. Besides, if he really only approached me because I looked like Mari, why didn’t he just love that woman ‘back then,’ right? If she was Levi’s first and greatest love, why didn’t they continue, they are not really siblings.

“There you go. You are so beautiful, Ma’am Rae. You are different,” Anika told me when I walked outside of the room where I get dressed.

She faced me in the large mirror and dropped my jaw when I saw myself there. I am wearing an A-line, v-neck blushing pink beaded long gown. The slit reached my legs while my back was obvious. I have nothing to say about my appearance because I feel like a different person because of what Anika did to me. I didn't really think then that I could wear such clothes because I always inherited clothes back then.

“Wow,” I uttered while staring at my whole posture.

"Sir Levi would be so happy to see you, I'm sure of that," I heard Anika say to me so I confronted her.

Before I could thank her, I heard the chimes ring and the door spat out Levi so I automatically focused my gaze on him.

He was wearing a black tuxedo, his coat and tie and his inner polo matched my gown's color so I smiled. He brought me here to fix me. I’m starting to like these matchy things like a couple.

I saw how he stared at me from head to toe and he stopped looking into my eyes. I can see how happy he is because maybe from what he sees or if there is some other reason I don’t know why. He quickly approached me and kissed me on the lips firmly. I even slapped him on his arm because I suddenly remembered my lipstick.

"It’s okay, Ma’am. Let's just retouch," Anika said while laughing.

"Are you ready? I was in a hurry to get back here for you because you didn't reply to my message.. Are you mad at me?" he asked me softly so my forehead furrowed.

I prepared myself and picked up the little pouch I was going to take to the party. I could feel his arm wrapped around my waist so I looked at him.

"I'm not. Why would I be?" I asked him. I saw how he furrowed his forehead.

He tilted his head to kiss my earlobe.

"Because I left with Mari earlier," he uttered.

We said goodbye to Anika and the other people in the parlor before finally leaving. I immediately felt the coolness of the air on my skin because it was so revealing of what I was wearing right now.

"Should I be mad?" I asked him again before we stopped at the side of his car.

He turned me to him. I saw how he looked around my whole being. He glanced at my eyes, down to my lips, and back to my eyes again then his smile widens.

"I'm just making sure that you weren't overthinking. I want you to feel safe with me," he said seriously to me so I smiled.

"I'm not overthinking, Lev. Why are you so full of yourself? Besides, if someone wants to take you away from me, so be it..." I told him as I was fixing his coat and tie.

I saw the slight frown on his forehead and that smile disappeared from his lips so I smiled even more.

"If they can," I added and left him there gaping.

I even heard him laugh before following me into his car.

That's what I'm trying to say to myself over and over again. I know I will have many colleagues like him. He could have a job because he was too a workaholic, but I could have accompanied him there, and human beings can too. It's either Hoseah or Mari. Or maybe he has another woman to introduce to me. Sure, they can take Levi away from me if they really want to... if they can, that's fine.

We arrived at the venue just in time. Levi had already left his car with a bellboy. When we finally entered the venue, we weren't even at the entrance. The media immediately greeted us, so I grabbed his arm. I could feel him lowering his hand to hold my hand tightly.

"Smile, Lumiere. I want them to know who you are to me," he whispered to me as we walked across the aisle.

When I heard that, I immediately smiled. I noticed more and more people taking pictures of me so I walked with him with my head held high while he was still holding my hand.

I didn’t expect it. I know what social parties are but I never thought that there would be so many people and there would be more media. It's only right that he dressed me so elegantly because most of the attendees were big personalities. The Acuzar clan is actually a rich and famous family in the business world.

When we finally entered, I was exposed to a huge chandelier in the middle of the mansion. There are also too many people and I feel like my anxiety will suddenly attack me because I can see that they are staring at us.

"You didn’t tell me what I would look like tonight. I wanna know," I told him.

He quickly turned to me and smiled.

"Let's just say that if this event wasn't important, we might just be in a condo," he declared and suddenly winked at me so I laughed.

"Relax. You are so beautiful, Lumiere. Look around you, everyone is staring at your captivating beauty," he added and this time he was serious.

I could see in his eyes how proud he is while looking at me. As if he's willing to show me to everyone and introduce me as his girlfriend officially and I can't deny the fact that it made me boost my confidence. Big time.

I followed what he said. I look around us and saw everyone glancing at us while smiling widely. I’m not sure what they’re saying, but I can clearly see how they look at me while someone is saying what they’re talking about. And I think, it's a good thing.

"It's so good to see the young CEO of the Acuzar clan here, Levi!" I heard someone say so I looked at them.

It was Mr. and Mrs. Sandoval, my former boss at the publishing house where I used to work. It's true that big business tycoons are here! I still remember them.

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Sandoval. We meet again," Levi professionally greeted them and even shook hands with them.

After that, Mrs. Sandoval quickly turned to me and her eyes immediately widened when she faced me. I smiled and greeted them happily.

"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Chairwoman and Mr. President," I told them.

"Rae, yes! Is that you? Oh my god! I haven't seen you in months and here you are, getting better!" Mrs. Sandoval hissed and held my hand softly.

"So, you're the new secretary of Levi?" her husband said so I was ashamed to smile.

Before I could answer, Levi spoke first to the surprise of the three of us.

"She's my girlfriend, Sir William," he uttered, cutting me off.

I felt the heat flow all over my face as the three of them looked at me intently. I smiled shyly at them and just look away from them. I'm ashamed of the way they look at me!

Before one of us could react, I heard Mari coming because she suddenly appeared on the other side of Levi. It included her parents because that’s what I heard them introduce to the two adults in front of me.

"Nice to see you again, Rae. I didn't think it was true what Levi said that you were his date," she greeted me with a smile but I could hear his sarcasm.

She immediately approached me when Levi left me for a minute to talk to some clients and investors. I don’t know what this woman wants from me because I can clearly see how she looks at me from head to toe. As if she insulted me secretly by the way she looks at me.