Chapter four

One morning, the same warm nurse went in and was smiling at Chloe. She was doing her usual rounds, and she immediately took Chloe's vital signs and checked her fluids.

"How are you feeling today?" she asked, not expecting that she could verbally respond.

Chloe nodded as she tried to smile underneath her dressings. The nurse then checked her lymph nodes and very carefully told her to try to speak. Chloe tried to clear her throat and a breathy sound came out. She swallowed wanting to ease the discomfort.

“Let's try again. Why don't you try to say Hi to me?" the nurse told her. Chloe then attempted to produce the word; when she did, she was extremely happy when she finally heard her voice.

"Hi," she whispered. It was hoarse but undeniably her voice.

She smiled.

"We will practice more on this so don't strain yourself. But today, today is a good day for you." She excitedly said and Chloe waited for her news eagerly.

"We are going to remove your bandages at last. You can now see yourself in the mirror afterward, exciting, right? she said enthusiastically. 

Chloe's smile faded abruptly. She's not even sure if she wants to look at herself in the mirror. She immediately shook her head and reminded herself that she needed to shift her mindset, it would be better to face reality as early as now so she could start working on what she could do next. Her scars are her affirmation that she survived death; she should be wearing it proudly, no matter how hideous it may look.

Hours passed, and her usual doctor went in with the nurse, they exchanged pleasantries and were attentive to her. She was politely responding to their gestures when Chloe was struck to see a new face in the room.

Bigla niyang hindi mapigilan ang sariling mapalunok. She felt her throat dry up as her eyes were fixed on that stranger.

"Who are you?" She thought to herself as she continued to watch the man across the room. 

He too was staring at her; Chloe noticed a disdain in his eyes. "Is that directed at me? Do I know you?" She wanted to ask. 

Chloe was intrigued by him. He has a semi-fade haircut, clean and stylish. His facial hair is well trimmed, Chloe wondered how it would feel if she ran her fingers at the side of his face. He looks like a mixed race, too foreign if she may be very candid. His crescent-of-moon eyebrows were thin and narrow. He carried an imperious nose well and his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jaw. And his lips, napaka ganda naman ng labi na ito para sa isang lalaki. She realized.  Even with his eyes, though she sensed a deeper dislike of him, she couldn't help but appreciate his physical features. He's very tall and well-toned. Alagang alaga nito ang sarili, Chloe can't find any flaws in his well-rounded muscles starting from his arms and chest lalo pa at na nakasuot ito ng dark sleeve at denim jeans, he looks casual but there's some elegance in him that confirms he's not average. 

A handsome stranger indeed. Chloe thought.

"We are going to remove your bandages today and check the results of the surgery." The doctor informed her that it quickly interrupted her thought process. 

She raised her brow not fully understanding his words, but she didn't show any resistance as well. She just sat there waiting for their next move.

The doctor carefully touched her face, at unti-unting tinatanggal nito ang bendahe na nakatakip sa kanyang mukha. He was taking his time, cautious not to hurt her. When the last thread was removed and finally exposed her face, the doctor moved closer and checked her jaw area, her chin, and nose. She just watched him as he navigated it using his fingers. When he was satisfied, he smiled directly at her. 

"I guess the operation is a great success" the doctor announced, satisfied with his work. "What do you say, Mr. Ramirez? Do you agree that your wife seems good as new?" he added, presenting his masterpiece to the mysterious man.

Chloe's eyes sharply went to the doctor as she tried to understand his words. “What do you mean by his wife?” Aniya sa utak.

The compassionate nurse went to her aid, smiling at her, then handed her the mirror. Chloe suddenly felt her hands tremble. This is it, the moment she would have to confront herself. A glimpse of the pain Lucille imparted on her. She breathed deeply; she took the mirror from the nurse at bigla niyang inangat ito at tiningnan ang sariling repleksyon expecting the worst possible outcome. 

She gasped loudly.

Someone is staring back at her; someone she doesn't know. A dreadful feeling went her way as the reality started to sink in, who was this woman? Why is this face on her? This is not her! She wanted to scream. This is not my face! This is not mine! 

"No, no..." she heard herself repeating the words. 

The surgeon was quick to notice her reaction. "Is there anything you are dissatisfied with the plastic surgery Mrs. Ramirez?" he curiously asked as he carefully watched her stunned face. 

"No, no..." she responded. 

"Doctor, sorry can you give my wife and me some space to talk?" Luke asked firmly but politely. 

The surgeon and nurse nodded and paced away to give them privacy. 

Luke then went in her direction, his movements were aggressive, his handsome face was contorted with a scowl, eyebrows furrowed, jaw clenched, radiating an intimidating presence and Chloe was afraid that he would hurt her, anticipating any possible contact she suddenly shut her eyes. 

"Are you still not satisfied after every trouble I went through to preserve your beloved face?" he blurted with a hint of anger. 

"What else do you want Ruby? Do you want to keep your burnt skin? I took the best course of action thinking this is what you desire, so why are you reacting this way in front of me?" He glared at her.

“Ruby?” Chloe thought

"Or nothing can just satisfy you, wife?!" he grunted, showing all his frustrations.

“I am not your wife!” She wanted to tell him.

"Get your act together, enough with this nonsense. I will not tolerate your drama and self-pity. You are lucky you're alive. Be grateful!" mataimtim niyang saad and without further thought, he turned around and left Chloe in the room. 

She gasped. “How did this happen? Who is this woman?” she thought keenly. 

She was in deep disbelief when her memory prompted in a flash, her memory trailed the night that she almost died, and she remembered the couple she hitchhiked during the unfortunate incident. It was her! The woman who owns this face! Chloe pursed her lips. So, all along mali ang kanyang hinala na magkasintahan ang dalawang iyon? The angry handsome man from earlier was sarcastically telling her that this woman is his wife, it would simply mean, that Ruby was cheating sa lalaking kasama niya noong gabing nagyari ang aksidente? Could that be the reason for the stranger’s anger because he knows of this woman’s infidelity?  She curiously thought. 

“So where is this woman now? How did she assume her role, her life? What happened after they met their demise?” she asked badly, wanting some answers.

She suddenly felt a throb in her temple, as her thoughts ended. Could it be true? Did she hurt someone in the process? Sumasakit ang ulo niya sa dami ng kanyang iniisip. She needs to know the truth and undo what is happening now. She can't be her. She's not Ruby, that's not her name.

“I am Chloe Reyes!” She wanted to say.

With the pain threatening her senses, she readily gets up and moves away from her bed. She needs to know the truth whatever means necessary. She exhaled loudly. 

Chloe felt her world fall apart as she was reading the news regarding the incident that happened to her three months ago. She can't believe three months have passed since that dreadful event.

Business Heiress died in a Vehicular Accident says the headline. 

Her legs weakened as she continued to read the details of what was published in the article. Pilit na nagpapakatatag si Chloe as she holds on to the nearby bench as if her life depended on it.

Earlier that morning when she stepped out of her hospital bed, she trailed the station and asked the kind nurse to allow her to use her phone para kumpirmahin ang kanyang haka-haka. Haunted by the turn of events and bearing the face she doesn't even know was too much for Chloe to just lie there and be idle. She needed to know the truth.

The news that prompted her was not what she expected at all. They switched their bodies! Ruby was the one who died in that incident, not her! She wanted to set the records straight as she felt the loud beating of her heart.

Shaken by the truth Chloe further researched the aftermath when she saw a video of her father bawling his eyes out at her funeral, right beside her was none other than her stepmother, Lucille. Her face conveys sadness and disappointment, how good of an actress is she? Her anger is flaring. Chloe's life became a living horror and a terrifying plot because of her stepmom's greed. Her heart throbbed painfully wanting to make sure that she could protect her father too. But how can she do that? Lucille has much power now; she might have twisted her father's mind in the process, manipulating him to submit to her selfish desires.

A boiling rage flourished inside her as Chloe's eyes got fixated on Lucille's demeanor and all the acts she put on in front of the camera.

Evil! She thought angrily.

She was in that state when suddenly, an idea immersed, like a light bulb, popped into her mind.

What if, temporarily, she can use this face to protect her identity at pailalim niyang hahamakin si Lucille while she carefully plans her revenge? Lucille wouldn't know what was coming for her. She can finally expose her evil deeds and give justice to Ruby who was collateral damage. Her revenge would pay off and she would make sure to inflict the same amount of pain or even more to make Lucille pay for the damage she'd done to her life. She thought with a sudden purpose.

She clasped his knuckles. “Oh Dad, what should I do?” She asked herself.