4. Pretend amnesia.

I now understood why the man looked familiar to me. I've already seen him in Julia's social media posts. Sake Fortalejo, my twin sister's fiance and the subject of this odd job that I accepted from my biological father. 

Several minutes have already passed since that mind boggling first kiss of mine. Yet here I am, struggling to string words for the first time in my life! 

I've known for a fact that Julia's fiance was a handsome man. For one, Julia wouldn't choose an ugly guy to spend the rest of her life with. But I didn't expect to see a hot, extremely gorgeous, tall, and everything a girl's dream man rolled into one, in person. 

He was the kind of handsome that I don't cross paths with everyday.

Sake Fortalejo and his kiss left me speechless. If it were not of Fhaye who was explaining my reaction to him, I would completely look like an idi*t in front of Sake. Although it was obvious that he wanted some alone time with me, my odd response compelled him to listen to what Fhaye had to say.

"Sir, Ms. Julia was just here for her follow up check up. The accident has left her with selective amnesia. I am afraid, you are one of the people she forgot," Fhaye told him. 

I grew up in the slums. Everyday, I am faced with different types of people and overtime, I have developed the skill to tell whether a person is lying or telling the truth. Or if the person was nervous, the way their eyes couldn't keep still, and other weird body languages that give away the fact that they're saying a false account. 

This acquired skill had really helped me in surviving the cruel surroundings I was raised in. 

Even if I really know that Fhaye was lying to Sake about my condition as Julia, I still could tell she was lying in case I am not aware of it. Man, she couldn't even look at Sake eye to eye!

I didn't know if I'd be nervous. But judging by how Sake listened carefully to Fhaye's explanation, he believed her. It was apparent how grateful he was that I'm okay. 

"I am so relieved that what Mama said was not true," Sake told me.

We were finally alone in his car. And he hadn't let go of my hand since. Like he was scared I'd pop like a bubble and he couldn't bring me back again.

"I took the very next flight so I could reach you as soon as possible. I was scared to wits, Julia. I thought I already lost you," he added.

"I-I'm okay," I stuttered. Deep inside, I hadn't recovered from the kiss yet. It was as if I could still feel his soft lips moving against mine. 

Argh! I haven't been in love my entire life. But I'm saving my first kiss in case I'd meet someone special in the future. But now, it's gone. And the culprit was this man who thought I was his beloved Julia. 

"Just like what Fhaye said, your mother didn't lie to you. I really got involved in an accident. I was in a coma for two days, but I'm fine. I have recovered. See? There are just things I forgot," I continued. "And I'm sorry if I don't remember you." 

To be honest, we have yet to discuss our plan. We even thought I could still train on how to act like Julia. Meeting Sake today on my very first day here caught us off guard. 

But I think, pretending to have amnesia was really the plan. It was just that we hadn't had the chance to discuss it first.

I could just imagine that Fhaye was hoping really hard earlier that I just play along with what she was saying. Well, good thing that I was able to prevent myself from hitting Sake for kissing me without my permission. Or else, I'd blow my cover fast.

"I'm so sorry, Julia," Sake apologized as if it was his fault that I couldn't remember him. "I promise, I'm not going to leave you again." 

I shook my head. "I am not a kid, Sake," I said. Even if he was a delight to see, I wouldn't dare wish him to stay. "Besides, like I said, I couldn't remember some things and it often makes me irritable. I can be difficult most of the time. Can you handle that, Sake?" I added to discourage him further.

"Of course." He smiled. "Just now, you didn't call me with your endearment to me, Juls."

"W-what endearment?" I asked, clueless. I searched my mind if I ever was able to read an endearment on Julia's posts. What could it be? Babe? Honey? Sweetheart? Darling?

"Never mind," he took my hands to his lips and kissed the back of them. I resisted the urge to pull my hands when I felt a weird feeling inside me from the touch of his lips on my skin. "You will remember it in time. For now, I want to assure you that I will stay beside you."

I managed a smile. He let go of my hands and started driving.

—

Fhaye was already in Valencia's mansion when we arrived. It was a good thing that Sake knew exactly where Julia lived. Because if he had asked me for the address, I might have been caught lying. 

Then again, my pretend amnesia could save me, right? But only if he were that gullible. Besides, the plan was to pretend to have selective amnesia. I supposed, forgetting where I live wasn't part of my 'missing' memories.

Argh! Never mind!

I felt my feet struggle to walk towards the house. This was no longer the same place where I lived 'til I was six years old. 

I could see that they seem to have gotten richer over the years. This house was an upgrade compared to the one they used to have. 

But this was just a facade. In reality, they were on the verge of bankruptcy. That was why I was here, right? 

"Julia, honey, you're back," Tamara, Theodore's second wife, welcomed me with a hug. 

Ah, such a lousy actress. She didn't even appear happy to see me. I wondered if Sake took notice as well.

Or he couldn't guess what was happening because in the first place, he didn't know that Julia had a sister. And a twin sister for that matter. 

"How was your check up?" Tamara continued. "Sake, did you just arrive in the country today?" She asked Sake before I could answer her question. 

I just simply rolled my eyes on the side.

"Yes, Auntie. I took the earliest flight available when I learned of what happened. My mom had it a little exaggerated. But I am glad that Juls is just fine," Sake answered. 

"Silly. We would have informed you if it was that fatal," Tamara laughed, but she sounded nervous to me. 

She was so relieved when Sake bid his goodbye after making sure with me that I am alright. The man needed some rest. 

"So, you are Jillian?" Tamara asked me when Sake had left. 

"Come on, Tamara. You've met me when I was little. And hey, I still haven't forgotten how you made my father send me away. So, please, keep your distance from me or I will not cooperate with your plan!" I said, letting her know that I was no longer that push over six-year old she sent away. 

I never liked her since the beginning. It was because she already had a child with Theodore just a couple of years after mom died. They just got married after reasonable years of "mourning." So, my half-sister, Fiona, was just two years younger than Julia and I. 

I didn't know though if they hit it off with Julia. But I didn't care. 

"Whoah, is that how the servants raised you? You have a bad mouth, child," Tamara said. 

"Servants, huh?" I mocked. But I stopped there. It's not worth talking to this woman. "Where's my sister?" I asked Fhaye when I remembered Aimee. She had just returned from seeing Sake off.

"Oh, she's with her grandparents," the PA answered. "Excuse us, Madam Tamara, I'll just accompany Ms. Jillian to Aimee." 

Tamara didn't answer. She just raised a brow then walked away first. 

"My apologies for Madam's words, Ms. Jillian," Fhaye said as she guided me to the back door. The servants still lived in separate quarters. 

"Don't mention it. It's fine if she doesn't like me. I don't like her either," I answered as I rolled my eyes.

"Mr. Valencia will talk to you later. He just went to fix some matters in the office." 

I nodded. As if I had a choice.