Chapter 4: Right Decision

I was lost for words after her last sentence. I could also see how disheartened my twin sister was. I stood up from my seat. Then I placed my arms on the railing on the balcony and looked away. There are so many things going on in my mind like, ‘What can I do? Why does it seem that I don’t have a choice but to agree? Sigh. Should I agree because I already made a promise?

“Don’t you think that it will only get more complicated when I pretend? What if they learn that I am not the real Angela? Look at me. Yes, we have similar looks but we have different personalities. What if he noticed that I’m a different person?” I asked for one last time while looking at the hazy moon.

“I’ve never met him in person before so you don’t have to worry. And to tell you honestly, I don’t know much about him and his family because they are living overseas. Mom just told me before that he’s five years older than me and a baker. That's all I know. So, it’s really not a problem.” She stated nonchalantly.

Hearing her remarks, my brows raised automatically as I instantly turned to her.

“You never met him in person? Didn’t he visit you here even once?” I exclaimed in surprise.

How weird. They would be married soon but they didn’t see each other yet.

“Yes. From what I heard, he’s very busy with his work and barely takes a vacation. But I met his mom twice, one was during mom’s wake and last month when we had a meeting about the wedding details.”

‘Does it mean that it’s safe to pretend?’ I thought as I sat down again. But I could not help thinking about the indifferent act of the man that Angela was supposed to marry.

“Being busy is not a valid reason. He should make time. What kind of man is he? Why did he just rely on his mother to organize his marriage?” I blurted out like I was talking to myself before I realized that I might hurt Angela’s feelings.

I just bit my tongue as I observed my twin sister’s reaction but she didn’t respond. She just looked away.

Then, a prolonged silence followed.

Subsequently, Angela left me on the balcony, still in deep thought.

I took a deep sigh, thinking what should I do? Soon after, I recalled what my father told me when he was still alive.

"Whenever you face a difficult situation, close your eyes and listen to your heart. Because sometimes, your heart knows the best thing for you more than your mind's capacity to understand. And you will know that you made the right choice if you feel the peace in your heart after you made that decision."

Hence, I shut my eyes and listened to my heart.

The following day.

I was up at six in the morning, staring at the ceiling. I was thinking if everything that happened last night was real or just a dream. I didn’t imagine that there was more shocking than my father’s revelation about my twin sister.

I was so astounded to learn that my twin sister was sick. More than that, I would have not thought that I would get married to a man I never met before.

Right. I agreed. I will fulfill my promise. I would do her one last wish.

That same day, Angela would go to the airport for her flight to Paris for her surgery. I was insisting that I would send her to the airport but she firmly refused. She told me that her doctor would accompany her already so I have nothing to worry about.

I was helping her to pack her things when she suddenly hugged me from behind.

“I’m really, really sorry, Ash. I know it would greatly affect your life but I really don’t have a choice.” She whispered. Then she sobbed.

I faced her and saw her crying.

I was touched. It was the first time that I saw her crying.

I hugged her back and caressed her hair. “Anj, it’s okay. I’m your twin and only family. Who else is gonna help you? I am sure that if the situation were reversed, you would do the same. Right?”

“Of course. Know that I will do anything for you, Ash. You’re the only reason why I want to be cured. Because I’m your only family.” She stated with all her heart.

Tears stung my eyes, hearing her remarks.

She’s right. She’s my only family.

And as I looked back, since I lived with her, she’s always been there for me whenever I need a helping hand. And that made me more emotional.

We were in that position for a while before we continued packing her things.

We were almost done with her clothes when I suddenly realized that I still didn't know the name of the man she would marry, or better to say that I would marry on her behalf.

“By the way Anj, what is the name of the man you are going to marry?” I inquired while folding her clothes. Then I glanced at her.

“Leonardo King,” she replied as she looked at me.

I paused on putting her clothes in her luggage as I heard the name, Leonardo King. ‘Why did it sound familiar to me?’

‘I think I’ve heard that name before,’ I said in my mind as I pouted my lips, thinking deeply when and where I heard of that name.

“Why? What’s wrong? Do you know him?” she queried, creasing her forehead.

“Well, that name rang a bell but I cannot recall where I heard it before,” I mumbled as I shrugged my shoulders.

Angela’s forehead furrowed as she replied, “I don’t think so. His mom told me that they have a small family tree and that he is the only grandson in their family and their only hope in order to keep their family name for the next generations.”

“Is that so?” I uttered while nodding my head, still not convinced.

“Wait, I have his picture. Let me show it to you, so you’ll know if you really met him before, ” She said when she noticed that I was not convinced while taking her phone to search for the picture.

After a few minutes of waiting, Angela showed me the picture on her phone.

It was a tall blonde-haired man with blue eyes.

“Oh, okay. So, he’s Leonardo King. Well, he’s attractive but his name doesn’t suit him.” I joked as I laughed.

“I know, right?” Angela responded and laughed with me.

After seeing the picture, I didn’t think much of it anymore. Perhaps, it only sounded the same or a similar name I heard before.

Later that day, Angela took a cab to go to the airport. And as soon as she was out of my sight, an unexplained agony sheltered my heart. I suddenly felt empty inside.

For almost a year, I used to live with my twin sister. But now, I was alone again.

‘Did I make the right decision?’ I asked myself as I let out a deep sigh. I was not used to deciding without giving it much thought. But thinking of my twin sister’s condition, I reassured myself that it was the right thing to do.

‘Yes, I made the right decision because it’s for the sake of my twin sister. It’s my chance as well to return all her efforts in finding us and be closer to me. So, I will do it for her.’

The days had passed by so quickly.

And three days to go, it’s Angela’s wedding. So, I started to prepare my things even though my mind was still hesitant to pretend to be her and get married.

However, I already resigned from my job last month at Angela’s request. So, I guessed there was no more turning back.

More than that, I knew in my heart that I would not be at peace if I didn't do it as I promised. Hence, I followed my heart.

I was in deep thought as I opened my closet. And as I began getting all my clothes, my eyes caught the paper bag in the corner of my closet.

“Oh, right!” I exclaimed, recalling the name of the man who owned the suit in the paper bag.

Then, my face instantly felt warm when I remembered the owner of the suit as I couldn't help but recalled as well the memory of my first kiss.

But I suddenly got curious.

“Leo King… Leonardo King,” I whispered as I questioned myself if they were related to each other. But my heart pounded, thinking about the possibility that our paths would have crossed again.

Nevertheless, I instantly dropped the idea, thinking that they looked different from each other. Besides, Angela mentioned that Leonardo King was the only grandson who would carry their name to the next generations.

“And it might be just a coincidence. Out of billions of people here on earth, it’s not impossible to have a similar family name,” I convinced myself.