1. Substitute

Kyla Eva Fuentabella

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"You can't do this, Kylie! Mum will never approve of this. What the hell are you thinking?" I frowned, feeling confused as I looked at her.

She smiled slightly while admiring her reflection in the mirror, running her fingers through the long, wavy hair she had just combed.

"Please, my sweet sister, Kyla, have mercy."

As I stood behind her, she calmly uttered and pouted at my reflection in the mirror. My shoulder dropped together with my heart, and I felt a tingling pain inside my head. I shut my eyes.

"What it is that you want, Kylie? It's your wedding tomorrow, and the hell!" I exclaimed and failed to keep the calmness in my voice. An intense anger is slowly arising within me, but she seems unconcerned about it.

She remained calm and composed. While me? Here I am, pacing back and forth, thinking of the best solution to her stupidest!

I paused and looked at the Louis Vuitton traveling bag and her Hermes Birkin on the corner. I don't know what she's planning this time, and I have a bad feeling about this.

She's insane, stubborn, and dumb. Yes, an absolute dumb!

"Can you please give me a valid reason, Kylie? Why are you doing this? Will you create a huge scandal in your modeling career and run away before your wedding day? Oh my God, Kylie!" I stomped my feet in frustration, almost out of breath. It's like I'm talking to a hard stone-headed dumbass!

"Are you nuts? Are you falling out of love with Enzo? Why are you leaving him? Hello, Kylie, answer me!?" My face flushed, and I could feel my blood boiling. She just shrugged her shoulder and avoided my tiger gaze.

She's the most sought-after model at present, working in the Monde Corporation under Atticus Mondragon. She's highly competitive and very ambitious. She's got everything! She got it all, alright! And here she is, marrying the man that every woman wants. What else is missing? Nothing!

"Kyla, I just want to try this. I don't know what to do, and I'm so confused," she held her chest, acting as if she'd run out of breath. Oh, what an actress!

"I don't know if it's right to get married straight away to Enzo." She touched her head, acting as if she was having a headache.

"But it's your wedding tomorrow, Kylie! And everyone's eyes will be on you and Enzo. Just think about the scandal that you are going to create this time. . . Your career, your reputation, and what about Enzo?" I burst out of frustration, and my tears are locked and loaded. My body dropped as I sat down on the floor weakly, trying to gather myself.

I'm exhausted from fixing her mess.

The sound of her expensive heels approaching me made me feel nauseous. Here she goes again. . . No, I will not do it. I had enough of this!

"Uhm, Kyla, can you do me a favor?" she said sweetly.

I smirked in silence, enough to wake me up from this madness. I raised my head, and our eyes met. Her eyes twinkled with a cold expression.

"What?" I slightly chuckled. "No way," I mouthed.

She bends down enough to level our gaze. I faltered in the way how she looked at me. She sweetly smiled, but behind those beautiful smiles lay a sinister plan.

"Please. . ." she whispered, looking sad.

My mouth parted together with my fucking heart.

Damn her.

I dipped my head down, avoiding her gaze.

I should have known better. Mum was right. I should have never shown up today. Kylie is wicked. I already know that. She will tame everyone using her sweet face and lovely pleading smile.

All of them give in to her every demand. With just a snap of her fingers, she can easily manipulate anyone. Whenever she desires something, she will stop at nothing to obtain it, regardless of who gets hurt in the process.

How many times did I put myself on her behalf? How many covers should I make for her? How many times have I worn her brand of underwear and bras on stage at significant events? How often have I faced the media in all her controversies and scandals?

Countless times. . . And how much more will I do for her? How far? What the hell is wrong with me? Why can't I stand on my own and be free?

"No, Kylie. I could no longer do this anymore." I shook my head and stood up.

That's it. I will not do any more favors for her.

"Kyla, please. I promise this will be the last. Just be my substitute on my wedding day. I know you can do this. You are the best when it comes to this," she wickedly smiled.

"But this is your wedding, Kylie!" I uttered and gritted my teeth. My hand fisted into a ball.

"This is not some kind of a joke or a scandal that I need to cover, Kylie! This is not a modeling ramp where I can walk on stage wearing two pieces. This is not an issue where I must face the media and explain the story. My God, Kylie!" I turned away from her, covering my ears in frustration, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Kylie and I are identical twins. I was born only a minute from her. We have the same physical features because Mum wanted it to be this way. Kylie Eve is one of the most famous models in the country.

No one knows that she has a twin sister, and that was me. I became Kylie's cover. I didn't exist in my family's world, as I was hidden since birth. I became a second option and the best shadow of my twin sister scandals.

"No, this won't do. I will talk to Mum and Dad." I stood up, ready to leave the room.

"What the hell, Kyla! I want you to do this now!" Her voice rose in octavo, and my body froze.

I whirled to see her, and I felt the shivers when I saw the deadly look in her eyes. I swallowed hard.

The sweet smile on her face faded away, replacing a cunning, dark stare. Straight away, she strode closer to the bed into the bedside table. She opened the drawer and grabbed the sharp scissors. I gasped when she positioned the sharp edge of the scissor on her wrist, ready to cut her skin.

"Now tell me, what should I do, Kyla? Should I cut myself in front of you?" in her challenging stare.

"K-Kylie. . . stop." I stuttered as I slowly strode towards her."

"What!? Tell me, Kyla!? What the hell should I do? Do you want me to kill myself?"

I covered my mouth when she finally cut herself, and the blood dripped fast out from her wrist. I ran towards her, snatched the scissor, and threw it away. My hands were trembling when I tried to stop the flow of the blood from her skin.

"Kylie, my God." My voice cracked, and I panicked. I grabbed the handkerchief I had with me and wrapped it tightly on her wrist. The blood stopped, and my heart deflated. I felt like my soul came out of my body for a moment.

"Kylie. . ." I pleaded as I looked at her in the eyes.

Kylie's tears fell, but there was no expression at all. She just looked at her wrist, covered in blood.

There are a lot of things going on in my mind at this moment, and one of them is my Mother will kill me if Kylie hurts herself again.

"Look, Kyla. It doesn't hurt at all." She smiles now, and her eyes twinkle.

"Thank you, Kyla. . . I know I can rely on you at this moment. Don't worry. I will be back in three days. I promised." She made a peace sign and laughed a little bit.

My knees trembled, and with no energy, my body deflated as I sat back on the edge of the bed.

"Just be me for a day, Kyla, okay? I will be back in three days. Don't cry." She sat down beside me and wiped my tears.

I could no longer talk, and I felt lost for a moment. She then slowly untied the handkerchief from her wrist. I shut my eyes. I don't think I can manage to see the cut she made.

"Look, Kyla. . . Come on, open your eyes," she sweetly said, holding my hand.

My flesh is still shaking, and my breathing increases in rhythm as I look at her skin.

The other cuts she made were visible on her wrist. This is no longer new. She's been doing this every time she hasn't gotten my approval. This is her way of holding me by the neck. I have no choice. I have to do whatever she demands for her safety, or else my mother will kick me.

.

We were both quiet while I treated her wound. I sighed, and my heart calmed now from beating so fast earlier.

"I have to go now, Kyla. It's all up to you now, okay?" She stood up.

It seems like nothing happened to her, and she's back at herself again. She looks bubbly and so pretty without any worries. I followed her without a word. She grabbed her bags and put on her black hooded jacket. She stepped out, and I did the same. She didn't look back as she stepped out of the gate.

"Kylie," I called her. She paused but never looked at me.

A black car then stops right in front of her. I stepped closer to see her and saw the man driving the car, but I couldn't see his face. It was a blur.

"Kylie!"

She whirled quickly to see me before getting inside the car and smiled. She raised her fingers in a three-number sign, and I nodded. She waved at me and then shut the car door.

I took a deep breath as I watched them disappear. I looked up at the dark sky, and I shut my eyes. The cold wind brushed my face.

I hope she'll be back soon. I hope so.

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c. m. louden