3. Cut

Kyla Eva Fuentabella

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I don't think I can sleep after what happened. I constantly stare at the ceiling, thinking about what to do next.

It is unbelievable. It's freaking unreal!

I can't understand my twin sister, Kylie. Her twisted, untangled brain made her what she had become. An absolute dumb, pain in the ass, stupid! 

Sometimes, I question myself if she is really my twin by blood. We look physically the same, but we are completely opposite in everything. I'm the angel, while she's the devil. I'm the fairy with a golden heart, and she's the black wicked witch without it.

I wonder who carries the bad blood? Is it mother or father?

I don't think it's our father. He is the best father for me, loving, caring, and understanding. It could be our mother. She's as wicked as Kylie and doesn't care about me. 

Ugh, I hate this! I don't want to think too much. This is useless!

I rolled over my back and submerged my face in the pillow. If I could only turn back the time, I could have a better approach to my wicked twin sister, Kylie.

She's an evil witch! She can easily blackmail me with her best lies and drama. And a stupid one like me falls under her madness. 

Kylie almost killed herself when I didn't attend one of her fashion shows. That was her mistake, but my parents, primarily my mother, blamed me to death.

Damn, self! My mother will blame me again. Oh, heck. I hate this.

I hate her so much, but I can't ignore her. After all, she's my twin sister, and I still love her.

What should I do tomorrow? Tomorrow is the wedding, and another pretentious game will happen. I will stand there, in front of their guest, acting like the real freaking bride!

"Oh, hell, whatever!" I mouthed as I rolled over the bed. I heard my phone vibrate. My body jerked as it scared me. I rolled to stand up, but I fell on the edge, and my butt hit the floor.

"Damn, stupida, self!" I cursed under my breath and looked at my phone on the bedside table. But the noise wasn't coming from my phone itself. It has a different ringtone and is not mine.

I whirled my body to check around, inspecting underneath the pillows, blanket, and mattress until I found it on the side of the bed underneath Kylie's dress.

I jerked my head and chuckled. Kylie purposely left her phone for a reason. Huh, great! She's a hell of crazy, alright. 

I looked at the screen, and my eyes grew more prominent. It was Enzo. Enzo is calling. Oh my God!

My hands trembled as I took a deep breath in and out before answering. I had to remind myself that I am Kylie now. I had to act like her.

"H-Hello, hon?" I stammered, and my heart palpitated fast. I swallowed hard.

"Love? Have you read my messages?" in his baritone voice.

I smiled and shut my eyes. Enzo's voice already made me weak. Every time I heard, saw, and felt him, my heart fluttered, and I always forgot myself. It seemed like I was floating in the cloud.

My goodness, me! Wake up, Kyla!

"M-Messages? Oh? Uhm, no... I-I, uhm, just woken up! Right, right, I just woke up, love. I'm sorry." I bit my lower lip hard enough to ease the tension I felt.

Kylie doesn't act like this towards anyone. She's straightforward in the way she talks. I can copy her mannerisms and behavior, but then, when it comes to Enzo, I lose myself.

I heard him chuckle on the other line and his sweet voice sent tingles all over my body. I couldn't help but smile.

"I love it every time I hear you stammered, hon," he chuckled. In a snap, I heard a sweet smack of the kiss in the line. My eyes widened.

Did he just kiss me?

"I bought the item you want, and guess what?" in his sweet voice.

"W-What?" I bite my lower lip again.

"I bought three different colors. I know you will love them, so I got the rest of the set. Have a look, hon. It's a limited edition."

"Oh? Really?" I said innocently. I don't know what it is again, but knowing Kylie, I bet it is a material thing that she obsesses over.

"Thank you, hon. I will check it out later," I sighed and flakily smiled.

There's no point in smiling. Enzo can't see me, but I can't stop myself. Hearing Enzo talking about what had happened last at his bachelor's party melted me. I like his voice. It soothes me.

"Okay. Are you ready for tomorrow?" he calmly asks.

"T-Tomorrow?" My brows crossed, and then I remembered the wedding. Of course, it's tomorrow!

"Oh, yes! I am excited, hon. I cannot wait!"

My goodness, me! What the heck am I thinking just now? I am having thoughts about Enzo that seem to be coming out of nowhere. I keep imagining what he looks like.

Forgive me. My heart is weak when it comes to him.

"Brace yourself after tomorrow's wedding, hon, because we will fly to the Maldives for our honeymoon. I can't wait to be with you," he whispered in the line.

My eyes widened, and my heart jolted out of space. Oh, hell! What am I going to do? I need to wait for Kylie. Shocks! I need to give Enzo a valid excuse. Come on, think of something, self!

"Uhm, hon, do we have to fly straight after the wedding? Can we wait three days?" I expressed nervously and bit my lower lip hard. Hard enough that I could almost taste my blood. 

The line went quiet, and I got anxious, waiting for his response.

"H-Hon? A-Are you still there?" I stammered.

"Yes, hon. Why is that? Is there something wrong with you? Don't you like going to the Maldives?"

"Oh no, hon. It's not like that. I love it! It's just that. . . uhm, I-I have my period! I just got it today. I'm sorry, hon," I said, shutting my eyes.

Yes, I have my fake menstruations. That's a good excuse. Damn, crazy me!

He let a short laugh out in the line. "I thought what it is then. That's okay, hon. I can reschedule it now. We can move the flight to a week after the wedding. What do you think? Would you like more time?" 

"Oh, that's great! One week is much better, hon. I'm pretty sure I will be ready after that!" 

My eyes twinkled, and I felt like all the thorns that had been long stuck inside my heart had finally gone. I'm pretty sure Kylie will be back, and she can continue with their plans. I don't bloody care about them anymore!

"What else do you want, hon? Come on, tell me now. I can get them all for you."

My brow raised in annoyance. That damn wicked Kylie. She's so demanding. I know she only likes Enzo because of his money and nothing else. Poor Enzo. . . He is such a loving person and a wicked twin sister of mine doesn't deserve him!

I sighed and shut my eyes. I paused a little bit.

A long time ago, Kylie and I had a heart-to-heart conversation about Enzo. She told me that she genuinely loved him aside from his money. But after what she did to me, I could no longer believe her!

I grinned mischievously and shook my head. I have a plan in mind. I'm going to create a little chaos in my wicked twin sister's fortune.

"There's nothing more, hon. Having you with me is more than enough. I don't need any material thing from now on, Enzo. . . I'm sorry if I demanded so much in the past. That wasn't me. I was just having a hard time. I'm sorry."

I tasted the blood from my lower lip again as I bit it harder. I pushed my thumb over and sucked it. It sounded like I was giving him a flying kiss in the line.

"I love it, hon, and here's one for you." He chuckled and laughed a little bit.

I was right. Enzo probably thought I was giving him a flying kiss. I laughed.

"I can't wait to have you in my arms. I want to cuddle you every night and see your face first thing in the mornings. I miss you, hon."

"Me too, darling, uhm, este, hon." It accidentally slipped out of my tongue. Kylie calls him honey, and for me to address him as 'darling' will probably surprise him.

"I haven't heard that for a while. I can still remember the first time you called me 'darling', and I liked it," in his sweet voice in the line.

I heaved a sigh and pouted my mouth.

My goodness, me! Does he still remember that? That was a long time ago. It was a mistake that I called him 'my darling'. That was the time when I substituted Kylie, and I was with Enzo.

Oh, this is insane.

"Okay, hon. Have your rest and check your inbox. Tell me what else you want, and I will get it for you," in his loving voice.

I shut my eyes, imagining him beside me. "I will check it, hon. Not a problem."

"Okay. I love you," he whispered.

My heart jolted out of my chest. I paused and didn't know how to react back.

Shit. I am Kylie and not Kyla! My mind speaks.

"Uhm, I-I love you too, hon," I swallowed hard and ended the call.

Geez, that was close. I took a deep breath. Thank goodness!

That was intense. I felt nervous, and my hands went cold. I hope I can do a better job tomorrow. It will be the biggest lie of my life. God forgive me for this.

I swipe Kylie's phone and open her inbox. Since I became her substitute per the transactions, she has given me all her details, emails, and passwords. I gasped, and my eyes widened when I saw Enzo's email. 

That damn, witch.

The bag alone cost one point five million dollars. It's insane. What a spoiled brat! 

I silently chuckled and shook my head. I already know that she's not a nice twin sister at all, but this is too much. Damn, her. 

I sat down on the edge of the bed, facing the mirror on the wall. I hate my look now. This is not me. What I saw in the mirror was the image of Kylie. 

I hate this! I felt so betrayed by her and my parents. I'm a prisoner. A captive slave, bound to follow orders, unable to stand or defend myself.

I stood up and smiled bitterly. I obviously look like Kylie. We have the same hairstyle, skin tone, and everything! This is not me. This is not Kyla because what I see now in front of the mirror is Kylie. 

I slightly laughed, losing myself a little bit, and then stared at my reflection once again. 

That's it! I had enough of this. This is the last, and after this, I promise I will no longer be the same. 

I whirled halfway and opened the drawer of the bedside table. I grab the scissors and am now facing the mirror. 

Here we go. Say goodbye to your lovely hair, Kylie. I will cut my hair and cut you off in my life from now on. 

After cutting my long, wavy hair, I feel free for the first time. It's wonderful to look different from her.

This is my physical identity. For now, it's my payment for being your substitute bride, Kylie.

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c.m. louden