It's already one o'clock in the afternoon, yet we're still here inside the coffeeshop. To my surprise, he rented the whole shop. There are only the two of us. Perhaps, he doesn't want others to gossip about me, crying at some coffeeshop.
What will people say if Zainea Amadeo, the wife of Zayden Constello, is seen crying in public? They'll say that he bullied me or didn't protect me from some woman.
He's a smart person. I can totally see that he understands a person. He can sense if there's something wrong. He just pretends not to care, but he got something under his sleeve that'll comfort you. It's just that he's not that expressive.
He's cold and rude, but he's warm inside.
“Uhm, I... uh, thank you.”
It took me an hour before I finally calm down. Zayden didn't dare to ask. He stayed silent while comforting me. His hug worked and those words...
‘I'm all ears. Just say all your concerns, and leave the rest to me. You don't have to shoulder all these, alone. You have me.’
...it made my heart skipped for a bit.
We are sitting on the same spot.
I know he's curious of what happened, but didn't bother to ask me. Maybe because he's waiting for the time that I'm ready to open it up to him.
And I guess, this is the right time for me to share my story to him. If he knows, he might be able to help me stop Caileigh. I will not have to be very careful and be secretive around him. I can act openly.
I sighed deeply.
“I'm not Zainea Amadeo,” I started.
I didn't hear any word from him. I think he's weighing those words I said.
“Your ears are not deceiving you nor am I. You heard it correctly. This face, this body, they belong to Zainea, but the soul inside her is not hers.”
His looked at me with confused eyes.
“Are you sick?” He touched my forehead.
“I'm not!” I gently slapped his hand.
“Then, why are you telling me you're not Zainea Amadeo when obviously you are? Is your words even possible? Tss. I should've taken a picture of you when you cried. You looked like a total disaster.”
He tossed his coat to my face. “Your snots are all over my coat.”
“You! I'm being serious here!”
He's not taking it seriously. I know, this is hard to believe, but can't he listen to me first?!
“I'm Caileigh's younger sister, Calais Ruscitti. The one you're talking to right now is not Zainea but Calais.”
He looked at me again. Then suddenly, he laughed as if I said a joke.
“Is that your new project? I heard from your management that you'll be doing a new drama. Good luck with that. You even involved that Ruscitti's sister.” He takes his phone on the table and was about to leave.
“I'm serious! I thought you're going to hear all my concerns? Where are you going? I'm not finished explaining yet!”
“I will, but if you're going to spit some ridiculous things, no. This is enough for today, Zainea. Let's go. I'll treat you to lunch.”
“Stop right there. Didn't I mention that I adore her? Then, you must've noticed that my actions and words to her are in contrary with what I said. Aren't you curious why I'm acting like that in front of Caileigh? Why I asked those questions? Why I cried after I went to see her? No? Really, Zayden?”
He stopped from walking. I know you are. You just can't believe this ridiculous thing.
“That' right. My name's Calais Ruscitti. 28. A Filipino-Chinese citizen.” I approached him and looked to his eyes.
“Believe me. I know I can't prove what I'm saying right now with mere words, so I'll bother you to come with me. I have something to show you that will prove everything I'm saying.”
I dragged him to his car.
I won't let this day pass without telling him the truth. I have this mindset that if I started a thing, I will finish it no matter what happens.
“Drive your car. We'll going somewhere.”
“Why don't you drive?” He handed me the key.
My hand begins to tremble as I stared at it. Crap this. Flashbacks from that horrible night invaded my mind. I closed my eyes as I gasp. I'm starting to have a hard time in breathing.
“I-I... I-I can't.” I looked down.
With what happened to me, I don't know if I can drive anymore.
I was startled when Zayden held my hand. He took the key from me, and opened the door on the driver's seat.
“To where?”
I didn't answer him; instead, I went and sat on the passenger's seat.
I just hope he'll understand my situation very well.
“What ridiculousness are you two doing?” Zayden asked when he realized that we are heading to Megan's villa.
“I'll explain everything. For now, you have to prepare yourself, well, especially your brain because you might have a hard time handling this insane revelation.”
“Tss.” He parked the car in Megan's garage.
Megan welcomed us outside her house with a smile on her face.
“Good to see you, President Constello,” she greeted Zayden.
“Why are you here with him? Don't tell me... Whoa, are you sure you're going to tell him everything? Are you sure with that?” she whispered.
We had a deal. The moment Zayden will come here with me, I'll tell him everything, and that moment is today.
“Something suddenly came up, so yes. And I need your help with this. He might not believe me.”
She winked at me. “Sure. I know you have a better plan. I'll just prepare you guys a lunch. Call me if you need my help in explaining.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Come in.”
My body was transfered here in Megan's place. I suggested it. Zainea's father agreed. He still doesn't know that I'm not his daughter, and I don't have a plan on telling him that. I will let Zainea decide on that. Doctor Reyes also agreed with this. The hospital is having a lot of patients and visitors, so it's not a safe place for my body, although it's theirs. We're just being cautious. No one knows the accident except us. With my body here, Zainea's image will be safe. I, too, will be safe from my sister.
Amadeo's mansion is not a place for me to stay, her stepmother and stepsister are there. Only Megan's place is the best choice.
“What are we doing here?”
I led him to the uppermost part of Megan's house. The room where we placed my body is hidden, it cannot be easily found.
I opened the room, revealing everything inside it. The beep of the machine is the only sound that can be heard. Did I mention? The advanced hospital equipment are even moved to here.
“Who's that? You hit someone?”
“What? No. Look closely, will you?” He walked towards the bed.
“Then, why are you hiding the body here in Megan's place instead of providing her with the best treatment at your hospital? Megan's on it, too?”
He gave me a suspicious look. “Is that why you're afraid to drive?”
I frowned.
“I really didn't hit someone, okay?! Look. Look carefully. That's me. That's my body. But my soul was not in that body anymore, it is here in Zainea's.”
He searched my name on the internet. He compared the picture from my Instagram to the one lying on the bed.
Okay, go. Be 100% sure.
“Isn't she supposed to have her vacation in New York? Why is she here? Are you sure you didn't do anything bad to her? Zainea Amadeo, tell me the truth. Don't tell things that are out of the world.”
He cursed. “That Ruscitti will sue you if she knows this.”
I want to cry from frustration. I don't know how to explain things to him anymore!
“No! Zayden! Please, hear me out! I'm sharing the same body with Zainea! No one hit someone!”
“Are you yelling at me?”
“It's because I'm so frustrated with you! This is not a joke nor a prank. Zayden, please. Where did that smart brain of yours go? Can't you have a little hint that the person you're talking to right now is not Leo Amadeo's daughter?”
Can't he determine that Zainea is more ladylike than me?! We're definitely not the same person.
I took the small knife near the apples.
“Okay. If you can't believe me, Zainea will explain to you. I know you won't believe Megan too, so this is the only way. No one's backing out.”
“What the hell? Stop! What are you doing?! Fuck.” He rushed towards me, but I already cut my index finger.
The blood dripped to the floor.
Zayden took my knife away from me. He catches me when I faint.
----------
“Zainea! Zainea!” Someone's gently tapping my cheek.
I opened my eyes. I'm now sitting on a couch.
“Are you okay?”
Zayden?
Isn't this Megan's? Why am I here? Why is Zayden here?
“Stupid. Why the hell did you cut your finger?” Zayden was cleaning my cut.
“I-I can do it.”
I take the band aid from him.
“Calais Ruscitti.” I looked at him when he said that, but I looked away when he stared back at me. I accidentally saw Calais' body on the side.
He grinned. “That look.”
Why is her body here? They transferred her here? So, he knew? Did they tell him? Then why did Calais let me out?
“What exactly is happening here? Is it fun deceiving me? Huh?”
He probably didn't believe Calais. He won't ask this if he's already enlightened.
“What did Calais tell you? Did she tell you that we're sharing the same body? I guess, she did, but you didn't believe her. Why? Are you afraid to trust anyone's words? You're afraid because you don't want to be betrayed, just like what you did to Zerro.”
He stayed silent. He should. He backstabbed Zerro despite the fact that Zerro trusted him with everything.
“What else do you want me to say for you to believe that this body has two souls? It has Calais'.”
I smiled bitterly when I think about Zerro.
“If it's not because of you, I would be spending my days with Zerro. This thing wouldn't be happening to me. Zayden Constello, are you now happy that you're destroying someone's life and happiness? Is it satisfying to see Zerro meet his downfall?”
He clenched his fist.
Today, I won't refrain from telling my hatred to him.
I have a lot of resentment to him and seeing him makes me want to curse and hurt him. He's the reason why my Zerro is miserably living somewhere.
“You know nothing,” he said with gritted teeth.
I shook my head. “No, you know nothing.” I want to say the truth, but I stopped myself. I made a promise with Zerro. I won't say a thing unless he told me so.
This is the reason why I don't to face Zayden. I don't want to destroy Zerro's plan just because of my resentment.
“Zerro will get back everything you've taken from him. Remember that, Zayden Constello. You'll lose everything you have, someday.”