“Better make your choice now, Zainea,” Zayden said from behind.
What happened? What is happening here?
Why am I seeing Zerro right in front of my eyes? When did he came back? Why is he bleeding?
“Z-Zerro...” It's almost a whisper. I am so happy to see him again.
“W-Why... Why are you fighting?” I touched his bleeding lips. I want to cry, but I am stopping myself. Seeing him in this kind of situation is ripping my heart.
“I will fight for us, baby. I won't ever run away again. I won't leave you alone.” His words triggered my tears.
“Zainea.” I looked at Zayden when he blurted out my name.
“You won't be as happy as before, if you'll choose to leave with him.” It was like a warning.
‘If you don't marry Zayden Constello, and choose to escape with that Zerro, believe me, Zainea. I will destroy him. Both of you will live miserably for the rest of your lives.’
‘Why are you doing this? Can't you support us? You know that we love each other.’
‘I won't ever give you my blessing. One more thing, make a wrong decision, you won't see your mother.’
I bit my lower lip to stop myself from sobbing. That conversation I had with my father was already enough to threaten me. I don't want to lose them both.
God knows how much I want to be with you, baby. He knows how much I love you. But this is for the best. For me. For you. For us.
“L-Leave. Leave without m-me.”
“What? No. No, baby. I won't leave you here. Baby, please. Don't push me away,” he pleaded.
Pain filled his eyes.
“Let's cut everything we have. Let's not see each other anymore.”
“No.” He held my hands. I shook it off.
I want to torture myself for hurting him. I hate to see him in pain, but this is the end of us. He has a big future ahead of him. I don't want to be the cause of his downfall. I hope you'll do better without me.
“Please, just leave!!”
“If you want to cut ties with me, why are you crying? Why do I feel like you are begging me to stay by your side?”
I pushed him. “L-Leave! Go! L-Leave me! S-Stay out of my l-life. We're done, Zerro Constello. G-Goodbye.” I silently cried as I turned my back on him. Zayden is watching us without any expression on his face.
“I will leave, but not from your life. I will get you back, someday. Wait for me, baby. Wait for my return. I love you,” he whispered the last three words. I could hear his footsteps as he walked outside. I want to chase him, hug him tightly, and take back my words. If only I could fight for him the way he does. If only I could cast everything away just like how he gave up everything just to be with me.
“Megan? Do me a favor. Fetch Zainea here in my house. I can't accompany her home.” Zayden hung up the call and looked at me.
“I called your friend. Wait for her,” he simply said and went upstairs.
I cried myself out as soon as he left. Some maids came and comforted me. No one dared to talk. They just let me cry.
This pain is so unbearable. It's like my heart has been stabbed and sliced.
Zerro, I'm sorry... I'm sorry.
Megan came. Without any word, she accompanied me home. We are outside the house.
“Megs. Can I go with you? I don't like them to see me like this.”
“I've been waiting for you to say that. Okay, so, I'll tell your father that we'll have a sleepover at my place.”
“Thank you.”
“My ears are all yours tonight, Zai.” She started the engine and drove.
“Water?” She offered as soon as we arrived at her house.
“Hmm. No need.” I lie down on her bed. Feels like all my energy were sucked out.
“Is it okay if I, you know, ask about what happened?” she asked with hesitation.
I remained silent.
“Alright then. Take a good rest. Call me if you need something. Goodnight—”
“I don't know what happened, Megs.” I blankly stared at the ceiling for a minute.
“It's okay, Zai. I'm not forcing you to tell the story. What's more important to me is that you're here, breathing just fine. I know you're in pain right now, but remember that I'm always here. I'm always here to lend you my shoulders and ears.”
A tear fell down from my eyes.
Stop crying already, Zainea. Crying won't help you solve the situation.
I wiped my eyes and cheeks, and sat down.
“I-I really don't know how I ended up in that kind of situation,” I started. She sat next to me.
“The last time I remember, I was in a room with the maids, then after I saw a blood, I passed out. And then... And then, I woke up in a different situation where Zerro and Zayden were fighting. That's what happened, Megan. Tell me, how could I unconsciously walk and be in that kind of scene?”
“You mean, you don't know why and how you are there? Why they are fighting? You don't know what happened after you passed out?”
“Yes, Megs. D-Do I have a PTSD, that I can't remember what I did after I passed out? M-Megs, what if... what if I have such disease? What if I unintentionally let that another me out, and took over my body? Megs, I'm scared. I'm scared I might do something that could hurt the people around me while I'm not in my normal self.”
Why do I feel like I'm going crazy because of what's happening to me?
“Calm down, Zainea. Calm down. First, let's talk to your doctor, is that okay? Alright, I'll call Mister Reyes. Wait.” She took out her phone and dialed a number.
“Hello? Doctor Reyes? Yes, this is Megan Formosus. Sorry for calling you this late. Do you have some time? I just want to ask something about Zainea Amadeo's condition. Oh, okay. So, any complications with regards to her health? Does she has some...” She looked at me. “Does she has a PTSD or something?” She seriously listened to the doctor and keeps on nodding.
“Okay, okay. Thank you, doctor. Sorry again for disturbing you. Yes, bye.” She smiled at me.
“You are fine. He said, you must take your vitamins and medicines regularly for faster recovery. Another thing, you don't have a PTSD or something.”
“But why do I feel like there is someone inside me, aside from me? Why can't I remember the things I did during the wedding? What I did earlier? Why? Just why?”
“Hey, hey. Stop thinking. I'll help you, okay? We'll sort this out together. So, here's the thing. You said, you passed out after seeing a blood. Then woke up in a different scene. Zainea, do you believe that there are some sort of extraordinary things in the world?”
“Why are you asking me that? What are you trying to say?”
Extraordinary things like what?
“I just want to confirm something, Zai. Wait.” She bit her index finger.
“Are you crazy?! Why are you hurting yourself?! Give me your hand. Let me see.”
Blood.
----------
“Zai?”
“Who...?” Where the hell am I right now?! Another house?
“Where are those brothers? Are they okay? Gosh, they seemed like they want to kill each other. Where are they? Are they fine?”
Seeing them punch and throw each other is so intense.
“Who are you?” the woman in front of me asked.
“You are not Zainea, aren't you? Whoa. This is... amazing. Is this really happening? Hey, do you know what happened earlier?”
I didn't say anything. Does she know? How? Oh right! I passed out when I saw Zerro bleeding. By that time, Zainea probably appeared.
She appeared? So, what happened?! Why am I here with this woman, not with Zerro? I thought they decided not to let go of each other?
“Hey. Are you listening?”
I let out a sigh.
“I'm not Zainea Amadeo. I mean, yes, this is her body. But, this soul, me, the one talking right now, is not the real Zainea. Do you believe what I am saying? I'm not crazy, okay? It's just that... urgh... I don't know how to explain this to you. Where should I start?”
Her eyes went big. She covered her mouth in shock.
“We are sharing the same body.”
“W-Wow. Just wow. For real?!” She's still shocked. I know. This is insane.
“You're Zainea's closest friend, right? Then, okay, I should trust you with this. I'm Calais. Calais Ruscitti. I don't know how I end up in Zainea's body, but I need her to find mine, return to it, and live as if this never happened.”
“Your body? What happened to you? Wait, wait, wait. What did you say? Calais Ruscitti? The well-known Calais Ruscitti of Ruscitti Enterprise?!” she shouted in excitement.
“Yes. Oh, let's not talk about that. You know the accident Zainea went through, aren't you? I'm that other person who was involved in her accident. The one who fell off a cliff.”
“You—what?! Oh, God. Seriously? You are that woman?!”
“Uh huh, this is ridiculous, right? So, help me find my body. Please. I think I might totally go insane if I continue to live as Zainea. I can't handle her complicated life.”
Thinking those two men fighting over her, grr, it's scary. That's not what I want. if I were to be asked, I would rather choose to marry an average man with a simple mindset and life than to meet a rich douchebag.
“I'll help you, but please, do me a favor too.”
“Sure. Sure. What is it?”
“Help Zainea in this this situation. As long as you live as her, I'll help you with everything.”