Chapter 26

She was identical to me... that woman had my face, how was this possible? I had always felt there was something strange around me, but now I understood everything... she seemed like a kind of usurper, who came to claim her place. Everything came to mind like a rapid flood of information. The look on Keylef's face when he saw me for the first time, the maids surprised to see me, the gossip, the rumors, Joffre... even Mr. Caesar, upon seeing me, said her name. There had to be an explanation for this... I, a dirty orphan, perhaps... it was a strange coincidence of life. My grandpa always said that faces always repeated around the world, yes... that had to be it. It was just a coincidence, I repeated to myself nervously walking around the room while Gulliver croaked.

"But... what if it's not? Who am I then?"

♥

Days passed so quickly it felt like a fast-forwarded movie, as I tried to avoid Mr. Caesar and my head was filled with all the questions and feelings squeezing my chest. It all boiled down to the only reason Mr. Keylef took pity on me was because I looked like his beloved, identical to me... or I was a cheap copy, poorly made, with no manners or etiquette... just thinking about it tightened my heart. So, when he said I deserved to be a better woman, he was comparing me to that woman. Tears welled up in my eyes, feeling foolish and obsolete. Suddenly, I heard that thing ring, the cell phone Mr. Keylef had given me. I wiped my tears and looked at the screen, seeing the message shining.

Keylef
I'm leaving today, could we say goodbye at the airport? I'd really like to see you one last time...
Belle.
I promised him, so I'll say goodbye at the airport as I told him.
Keylef.
Thank you, Belle

I took a deep breath, leaving the phone aside. Was what I was doing right? Why did I feel like I was betraying myself? I didn't want to be strong, that was the truth... but still, I was saying goodbye while lying to him about my true feelings. But he also lied to me, lied about something as important as telling me the reason for my strange resemblance to that woman. Maybe he didn't know either... whatever it was, I couldn't keep licking my wounds. If my grandpa saw me, I'm sure he would tell me that a person from the streets doesn't give up in the face of life's hardships...

"I would show Keylef that I'm not a worthless woman, I'd tell him how I felt about him... and maybe... just maybe, I could stop him from leaving." I took the dress Keylef had given me that day and put it on. This was the perfect occasion. I went to my bathroom and did my hair as best as I could, combing it for the first time. When I finished, I patted my cheeks to make them rosy. I looked in the mirror, remembering that beautiful woman I helped at the party, so elegant and well-spoken. Then I felt a surge of energy.

"Come on, Mila, you can do it!" I told myself, but all that confidence crumbled when I saw Mr. Caesar's car in front of the mansion. I tried to play dumb, turning my head to one side... I quickly passed by, whispering over and over. "Don't see me, don't see me, let it be Joffre only..." I heard the window and then the door open.

"Where do you think you're going?" my feet stopped at the sound of Mr. Caesar's commanding voice, making me squint with regret. Why did he have to be here...

"I have to be somewhere, I'm already late, have a good day." I said, still giving him my back, trying to continue on my way when he spoke.

"I know where you're going, stop making excuses. Get in already, or we'll be late."

"What?" I said, turning with a horrified expression. He looked at me mockingly and said,

"Did you really think my brother invited only you? Did you want to feel special..." he let out a slight laugh, and I felt my blood rush to my face with embarrassment. I stood there, thoughtful, when I heard.

"Move! How long do I have to wait?"

"I'll go... on my own."

"On your own? You're not understanding, I wasn't asking, it was an order from your boss." I walked to the car, sitting as far away from him as possible, my gaze fixed on the window.

"Let's go, Joffre." The car started, and the tension in the place felt like it could be cut with scissors. How did I end up here... I let out a deep sigh when I heard him say.

"It's curious..." he said, snapping me out of my thoughts to get my attention.

"A few days ago, I saw an employee fighting over clothes that cost more than their salary. Curious, don't you think?" I quickly glanced at him with a nervous laugh and said,

"It seems that people's cost of living has become more luxurious, good for them," I said, looking ahead, tenser than an old lady with a wig.

"Do you think so? I would've thought it was a typical fight if I hadn't seen another employee with one of the same dresses I made you buy."

"Ah, yes... how strange."

"Are you going to keep pretending you didn't sell all the clothes," he said, his jaw tense and his brow furrowed.

"They needed clothes, and I had a lot of nice clothes that would go to waste because I don't go to parties or elegant outings. My grandpa always said not to disdain what you've been given."

"But if you can wear a clearly new dress that you didn't buy yourself, I assume it was given to you, and I know the name of that person," I turned to look at him this time, our eyes meeting for the first time since that day.

"What's the matter? Am I wrong?"

"I don't know what you're getting at with all this."

"So it's true, everything you've done so far screams to the high heavens that you like my brother," Joffre raised his gaze, and shame overwhelmed me, making me shrink in the seat.

"And so what if it's true? That will change when I tell Mr. Keylef how I feel! So stop mocking as if you have an exclusive."

"Watch how you talk to me, and more than calling it an exclusive to have fun with, it's a secret I'll take advantage of."

"It won't be a secret anymore because I'll tell him everything!" I shouted, looking at him with determination.

"Good luck with that then."

♥
Caesar

Seeing her dressed up in a clearly new dress that I hadn't bought for her made my blood boil. She had thrown my kindness to the ground, but a cheap second-hand gift from Keylef, she wore it with all the pleasure, and not only that, she treasured it in her room as if it were the last jewel. Did she like my lazy brother that much? Not that I cared, but it was curious to know why so much admiration for someone who did nothing. What did she see in him? An unambitious layabout, trapped by love that left him unable to think or act. He couldn't even bring his own music forward. I could understand if she held a grudge against me, but was she blind... was she going to pretend after what happened last night...? Well, I wouldn't allow that.

♥

When we arrived at the airport, I tried to escape that car from hell as quickly as possible. I couldn't even look him in the face, I felt anger for being so unfortunate and at the same time, shame, recalling that damn kiss.

"So, you plan to tell him what happened between us," my heart skipped a beat, foiling my escape.

"It was so unimportant that I don't even remember," I snapped, maintaining my composure, though nervous about that topic I wanted to bury forever. Suddenly, I felt him grab my arm, turning me towards him.

"How dare you, little girl... you wish you were in the place of many women who desire even my attention. You didn't say that when I kissed you..."

"Never!" I released his grip with disgust, quickly getting out of the car.