Chapter 15

THERE were lots of people walking in the park that day. Some were couples, and some were walking their pets. It was a perfect place to find people from all walks of life. Meanwhile, two strangers with no memories walked side by side—Sybil and Ace.
“Sybil!”
Ace suddenly pulled her to the other side and covered her. That was when she realized what had just happened. He prevented her from being hit by a bicycle.
“O-oh… look at that. I almost got hit.” She looked at him. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Are you alright?” He grasped her arms.
“Hm.” She nodded her head.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere?”
Sybil couldn’t help but laugh.
“How could I be hurt? Your reflexes were too fast.”
“I’m glad you’re safe.” He let out a sigh of relief.
Ace ushered her to a vacant bench. She immediately sat down there, but he remained standing.
“Come, sit with me.” She patted the space beside her.
“Wait here. I’m going to get something for us to drink.”
She was about to say something, but he had already left. Sybil heaved a sigh and watched him walk to the nearest vending machine.
Ace was smiling when he returned. He then handed her a can of cold coffee and sat beside her.
“Thanks,” she said as she opened the can. “Where did you get your money anyway?”
He took a gulp and turned his gaze on her afterward.
“Sonja left me an allowance. She said I shouldn’t bother you with money while she was away.” He frowned. “Which I don’t plan to do anyway. Actually, I’m going to start working at Mr. and Mrs. Peterson’s place starting Monday.”
“You mean at their farm?” Her forehead creased.
“Yes. Where else do you think I will be working there? I heard they’re hiring staff to their farm.”
“Well…”
“Well, what?” He arched a brow.
“Good for you then. At least you get to earn money while you’re here.”
“Yeah, right.” Ace heaved a sigh and looked up at the clear sky above them. “We never know how long I’d be here. Money is essential for me to survive. I can’t just live a life like a parasite.”
“That’s too much,” she countered. “I would never think of you like that.”
“Did you just say that you’ll never get tired of me, hmm?”
“If that’s how you interpret what I said, then so be it.”
She turned in his direction and saw him smiling broadly at her. And she must admit that whenever he would smile at her that way, her heart went crazy. It was as though her chest had turned into a racetrack. Sybil looked away and took a couple of sips of her coffee.
“That was very sweet of you,” he said softly.
“You’re just teasing me, aren’t you?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t, please.”
“Of course not,” Ace countered.
She couldn’t say a thing. Were his feelings and thoughts really that genuine? Sybil shook her head and finished her coffee. She was planning to end that conversation that way and ask him to go home when Ace suddenly spoke again.
“Have you ever wondered what kind of life you had before the incident?”
Her gaze reverted to him again.
“I think I’ve heard that question before.” She cocked her head to the side.
“Have I asked you about it?” Ace tilted his head to the other side. “I don’t think so….”
Sybil cupped her forehead. Why did it feel like he had asked her that question before? She shook her head and sighed.
“Perhaps you’re experiencing what they call déjà vu?”
Ah, right. That must be it.
“Why are you asking anyway?” She crashed her now empty can and shot it in the trash bin beside the bench.
Ace crossed his legs.
“I’m just wondering what kind of life I am leading… Did I leave someone behind, like a wife or fiancée?”
“Ah…” She nodded consecutively. “Truth be told, I have never given it a thought.”
His brows furrowed.
“Why? I mean… it’s not just our family. Someone special could be waiting for you and me to come back.”
“I… I don’t think I have a lover.”
He looked at her from head to toe.
“I doubt it. You’re beautiful….”
“A-am I…?”
“Yes.”
Sybil absent-mindedly cupped her cheeks when she suddenly felt them burning. Darn it… Why did she have to react like that? And what was that fluttering feeling inside her stomach?
She cleared her throat and stood up.
“Where are you going?” Ace asked.
“Home.”
“Already?”
“Hm. We should go home by now. I suddenly remember I still have commissioned works to finish. I have a deadline by the end of this week.”
She pocketed her hands and started walking away. If Ace didn’t want to go home, she wouldn’t force her to come. But she needed to distance herself from him at that moment because she knew she would go mad if she wouldn’t do that. He was starting to be bad for her health.
Sybil palmed her chest and took a series of deep breaths.
*Why does my heart beat this fast…?*
“Sybil!”
She heard Ace’s call but didn’t look behind and continued walking.
“Wait for me! Let’s go home together!”
It took him a few moments before he could catch up.

SYBIL locked herself inside the room when they got home. She told Ace that she would finish her painting, so he must refrain from disturbing her. He understood her instruction well and didn’t disturb her until the night fell. However, she lied to him.
She didn’t spend the last hour finishing her work and just lay on the bed, spacing out. All she did was think, deciphering her feelings for Ace. She wasn’t dumb not to notice that something had changed since their first interaction, and it seemed that what she felt for Ace wasn’t just a mere attraction. Sybil was certain that it was more than that. And that same thing was what she feared the most.
Why did she have to feel something like that for Ace, of all people? The fact that they were two strangers with no memories made it more complicated. What if he was right that there was really someone waiting for him to come back home? What would happen to her once she let herself fall for someone like him, and then one day, he remembered everything and left her?
Sybil flinched upon hearing consecutive knocks at the door.
“I hate to disturb you … But it’s past nine in the evening, and you still haven’t eaten dinner.” His voice was laced with concern.
It only made her heart ache.
“I’m coming out in a minute,” she said.