Chapter 35

IF Sybil was to summarize everything in her life right now, it was definitely a roller coaster ride of emotions. If not for her forgotten memories, perhaps life could have been a little easier. But there she was, feeling as though she was stuck in limbo.
“What are you thinking so deeply about, dearie, hmm?”
She flinched upon hearing Mrs. Peterson’s voice behind her. Sybil turned to face her afterward.
“Amanda…”
“I’m sorry.” The woman smiled. “Did I startle you?”
“Not that much.” She leaned against the ledge. “How long have you been here anyway?”
“Well, it’s not that long. However, I was able to hear you sigh five times.”
“Oh, Amanda…” she groaned.
“Come on, dear… We have been living here together for two weeks now, aren’t we? And every time we would talk, I always tell you that we are family.” Mrs. Peterson cocked her head to the side. “You can confide everything that has been bothering you, Sybil. There is no need to be shy about it.”
She bit her lower lip. It would be nice to talk to someone about those thoughts inside her head, but she couldn’t tell her everything when she lied about their identities from the start. Mrs. Peterson, just like everyone in the neighborhood, showed her and Ace genuine care that it would hurt so much once they learned about the truth.
So, now… the only thing she could do was lie… again.
“It’s just that… I don’t feel like myself lately.”
If truth be told, she had been feeling the way the moment she opened her eyes and lost all of her memories. The Sybil everyone knew wasn’t the real her. It was like she was an actress portraying a role she didn’t even wish to get. The only thing that happened she could consider good was Ace. If not for him, that life would be dull, and her heart was empty.
“We all have that moment in life.” Mrs. Peterson’s voice was warm and calming. It wasn’t her very concern but she kind of felt light somehow. “Perhaps because you kept worrying about something too much that you didn’t notice, you are slowly losing yourself. Just a friendly piece of advice, Sybil. Let it go… whatever those thoughts bug you in there. Sometimes our problems start with ourselves. Try to go with the flow… perhaps it would help.”

“WHY are we going to the stables?” Ace asked curiously as she tugged him out of the farmhouse early that morning.
“I want to ride a horse. I want to destress.”
Sybil used to do that whenever she wanted to clear her mind of all the worries she had in mind. She would like to follow Mrs. Peterson’s advice and just go with the flow.
“Oh, at last.”
She stopped and turned to face him out of surprise. It wasn’t what she expected to hear from him.
“At last, what?” she asked with furrowed brows.
“Well, you said you wanted to destress. I support you on that. Perhaps you would treat me sweetly after that.” Ace wagged his brows.
“Are you telling me I wasn’t treating you right these past few days?” Sybil couldn’t help but arch a brow.
“Well… it kind of felt like you are distant… and cold?” Ace frowned. “By any chance, are you doing this to get even with me?”
“What?” She couldn’t believe she was thinking that way. “Do you think I’m that petty?”
He immediately shook his head.
“O-of course not. That is why I’m asking you… because I want to hear you say—” She snaked her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“Kiss me.” She leaned her face towards him, keeping a few inches of distance between their lips.
But instead of kissing her, Ace just laughed and washed his palms over her face.
“You know what, I have a better idea to destress. Why don’t we go on a date?”
“A date?”
He nodded consecutively and grinned afterward.
“It would be nice to go around town and spend some time together. What do you think?” he said, wagging his brows.
“Ace…”
“What?”
“You have work—”
“Well, I’m on leave.”
“What?” Her forehead creased.
“Just for today. I asked Mr. Peterson for leave because I want to spend this day with you.”
“Because?”
“My goodness, Sybil!” Ace breathed exasperatedly. “Do I really need to have a serious reason to spend time with you? Can’t we just go on dates as a normal couple?” He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
Sybil wasn’t sure if they could call themselves a normal couple when their memories were gone. Having amnesia wasn’t normal for her.
“Fine,” she said afterward. “Let’s go on a date then.”
“Really?”
“Hm.”
“Yes!” Ace punched in the air and lifted her from the ground out of excitement.
“Ace… put me down, will you?” She found his reaction exaggerated. There was no need to do that just because she agreed to go on a date with him.
But even before he could put her down, the other farm workers had seen them in that position and started teasing them. One even asked if he proposed, and she said yes.
Sybil cleared her throat and strode towards the farmhouse.
“Hey, where are you going? I thought we were going out on a date,” he said as he followed her inside.
“Yeah. But I need to change first.”
“Wear a dress.”
She turned around and looked at him with furrowed brows.
“Since when do you get to decide what I will wear—”
“You look good when you are wearing a dress,” he added.
Her cheeks instantly burned with his compliment.
“Fine.”
Good thing she put her favorite dress inside her luggage when they left the cabin. She thought there would be an event to attend. It seemed their date was that event she was looking forward to. Cupping her cheeks, she ran upstairs and went inside their bedroom.
She could feel it… that day was going to be a great day. She hoped no bad luck would follow.