No. She is definitely joking. It can't possibly be true. I heard the conversation between Elliot and Leo in the car. He has the reputation of being a playboy. The fact that he is a virgin contradicts all other allegations. “Stop joking around.” Lailah’s facial expression says that she didn't expect that reply from me. “You are talking about things which are exactly opposite. He is a well- known playboy. How can you say that he is a virgin? It's like the joke of the year.’ I scoff. My strong reaction shocks them momentarily. I sound so jealous that it shocks me as well. I realise how far I've fallen. Elliot has turned me into a lovesick girl. I don't remember ever being jealous over anything or anyone. But now, there's a bitter taste in my tongue, in my mind. In fact, jealousy is written all over my face. Lailah doesn't say anything. She looks back at Leo who gives her a “told you so” look. “Leo?” He looks at me, responding to my call.“Yeah?”“Now that you know I'm Amber, you mus
Willow Rae Johnson*****I stare back at the enthusiastic pair of green eyes with overflowing emotions pumping into my veins. Hundreds of different feelings crowd my mind as I keep staring at her, gripping the DNA test result a little too tightly. "Willow! It's so nice to finally see you in person." Amber chirps in, standing up from the chair and advancing towards me.My tongue betrays me, refusing to cooperate with me and produce any sentence. I just nod my head at her, eyes beaming with freshly produced tears. It feels like I'm looking into a mirror but the only difference is that I'm not. I observe my twin sister who is standing in front of me. I've lived 23 long years but until a few days ago, I didn't know I had a sister. We have the same skin tone, same facial structure but we can be easily differentiated. She looks sophisticated, polished and her attire makes her look like she came straight out of a fashion magazine while I can't even dream about looking like that. It sends a
Willow Rae Johnson****My heart feels overwhelmed as tears pool at the corner of my eyes upon seeing the wholesome incident unfolding in front of my eyes. A little girl is hugging her mother while the hairdresser is cutting her hair, leaving her totally bald. To give moral support to the little girl who is seemingly fighting cancer, some ladies who accompanied the mother and daughter are sacrificing their own hair. Hair is a precious part to anyone who values their beauty or anyone who wants to look good to their own eyes but they are so freely sacrificing it just to encourage the little girl, just to make her realize they are with her no matter what. It fills my heart with warmth. I dare to take my eyes off the scene and avert them towards my sister who is unaware of every emotion the whole salon is radiating right now. She is busy on her phone, eyes glued to the screen since we stepped inside the salon. "Amber." I call out to get her attention but she is too concentrated on her
I take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh morning breeze. It makes me feel alive somehow. The last few days were rather distressing. It feels like eternity since I last took a walk outside. Being cooped up in Amber's apartment made me realise I took my old town for granted. I miss the freshness, the freedom it offered."We are finally out. You happy, my boy?" I ask Milo, nudging my nose on the crook of his neck. He meows in contentment, being excited for the walk outside. My Milo is a hyperactive cat which is very usual. Maybe he wants to bring a balance in our lives as I'm always gloomy and dull. This very thought sounds absurd in my mind but sometimes I come to believe it. I put Milo on the ground, letting him run while I held his leash. Taking a mask and a pair of sunglasses out of my hoodie pocket, I wear them to hide my identity. Amber has strictly forbidden me from stepping out of the house in fear that someone might recognize me and it can lead to a greater disaster. I would c
My breath quickens as soon as Elliott's hands find mine and he helps me to get back on my feet. His warm hands set my body on fire with just a simple touch, sending waves of shiver. I'm not used to getting touched by strangers. Precisely, by strangers as gorgeous as Elliot Ivanov. "Are you alright, miss?" The raw concern in his voice forces me to see him in a new light. I dare to look up only to find him scanning my body worriedly to look for any visible injuries. My hands shake in anxiety. The way he is looking at me, it feels like I'm only seconds away from being recognized by him. Deep down I know his act of being a gentleman will fly through a window if he learns that it's me and not a random lady he bumped into. I nod my head slowly, letting him know that I'm fine. I dare not say anything. Elliot Ivanov may be an asshole but I believe he is extremely smart given the fact that he built his empire on his own. While my voice isn't distinctive, it can still give away my identity.
The ride is silent, almost eerie. If I didn't know Elliot, I would be fearing for my life. The situation seems like a scene straight out of a movie where the damsel is being kidnapped, in the process to be in distress. The irrational part of my brain scares me by making me think that I'm the damsel and I'm gonna be in distress soon. Elliot has billions of dollars in his name. Why would he try to kidnap a nobody like me? I tighten my hold on Milo as Elliot keeps driving. Shouldn't I panic? I'm in the car of a person who is literally a stranger to me. How did I become such a fool to hop in his car? Worry and fear rolls off me, making my stomach knot in anxiety. Where's the damn shop? Where is he taking me? My uneasiness doesn't go past his notice and like the gentleman that he is, he clears his throat to grab my attention and points at the GPS. "We are going to the nearest shopping mall." He informs me as I watch him navigate through the roads as instructed by the GPS. My eyes are g
My eyes fall on the big picture of Amber as soon as we enter the shopping mall. My heart swells up with pride, seeing my sister's accomplishment. I've been told that she is a successful designer but I never got to see her in action. Her big picture in front of the fancy store screams how valable she is in her field of work. While my eyes sparkle with joy and pride, Elliot's case is different. He looks disgusted as his eyes land on the banner where Amber is smiling, surrounded by her designed clothes. If looks could kill, Amber would be ashes by now. My blood boils in anger, seeing him disrespecting my sister like this. He has no right to judge Amber based on his little knowledge while possessing a nasty personality himself. "Let's go to some other store." Elliot urges, already walking away. But I refuse to take even a step in the other direction. Acting like I didn't hear him or even if I did, I didn't find his offer appealing enough, I rush into the store that has Amber's picture.
I've always been afraid of confrontation. I have spent minutes, hours, days, months and years hiding from the eyes of people so that I didn't need to control them. I can hardly contain the tears in my eyes which are threatening to fall. My eyes linger at the petition figure, working in the kitchen. How do I face her? It brings back memories. Back in the golden days, I would find my mom in the kitchen when I came back home after a long day. Somehow she would know it beforehand if I had a bad day. So, I would find her making grilled cheese and tomato soup; my comfort food. Gone are those days, what remains is the silhouette of her memories engraved in my mind. There stands the woman who is supposed to be my biological mother. Who, for some reasons unknown to me, decided to erase me from her life. And here I stand, watching her, my cat in my hand, longing for the love I never received from her. How do I confront her when I can't even trust my own voice? My heart is hammering against my