CALAIS' POV
I am currently here in the grocery store to buy some groceries when I saw someone familiar. He seems someone I know, but I can't remember where I saw him.
"How much?" His voice. Where did I hear it?
"Thank you." He took the grocery he bought and started to walk away.
"How are you doing, Miss Zainea?" asked by the cashier who is billing the things I bought.
"I'm doing great. Thank you for asking." I'm not wearing a mask today.
"You seem glowing than before." She smiled.
Ah! I remember him!
"Please, deliver these to Zayden's place. Thank you." I gave her the payment. "Keep the change."
I rushed outside. I saw him fixing the groceries at the backseat.
"Kyle!" I called him. He turned his head on me. He pointed himself.
I approached him. "Kyle Carson, right?"
"Do I know you? How come you know my name?" he confusedly asked.
Confirmed. He is.
"Why are you here?"
"Sorry, miss. I don't talk to strangers. I don't know you. And if I do, I don't have time with you. I'm busy."
"Wait! Wait! Please. I know where Calais Ruscitti is."
He stopped from entering his car as he hears my name.
"You know her? Where is she?"
He came for me?
I nod. "I'll bring you to her."
He followed my directions and reached Megan's house.
Megan smiled at him. "Who is he? Don't tell me he's your boyfriend?"
"No, he's not!"
"Your husband?!"
"Megan! He's not, okay! He's my secretary's boyfriend."
She sent here her boyfriend to look for me. I am beyond grateful for that.
"Where is she? Is she in here? Tell her to come out," Kyle buts in.
"If you really want to see her, follow me." Megan leads the way.
"God. What happened to her?!"
"She's been like that for almost two months. We can't disclose her situation yet. I'm sure you know that Caileigh is waiting for her to appear. I heard her men is everywhere."
"Is it okay for her to travel? I am going to take her with me. Her dad's looking for her."
"No, she can't. Traveling that far can only risk her life," Megan said.
"She's going to be okay, isn't she? Ruscitti Enterprise still needs her."
"She will. So, are you going back?"
"No. I will stay until she wakes up. I have to guard her from her sister."
"Why are you doing this?"
"We can't just leave her alone. She has done so many things to help my girlfriend, I'm just returning the favor."
I only gave her a job, what is so great with that?
"By the way, how did you recognize me? No one knows that I am sent here for Miss Calais. Even if I appear in front of her sister, she won't recognize me."
He's right. Among the people around me, Kyle Carson is the least person Caileigh will doubt. She doesn't know him.
"Well, uh..."
"Even if you run a background check on Miss Calais, you won't find any trace of me. How did you know that I am affiliated with her?"
"I... I am Calais Ruscitti."
He laughed. "You're kidding me."
"You don't believe me? I will tell you a secret only me and your girlfriend know. You were once her love rival before you two ended up together."
"Pfft. What? Love rival?" Megan laughed.
"How did you know that?" He blushed. He’s embarrassed. Every time we mention his past, he can’t help but to feel shy.
"I told you! I'm Calais."
Kyle was a gay when he met Elaine. They were after one man, but in the end, they fell for each other. Kyle turned into a man.
"Then who is she?! Why is your face like that?"
Another explanation to do.
"Did you catch the person who did that to you?" Kyle asked after hearing all my explanations.
"We had no solid evidence, but now that we have, I'll take action tomorrow. Sally was the one who did the action, but I'm sure that Caileigh is the master mind. We just need to make Sally confess."
"I am not dreaming, am I? I can't believe something like this is really happening."
"Come here. I'll give a slap." Megan said.
"No, thanks."
"Anyway, Kyle, how's my dad doing?"
"Don't worry, Elaine is taking care of her."
"Oh. Say thanks to her on my behalf."
My phone vibrated. A text message was sent to me.
From: Mom
            Where are you? Have you forgotten? We are supposed to go get you a dress.
Oh no. I forgot. Gosh.
"I'll excuse myself. Mom's looking for me."
"Mom?"
"Zainea's mom."
She sent me a message again.
From: Mom
            I'll send our driver to fetch you there. You're in Megan's house, right? Don't go anywhere.
"Go now before she sends a battalion of men to come and take you home. She was so worried last night, mind you."
Before going home, I stopped by Zayden’s house and fixed the delivered groceries in the fridge. I also left a note, saying I will try to cook him next time.
I guess I need to learn how to cook. I want to cook him his favorite dish before I permanently leave.
-----
CAILEIGH’S POV
This is crazy!
Calais’ soul is living inside Zainea?!
I am not hallucinating yesterday then. The masked woman I saw in President Constello’s company was definitely her! But it never occured to me that she is using Zainea’s body.
When I saw her waiting near the bus stop, I intentionally approached her. I planned to source her out.
When I tapped her bag, I stick a tapping device on her bag. It is so small that she won’t get to see it, unless she checks her bag very well. I deliberately put it there because I want to know something about President Constello, but this revelation surprised me.
No wonder she keeps on asking me questions about my sister the first time we met. She is my sister.
I need to take Calais’ body. Let’s see if she will be able to survive once I dispose her body.
I called Sally once again. Her cellphone was off. Of all the days, why did she choose to have her day off now?!
“Hello?”
“I have a work for you.”
“How much will you give me?”
“I’ll give you a deposit of half a million. Once you finish your job, I’ll give you the rest. How’s that?”
“Deal.”
“Good. I’ll send you the details later.”
Calais, I finally found you. You can’t escape from me now.
“Where were you?” Sally just came in. “Have you made an appointment with President Constello? Let’s go.”
“Ma’am, he rejected your proposal. H-He sent this email.” Sally showed me the letter. President Constello won’t invest.
Does Calais have something to do with this?! Is that why I saw her in his company?!
No, I must inform President Constello that she is not Zainea. He is being deceived. But, will he believe me?
“Ma’am, I want to quit.”
“What?”
“I’ve been working for you for years, and I barely see my family. I want to spend the rest of the days with them.”
“Why do I feel like you are saying goodbye? Are you going to surrender yourself? Sally, I’m telling you, if you do that, I won’t sustain your family’s needs anymore. My plan would all go in vain if you surrender yourself! They will investigate me, too!”
What on earth is she thinking?! Now that I found Calais, the end is getting near. She just has to stay quiet and pretend like nothing happened.
“I want to go home. I’m quitting. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“No! Think again, Sally. I already found Calais. If I successfully disposed her, no one would reveal the truth. Those people who are hiding her don’t have any evidence to use against us—”
“They found my fingerprint on the brake, ma’am! So, please, let me go home before I submit myself to the police. I want to at least see my family.”
“What did you say? Your fingerprint was found? I thought you did your job well? Why… why—”
“I’m so sorry, ma’am. But don’t worry, even if I surrender, I won’t mention you. I will shoulder all the consequences alone. Just do me a favor and send me back to China.”
Is Calais behind these all? She’s so cunning.
“Okay. Promise me you won’t involve my name. If you do, I will not leave your family alone. I will make them suffer, you understand that?”
“I-I g-get it, ma’am. T-Thank you.”
“I will get you the earliest flight tonight. Remember your promise, Sally. Wait, how did you know they found your fingerprint on Calais’ brake?”
"P-President Constello talked to me this morning about this, and he gave me until tomorrow to confess."
She even used President Constello to investigate her accident, huh? Good for you, Calais. You're smart.
“You did not say anything to him, did you?”
“I-I didn’t.”
“Better make sure of that. If he makes it hard for my company, I won’t let you pass that easily.”
THIRD PERSON’S POV
Caileigh sent Sally to the airport at exactly seven o'clock in the evening.
"Keep your mouth shut, Sally. I will send some men to watch you in China."
As soon as Caileigh left, Zayden appeared.
Caileigh is not aware that Sally texted Zayden to come. She has been with Caileigh since she graduated, and she knows that Caileigh doesn't keep her words, so she made a plan. Sally is thankful for everything that Caileigh has done for her and for her family, but she can't just leave behind knowing that Caileigh is capable of killing anyone who comes her way.
"Have you made your decision?" Zayden asked Sally.
"I want to face the consequences in China. Please, let me spend a week with my family. After that, I will surrender myself to the authority."
"How will I make sure that you won't go back on your words?"
Sally took out the recorder in her purse. "This is my conversation with ma'am Caileigh earlier. I don't know if that's enough to make the world believe that Caileigh is behind all these, but you can use that to send me to jail if I failed to keep my words."
Zayden takes the recorder and keep it in his pocket.
"You're smart, too bad, you went to a wrong boss."
"She just... she just changed a lot."
"'I'll hire some men to keep your safety. Caileigh is a dangerous woman, we don't know what she's really planning."
"But, she already planted her men around my family."
"We just need to replace them. Alright. Remember your words, Miss Sally Qin. One week. After that, you know what to do. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect your family anymore."
(One week is enough to make Caileigh surrender herself. By then, I just need to protect Calais.)
"I understand you. I will pay for my crimes. By the way..." Sally handed Zayden a folded paper. "Can you give this to Miss Calais? I-I don't know how to f-face her. I'm so guilty." She lowered her head.
"She will forgive you. She's a nice person."
"I'll go now, President Constello. Thank you for being considerate."
----------
CALAIS' POV
Tomorrow is the day. Zainea's day. But why do I feel like something bad will happen tomorrow?
"Hey! Cal? What are you thinking? Are you listening?" Megan waved her hand in front of my face.
"U-Uh, hey, is this feeling normal?"
"What feeling? Are you in pain somewhere?"
"This... I can't explain it, Megan. My gut is telling me that something bad will happen tomorrow."
"Calais, Calais. I guess that's normal. Zainea might be so excited to celebrate her birthday, that's why you're feeling that way. Her day is getting near, after all. Everyone feels the same."
"Is that really the case?"
"Of course. Don't overthink, okay?"
"But don't you feel odd why Caileigh is not doing anything these days? I haven't heard anything about her after I visited Zayden in his office. Do you think he really rejected Caileigh?"
"Why are you asking me that? I'm not Zayden. How would I know what he's thinking?"
"You're right. You're not him. Ey, how about Sally? Did the police catch her?"
Megan shook her head in disbelief. "Did you not hear what I said earlier? I know it, you're not listening! What are you thinking, huh?"
"Ayaa, I'm sorry, hm? So, what were you saying again?"
"I went to the police to file a suit against your sister's secretary on your behalf, but the person-in-charge told me that she was sent back to China to pay for her crimes. I think, Zayden took care of it yesterday. He is the only person who is capable of doing that."
"How did he do that? Won't the police feel suspicious of him since he has nothing to do with me, but got himself involve in the case?"
"Now that you mentioned that, I am curious too. How did he make the police agree? Isn't he not allowed to do that because he's not affiliated with you in any way? He's not your husband or anything."
"He's the legendary Zayden Constello, after all. We all know that he's powerful. Perhaps, he has a connection with the police."
Did he really do that? I didn't ask for his help with Sally's case. I only asked him not to invest in Caileigh's business.
"What should I do, Megan? I think I'm hardly falling for him."
"What?! Are you serious?!"
"What? Do I look like I'm joking?"
"Seriously?! Girl!" She laughed. "Congratulations! You found love!"
"What should I do? Should I confess?"
"Go for it, Cal. Take the risk. If he doesn't feel the same way towards you, it's okay. That's his business. The important thing is, you told him how you feel. At least you won't have any regret. But if he feels the same way..." She looked me in the eyes. "Use all the remaining days to make good memories with him. Don't hesitate anymore. You won't leave him, are you? Keep on fighting. We are all here, we won't give you up."
"Okay then! I will confess to him. Tomorrow. Before Zainea's birthday ends."
----------
THIRD PERSON'S POV
Everything is fixed. The venue, the foods, the attendees. This is the day.
"Auntie, where is Cal—Zainea? Where is Zainea?" Megan, who is dashingly in her pink dress, asked Zainea's mother.
(Goodness. I almost slip.)
Zainea's mother is busy making sure that everything is perfect. She wants her daughter's birthday party to go smoothly as planned.
"Megan! You're so beautiful!"
"Auntie~ You're flattering me. You're beautiful also."
She giggled. "Anyway, Zainea is in her room. Please, accompany her. I still have to make sure everything is in place."
"You can count on me, auntie. I won't keep you then." Megan went upstairs and looked for Calais.
The party will be held on the wide courtyard of Amadeo Mansion.
"Uncle!" Megan saw President Amadeo coming out from his room. He's handsomely wearing a pair of black suits.
"What is it, sweetie? Are you looking for Zainea? Her room is at the end of the corridor."
"Your suit fits you well, President Amadeo. Nice."
"I plan on bewitching Zainea's mother. Do you think she'll fall for me?"
"Of course, she will!"
"Really? Wish me luck!" President Amadeo let out a laugh.
(How I wish I can meet a man who'll love me like how President Amadeo loves Zainea's mother.)
"Hey! Megan!" Calais called her. She is sticking her head out from her room.
Megan entered to her room. "Whoa! You're... you're gorgeous!" Calais is wearing a royal blue dress.
"This is Zainea, of course, she’s gorgeous. Anyway, have you prepared what I told you?"
"Of course! Here. I didn't know you're good at drawing. I'm so envious! If I were Zayden, I will definitely say yes."
It's a sketchbook. Yesterday, while thinking of how will she confess to Zayden, she came up with this idea. Calais sketched Zayden's portrait in different expression.
"I didn't know Zayden can wear different expression, aside from his usual poker face. Seeing your sketches of him is enough to make me perceive of how he looks with different emotions, although I don't get to see it personally. You're really, really good!"
Calais left the sketchbook to Megan's house yesterday because she doesn't want it to be seen by Zainea's parents. It will be hard to explain to them if that happens. They both know that their daughter is in love with Zerro, but if they saw her giving this kind of gift to Zayden, they will be confused.
"Of course, I have one for you, too!" Calais brought out a paper bag and gave to Megan.
"Wow! Omg! Thank you! It is so beautiful! Does it look like me?"
It is her portrait, placed in a customized glass frame.
"It does."
"I have something for you, too." Megan gave her the limited-edition bracelet she bought. Her name, Calais, was engraved on it.
"That is for you, and this..." She took out a necklace. "This is for Zainea."
"Thank you for this, Megan."
"You are always welcome. Anyway, how will you confess? You haven't told me your plan yet."
"I will surprise him at his house."
"What?! That’s all?"
"There's no other place where I could safely say my feelings for him."
"Complicated, it is. But that's okay. The place doesn't matter, but the feelings."
The celebration started. It's the usual way of celebrating a party.
(Happy birthday, Zainea. Thank you for letting me experience this blissful celebration.)
It is the first time Calais got to experience this kind of birthday celebration. True friends, complete family, and genuine feelings.
"May I have this dance?" Zerro invited her to the dancefloor. They were dancing to the slow rhythm of the music. They are not the only pair who are dancing. Everyone is.
"When will you marry Zayden?"
"What?"
"Calais Ruscitti, are you now deaf?"
"Psh. Your question is sudden. Why are you even asking me that?"
"I just asked. Is that a bad question? I don't think so."
"Okay. To make you shut, I'll answer it. Maybe after you marry Zainea."
"That will take too long then. I am waiting for you to go back to your own body before I propose to her."
"Stay unmarried, Zerro Dawson. Although I really like to go back to my own body, I can't find a way. You see, I'm still stuck in here."
"Then, are we going to wait for 10 years before that happens? I would be too old already. Do you think I can still give Zainea a child, in that age?"
Calais laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"What are you thinking? If you can't, then adopt one. Or you can just give your full attention to Zainea. Why are you having a problem with that?"
"You have a point there. Hey, let’s have a bet."
“What bet?”
“On who will propose first. I will bet on you. I know you can’t wait to marry him.”
(Is it really that obvious that I’m falling for his brother? Then, why can’t Zayden see it? Is he that numb?)
“But… Zayden, he… I’m not sure if he likes me, too. Don’t you think this bet is unfair to me?”
“He does.”
(Oww??)
“That should be a secret. Pretend that you don’t know.”
“Then… pfft. Then, I guess you’ll going to lose. Gosh. Why am I so nervous? Hey, hey, I think I’m sweating. I’m so excited to hear him say that he likes me. Do you think he’s planning a surprise confession?”
“I shouldn’t have told you that. You are like some young girl waiting for their crush to confess. Silly.”

Calais sticks her tongue out.
“Zayden will propose to me first. If I win, let us have a wedding before you marry Zainea. I think two years gap will be enough. Deal?”
“What? You really want to give me a hard time before I marry her, don’t you? I must tell Zayden not to propose to you.”
“Hey! That’s unfair!”
“Is it? If I win, during your wedding, make Zayden wear a dress. You’ll wear a suit. Deal?”
“Okay! Deal!”
The dancing part didn't stop there. When Zerro decided to let Calais take her seat, Zainea's father invited her to dance with him. It went on and on.
Calais' feet are now sore, but she endured it.
(Why is he not inviting me to dance?)
Zayden is busy talking with Zainea's mother.
"Happy birthday, Miss Zainea," Tristan greeted her after the dance.
"Thank you, Tristan." Tristan accompanied Calais to her seat.
Calais looked at Zayden again. Zayden is now staring back at her.
(Are you not really going to dance with me? Come on, Zayden.)
Zayden stands up.
(That's right, Mister Constello. Walk towards me.)
When Zayden reached Calais, he extended his hand. Calais did not think twice and took Zayden's hand. While they were dancing, Calais is staring at Zayden's face the whole time.
"Are you going to stare at me the whole night?" Zayden asked.
"Do you have something to tell me?"
(Compliment me. Am I not gorgeous tonight?)
(Did Zerro tell her that? I told him not to.)
"Nothing. What should I tell you? It's not your birthday."
"Psh. I know. Do you even have sweet bones? What am I expecting?"
(Confess to me, then.)
"Oh. I see."
"What do you see?" Calais rolled her eyes.
Zayden started singing the chorus of Bazzi's song, Beautiful.
"You..."
(Wait, why am I smiling so widely?)
"How was my singing?"
(You have a beautiful voice! Did you sing that to another woman, or just me? Tell me you only sang that in front of me.)
"Just so-so."
(Is this the feeling of having butterflies in the stomach?)
"So-so?" Zayden repeated.
"Yeah. Have you sung that to others?"
"To whom will I sing it to?"
Calais giggled at his answer.
(Does that mean I'm the first to hear you sing?)
A moment of silence.
(I think I can't wait any longer. Should I just say it to him?)
(She's so beautiful. I don't think I can keep it any longer.)
"I have something to say," they both said.
"You go first," Zayden said.
"Uhm, I..." She didn't get to finish her words because the lights went off. The whole place was dark.
“Don’t leave me,” Calais encircled her arms on Zayden’s waist.
(Right, she has night blindness.) Zayden hugged her to make her feel at ease.
Some opened the torch of their cellphones.
(Why am I having a hard time to breath?)
"Don't panic, everyone. We'll fix this as soon as possible." President Amadeo said.
"Cal? I really have something to tell you."
"What... what is it?"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I think I’m just too nervous. What do you want to say?"
Calais rests her head on Zayden's chest. She is feeling weak. She feels as if all her strength is being sucked up.
"I'm falling for you." Zayden finally confessed. He waited for Calais' response, but he didn't get any.
The courtyard was lightened. The generator was on.
"Sorry for the interruption, everyone. The whole city seems to be experiencing a power interruption."
"What?! The whole city?! Zerro, where are you?!" Megan panicked. She called Zerro and dragged him out.
Zayden checked on Calais. He cursed when he saw that her nose is bleeding and is unconscious.
"Oh my gosh! What happened to her?! Zainea!"
Zayden quickly carried Zainea inside the house. He brings her down on the couch. Zainea's mother called their family doctor. Her hands are trembling.
"Mom, stay here. I will just go check something. Tristan, stay here with them."
"What's happening?!" Zayden's mother also panicked.
"Mom, I can't explain to you yet. Tristan, I’ll leave them to you."
"But, boss—"
Zayden rushed outside and drove his car to Megan's place.
The whole city is really dark. Some houses are lighted, some are not.
When he reached the villa, he saw that the guard was knocked out.
(What the hell is happening here?)
"Calais' body is missing," Zerro said as soon as he entered the house.
"What?"
"I guess the power interruption was a part of it. Without the power, we won't be alarmed if someone broke in here. The person behind this planned it too well. That person was well-prepared."
"I'm sure he didn't go that far. I'll go—"
"Where are you going? Stay! Even if you go after him, are you sure they didn't set a trap?"
"But Calais is out there! She shouldn’t—"
Zayden felt scared. He can't lose Calais.
"Will you please stop arguing?! Doctor Reyes, are you okay?" Megan asked Calais' doctor. She untied him. He just woke up.
The power came back.
"What happened?" Zerro asked.
"When the power went off, I immediately came here to check on the patient's condition. But some masked man was there and knocked me down, so I don't know what happened next. No, where's the patient? Is she okay? We need to make sure she was not affected by the power interruption."
"Hmmm!!" Kyle regained consciousness. Megan removed the tape on his mouth and untie him.
"Where is Miss Calais?! Where is that man?!" he asked right away.
The man was good at fighting, Kyle can't fight him back.
"Calais is missing."
"This is bad. She'll die. You know that she's only breathing because of the machine."