Pakkk!!! The sound of a slapped cheek echoed all throughout the room. Erika caressed her cheek but she didn't shed any tear. Her sister Emily run to her side crying in despair.
"Erika!" she helped her stood up. "Daddy! Please don't slap Erika. It was me who broke your favorite mug." Emily was crying hysterically.
"You daughters of a bastard!" the man burst in anger. "Do it again and I will make sure that you won't just taste a slap." He threatened them.
"Erika, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry sissy." Emily's shirt was drenched with her own tears.
"It's okay Emily, besides, it doesn't hurt at all. big sister is very strong you know." Erika smiled.
Emily accidentally dropped her father's mug when he asked her to get him a cup of coffee. the mug was too hot to touch and Emily wasn't able to hold on to it for a long time. their father saw it and yelled at the poor Emily. When Erika saw what happened, she rushed to Emily's side and pulled her behind.
Erika was glaring daggers at him and that aggravated their father. He lifted the girl's hand and drag her to their room and started yelling, speaking harsh words that no child could even take in. but it didn't trigger her. that encouraged their father to slap her hard. Her thin body fell on the floor.
"Emily, don't cry. Sissy is alright." She wiped Emily's tears but her own cheek was burning hot. Her tears wanted to flow but she stopped it. she needs to be strong for her twin sister. after a few minutes, Emily had a mild concussion. She was having a hard time breathing and that worried Erika.
"Emily! Emily!" she was shaking her sister. "Dad! Dad! Emily! She's having a hard time breathing. Dad!" she was screaming on top her lungs.
"Emily!" She screamed. Aisha jolted. She immediately sat on her bed and caresses her cheek. It was just a dream but it was too good to be true.
"Emily." She whispered. She stayed like that for a few minutes. After that, she looked outside the window, the sun is peeking through the bloody curtains. She averted her eyes on the wall clock then she dropped her jaw in an instant.
What?! It's already 10 o'clock in the morning?! How could she sleep that long? why didn't Ethan wake her up.
Wait! she jerked. She looked beside her. Ethan. As far as she remembers, Ethan cuddled her last night as she dozed off to sleep. Where is he?
She headed to the shower room, wash her face and had her toothbrush. She also changed her pajamas into her workout suit. It's been a while since she had her morning jog. It may be too late for her to go to the national park for her morning jog but she wants to at least stroll around the area. she wants to inhale some fresh air.
She was tieing her hair while walking towards the kitchen. To her surprise, Ethan was standing beside the table wearing a white apron. She smiles at his look.
"Good morning!" Ethan greeted her cheerfully. His face was a mess, ketchup and mayonnaise were all over his face. He was holding a pot in his hands.
"What are you doing?!" Aisha laughs hilariously.
"Ehm, cooking? Your breakfast, madam?" Ethan forced a smile
"Yeah, I can see that. haha!" she walked near him. "Why do you have to do this? You should have asked our kitchen maids!" she was smiling while wiping Ethan's face with her hands.
"I just want to cook for you. is that wrong?" he made a face.
"I am touch." She smiled. "But is this really edible?" Aisha teased him.
"The presentation might look a bit odd---- but I believe you'll like it." Ethan was confident. He pulled the chair and guided the woman to sit comfortably.
"Come on, taste my special shrimp and my special beef too." Ethan took a plate and served her.
Aisha raised a brow charmingly, "Ethan, you know what, you don't have to do this!" she beamed.
"But I want to." He pecked her lips. "You don't know how I've been wanting to do this before."
"But why didn't you do it before?" Aisha was curios as well.
"Because you were pretending to be Stacy that time. I don't want you to think that I am doing it for Stacy when the truth is I want to do it for you, Erika." Their eyes locked affectionately.
"It's kinda knew to me."
"'The what?" Ethan creased a brow. "this kind of service?"
"No. you calling me Erika." She grinned. "Maybe I was used to be called Aisha."
"Then get used to it because I might be calling you Erika often." He mocks.
"Thank you." Aisha whispered.
"For what?" Ethan pulled the chair beside her as he sat on it.
"For not despising me. Despites knowing that I lied and deceived you, you still chose to love me." She lowered her eyes. "I never dared to tell you before because I was afraid that you'll despise me, forever."
She felt Ethan's hand on her jaw. "I can never hate you. I have been in love with you since we were young and until now, that feeling has never faded."
Aisha looked at his eyes intently. "Ethan."
"Yes?"
"I've been wanting to asked you. since when did you learn about my real identity?"
She heard Ethan laughed mockingly as he released her face. She knitted her brow.
"Since the beginning of your act!" he was laughing hilariously.
"Eh? But how did you know?" she lightly slaps his arm. "And why didn't you tell me!" her voice was accusing.
"I didn't want to ruin your acting and I want to see how you'll be able to pull the strings together." His chuckles can still be heard in the house.
"But the truth is, I was not sure at first. You never told me about having a twin sister before so I was having a hard time figuring out. So I hired a private investigator. After a few weeks, the answers to my question came. I didn't believe it at first but when I realized that the real Erika was just in front of me, it made me happy." Ethan looked at the confused woman beside him.
"I don't want to hide it from you for a long time but you left me with no choice." He smiled. "Besides, I want you to be honest with me first so I didn't blow off your cover."
Aisha suddenly pinched his side.
"Aww!" Ethan growled in pain.
"You! you don't know how hard it is for me to keep acting! Don't you know I was dying inside over and over!" she pouted.
"Hahaha!" Ethan laughed. "It's your fault. Besides, you're not a good actress after all!" He sticks his tongue out. then they laughed at each other's silliness.
"By the way, are you planning to go out today?" Ethan looked at her from head to toe.
"Yes! for my morning jog." She grinned. Ethan laughed entertainingly.
"Are you serious?! The sun had rose already and it's too hot! Unless you want to get your skin tan." He is teasing her.
She made a face. After a while, she became serious. "I don't know either but something is pulling me to go the park right now." she breaths.
"You must have had a stressful and hectic days that your body wants to inhale a fresh air. Don't worry, I'll accompany you." Ethan uttered.
"Really?" Aisha lights up. "You're not going to work?"
Ethan shook his head. "It's my day-off." he smiled sarcastically. "Let's have a picnic today!" Ethan declared. Yeepeeey! Aisha jumped like a child. A picnic! It must be fun.