CHAPTER 3: Alike

- LIA -

Fast moving cars in the road greeted me after minutes of running. I don't even need a mirror to say that I look like trash. I can feel the eyes of the people walking pass me; maybe they find it weird that I am soaking in my sweat and that my clothes are full of dirt, or they are worried because it looks like something bad happened to me, which is the case.

I waved my hand to stop for a taxi. After I entered the car, I told the driver to stop at my hotel. The driver was looking at me like he wants to ask a question. However, after moments of staring at me, he decided to shut his mouth and started driving.

I wish that this time, this is a true taxi.

My feet felt numb, maybe because I just ran for a couple of minutes, thinking that someone is chasing me. My knee, which hurts a lot earlier, felt fine. I thought my knee joints dislocated when I jumped earlier.

I can't believe I'm still alive after jumping such large height. It's an additional for my experiences.

I laugh at that thought. I can't really believe that I forced myself to do that. I can't even jump from the top of five stairs to the bottom, yet I jumped from what I think is the 2nd floor of that house.

The driver looked at me from the rearview mirror with a confuse face. It looks like he is thinking that I am insane because I was laughing alone, even when there's nothing funny going on.

I coughed a little to ease the awkwardness inside the taxi and just focused my eyes on the road. Thankfully, the driver was going for the usual route to my hotel. I let out a sigh of relief when my eyes finally see the hotel I am currently staying.

The driver stopped the taxi. He looked back at me and said, "13 euros, doña."

I touched the side of my pants, looking for my purse. I was stunned when I didn't feel anything. My wallet is missing!

The driver coughed a little bit. I looked back at him and gave him an awkward smile. I signaled him to wait.

Damn it! That man must have stolen my wallet!

I also realized that the things I have bought earlier are also not with me. Even my sling bag that has my umbrella and handkerchief is missing!

Fortunately, I always have spare money hidden on my scrunchie.

"Do you have scissors?" I asked the driver while I removed my scrunchie on my hair.

The driver looked at me confused. He didn't understand what I said, but I don't know how to say that question in Spanish!

Instead of answering verbally, I posed my fingers in to a "peace" sign and moved the two fingers away and towards each other, like how a scissor works.

"Aah," the driver nodded, signaling that he understood what I meant. "Si," he replied.

He opened a small compartment beside him and got the scissors that I need. He handed it to me. I grabbed it from him and cut a small hole in my scrunchie. I need to have another scrunchie for my money, or maybe I can just stitch this.

When I got the money and paid him, I left the taxi and hurriedly run towards the hotel. I entered the elevator and picked my floor.

I sighed heavily. I can't believe about what happened today. There was this guy who claims that I am his ex-girlfriend, and there was this lady who looks like me!

I closed my eyes and take several deep breaths. In the back of my mind, something was telling me that I needed to go to the hospital and have my self checked by doctors. However, another one was telling me that I'm okay because I can't feel anything wrong with my body. I chose the latter.

I heard a 'ding!" and I left the elevator. I walked fast towards my hotel room. I can feel that my body wants me to rest as soon as possible, and I need my soft bed to be comfortable.

When I input the code, I locked it and jumped to my bed. So cozy.

I can feel my body getting comfortable to the warmth that the bed gives to me. However, I can't sleep. I tried closing my eyes and counting sheep, but nothing is working.

Laying on the bed, I glanced at the table beside me and I saw my phone. Maybe I just need someone to talk to.

I opened my messenger and I saw that there were a lot of missed calls. Some were from my friends back in my country, while most of them came from my best friend, Althea.

I clicked the option "video call" and waited for her to respond.

"Bakla!" she shouted as she answered my call. "Kanina pa kita tinatawagan!" (I've been calling you since earlier!)

"Hi, Althea!" I greeted her. "Sorry, I wasn't able to answer your calls. Something happened earlier."

"Yeah, it looks like something really happened. Ang chaka ng mukha mo, girl!" (You look messed up, girl!)

From laying, I sit on my bed and rest my back on the headboard. "You won't believe what I've gone through today. Para akong mabababaliw." (I feel like I'm going insane.)

I told Althea about everything that happened. From the man I saw in the beach, to the taxi driver who kidnapped me, to the woman who look exactly like me, to how I escape that house. I didn't miss any information. I gave her every little detail that I can remember.

"Oh my goodness! Is that legit?" she asked. Her jaw dropped every time I gave her another information about my happened.

"Yes! Even me, I can't even believe it!" I answered her.

"You know, I read an article before that a person has seven look-alikes in the world. But not to the point that they really look alike!" she added while she wipes her forehead.

I replied to her. "If you see her photo, you will really think that that girl is me. I swear. I even got chills when I first saw it."

I opened my laptop. I tried searching for that Dennise online. However, I only have her first name. It will be difficult, and it will take a lot of time for me to find her. I even tried uploading my own photo in Google Images, hoping that one link that can lead me to Dennise will pop up. But after minutes of searching, every link always leads to me.

"I don't really know what to say about this, ha? But do you remember the photo that Yvette sent on our GC when they went to Tarragona?" she asked.

I stopped at her question. I do remember that Yvette, one of our friends, went to Tarragona last year. She sent us a lot of photos from her vacation that I can't pinpoint what photo Althea is talking about.

"What photo?" I asked her.

Althea wrinkled her nose. "Ulyanin ka na!" (You're forgetful!)

"Open our GC. The one named sinigang na fries, then search the word Tarragona in the conversation. Yvette sent a picture of a woman who looks like you! Don't you remember? Or you weren't able to read her message?" she added.

I immediately opened the group chat and searched for the conversation Althea is talking about. I can't remember Yvette sending a photo like that, so I must have skipped that part when reading messages.

After some moments of backreading in our group's conversation, I finally saw the picture.

My jaw dropped. I was the woman named Dennise in the photo. He is still with a man in the photo. However, this time, it was a different man. The man looks way older than Dennise. They were outside a Gucci shop. Dennise was carrying her purse while the man was just standing beside her. There are also men in suits, which looks like their bodyguards, carrying several paper bags from different luxury brands.

"Did you already find it? The man looks old, right?" Althea asked. "Mukhang sugar daddy ni ate girl 'yan." (He looks like the lady's sugar daddy.)

"Yeah," that's all that I can say since I was busy reading the messages.

*Yvette sent a photo*

Yvette: Mahal @Maria Mahalia, nandito ka pala sa Spain, 'di ka man lang nagsabi. (You didn't even tell me you're in Spain.)

Jhoan: Si Lia ba 'yan? E'di ba naghohost siya ng workshop ngayon? (Is that Lia? I thought she was hosting a workshop right now?)

Jerome: Parang hindi naman si Lia 'yan. Baka kamukha lang. (I think that's not Lia. Maybe just a look-alike.)

Celsi: Gaga @Yvette. Kasama ko ngayon si Lia. Nasa Tagaytay kami ngayon for workshop. (Stupid @Yvette. I'm with Lia right now. We're in Tagaytay for the workshop.)

Yvette: Hala, hindi nga si Mahal. Tinawag na Dennise 'yung babae, eh. (Oh, it's not really Mahal [Lia]. Someone called the lady by the name Dennise.)

Celsi: Gurang na 'yung lalaki HAHAHAHA. Mukhang sugar daddeh. (The man looks so old HAHAHAHA. He looks like a sugar daddy.)

Jhoan: Swerte ni ate girl, may taga-bayad ng luho. (Girl's so lucky, she has someone to pay for her luxuries.)

Yvette: Nakakairita naman 'yung boses nung Dennise. Parang naipit na itik HAHAHA. (That Dennise's voice is so irritating. It sounds like a squashed duck.)

Jerome: Ang weird, parang si Lia talaga 'yung babae. (It's weird, the lady really looks like Lia.)

More messages went on after that. Yvette also sent a video of Dennise and the other man walking towards a car.

If I can find who that man is, I'm sure that I can also find that Dennise. I need to talk to Yvette about it. Maybe, she can also help me with this problem. Her family has lots of connection in Spain. I'm sure they can find information about the old man or Dennise.

I have a lot of questions. First, why does that Dennise looks like me? Second, why does that man is so eager to find Dennise? Lastly, why does that man is so angry at his ex-girlfriend?