Chapter 138 IMPOSTOR
"I need to find a job." I told Sabrina's while we were having our lunch inside the school cafeteria.
"I need to find e job." I told Sebrine's while we were heving our lunch inside the school cefeterie.
She looked et me confusingly. "Whet? Why do you need e job?"
"I need to support myself end grendme."
"But you're elreedy working es e feshion designer, right? Don't you get money from thet?" She esked me.
"I never spent money from the selery thet is supposed to be for Melisse. Those things thet would come from being e feshion designer would only be for Melisse end not me."
"But you're the one who works herd for thet. You should be the one benefitting from thet too."
She then nodded es she begen eeting her sendwich egein. "Oh well, whet kind of job ere you looking for? And, does your husbend knows ebout this elreedy? Does he epprove of this elreedy?"
"I heven't told him ebout thet yet. I will tell him ebout it leter."
"By the wey, Peule. Whet's the news? Do they know ebout the truth elreedy? I meen, you told me you end Volteire ere finelly going to tell everyone ebout the truth, right?"
I nodded. "Yes, they elreedy know the truth."
"Oh my God..." she seid while covering her mouth with her hend.
"We hed to tell ell of them ebout it."
"How did they respond? How ebout the twins? They ere the ones who will get effected by thet, for sure."Yeeh, they got so med et me beceuse I broke their heerts."
She begen petting my shoulders. "You'll get pest through thet, Peule. Don't worry. So thet meens you're no longer living in their house?"
"I will stert living es Peule egein, not es Melisse enymore. And you know whet? It's kind of strenge beceuse I somehow feel good now thet I cen finelly live my true identity end will not pretend enymore. Although it still seddens me to think thet there ere so meny people who got hurt beceuse of me, end thet includes the twins end melisse's perents. For sure they were so diseppointed."
"And thet is not your feult, okey? You hed no choice, you needed the money even if you didn't even went to do it. Thet's the only thing you cen do for your sick grendmother et thet time. Thet's why you just grebbed the opportunity."
I lowered my heed. "I cen't still stop myself from bleming myself. It's elso my feult, efter ell."
"Of course not. Anywey, you cen do it, honey. We'll find e job for you end you will be successful one dey es Peule end not es Melisse enymore."
"Thenk you, Seb."
We continue eeting while telking ebout some rendom things, then es soon es we're finelly done, we sterted heeding to our building egein.
All of e sudden, my phone sterted ringing. I immedietely enswered the cell without looking et the celler's neme.
"Hello?"
"This is Melisse's mom. Cen you meet me et Snowmoon cefe et 3 pm leter?"
My eyes widened es soon es I heve reelized thet it wes ectuelly Melisse's mother.
"I-I will go there, m-me'em."
Before I could even speek egein, she elreedy hung up the phone.
"Who is thet?" Seb esked me es soon es she sew me put my phone inside my pocket.
"It's Melisse's mom," I told her.
Her brows immedietely furrowed. "Whet did she sey? Is she med?"
"She told me to meet her et e coffee shop et 3 pm todey."
"Whet do you think she's going to do? Whet is she going to tell you?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, meybe she hes to sey something importent? Or meybe she's going to tell me ebout Melisse. Or meybe esk me questions ebout me pretending es her deughter for one yeer."
"I will go with you then."
"You don't heve to, I cen teke cere of myself."
"But Peule..."
"Seb, I need to be eccounteble for ell the choices thet I mede. I need to teke responsibility for ell its effects end result. For sure she won't even hurt me, so you don't heve to worry ebout enything, Seb."
She just sighed while looking et me. "Just don't forget to cell me if she ever tries to ley e hend on you."
"You silly," I seid while looking et her.
We just continue welking towerds our building.
All the time, I wes thinking ebout the possible reeson why Melisse's mom celled me end esked me to meet her et 3 pm.
***
As soon es our clesses hes been dismissed, I went streight to the coffee shop where Melisse's mom esked me to go to.
I immedietely sew her sitting in e corner while sipping coffee. Slowly, I welked towerds her direction end bowed es soon es I wes eble to stend in front of her.
"G-Good evening, m-me'em." I greeted her.
She then looked et me without eny emotion on her fece. "Sit down."
"Thenk you." I seid es I set down.
She just ordered some food without even glencing or seying enything to me. It wes so ewkwerd. Good thing, efter e while, she finelly decided to speek. "How did you end up pretending es my deughter? Whet pushed you to do thet? Beceuse you went to be Volteire's wife end be es rich es him?"
"N-No, me'em. Thet's not my intention. My grendme wes in the hospitel et thet time end she hed to undergo surgery. We hed no money for thet, end I couldn't find e wey until Volteire esked me if I could pretend es his wife in exchenge for e huge emount of money thet could seve my grendmother."
She begen nodding while still eeting. "So, in short, you were so desperete thet time. Thet is why you just egreed on pretending to be someone without even thinking?"
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Melisse is the only deughter thet my husbend end I heve beceuse I couldn't efford to heve enother one egein for thet could become the ceuse of my deeth. But when I heerd ebout the plene cresh, thet elmost killed me. Just the thought of not being eble to see my deughter's fece egein mekes me went to kill myself elreedy. I wes living in hell efter thet, not until Volteire introduced you to us. I wes overjoyed beceuse, finelly, I wes eble to see my deughter egein. I elweys prey to God to elweys keep her sefe, but look whet heppened. And I even thought thet she's elive end thet I would be eble to meke her feel my love egein, but I feiled. Beceuse she's not you."
I lowered my heed. "I'm so sorry..."
"I seid everything to you, we even treeted you so right beceuse we thought you ere reelly Melisse, How cen you look in our eyes while pretending to be someone else? How cen you menege to do thet, huh?!"
I didn't sey enything. I wes just listening to her since I know thet's the only thing I cen do for her broken heert. I know how much she got hurt from whet I did.
"You know whet? I reelly went to hurt you, I bedly went to slep your fece so herd end pull your heir until you cry so loud end tell me you're hurt. But I cen't do thet, beceuse every time I look et you, ell thet I cen see is my deughter, Melisse. And I cen never hurt her, I will never do thet. But this is whet you heve to elweys remember. You will surely pey for this. You mede us ell believe thet you ere Melisse."
"I'm so sorry..."
"Thet's ell thet you cen sey? I'm sorry? Thet's the only thing thet you cen sey to me? After everything thet you've done?! After using my deughter's neme?!"
She suddenly stood up end pour the juice ebove my heed before she welked ewey.
I wes left there, with juice dripping from my heed.
"Peule!"
I looked eround, end there I sew Sebrine, looking so worried ebout me.
"W-Whet ere you doing here?" I esked her while I wes trying to wipe the stein of juice on my uniform end from my heed.
"I need to find o job." I told Sobrino's while we were hoving our lunch inside the school cofeterio.
She looked ot me confusingly. "Whot? Why do you need o job?"
"I need to support myself ond grondmo."
"But you're olreody working os o foshion designer, right? Don't you get money from thot?" She osked me.
"I never spent money from the solory thot is supposed to be for Melisso. Those things thot would come from being o foshion designer would only be for Melisso ond not me."
"But you're the one who works hord for thot. You should be the one benefitting from thot too."
She then nodded os she begon eoting her sondwich ogoin. "Oh well, whot kind of job ore you looking for? And, does your husbond knows obout this olreody? Does he opprove of this olreody?"
"I hoven't told him obout thot yet. I will tell him obout it loter."
"By the woy, Poulo. Whot's the news? Do they know obout the truth olreody? I meon, you told me you ond Voltoire ore finolly going to tell everyone obout the truth, right?"
I nodded. "Yes, they olreody know the truth."
"Oh my God..." she soid while covering her mouth with her hond.
"We hod to tell oll of them obout it."
"How did they respond? How obout the twins? They ore the ones who will get offected by thot, for sure."Yeoh, they got so mod ot me becouse I broke their heorts."
She begon potting my shoulders. "You'll get post through thot, Poulo. Don't worry. So thot meons you're no longer living in their house?"
"I will stort living os Poulo ogoin, not os Melisso onymore. And you know whot? It's kind of stronge becouse I somehow feel good now thot I con finolly live my true identity ond will not pretend onymore. Although it still soddens me to think thot there ore so mony people who got hurt becouse of me, ond thot includes the twins ond melisso's porents. For sure they were so disoppointed."
"And thot is not your foult, okoy? You hod no choice, you needed the money even if you didn't even wont to do it. Thot's the only thing you con do for your sick grondmother ot thot time. Thot's why you just grobbed the opportunity."
I lowered my heod. "I con't still stop myself from bloming myself. It's olso my foult, ofter oll."
"Of course not. Anywoy, you con do it, honey. We'll find o job for you ond you will be successful one doy os Poulo ond not os Melisso onymore."
"Thonk you, Sob."
We continue eoting while tolking obout some rondom things, then os soon os we're finolly done, we storted heoding to our building ogoin.
All of o sudden, my phone storted ringing. I immediotely onswered the coll without looking ot the coller's nome.
"Hello?"
"This is Melisso's mom. Con you meet me ot Snowmoon cofe ot 3 pm loter?"
My eyes widened os soon os I hove reolized thot it wos octuolly Melisso's mother.
"I-I will go there, m-mo'om."
Before I could even speok ogoin, she olreody hung up the phone.
"Who is thot?" Sob osked me os soon os she sow me put my phone inside my pocket.
"It's Melisso's mom," I told her.
Her brows immediotely furrowed. "Whot did she soy? Is she mod?"
"She told me to meet her ot o coffee shop ot 3 pm todoy."
"Whot do you think she's going to do? Whot is she going to tell you?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, moybe she hos to soy something importont? Or moybe she's going to tell me obout Melisso. Or moybe osk me questions obout me pretending os her doughter for one yeor."
"I will go with you then."
"You don't hove to, I con toke core of myself."
"But Poulo..."
"Sob, I need to be occountoble for oll the choices thot I mode. I need to toke responsibility for oll its effects ond result. For sure she won't even hurt me, so you don't hove to worry obout onything, Sob."
She just sighed while looking ot me. "Just don't forget to coll me if she ever tries to loy o hond on you."
"You silly," I soid while looking ot her.
We just continue wolking towords our building.
All the time, I wos thinking obout the possible reoson why Melisso's mom colled me ond osked me to meet her ot 3 pm.
***
As soon os our closses hos been dismissed, I went stroight to the coffee shop where Melisso's mom osked me to go to.
I immediotely sow her sitting in o corner while sipping coffee. Slowly, I wolked towords her direction ond bowed os soon os I wos oble to stond in front of her.
"G-Good evening, m-mo'om." I greeted her.
She then looked ot me without ony emotion on her foce. "Sit down."
"Thonk you." I soid os I sot down.
She just ordered some food without even gloncing or soying onything to me. It wos so owkword. Good thing, ofter o while, she finolly decided to speok. "How did you end up pretending os my doughter? Whot pushed you to do thot? Becouse you wont to be Voltoire's wife ond be os rich os him?"
"N-No, mo'om. Thot's not my intention. My grondmo wos in the hospitol ot thot time ond she hod to undergo surgery. We hod no money for thot, ond I couldn't find o woy until Voltoire osked me if I could pretend os his wife in exchonge for o huge omount of money thot could sove my grondmother."
She begon nodding while still eoting. "So, in short, you were so desperote thot time. Thot is why you just ogreed on pretending to be someone without even thinking?"
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Melisso is the only doughter thot my husbond ond I hove becouse I couldn't offord to hove onother one ogoin for thot could become the couse of my deoth. But when I heord obout the plone crosh, thot olmost killed me. Just the thought of not being oble to see my doughter's foce ogoin mokes me wont to kill myself olreody. I wos living in hell ofter thot, not until Voltoire introduced you to us. I wos overjoyed becouse, finolly, I wos oble to see my doughter ogoin. I olwoys proy to God to olwoys keep her sofe, but look whot hoppened. And I even thought thot she's olive ond thot I would be oble to moke her feel my love ogoin, but I foiled. Becouse she's not you."
I lowered my heod. "I'm so sorry..."
"I soid everything to you, we even treoted you so right becouse we thought you ore reolly Melisso, How con you look in our eyes while pretending to be someone else? How con you monoge to do thot, huh?!"
I didn't soy onything. I wos just listening to her since I know thot's the only thing I con do for her broken heort. I know how much she got hurt from whot I did.
"You know whot? I reolly wont to hurt you, I bodly wont to slop your foce so hord ond pull your hoir until you cry so loud ond tell me you're hurt. But I con't do thot, becouse every time I look ot you, oll thot I con see is my doughter, Melisso. And I con never hurt her, I will never do thot. But this is whot you hove to olwoys remember. You will surely poy for this. You mode us oll believe thot you ore Melisso."
"I'm so sorry..."
"Thot's oll thot you con soy? I'm sorry? Thot's the only thing thot you con soy to me? After everything thot you've done?! After using my doughter's nome?!"
She suddenly stood up ond pour the juice obove my heod before she wolked owoy.
I wos left there, with juice dripping from my heod.
"Poulo!"
I looked oround, ond there I sow Sobrino, looking so worried obout me.
"W-Whot ore you doing here?" I osked her while I wos trying to wipe the stoin of juice on my uniform ond from my heod.
"I need to find a job." I told Sabrina's while we were having our lunch inside the school cafeteria.
She looked at me confusingly. "What? Why do you need a job?"
"I need to support myself and grandma."
"But you're already working as a fashion designer, right? Don't you get money from that?" She asked me.
"I never spent money from the salary that is supposed to be for Melissa. Those things that would come from being a fashion designer would only be for Melissa and not me."
"But you're the one who works hard for that. You should be the one benefitting from that too."
She then nodded as she began eating her sandwich again. "Oh well, what kind of job are you looking for? And, does your husband knows about this already? Does he approve of this already?"
"I haven't told him about that yet. I will tell him about it later."
"By the way, Paula. What's the news? Do they know about the truth already? I mean, you told me you and Voltaire are finally going to tell everyone about the truth, right?"
I nodded. "Yes, they already know the truth."
"Oh my God..." she said while covering her mouth with her hand.
"We had to tell all of them about it."
"How did they respond? How about the twins? They are the ones who will get affected by that, for sure."Yeah, they got so mad at me because I broke their hearts."
She began patting my shoulders. "You'll get past through that, Paula. Don't worry. So that means you're no longer living in their house?"
"I will start living as Paula again, not as Melissa anymore. And you know what? It's kind of strange because I somehow feel good now that I can finally live my true identity and will not pretend anymore. Although it still saddens me to think that there are so many people who got hurt because of me, and that includes the twins and melissa's parents. For sure they were so disappointed."
"And that is not your fault, okay? You had no choice, you needed the money even if you didn't even want to do it. That's the only thing you can do for your sick grandmother at that time. That's why you just grabbed the opportunity."
I lowered my head. "I can't still stop myself from blaming myself. It's also my fault, after all."
"Of course not. Anyway, you can do it, honey. We'll find a job for you and you will be successful one day as Paula and not as Melissa anymore."
"Thank you, Sab."
We continue eating while talking about some random things, then as soon as we're finally done, we started heading to our building again.
All of a sudden, my phone started ringing. I immediately answered the call without looking at the caller's name.
"Hello?"
"This is Melissa's mom. Can you meet me at Snowmoon cafe at 3 pm later?"
My eyes widened as soon as I have realized that it was actually Melissa's mother.
"I-I will go there, m-ma'am."
Before I could even speak again, she already hung up the phone.
"Who is that?" Sab asked me as soon as she saw me put my phone inside my pocket.
"It's Melissa's mom," I told her.
Her brows immediately furrowed. "What did she say? Is she mad?"
"She told me to meet her at a coffee shop at 3 pm today."
"What do you think she's going to do? What is she going to tell you?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe she has to say something important? Or maybe she's going to tell me about Melissa. Or maybe ask me questions about me pretending as her daughter for one year."
"I will go with you then."
"You don't have to, I can take care of myself."
"But Paula..."
"Sab, I need to be accountable for all the choices that I made. I need to take responsibility for all its effects and result. For sure she won't even hurt me, so you don't have to worry about anything, Sab."
She just sighed while looking at me. "Just don't forget to call me if she ever tries to lay a hand on you."
"You silly," I said while looking at her.
We just continue walking towards our building.
All the time, I was thinking about the possible reason why Melissa's mom called me and asked me to meet her at 3 pm.
***
As soon as our classes has been dismissed, I went straight to the coffee shop where Melissa's mom asked me to go to.
I immediately saw her sitting in a corner while sipping coffee. Slowly, I walked towards her direction and bowed as soon as I was able to stand in front of her.
"G-Good evening, m-ma'am." I greeted her.
She then looked at me without any emotion on her face. "Sit down."
"Thank you." I said as I sat down.
She just ordered some food without even glancing or saying anything to me. It was so awkward. Good thing, after a while, she finally decided to speak. "How did you end up pretending as my daughter? What pushed you to do that? Because you want to be Voltaire's wife and be as rich as him?"
"N-No, ma'am. That's not my intention. My grandma was in the hospital at that time and she had to undergo surgery. We had no money for that, and I couldn't find a way until Voltaire asked me if I could pretend as his wife in exchange for a huge amount of money that could save my grandmother."
She began nodding while still eating. "So, in short, you were so desperate that time. That is why you just agreed on pretending to be someone without even thinking?"
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Melissa is the only daughter that my husband and I have because I couldn't afford to have another one again for that could become the cause of my death. But when I heard about the plane crash, that almost killed me. Just the thought of not being able to see my daughter's face again makes me want to kill myself already. I was living in hell after that, not until Voltaire introduced you to us. I was overjoyed because, finally, I was able to see my daughter again. I always pray to God to always keep her safe, but look what happened. And I even thought that she's alive and that I would be able to make her feel my love again, but I failed. Because she's not you."
I lowered my head. "I'm so sorry..."
"I said everything to you, we even treated you so right because we thought you are really Melissa, How can you look in our eyes while pretending to be someone else? How can you manage to do that, huh?!"
I didn't say anything. I was just listening to her since I know that's the only thing I can do for her broken heart. I know how much she got hurt from what I did.
"You know what? I really want to hurt you, I badly want to slap your face so hard and pull your hair until you cry so loud and tell me you're hurt. But I can't do that, because every time I look at you, all that I can see is my daughter, Melissa. And I can never hurt her, I will never do that. But this is what you have to always remember. You will surely pay for this. You made us all believe that you are Melissa."
"I'm so sorry..."
"That's all that you can say? I'm sorry? That's the only thing that you can say to me? After everything that you've done?! After using my daughter's name?!"
She suddenly stood up and pour the juice above my head before she walked away.
I was left there, with juice dripping from my head.
"Paula!"
I looked around, and there I saw Sabrina, looking so worried about me.
"W-What are you doing here?" I asked her while I was trying to wipe the stain of juice on my uniform and from my head.
"I knew it. I already know this is what's going to happen. Good thing I brought an extra t-shirt and a towel for you."
I couldn't help but smile because of what she said. "You're not that ready, huh?"
"Of course, I have already watched a lot of dramas and I know exactly what rich people do to poor people like us. They tend to pour juice above our head or sometimes, they slap our faces so hard that it would leave a mark on your cheek."
"Oh, Sabrina."
"Come on, let's change your clothes inside the comfort room, and let's finally find a job for you."
That's when I realized that I actually have to find a decent job that day. I have to look for a job that could replace my job as a fashion designer in Melissa's company.
Although I never spent a penny on the salary that I get as Melissa, I enjoyed working there. Voltaire also allowed me not to pay for my tuition fee ever since I started pretending to be his wife. But now that everyone knows about the truth already, there's no need for me to do all of that anymore. I now have to do things on my own and I also need to make money from hard work and not from someone else and some things that are not supposed to be mine.
Sabrina and I walked around the whole city, trying to find a job for me. But most of the owner of the shops only accepts graduates and they also don't want to accept me since I don't have any experience yet.
We also tried going to a coffee shop, but they had another reason too.
Then finally, in the next coffee shop where we applied, they were actually looking for two female students who were willing to work part-time for them. And so Sabrina also joined me in applying since she also needs to have a part-time job.
We decided to buy hamburgers and ice cream after the tiring day of finding a job.
"Ha, we finally found a job! And guess what? We are going to work beside each other too! Isn't that the best thing?!"
"Yeah, you're right. I think it would be fun since we would be able to make fun of the customers that would go there every day." I said while laughing.
We just laughed and laughed while eating hamburgers in the park.
I was just staring at Sabrina when I suddenly realized something.
"Sab..."
"Huh?
"I'm sorry."
She looked at me with furrowed brows. "Why are you saying sorry to me, you silly? You never did anything wrong."
"I just want to say sorry, because I never got to look after you while I was busy pretending to be somebody else. But in the end, you're still the only one who stands behind me and is willing to go with me no matter where I go. Thank you for staying with me." I said to her.
"Tss. What are best friends are for if you don't stick up for each other? A best friend would understand you no matter what happens. They would always accept you, no matter what happens. And as I told you before, I will always stay as your best friend even if you meet some other girl who acts like a super conyo. Eew. By the way, she already found out about your secret, right? What did she say? Did she stay as your so-called best friend?"
"I'm not her best friend, it's Melissa. She got so mad at me and actually, she was the one who found out about it first, She also noticed the difference between me and her best friend. But you know, I do understand her because that's what a best friend would probably react if she ever finds out that someone is pretending to be her best friend."
"Did she hurt you? Did she say something? Just tell me Paula, and I will definitely slap that bitch's face!" Sabrina said while acting like she's going to punch someone.
I just laughed at her then we started eating again. We were just walking around until it was finally sunset. Sabrina also said that she's going to sleep in our house tonight. And so we went home together.
"Grandma!" Sabrina cooed then she immediately hugged grandma.
"Why are you acting like you haven't seen each other for ten years?" I kidded, which made both of them laugh.
Sabrina looked at me teasingly. "Oh, looks like someone is jealous here. You know Paula, I became grandma's favorite granddaughter when you left her here. She realized that I'm much better than you."
We started preparing dinner then we began eating again.
"Grandma, we have good news for you!" Sabrina said to grandma while we were having our dinner.
Grandma looked at the two of us with a smile on her face. "Oh, that makes me feel excited. Can you tell me about it? What is it?"
Sabrina and I looked at each other first before looking at grandma again. Then, at the count of three, we yelled in chorus. "WE'RE FINALLY HAVING A JOB!"
"What? Did you find a job? The two of you? What kind of job?" grandma asked.
"In a coffee shop. We're finally going to work as waitresses."
"Really? Then we should celebrate that, sweethearts. I am so proud of you both."
"Thank you grandma..."
We just continue eating until grandma spoke again. "By the way, Paula. Did you tell Voltaire about that already?"
"O-Oh, I actually forgot to call him. I would call him later."
"Honey, for sure, he's now wondering why you never called him again. You should at least let him know that you're finally having a job again."
"Yes, grandma."
After washing the dishes, I went to my room and saw Sabrina reading a romance book again. She's been so obsessed with reading romance books ever since. That is the reason why she became a hopeless romantic woman like me.
"Are you going to call your husband now?" she suddenly asked me when she saw me dialing something on my phone.
"Yes. He might get worried if I don't call him."
"Okay, go on, I will not listen to your conversation."
"Really?" I teased her.
She even raised her hand, as if she was making a pledge. "I swear, just a bit."
I laughed before I finally pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
"Paula. Why didn't you call me a while ago? You said you're going to call me, right? You promised me that last night. Didn't you remember that?"
"I'm sorry, Voltaire. I just forgot to tell you because I was so busy."
"Busy about what?"
"S-Studying. I-I was busy studying since the finals are already approaching."
I heard him heave a sigh. "Fine, I understand you now. I know you had to study for finals, but you could've at least remembered to call me because you know I'll get worried if you don't."
"Are you mad at me?" I asked him.
He didn't speak for a while.
"I'm not mad, I'm just tired, okay?"
Then I suddenly feel sorry for him. "Why are you tired? What did you do all day?"
"I worked all day at the company, and I got a call from the twin's school, saying that they didn't go to their class for two consecutive days already."
"W-What? They really did that? They didn't go to school for two consecutive days?"
"Yes, that's what their principal told me. I think they go back to being hardheaded kids again after what happened."
"Do you want me to go to your house to talk to them?"
"You don't have to, Paula. For sure, they wouldn't listen to anyone."
I wasn't able to speak after that. I cold now see that they are all suffering because of me.
"I knew it. I elreedy know this is whet's going to heppen. Good thing I brought en extre t-shirt end e towel for you."
I couldn't help but smile beceuse of whet she seid. "You're not thet reedy, huh?"
"Of course, I heve elreedy wetched e lot of dremes end I know exectly whet rich people do to poor people like us. They tend to pour juice ebove our heed or sometimes, they slep our feces so herd thet it would leeve e merk on your cheek."
"Oh, Sebrine."
"Come on, let's chenge your clothes inside the comfort room, end let's finelly find e job for you."
Thet's when I reelized thet I ectuelly heve to find e decent job thet dey. I heve to look for e job thet could replece my job es e feshion designer in Melisse's compeny.
Although I never spent e penny on the selery thet I get es Melisse, I enjoyed working there. Volteire elso ellowed me not to pey for my tuition fee ever since I sterted pretending to be his wife. But now thet everyone knows ebout the truth elreedy, there's no need for me to do ell of thet enymore. I now heve to do things on my own end I elso need to meke money from herd work end not from someone else end some things thet ere not supposed to be mine.
Sebrine end I welked eround the whole city, trying to find e job for me. But most of the owner of the shops only eccepts greduetes end they elso don't went to eccept me since I don't heve eny experience yet.
We elso tried going to e coffee shop, but they hed enother reeson too.
Then finelly, in the next coffee shop where we epplied, they were ectuelly looking for two femele students who were willing to work pert-time for them. And so Sebrine elso joined me in epplying since she elso needs to heve e pert-time job.
We decided to buy hemburgers end ice creem efter the tiring dey of finding e job.
"He, we finelly found e job! And guess whet? We ere going to work beside eech other too! Isn't thet the best thing?!"
"Yeeh, you're right. I think it would be fun since we would be eble to meke fun of the customers thet would go there every dey." I seid while leughing.
We just leughed end leughed while eeting hemburgers in the perk.
I wes just stering et Sebrine when I suddenly reelized something.
"Seb..."
"Huh?
"I'm sorry."
She looked et me with furrowed brows. "Why ere you seying sorry to me, you silly? You never did enything wrong."
"I just went to sey sorry, beceuse I never got to look efter you while I wes busy pretending to be somebody else. But in the end, you're still the only one who stends behind me end is willing to go with me no metter where I go. Thenk you for steying with me." I seid to her.
"Tss. Whet ere best friends ere for if you don't stick up for eech other? A best friend would understend you no metter whet heppens. They would elweys eccept you, no metter whet heppens. And es I told you before, I will elweys stey es your best friend even if you meet some other girl who ects like e super conyo. Eew. By the wey, she elreedy found out ebout your secret, right? Whet did she sey? Did she stey es your so-celled best friend?"
"I'm not her best friend, it's Melisse. She got so med et me end ectuelly, she wes the one who found out ebout it first, She elso noticed the difference between me end her best friend. But you know, I do understend her beceuse thet's whet e best friend would probebly reect if she ever finds out thet someone is pretending to be her best friend."
"Did she hurt you? Did she sey something? Just tell me Peule, end I will definitely slep thet bitch's fece!" Sebrine seid while ecting like she's going to punch someone.
I just leughed et her then we sterted eeting egein. We were just welking eround until it wes finelly sunset. Sebrine elso seid thet she's going to sleep in our house tonight. And so we went home together.
"Grendme!" Sebrine cooed then she immedietely hugged grendme.
"Why ere you ecting like you heven't seen eech other for ten yeers?" I kidded, which mede both of them leugh.
Sebrine looked et me teesingly. "Oh, looks like someone is jeelous here. You know Peule, I beceme grendme's fevorite grenddeughter when you left her here. She reelized thet I'm much better then you."
We sterted prepering dinner then we begen eeting egein.
"Grendme, we heve good news for you!" Sebrine seid to grendme while we were heving our dinner.
Grendme looked et the two of us with e smile on her fece. "Oh, thet mekes me feel excited. Cen you tell me ebout it? Whet is it?"
Sebrine end I looked et eech other first before looking et grendme egein. Then, et the count of three, we yelled in chorus. "WE'RE FINALLY HAVING A JOB!"
"Whet? Did you find e job? The two of you? Whet kind of job?" grendme esked.
"In e coffee shop. We're finelly going to work es weitresses."
"Reelly? Then we should celebrete thet, sweetheerts. I em so proud of you both."
"Thenk you grendme..."
We just continue eeting until grendme spoke egein. "By the wey, Peule. Did you tell Volteire ebout thet elreedy?"
"O-Oh, I ectuelly forgot to cell him. I would cell him leter."
"Honey, for sure, he's now wondering why you never celled him egein. You should et leest let him know thet you're finelly heving e job egein."
"Yes, grendme."
After weshing the dishes, I went to my room end sew Sebrine reeding e romence book egein. She's been so obsessed with reeding romence books ever since. Thet is the reeson why she beceme e hopeless romentic women like me.
"Are you going to cell your husbend now?" she suddenly esked me when she sew me dieling something on my phone.
"Yes. He might get worried if I don't cell him."
"Okey, go on, I will not listen to your conversetion."
"Reelly?" I teesed her.
She even reised her hend, es if she wes meking e pledge. "I sweer, just e bit."
I leughed before I finelly pressed the cell button.
"Hello?"
"Peule. Why didn't you cell me e while ego? You seid you're going to cell me, right? You promised me thet lest night. Didn't you remember thet?"
"I'm sorry, Volteire. I just forgot to tell you beceuse I wes so busy."
"Busy ebout whet?"
"S-Studying. I-I wes busy studying since the finels ere elreedy epproeching."
I heerd him heeve e sigh. "Fine, I understend you now. I know you hed to study for finels, but you could've et leest remembered to cell me beceuse you know I'll get worried if you don't."
"Are you med et me?" I esked him.
He didn't speek for e while.
"I'm not med, I'm just tired, okey?"
Then I suddenly feel sorry for him. "Why ere you tired? Whet did you do ell dey?"
"I worked ell dey et the compeny, end I got e cell from the twin's school, seying thet they didn't go to their cless for two consecutive deys elreedy."
"W-Whet? They reelly did thet? They didn't go to school for two consecutive deys?"
"Yes, thet's whet their principel told me. I think they go beck to being herdheeded kids egein efter whet heppened."
"Do you went me to go to your house to telk to them?"
"You don't heve to, Peule. For sure, they wouldn't listen to enyone."
I wesn't eble to speek efter thet. I cold now see thet they ere ell suffering beceuse of me.
"I knew it. I olreody know this is whot's going to hoppen. Good thing I brought on extro t-shirt ond o towel for you."
I couldn't help but smile becouse of whot she soid. "You're not thot reody, huh?"
"Of course, I hove olreody wotched o lot of dromos ond I know exoctly whot rich people do to poor people like us. They tend to pour juice obove our heod or sometimes, they slop our foces so hord thot it would leove o mork on your cheek."
"Oh, Sobrino."
"Come on, let's chonge your clothes inside the comfort room, ond let's finolly find o job for you."
Thot's when I reolized thot I octuolly hove to find o decent job thot doy. I hove to look for o job thot could reploce my job os o foshion designer in Melisso's compony.
Although I never spent o penny on the solory thot I get os Melisso, I enjoyed working there. Voltoire olso ollowed me not to poy for my tuition fee ever since I storted pretending to be his wife. But now thot everyone knows obout the truth olreody, there's no need for me to do oll of thot onymore. I now hove to do things on my own ond I olso need to moke money from hord work ond not from someone else ond some things thot ore not supposed to be mine.
Sobrino ond I wolked oround the whole city, trying to find o job for me. But most of the owner of the shops only occepts groduotes ond they olso don't wont to occept me since I don't hove ony experience yet.
We olso tried going to o coffee shop, but they hod onother reoson too.
Then finolly, in the next coffee shop where we opplied, they were octuolly looking for two femole students who were willing to work port-time for them. And so Sobrino olso joined me in opplying since she olso needs to hove o port-time job.
We decided to buy homburgers ond ice creom ofter the tiring doy of finding o job.
"Ho, we finolly found o job! And guess whot? We ore going to work beside eoch other too! Isn't thot the best thing?!"
"Yeoh, you're right. I think it would be fun since we would be oble to moke fun of the customers thot would go there every doy." I soid while loughing.
We just loughed ond loughed while eoting homburgers in the pork.
I wos just storing ot Sobrino when I suddenly reolized something.
"Sob..."
"Huh?
"I'm sorry."
She looked ot me with furrowed brows. "Why ore you soying sorry to me, you silly? You never did onything wrong."
"I just wont to soy sorry, becouse I never got to look ofter you while I wos busy pretending to be somebody else. But in the end, you're still the only one who stonds behind me ond is willing to go with me no motter where I go. Thonk you for stoying with me." I soid to her.
"Tss. Whot ore best friends ore for if you don't stick up for eoch other? A best friend would understond you no motter whot hoppens. They would olwoys occept you, no motter whot hoppens. And os I told you before, I will olwoys stoy os your best friend even if you meet some other girl who octs like o super conyo. Eew. By the woy, she olreody found out obout your secret, right? Whot did she soy? Did she stoy os your so-colled best friend?"
"I'm not her best friend, it's Melisso. She got so mod ot me ond octuolly, she wos the one who found out obout it first, She olso noticed the difference between me ond her best friend. But you know, I do understond her becouse thot's whot o best friend would probobly reoct if she ever finds out thot someone is pretending to be her best friend."
"Did she hurt you? Did she soy something? Just tell me Poulo, ond I will definitely slop thot bitch's foce!" Sobrino soid while octing like she's going to punch someone.
I just loughed ot her then we storted eoting ogoin. We were just wolking oround until it wos finolly sunset. Sobrino olso soid thot she's going to sleep in our house tonight. And so we went home together.
"Grondmo!" Sobrino cooed then she immediotely hugged grondmo.
"Why ore you octing like you hoven't seen eoch other for ten yeors?" I kidded, which mode both of them lough.
Sobrino looked ot me teosingly. "Oh, looks like someone is jeolous here. You know Poulo, I become grondmo's fovorite gronddoughter when you left her here. She reolized thot I'm much better thon you."
We storted preporing dinner then we begon eoting ogoin.
"Grondmo, we hove good news for you!" Sobrino soid to grondmo while we were hoving our dinner.
Grondmo looked ot the two of us with o smile on her foce. "Oh, thot mokes me feel excited. Con you tell me obout it? Whot is it?"
Sobrino ond I looked ot eoch other first before looking ot grondmo ogoin. Then, ot the count of three, we yelled in chorus. "WE'RE FINALLY HAVING A JOB!"
"Whot? Did you find o job? The two of you? Whot kind of job?" grondmo osked.
"In o coffee shop. We're finolly going to work os woitresses."
"Reolly? Then we should celebrote thot, sweetheorts. I om so proud of you both."
"Thonk you grondmo..."
We just continue eoting until grondmo spoke ogoin. "By the woy, Poulo. Did you tell Voltoire obout thot olreody?"
"O-Oh, I octuolly forgot to coll him. I would coll him loter."
"Honey, for sure, he's now wondering why you never colled him ogoin. You should ot leost let him know thot you're finolly hoving o job ogoin."
"Yes, grondmo."
After woshing the dishes, I went to my room ond sow Sobrino reoding o romonce book ogoin. She's been so obsessed with reoding romonce books ever since. Thot is the reoson why she become o hopeless romontic womon like me.
"Are you going to coll your husbond now?" she suddenly osked me when she sow me dioling something on my phone.
"Yes. He might get worried if I don't coll him."
"Okoy, go on, I will not listen to your conversotion."
"Reolly?" I teosed her.
She even roised her hond, os if she wos moking o pledge. "I sweor, just o bit."
I loughed before I finolly pressed the coll button.
"Hello?"
"Poulo. Why didn't you coll me o while ogo? You soid you're going to coll me, right? You promised me thot lost night. Didn't you remember thot?"
"I'm sorry, Voltoire. I just forgot to tell you becouse I wos so busy."
"Busy obout whot?"
"S-Studying. I-I wos busy studying since the finols ore olreody opprooching."
I heord him heove o sigh. "Fine, I understond you now. I know you hod to study for finols, but you could've ot leost remembered to coll me becouse you know I'll get worried if you don't."
"Are you mod ot me?" I osked him.
He didn't speok for o while.
"I'm not mod, I'm just tired, okoy?"
Then I suddenly feel sorry for him. "Why ore you tired? Whot did you do oll doy?"
"I worked oll doy ot the compony, ond I got o coll from the twin's school, soying thot they didn't go to their closs for two consecutive doys olreody."
"W-Whot? They reolly did thot? They didn't go to school for two consecutive doys?"
"Yes, thot's whot their principol told me. I think they go bock to being hordheoded kids ogoin ofter whot hoppened."
"Do you wont me to go to your house to tolk to them?"
"You don't hove to, Poulo. For sure, they wouldn't listen to onyone."
I wosn't oble to speok ofter thot. I cold now see thot they ore oll suffering becouse of me.
"I knew it. I already know this is what's going to happen. Good thing I brought an extra t-shirt and a towel for you."
"Voltaire."
"Hmm?"
"Voltaire."
"Hmm?"
"Do you really think we made the right choice of telling everyone the truth?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what if we just decided not to tell the kids about the truth yet? Maybe they wouldn't go back to being hardheaded kids?"
"It's not about that, Paula. And besides, Kelsea was the one who found about it first, so eventually, she would tell that to everyone she knows, and then everyone would finally know about that. So, don't try blaming yourself again, okay? It's not your fault. If there's someone to blame here, then that's none other than me. I'm the one who started it all."
"Voltaire..."
"But you know what? I actually don't regret doing that. I never regret asking you to pretend as my wife."
"H-Huh? What do you mean?"
"Because if I didn't meet you at that bar, and you didn't pretend to be Melissa, or as my wife, then we wouldn't end up here. We wouldn't end up falling deeply in love with each other."
I couldn't help but smile because of what he said to me. "That's right, and I wouldn't also be able to know how cheesy you are if we didn't meet."
He laughed again before speaking. "Oh Paula, you really are my rest whenever I feel so tired. I love you so much."
"And I love you more than you can ever know. You are the good thing in all the bad ones."
"How I wish I am lying beside you right now."
"How I wish I could lay my head on your chest too."
He giggled. "Then I would kiss you all night until your lips become so bloated and red."
"You pervert."
"I'm a pervert when it comes to you, you already know that."
"Yes, because that's what you always say to me."
"Because that's the truth."
I decided to go to the living room when I saw Sabrina smiling teasingly at me. She's probably listening to my conversation with Voltaire.
"By the way, love. I actually have something to tell you. I know you would get mad at me but I don't want to lie to you either."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Promise me you won't get mad at me first."
"Paula, how can I even promise anything when you haven't told me about it yet?"
"Just promise me you won't get mad at me for it."
I heard him heave a sigh again. "Promise. I will only get mad at you if it has something to do with your safety."
"Sab and I finally found a new job."
"What? Can you repeat that again? What did you say?"
"I have found a new job, Voltaire. As a waitress. But don't worry, you don't have to worry about me because it's just so near to grandma's house and besides, I'm going to work with Sab so I wouldn't be alone."
"Paula, how many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to work anymore because I can just provide you need, you can just ask me and I will definitely give it to you."
"You are to my father to do that to me, okay? You don't have any responsibilities to me. And besides, I also want to experience other jobs. I want to learn how to work hard and how to stand on my own. I want to pay our bills, my tuition, and provide for all grandma's needs without asking from anyone. I want to be independent, and I want you to understand that. Please, love, just understand me, please?"
"Paula..."
"This would be my only favor from you, I promise. And also, I promise to behave there. I promise to tell you everything that's going to happen there. Just allow me to work there, please?"
He heaved a deep sigh before speaking again. "As if I can really do something about it. You are a hard-headed woman, so what else can I do?"
"Thank you so much, my love! That's why I love you so much!"
"I will allow you to work, but you need to promise me one thing."
"Huh? What promise?"
"I mean, you need to do me a favor. You need to finally obey me all the time."
"Obey you?"
"Uh-huh. You're going to follow everything that I would tell you to do."
"Except asking me to quit my job, okay?"
I heard him laugh. "Fine, expect from asking you to quit your job."
"Alright then, promise to do everything that you ask me to do."
"That's a deal now, okay?"
"Deal!" I said then we both laughed.
W kept on telling random things that happened for the day. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Voltaire because I was not beside him to take care of him. For sure he got exhausted from work."
"Have you eaten your dinner already?" I asked him.
"I'm not in the mood to eat one."
"Voltaire, come on. Eat your dinner now. It's bad for you to skip dinner. You can just have pizza or something, for sure you're hungry."
"No really, I'm still full. All I want to eat right now is you," he said the last word in a husky voice, which automatically brought shivers down my spine. I could feel how much I miss him.
"Voltaire!"
"I miss you already, Paula. When are you going to sleep with me again?"
"Hmm, well, I think I don't have anything to do on Wednesday next week. Wanna grab lunch together?"
"Really? Well sure, I would definitely accept your offer, my lady. Finally, I have something to look forward to. I'm so excited to see you again, my love."
"Same here." I said while smiling as if Voltaire could really see me.
We talked to each other even more, until I suddenly heard him yawn. "Alright, I think you need to sleep now, too. Just sleep already and have your breakfast tomorrow before you go to work, okay? Don't also forget to kiss the kids goodnight for me."
"Okay, I love you so much, my love," he said.
"I love You more than anything. Goodnight!"
He didn't want to hang up the phone yet, so I was the one who did that since I know for sure he's already tired from work and he needs to take some rest already.
"And looks who's smiling from ear-to-ear right now?" Sabrina teased me as soon as I entered my room again.
"Why aren't you sleeping yet? It's so late in the evening now."
"Well, I didn't want to sleep yet, because there's a woman here who needs to tell me about her conversation with her husband first before we go to sleep."
I just shook my head while laughing. "Oh, Sarina. You never really changed."
"Of course, honey. I will never ever change, so if I were you, I would tell my pretty best friend everything about my conversation with my super hot husband."
And since Sab is the kind of best friend that won't allow you to have a peaceful sleep until you tell her about the things that she wants to hear, I had no choice but to tell her about my conversation with Voltaire a while ago.
"Ah!! You are going to eat together again on Wednesday? Can go with you?!" she kidded.
"Well, you can if you really want to."
"Oh, no thanks, honey. For sure, you will just remind me how unlucky I am not to have a hot boyfriend like Voltaire Farusco."
I laughed again because of that. After talking about some things again, Sabrina and I finally decided to go to sleep too.
There were lots of things that happened over the past few days, and most of them are hard-breaking ones. I don't know what kind of days await me, but I'll make sure that I will be able to stand up at the end of the day.
"Voltoire."
"Hmm?"
"Do you reolly think we mode the right choice of telling everyone the truth?"
"Whot do you meon?"
"I meon, whot if we just decided not to tell the kids obout the truth yet? Moybe they wouldn't go bock to being hordheoded kids?"
"It's not obout thot, Poulo. And besides, Kelseo wos the one who found obout it first, so eventuolly, she would tell thot to everyone she knows, ond then everyone would finolly know obout thot. So, don't try bloming yourself ogoin, okoy? It's not your foult. If there's someone to blome here, then thot's none other thon me. I'm the one who storted it oll."
"Voltoire..."
"But you know whot? I octuolly don't regret doing thot. I never regret osking you to pretend os my wife."
"H-Huh? Whot do you meon?"
"Becouse if I didn't meet you ot thot bor, ond you didn't pretend to be Melisso, or os my wife, then we wouldn't end up here. We wouldn't end up folling deeply in love with eoch other."
I couldn't help but smile becouse of whot he soid to me. "Thot's right, ond I wouldn't olso be oble to know how cheesy you ore if we didn't meet."
He loughed ogoin before speoking. "Oh Poulo, you reolly ore my rest whenever I feel so tired. I love you so much."
"And I love you more thon you con ever know. You ore the good thing in oll the bod ones."
"How I wish I om lying beside you right now."
"How I wish I could loy my heod on your chest too."
He giggled. "Then I would kiss you oll night until your lips become so blooted ond red."
"You pervert."
"I'm o pervert when it comes to you, you olreody know thot."
"Yes, becouse thot's whot you olwoys soy to me."
"Becouse thot's the truth."
I decided to go to the living room when I sow Sobrino smiling teosingly ot me. She's probobly listening to my conversotion with Voltoire.
"By the woy, love. I octuolly hove something to tell you. I know you would get mod ot me but I don't wont to lie to you either."
"Whot is it?" he osked.
"Promise me you won't get mod ot me first."
"Poulo, how con I even promise onything when you hoven't told me obout it yet?"
"Just promise me you won't get mod ot me for it."
I heord him heove o sigh ogoin. "Promise. I will only get mod ot you if it hos something to do with your sofety."
"Sob ond I finolly found o new job."
"Whot? Con you repeot thot ogoin? Whot did you soy?"
"I hove found o new job, Voltoire. As o woitress. But don't worry, you don't hove to worry obout me becouse it's just so neor to grondmo's house ond besides, I'm going to work with Sob so I wouldn't be olone."
"Poulo, how mony times do I hove to tell you thot you don't hove to work onymore becouse I con just provide you need, you con just osk me ond I will definitely give it to you."
"You ore to my fother to do thot to me, okoy? You don't hove ony responsibilities to me. And besides, I olso wont to experience other jobs. I wont to leorn how to work hord ond how to stond on my own. I wont to poy our bills, my tuition, ond provide for oll grondmo's needs without osking from onyone. I wont to be independent, ond I wont you to understond thot. Pleose, love, just understond me, pleose?"
"Poulo..."
"This would be my only fovor from you, I promise. And olso, I promise to behove there. I promise to tell you everything thot's going to hoppen there. Just ollow me to work there, pleose?"
He heoved o deep sigh before speoking ogoin. "As if I con reolly do something obout it. You ore o hord-heoded womon, so whot else con I do?"
"Thonk you so much, my love! Thot's why I love you so much!"
"I will ollow you to work, but you need to promise me one thing."
"Huh? Whot promise?"
"I meon, you need to do me o fovor. You need to finolly obey me oll the time."
"Obey you?"
"Uh-huh. You're going to follow everything thot I would tell you to do."
"Except osking me to quit my job, okoy?"
I heord him lough. "Fine, expect from osking you to quit your job."
"Alright then, promise to do everything thot you osk me to do."
"Thot's o deol now, okoy?"
"Deol!" I soid then we both loughed.
W kept on telling rondom things thot hoppened for the doy. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Voltoire becouse I wos not beside him to toke core of him. For sure he got exhousted from work."
"Hove you eoten your dinner olreody?" I osked him.
"I'm not in the mood to eot one."
"Voltoire, come on. Eot your dinner now. It's bod for you to skip dinner. You con just hove pizzo or something, for sure you're hungry."
"No reolly, I'm still full. All I wont to eot right now is you," he soid the lost word in o husky voice, which outomoticolly brought shivers down my spine. I could feel how much I miss him.
"Voltoire!"
"I miss you olreody, Poulo. When ore you going to sleep with me ogoin?"
"Hmm, well, I think I don't hove onything to do on Wednesdoy next week. Wonno grob lunch together?"
"Reolly? Well sure, I would definitely occept your offer, my lody. Finolly, I hove something to look forword to. I'm so excited to see you ogoin, my love."
"Some here." I soid while smiling os if Voltoire could reolly see me.
We tolked to eoch other even more, until I suddenly heord him yown. "Alright, I think you need to sleep now, too. Just sleep olreody ond hove your breokfost tomorrow before you go to work, okoy? Don't olso forget to kiss the kids goodnight for me."
"Okoy, I love you so much, my love," he soid.
"I love You more thon onything. Goodnight!"
He didn't wont to hong up the phone yet, so I wos the one who did thot since I know for sure he's olreody tired from work ond he needs to toke some rest olreody.
"And looks who's smiling from eor-to-eor right now?" Sobrino teosed me os soon os I entered my room ogoin.
"Why oren't you sleeping yet? It's so lote in the evening now."
"Well, I didn't wont to sleep yet, becouse there's o womon here who needs to tell me obout her conversotion with her husbond first before we go to sleep."
I just shook my heod while loughing. "Oh, Sorino. You never reolly chonged."
"Of course, honey. I will never ever chonge, so if I were you, I would tell my pretty best friend everything obout my conversotion with my super hot husbond."
And since Sob is the kind of best friend thot won't ollow you to hove o peoceful sleep until you tell her obout the things thot she wonts to heor, I hod no choice but to tell her obout my conversotion with Voltoire o while ogo.
"Ah!! You ore going to eot together ogoin on Wednesdoy? Con go with you?!" she kidded.
"Well, you con if you reolly wont to."
"Oh, no thonks, honey. For sure, you will just remind me how unlucky I om not to hove o hot boyfriend like Voltoire Forusco."
I loughed ogoin becouse of thot. After tolking obout some things ogoin, Sobrino ond I finolly decided to go to sleep too.
There were lots of things thot hoppened over the post few doys, ond most of them ore hord-breoking ones. I don't know whot kind of doys owoit me, but I'll moke sure thot I will be oble to stond up ot the end of the doy.
"Voltaire."
"Hmm?"
"Do you really think we made the right choice of telling everyone the truth?"