Vulnerability

RAFAEL

I watched Shay Zephanie with her eyes closed, listening to the music floating around La Boutique.

Everything about her looked the same. There was no distinct difference or shift on her appearance and yet I can't help but wonder: Who was this impostor, and what happened to Shay, the Shay Zephanie that I had known?

"What is it?" The seeming impostor was now staring at me, an odd curiosity visible on her face.

I should have noticed the signs.

"Do I have something on my face?"

I shook my head, no.

"I was just admiring how beautiful you are."

"You flatter me, Rafael." My suspicions were confirmed. If she were the same Shay Zephanie whom I had met a week ago, she wouldn't have responded like that.

She might have said something like, "Be careful, Rafael. You're not supposed to fall in love with me, remember?".

I smiled at the thought.

The Shay Zephanie that I had known had no care about how she looked, though I presume she was well aware of her appeal.

She wouldn't accept some simple flattery like that.

Why haven't I discerned that sooner?

But if I did, what then?

I'm not confident that a confrontation would unveil the truth behind this bizarre happening.

What went wrong?

How was this even possible?

I felt like I was questioning my sanity.

Then it suddenly occurred to me: there was a sudden power outage when we were at the medical building. It wasn't that long. But it must have been enough.

Could it be possible that this was Marcus Zephanie's doing?

Did he, for whatever reason, swapped Shay Zephanie with this clone?

The ramen I had ordered finally arrived, halting me from once again staring at… I don't even know what to call her anymore.

"Is this seafood flavored?"

"Yes, the same one you gave me on my first visit to your apartel in Zone C4".

"Are you trying to relive that memory, Rafael? Is that why you called me out?"

I forced a smile and nodded.

"I made a promise, remember? I will start a new hobby of eating ramen in the company of a lady."

"That's so sweet."

Again, not the typical Shay answer.

"Bon appetit." I said, masking the growing dread in my stomach.

I found myself observing the woman who resembled Shay Zephanie so much as she eats the ramen.

My heart sunk.

This was definitely not her.

This was not my Shay.

All of a sudden, I wasn't craving for ramen anymore.

Reaching for my phone, I pretended to take a call, excusing myself from the table and headed for the comfort room.

I couldn't begin to fathom what I was feeling as of the moment.

I was grateful to find the restaurant's lavatory empty as I began pacing back and forth.

What am I supposed to do?

How do I find Shay?

Where do I even begin?

Is she even safe?

Or better yet, is she still alive?

This was maddening. I was burning with anger and frustration. I was just about to hurl my fist against the wall to relieve the tense emotions raging inside me when I heard the door suddenly clicking shut.

I turned my attention towards it and almost forgot how to breathe.

"Shay." I felt a mixture of relief and confusion, but closed the small distance between us nonetheless, crushing her in a bear hug.

This must have taken her by surprise, but I could hardly care. All that mattered was that she was alright and she was here.

Finally letting her go, I noticed her strange get up.

She was wearing a blue flowery dress, a matching scarf, and a headscarf wrapped around her neck and head.

She almost looked different, which I think was the whole purpose of the ensemble.

"You recognized me." It was a statement, not a question.

This was the Shay Zephanie whom I had proposed to, no doubt, as she quickly concluded the extent of my actions.

"I had my speculations, and besides, that woman out there was nothing like you. You think I wouldn't notice?"

A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. I didn't realize how I missed seeing that until I saw her doing it, the real her.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Detective, but you barely did, didn't you?"

I opened my mouth to argue, then shut it, finding no words to defend myself.

"Forget it. It doesn't matter." Shay Zephanie, my Shay Zephanie looked into my eyes. For a brief moment, I noticed a tiny hint of vulnerability reflected in them, but in an instant, it was gone, replaced by sheer determination and something else.

"Listen, Detective, I don't have much time. There's something I need to do, and I need your help". I detected the urgency both in her words and in her tone. However, I also mentally added the 'but' in that sentence.

"I'm at your service Shay, but first tell me what's going on. What happened? Was this Marcus' doing? Did he hurt you?" Shay Zephanie placed a hand on my arm, surprising me by the unusual gesture.

"Rafael." There was that look of vulnerability once again.

"Please, just trust me. You can't ask too many questions. It will be a win-win for both you and me. Marcus and X will be in your custody."

I scoffed in disbelief.

"Don't tell me that we're still going to play your guessing game Shay. This is absurd. If I'm going to help you, I need all the facts. I need answers".

She shook her head, simultaneously gripping my arm for support right after as all of a sudden, her legs had seemingly gone weak.

"Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine. I just need to sit down real quick." I helped her sit on the floor, noticing a tiny red stain on her dress. She followed my gaze, placing a protective hand on her left thigh.

"You're bleeding." I watched her squeeze her eyes close, willing the pain away.

When she reopened them, she had that determined look once again as she fixated her gaze on me.

"You need to go back to her, Rafael. But it would be best if you were careful. Never let your guard down and never let her know that you knew".

"I can't just leave you here, Shay. You don't seem fine, and besides, I don't want anything to do with that impostor". She averted her gaze.

"She's not an impostor." I heard her say, her voice barely audible.

"Right, she's not an impostor. She's a clone". I watched Shay Zephanie shake her head for the second time around, disagreeing with what I just said.

"No, she isn't that either." She paused, taking a deep breath before turning her attention back to me.

"I am."

"What?" I said, not entirely certain if I misheard her or if she really said that.

Shay Zephanie held my gaze. There was no mirth in her expression. She looked rather tired, and there was that something else which was starting to bother me.

"The woman you're with, she's not a fake. She's the real thing. She's the real Shay Zephanie". She paused once again.

"I am the impostor. I'm her clone."