Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Peppermint couldn’t help but scowl when Orange hit her with her signature bag on the shoulders. She couldn’t help but frown to her friend as soon as she figured it out who hit her.

“Oh? What’s that look for? Don’t tell me you’re mad.”

“Why did you hit me with your signature bag?” She asked, creasing her forehead while fixing some of the Fragrances on the box. She was almost done checking the contents for the packaging re-prints.

“Of course, I’d hit you. You were spacing out so much that you didn’t even notice me,” Orange explained. Well, Peppermint couldn’t help thinking to herself. She didn’t even notice her enter the cubicle. “What are you even thinking about?” she added and sat across the table.

“Kael,” she answered.

“You’re thinking about Kael? Kael again?” As though her friend suddenly snapped, Peppermint looked down. “Don’t you have any other things you can think of aside from Kael? Do you even know you look like you’re going crazy because of what you’re doing? Don’t you have anything you can repeat other than Kael? Kael’s gone, Peppy!” she added but she didn’t react. “Please move on already,” her friend pleaded. She couldn’t help but smile. “What? What’s so funny?”

“You’re wrong Orange. Kael isn’t dead yet and I won’t need to move on,” she said smiling. Her friend might have found her weird at this point but she couldn’t help it.

“See? This is what I’m telling you! You’re like some crazy person who couldn’t accept her lover’s death! What are you saying about Kael not being dead?” Her friend raised an eyebrow.

“Earlier this morning while I was looking for your wedding gownd on a cutour shop, I finally found him!”

“What!” Orange’s voice echoed throughout the four corners of the room followed by her frantic reaction of covering her mouth with widened eyes. “You saw Kael? How?”

“Just like I told you, I saw him at the cutour shop. I even approached him but he kept claiming that he wasn’t Kael.” Peppermint looked down with a bitter smile on her face. Just thinking about how she wasn’t recognized by her boyfriend, she couldn’t help but feel sad. “Did you know that he looked exactly like Kael? I have a premonition that he really is Kael and not Brenan.”

“Are you sure? You should know that there are a lot of man who undergoes surgeries now and besides, he started gaining fame after people discovering how handsome he looked like.”

“I still don’t believe the ID cards he showed me earlier. It really felt like I was talking to Kael,” she mentioned as if her eyes were sparkling from fantasy.

“Peppermint you’re too attach to Kael that you’re insisting that he’s still alive! Remember those times you were mistaken?” she asked with a creasing forehead. Her friend was no longer happy with the topic. Just thinking about it, Peppermint created a scandal on a beach party in Boracay when she saw someone who looked like Kael. She kept insisting he was the same person that her friends had to drag her away. The other saddest part was when she found another person who looked like Kael and hired a private investigator. She even got caught and almost had her Christmas on prison due to being regarded as a stalker.

Orange sighed to herself. “Believe me Orange, this time I’m sure it’s Kael.” Peppermint pulled out something from the standing stall.

“Whatever, Peppermint.” Her friend just rolled her eyes to the other side. “Anyway, let’s go. I may get to the appointment late because of you! I’m excited to see the jeweler’s ring design.”

“Obviously, your wanna-be-fiancée didn’t even come with you today. He’s supposed to be the one here, checking the rings with you,” Peppermint replied.

“It can’t be helped. He’s such a busy man! Making lots of riches and anyway, he’s fine with whatever ring I choose,” Orange replied, not even a tiny bit insulted by her words.

“Well whatever, Orange.” They finally reached the parking lot as the conversation kept going. “Why are you getting married so quickly, anyway? You just met him a week ago and now you’re getting married.” As a friend, Peppermint couldn’t help but be bitter. It’s still perplexing how her friend agreed to such a rushed decision. As soon as she looked at her, instead of being offended, Orange even smiled.

“That’s where it’s headed, anyway,” her friend replied. “Aren’t you the same? You still love the same over and over despite knowing he’s gone. You’re not even sure if he’s still alive.” Peppermint fell silent. She has a point.

The both of them couldn’t but laugh at themselves. They’re both idiots when it comes to love.

Their topic switched from one to another, on their way to the jewelers. They talked about how martyr Peppermint was for Kael for all these years until switching to the possibilities of Orange’s groom not coming to the wedding or the honeymoon.

At last, when they arrived to the Jewels and Weddings, a girl greeted them. It was the seller. They started roaming, checking and picking beautiful designs for the rings. They opened a lot of booklets as a reference but it looked like Orange couldn’t pick anything while Peppermint’s eyes remained glued to the glass-box on the displays. It was yellow diamonds engraved into a heart. She’s been eyeing it the moment they entered the shop. She couldn’t help it as well, while looking at the same ring, she couldn’t help but imagine herself being wedded by the man she loved. It was none other than Kael.

Just looking at the ring, it looked like she’d wear a vintage ring on her finger. It had three heart-shaped diamonds glue together while the stone was featuring. The shank looked unique, it wasn’t gold nor silver. It looked more like an old rosey color that came from history itself.

“Miss, I like this one,” Peppermint said enthusiastically. She’s being eyeing it for a long time now. She wants to see it on her own ring finger.

“Sorry ma’am but this is a limited edition secret ring. As of now, it’s the last copy and someone already paid the down payment for it,” the woman said. “Actually, the person would be taking it today.”

Peppermint couldn’t help but frown. In her mind, she finds the person lucky for having such beautiful ring. As she was lost in thoughts, she instinctively backed away as soon as a man suddenly appeared and walked in front of her. She almost wanted to collapse on the floor as she realized the man took the ring. It was the same man she met on the cutour shop, Brenan Fabregas.

“Miss, don’t tell me, you’re here again to follow me.” Peppermint was surprised by how egoistic the man was. “If you still think I’m the same man you’re thinking of then you’re completely wrong. You look like mentally impaired.” Her eyes squinted from the insult she received.

He got it all wrong plus he’s speaking nonsense.

“Excuse me, you’re quite proud of yourself aren’t you?” she started. “I didn’t follow you. Are you the only one allowed here?” she asked sarcastically.

“Good. I wouldn’t want to talk to a mentally impaired,” he said in response.

Wow! Just hearing the words coming out from his math, Peppermint couldn’t help but be mad. First impression lasts. He’s rude!

“Mentally impaired? For your information, I’m sane!” She creased her forehead, her brows furrowing.

“Oh my gosh!” Peppermint suddenly heard her friend out of nowhere. She looked at her only to see how her jaw almost dropped to the ground.

“Well that’s better. I hope this is the last time we’ll see each other, Ms. Whatsoever,” he replied. As soon as Peppermint heard what he said, she gritted her teeth.

“You weren’t taught good manners, aren’t you? It’s rude to call people you don’t know random names. For your information, my name isn’t Ms. Whatsoever but Peppermint,” she said in reply and rolled her eyes to the other side.

Orange smelled the tension so she lowkey held her arms in case they need to run away. “Sounds bitter,” the man said.

“What did you say?” Peppermint couldn’t help raising her voice. It looked like the man was mocking her this time. He smirked at her before turning his back.

Damn, at just that moment, it felt like all of her anger disappeared and was suddenly replaced by butterflies on her stomach.

Peppermint was left frozen in place. His voice were so much alike her boyfriend and the way he moved, he was exactly the same except for his sharp tongue. She shook her head, why is she even comparing him to her man? He’s nothing like him except for his looks and voice! If Kael was from heaven, she’d say that man came from hell.

She didn’t even notice her friend. As soon as Orange approached her, she grabbed her from both arms and then shook her. “Peppy was that the man you said that looked like Kael?” she asked. Her eyes were widened, her eyes asking, curious.

“Yes.”

“What!” she couldn’t help but exclaim. “He looked exactly like Kael! I just saw it earlier and thought it was Kael I’m staring at!” she said in an amusing manner. Of course that was how Peppermint reacted before as well. “But was he so cold? It looked like he didn’t know you at all.”

“Plus he’s rude,” she replied.

“Agreed. Anyway, what happened to him?” Her friend pointed towards the car from outside the shop.

“Just like what I’ve mentioned a while ago. He claimed he’s Brenan and that he doesn’t know any man named Kael,” Peppermint explained and then sighed to her. “Now, do you believe him me?” she asked.

“Are you still supposed to ask me Peppy? In just that moment, I know I’m looking at Kael! I was even scared; I thought I saw the dead come back alive.”

“So are you with me?” Peppermint asked and her friend nodded.

“What do you mean?” Orange creased her forehead.

“I’m going to investigate that man. I’ll find out everything about him and search for the truth,” she explained. “I want to know if he really is named Brenan or if he’s lying to me.”

“You’re going to act like some sort of SOCO expert?” she asked jokingly.

“Yes,” she said before pausing. “So are you with me? Her friend thought for a moment before nodding in unison.

“But make sure you won’t get caught! You’re quite clumsy sometimes,” her friend reminded and so she nodded. Of course she needed to be careful, especially since she knows now.

Judging by Brenan’s face, it looked like it everything wouldn’t be easy but despite all that, she knows she can handle it.

Before going home, she first finished all of the papers she needed to sign at. It was the agreement papers for some malls that supply and manufacture her Fragrances. The boxes are also already ready for deliveries tomorrow, making sure that everything is on her car.

Even before she can put her phone down, it rang. Her eyes quickly squinted while her eyebrows furrowing as soon as she realized who was calling her. It was

Vincent.

“Yes, Vincent?” she asked. Peppermint couldn’t help but be formal with him. She couldn’t remove it and felt uncomfortable talking to him.

“Are you busy tomorrow?” the man asked on the other line. He looked like he was excited.

“Tomorrow, Friday right?” she asked in return and the man agreed. Peppermint thought for a moment and checked if she had anything scheduled tomorrow. After a while, she opened her mouth again to speak, “I’m sorry but I have to deliver some fragrances tomorrow on some branches.”

“Really?” the man paused on the other side of the line before speaking again. “What about after work?” he asked.

“After work? I don’t think I have anything anymore after work,” Peppermint answered.

“Great! It’s settled then.”

“Why?” Peppermint suddenly raised an eyebrow.

“It’s because I was invited to a gathering and I want you to come with me as my date,” he explained. She couldn’t even feel her cheek burn red and only casually nodded.

“Isn’t it a little embarrassing?” she asked out of curiousity. “There are tons of girls who wants to date you but you chose me,” she asked.

“But it’s you that I want,” Vincent replied without any hesitation. “That’s why please don’t reject me. Don’t worry I’ll assure you everything will be fine,” he added.

“Fine, where is it anyway?”

“In the Fabregas Suites, don’t worry I’ll pick you up.”

Immediately after hearing the name ‘Fabregas’, Peppermint sprung up from her seat, surprised by his mentioned location.

“Wait a minute, did you just say Fabregas?” she asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“Can you tell me who’s behind the party?” She was nervous, anticipating his answer. She held the phone tight into her hands while waiting.

“I heard he’s a famous hotelier who just happened to open his first hotel in here. I heard his name was Brenan Fabregas.”

Finally after hearing the right words, Peppermint froze. I…I-I’ll call you later, Vincent,” she said before ending the call.

As soon as she put down the call from Vincent, she called her friend. This is already a rare opportunity. To attend that gathering is like hitting the jackpot for her. This would be her first step to discovering something about that man and she needed to attend it no matter.

Her lips curled into a smile while driving. After three years, Peppermint finally found him and he’s so close, he can reach her now. How can she give up when it’s only an arm stretch now?