The Pretender's Game

Pretender's at the Market

I received a text message from Alex, his name flashing on my screen like a beacon. My heart skipped a beat as I read his message - he wanted me to meet him at the old market on 5th street. The same market where Regi had seen me last time, the same market that held a million memories for me. I couldn't help but wonder why Alex wanted to meet me there.

As I walked through the market's crowded alleys, the smell of fresh produce and spices enveloped me, transporting me back to a time when life was simpler. I spotted Alex amidst the vibrant stalls, his eyes scanning the crowd until they locked onto mine. He flashed me a warm smile, and my heart fluttered in response.

But what caught my attention was his outfit - a faded t-shirt, worn jeans, and scuffed sneakers. He looked... normal. Not like the rich, billionaire student I knew him to be. A smudge of dirt on his cheek and a sprinkle of water droplets on his shirt added to the illusion. He was arranging potatoes in a crate, his hands moving deftly as he worked.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. Seeing Alex like this, pretending to be someone he's not, was both captivating and confusing. Why was he doing this? What was he trying to prove? I felt a pang of curiosity, mixed with a dash of amusement. The great Alex, slumming it with the common folk. It was almost... endearing.

As I approached him, he looked up, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Hey," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Thanks for coming."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new side of Alex. "What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil brewing inside me.

Alex grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I wanted to show you something," he said, his voice dripping with mystery.

And with that, he beckoned me to follow him, leading me deeper into the market's winding alleys, further into the unknown.

----

I followed him, my eyes fixed on his broad shoulders as he navigated through the crowded market alleys. Despite his efforts to blend in with the locals, it was impossible to ignore the fact that he was a rich kid playing dress-up. His fitted white shirt, though worn and faded, clung to his chiseled physique, accentuating the defined muscles beneath. The sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong forearms and a sprinkle of dark hair that only added to his rugged charm.

His brown hair was perfectly messy, as if he'd just rolled out of bed and stumbled into the market. A few strands clung to his forehead, damp with sweat, but he didn't seem to notice. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he glanced back at me, his smile crooked and endearing.

Those black boots, scuffed and worn, added a touch of bad boy charm to his overall look. He moved with a confident swagger, his long legs eating up the distance as he led me deeper into the market. The way he wore those boots, like he owned the place, made me wonder if he was more than just a pretty face.

As we walked, the scent of fresh produce and spices enveloped us, but I couldn't help but notice the subtle aroma of his cologne, something rich and masculine that made my heart skip a beat. It was a reminder that, no matter how hard he tried to blend in, Alex was still a rich kid, with all the privileges and entitlements that came with it.

But for now, as I followed him through the winding alleys, I couldn't help but feel drawn to this version of Alex – the one who wore his heart on his sleeve, who didn't seem to care about appearances or social status. It was a tantalizing glimpse into a world beyond the privileged bubble he usually inhabited, and I found myself wanting to explore it further.

"So, why are we here?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me as I watched Alex haggle with the vendor.

"My dad said I should learn business here," Alex replied, his eyes sparkling with determination. "I should at least learn how to get the price of a kilo of potatoes 5% off."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "But why would you do that? They're already poor."

Alex's face broke into a charming smile. "Don't worry, once they agree, I'll pay twice." He winked at me, and I felt a flutter in my chest.

I watched as Alex tried his hand at bargaining, spinning elaborate stories to convince the vendor to give him a discount. However, the vendor remained unimpressed, eyeing Alex's designer boots and expensive watch with a knowing glint.

"Come on, uncle," Alex said, launching into a tale of woe. "I'm a poor student, trying to make ends meet. My mom is sick, and I need to buy potatoes for her favorite recipe."

The vendor raised an eyebrow. "You're a poor student, huh? Then why are you wearing those fancy boots?"

Alex thought fast. "Oh, these? I, uh, I won them in a contest. Yeah, that's it. A contest."

I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. Alex's stories were entertaining, but his wealthy appearance completely undermined his attempts to seem impoverished.

The vendor chuckled, clearly unfooled. "Son, you're not fooling anyone. You're as rich as they come."

Alex's face fell, but he refused to give up. "Okay, okay, I admit it. I'm not poor. But I promise I'll pay twice the price if you just give me a small discount."

The vendor smiled, seeming to appreciate Alex's determination. "Tell you what, kid. I'll give you a 2% discount, but only because I like your spirit."

Alex grinned, triumphant. "Deal!"

As we walked away with our potatoes, I turned to Alex and whispered, "You know, you're not very good at this whole 'poor student' thing."

Alex chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hey, I tried my best. And I got a 2% discount, didn't I?"

"Why don't you try?" Alex asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he handed me a few potatoes.

I laughed a little, a hint of mischief dancing on my lips. He had no idea that I used to be the queen bee of bargaining in this very market. I'd spent countless hours honing my skills, spinning tales that would make even the most skeptical vendors believe me.

"Okay, watch and learn," I said, winking at Alex as I approached the vendor.

"Uncle, I'll give you 50 pesos for these three potatoes," I said, my voice sweet and persuasive.

The vendor, a gruff old man with a bushy mustache, raised an eyebrow. "70 pesos, and that's the lowest I can go."

I pouted, pretending to be disappointed. "But uncle, I'm a poor student. I can only afford 50 pesos. My mom is sick, and I need to buy medicine for her."

The vendor's expression softened, and he looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "Okay, okay. 60 pesos, and I'll throw in an extra potato."

I grinned, triumphant. "Deal!"

Alex watched, impressed, as I expertly negotiated the price. When we walked away with our potatoes, he turned to me and said, "Wow, you're a natural."

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride. "I've had a lot of practice."

As we continued shopping, Alex was true to his word. He paid twice the amount for each item we bought, earning us curious glances from the vendors.

Despite his carefree demeanor, I caught glimpses of sadness in his eyes. He knew how poor this market was, how hard the vendors struggled to make ends meet. His actions were a small act of kindness, but it spoke volumes about his character.

As we finished our shopping and walked out of the market, Alex turned to me and said, "Thanks for showing me the ropes. I had no idea bargaining could be so much fun."

"Anytime. And I have to say, I'm impressed. You're not like most rich kids I know."

Alex's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'll take that as a compliment."

And as we walked off into the sunset, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Alex was different. Maybe he was someone who truly cared about others, someone who would use his wealth and privilege to make a positive impact.

Only time would tell, but for now, I was content to bask in the warmth of his smile, and the kindness that shone in his eyes.

As we were about to leave the market, I noticed a group of men in suits carrying bags of fruits and vegetables. They seemed out of place among the vendors and shoppers, and I wondered who they were. Alex followed my gaze and smiled.

"They're my bodyguards," he said, his voice low. "They'll donate those to the local food bank."

I nodded, impressed by his kindness. As we walked out of the market, Alex turned to me and asked, "Are you hungry?"

I realized, only at that moment, that I was indeed hungry. Alex noticed my hesitation and laughed.

"I take that as a yes," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

We walked to a small restaurant nearby, the sign above the door reading "Mang Toto's Carinderia". Alex pushed open the door, and we stepped inside. The restaurant was cozy, with only a few tables and a counter where Mang Toto himself was busy cooking.

Alex scanned the menu, his eyes widening in surprise. "Wow, the prices are so low," he said, his voice full of wonder.

I smiled, knowing that what was affordable to him was already expensive for people like me. Alex looked at me, a realization dawning on his face.

"Wait, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice filled with concern. "I didn't think... I mean, I bought you here, but I don't know if you'll eat here. You're... you're a rich girl, right?"

I burst out laughing at his expression. "For today, I'm just a regular girl who bargains at the market," I said, grinning at him.

Alex laughed too, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I like that," he said, his voice warm.

We ordered our food, and when it arrived, we dug in with gusto. Alex looked so happy, savoring the flavors of the simple dishes. The neighborhood was alive with noise - children playing outside, men and women chatting, the sound of cars honking in the distance. But Alex didn't seem to mind. He was too busy enjoying his food and the company.

As we ate, Alex turned to me and asked, "So, tell me about you..."

I felt taken aback by the question, unsure of what to say. Alex's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he added, "I mean, I saw you wearing that designer white dress at that shop last time. It's the most expensive dress in that shop."

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what to say. I didn't want to lie to him, but I also didn't want to reveal too much about myself. It seemed that Alex read my mind, because he leaned in and said, "Oh, and I want the truth, haha."

I laughed, feeling a sense of trepidation. What could I say that would satisfy his curiosity without revealing too much?

I'm sorry, Alex, I have to lie, I thought to myself, feeling a pang of guilt. I took a deep breath, letting out a sigh that sounded sad and dramatic. My eyes dropped, and I fidgeted with my hands, trying to appear nervous and vulnerable.

"My background should be unknown," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "My father has his own family who doesn't know about me and my mom... who is his mistress."

I glanced up at Alex, watching as his expression changed from curiosity to shock. His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open, like he'd just been punched in the gut. I knew I had him hooked.

"He said he can support me with money," I continued, trying to sound nonchalant. "I can have the stuff that I like, but we shouldn't bother him and his family. My background should be unknown."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I spoke the words. It was a lie, but it was also partially true. My real dad did have his own family now. We were the first family, but he had left us for his mistress. The pain and abandonment still lingered, but I had learned to hide it, to mask it with a fake smile and a carefree attitude.

Alex's expression softened, and he reached out to touch my hand. His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and gentle. "I'm so sorry, Jasmine," he said, his voice full of empathy. "I had no idea."

I forced a smile, trying to play it cool. "It's okay," I said. "I'm used to it."

But the truth was, I wasn't used to it. I still felt the sting of rejection, the pain of being abandoned. And now, I had to live with the lie I had told Alex, the weight of my secrets bearing down on me like a physical force.

"I can tell you my secret too," Alex said, a mischievous glint in his eye. I leaned in, intrigued, and he continued, "I have a double."

My eyes widened in shock. "What? Are you serious?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alex nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I'm serious. There's someone who sometimes pretends to be me. He's under my father's supervision." He paused, studying my reaction. "The family is overprotective of me, as I'm the only heir to their companies."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. A double? Was that even possible? I looked at Alex, trying to process this information. He seemed so casual, so nonchalant, but I could see the hint of sadness in his eyes.

"So, who's attending classes?" I asked, my brow furrowed in concentration.

Alex shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Sometimes I'm at school, sometimes I'm somewhere where my father wants me to be." He smiled wryly, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the real Alex, the one behind the mask. "So, if you see me sometimes, maybe it's not the real me."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. This was too much to take in. I looked at Alex, trying to read his thoughts, but his expression was guarded.

I wanted to ask about Jillian, but I didn't want to let Alex know that I knew about his personal life. I had to play it cool, make it seem like I didn't know him beyond being a schoolmate. But it was hard to pretend when I had so many questions swirling in my head.

This new information about Alex's double threw a wrench into my plans. How could I break him and Jillian apart if I didn't even know who the real Alex was? It was infuriating. I felt like I was back at square one, with no idea how to navigate this complicated web of relationships and deception.

I glanced around the restaurant, wondering if Regi was watching us. It wouldn't surprise me if he was lurking in the shadows, keeping tabs on Alex and me. The rich world was insane, full of secrets and lies and hidden agendas. I felt like I was just a pawn in a much larger game, with no control over my own destiny.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I needed to focus, to come up with a new plan. But for now, I just felt frustrated and trapped, stuck in this never-ending cycle of deception and manipulation.

I looked at Alex, who was oblivious to my inner turmoil. He was smiling, chatting with me like we were old friends. But I knew the truth - he was hiding secrets, just like everyone else in his world. And I was determined to uncover them, no matter what it took.