Reunited (The Secret Admirer Book 2)

Chapter 2: The Doppelganger

I was biting my lip and shaking a little as I approached Julian. He looked bigger that I remember, but my eyes could just be playing tricks on me. As I got near him, I called out his name “Julian.” He didn’t seem to hear me and just kept working out on the machine. I noticed he’s wearing an ear pod, which is why he probably didn’t hear me. I decided to walk in front of him to get his attention.

My smile faded as I saw his face. It wasn’t Julian. They are pretty similar in build and even skin color, but the face is totally different. He’s very attractive and looked pleasant enough and he smiled as he saw me. I saw dimples on his face.

Dimpled Gym Man: “Hi miss. How can I help you?”

Vanessa: “I’m sorry. I thought you were somebody else.”

I left right away and didn’t even hear what he said next. I just proceeded to the treadmill and ran my sorrow away. I was so desperate to see Julian again that I made myself believe that I could just run into him just like that. I know it’s pathetic and I’m better than that, but I have been living in the hope that Julian will just waltz back into my life when I least expect it.

I ran for an hour and decided to just call it quits. I went to the locker room and took a shower then changed into denim shorts and a shirt. I put on slides just so my feet can be free from the confines of the shoes.

I was at the coffee shop looking for a free seat. I had my coffee in my hand when I saw a vacant seat in the corner. I walked towards there but was surprised when I saw that there was actually someone sitting on the other seat around the table. It was the man from the gym who looked like Julian. He smiled as he looked up at me.

I was about to turn around and leave when he stopped me.

Dimpled Gym Man: “Wait! Do you need a seat? You can sit here.”

Vanessa: “No, it’s okay. Thanks.”

Dimpled Gym Man: “If you’re not comfortable sitting with me, I can just leave.”

Vanessa: “Oh no, please don’t do that.”

I thought for a while and decided to just take the seat. It’s no big deal.

Vanessa: “I’ll take the seat, thank you. But please, stay.”

He smiled at me as I took the seat. I put my drink down on the table and got busy with my phone. I can feel the gym man staring at me across the table. I felt uncomfortable and decided to let him know. He spoke before I got the chance.

Dimpled Gym Man: “I’m sorry for staring. I’m just not used to sitting with another person at a coffee shop and not talking.”

I smiled politely. He was nice enough to share the extra seat with me. That’s the least I could do.

Dimpled Gym Man: “I’m Jake, by the way.”

Vanessa: “I’m Vanessa.”

Jake: “You mentioned earlier that you thought I was somebody else. Who was it?”

Vanessa: “Uhm, just someone I used to know. I haven’t seen him in a while.”

Jake: “Oh, okay.”

He must have sensed that I didn’t want to talk about him so he didn’t ask about it any further. His phone pinged and after he read a message, he stood up.

Jake: “I have to. Will you be coming back to the gym?”

Vanessa: “Looks like it.”

Jake: “Then I hope to see you around, Vanessa. It was great to meet you.”

Vanessa: “Thanks. Same here.”

I couldn’t help but look at him while he’s walking away. His build is so much like Julian that when he left, I couldn’t help but feel as if he’s leaving me again. I decided to just busy myself with checking my phone once again.

Since Julian left, Ross started asking me out again. I told him that Julian and I are still together and I even showed him my engagement ring. I told him he left to study abroad and that we’re getting married when he gets back. This is just all speculation, but in my head, I’ve made up a story to calm myself down and to fill my heart up with hope.

I’ve always been adamant that I am still in a relationship that I never entertained any other suitors. The engagement ring seems to be a big deterrent. What makes me sad is when I have to eat alone. As much as possible, I eat out but when I see couples eating together. This makes me lose my appetite. Hannah even mentioned that I’ve lost some weight since I don’t usually get to eat that much or on time. In fact, I just usually eat one full meal a day.

This is why I decided to start working out, so I’ll be forced to eat. I will need energy to be able to do the exercises.

There are times that I’m so sad that I’ve wanted to go back to Cebu multiple times. I’ll usually pack and go online to book a one-way ticket, only to change my mind by the time I have to enter my card details. This has happened multiple times that I haven’t unpacked the last luggage I packed yet.

I decided to go to the gym after work daily. When I get to the gym, I’m  still usually dressed in my office attire except for my heels. I get looks from men who eventually approach me when I start working out. I don’t take out my engagement ring to ensure that I have something to brandish when they ask me out on a date.

I still see Jake around the gym, but aside from the occasional hellos and smiles, he hasn’t spoken much to me. One time, I was cooling down on the treadmill. I just finished a group exercise class. I have the habit of fidgeting with the ring on my finger when I suddenly noticed my ring was no longer then. Since I lost some weight, the ring went a little loose as well. I was planning on putting it in a necklace around my neck my haven’t gotten around to buying a chain yet.

I immediately stopped the treadmill and started going around the gym to look for it. I retraced my steps trying to look for it. Since it’s a diamond ring, I wasn’t sure if anybody would be returning it to the front desk if anybody else found it.

I was already panicking a little and close to tears. When Jake approached me.

Jake: “Hey, Vanessa, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

I didn’t even notice him around today since I didn’t pay much attention to the people around me. 

Vanessa: “My engagement ring. It’s missing. I was wearing it earlier. I don’t know where it is.”

Jake: “Relax, let me help you look for it.”

Vanessa: “Okay, thank you.”

He started looking around as well and I looked elsewhere. I was getting tired and have looked everywhere around the gym to no avail. I just sat down on the first surface I saw and started crying. I don’t even care what the people around me are going to think. That thing is my last vestige of hope that Julian still loves me and that he’s coming back for me.

I had my hands on my face while sobbing when I felt a shadow over me. When I looked up, Jake was standing in front of me holding the ring. When he saw my tear-soaked face, he knelt in front of me, took my left hand and put the ring on my finger.

As he did this, I was overwhelmed by happiness. Coupled by the fact that he reminds me a lot of Julian, I forgot who was actually in front of me and hugged him tightly while saying “Thank you.”

When we stopped hugging, I cupped his face and kissed him on the lips. I was just going to give him a peck, but he responded to my kiss by nibbling on my lips. It took a while before we moved away from each other. When I saw his smiling face, my eyes went wide as I realized it wasn’t Julian I was kissing. My hands immediately went to my face.

Vanessa: “Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I’m so embarrassed.”

Jake: “Don’t be. It was an amazing kiss.”

Vanessa: “I’m so sorry. You’re a relative stranger and I kissed you.”

Jake: “Well, I did kiss you back.”

Vanessa: “I’m so sorry. It’s just that I miss my fiancé so much, and you remind me of him. I’m really sorry, Jake. It was a moment of weakness.”

Jake: “Oh, so you are engaged. And that’s who I remind you of.”

Vanessa: “Yeah. Thank you for finding my ring. I’m sorry again.”

Jake: “I know you didn’t mean it. But I really enjoyed that kiss. Thank you for letting me experience it.”

I lifted my head from my hands and saw his pleasant face smiling. His smile made me feel better. He wasn’t trying to hit on me or anything. He’s just being appreciative.

Jake: “Go ahead and take your shower now. You should probably take off the ring when you do, you wouldn’t want to lose it again.”

Vanessa: “Thanks.”

I got up and just waved goodbye to Jake. I hid the ring in one of the pockets of my gym bag and went to take a shower. As I did, I touched my lips as I remembered the kiss I just had with Jake. His kiss reminded me of Julian as well and that is why I didn’t stop it sooner than I did. Come to think of it, I didn’t really stop it. We just needed to take a breath and that is why we did.

I silently scolded myself for kissing Jake when I am already engaged to Julian. I wonder what Julian will say when he finds out about it. But then again, how will he find out about it? There’s even a possibility that he’s already kissing and worse, even having s*x with another girl, or even girls. I was told that it’s different for men, and that it’s harder for them to remain celibate.

After almost an hour, I got out of the locker room wearing denim shorts, a loose shirt and slides. I’m just going straight home, I don’t even care what I looked like.

As I walked towards the exit, I noticed Jake sitting on the couch near the exit. He’s on his mobile phone and wearing a white shirt, khaki shorts and slides. I wonder if he’s waiting for somebody.

As he noticed me walking towards the exit, he looked up, smiled at me and said “You took your time.”

Vanessa: “Huh? Were you waiting for me?”

Jake: “Yeah. I hope you don’t mind. I was going to get dinner before going home. I was wondering if you’d like to join me. Just a friendly dinner. Unless you’re meeting someone, like your fiancé perhaps?”

Vanessa: “Uhm, no. I’m not meeting anyone.”

I creased my brows as I thought whether having dinner with Julian’s doppelganger is a good idea. He did say it’s a friendly dinner, and I could really use a friend right now.

Vanessa: “Dinner sounds good. One on condition, though.”

Jake: “What is it?”

Vanessa: “I’m paying. I owe you for finding my ring.”

He smiled as he heard what my condition was, before responding.

Jake: “Okay. I won’t say no to free dinner.”