The Joker

Fake

After 2 days of staying in the hospital. Finally, I will be charged. Quinn the butler of Carleigh is busy paying the bills while I'm sitting on the couch in front of the cashier, waiting for him.

After I met the parents of Carleigh yesterday. I think of continuing these unless the real Carleigh showed and ruined everything I planned.

"Ms Carleigh" I raised my head and looked at Quinn. I think he's done. I stood up and followed him until we reached the parking lot. I suddenly froze when I heard his voice getting nearer.

"Excuse me," he said. Quinn looked at him but I did not turn around and went inside the car. I locked the door and waited for Quinn to go inside. When Quinn opens the car I heavily breathe and look at him. Waiting if he will say something unpleasant but instead he starts the engine without looking at me. I looked away, pretending that I did not notice his behaviour towards me when he talked to Lucas. My cousin.

This is not the right time to show up. I'm starting to make my bullet for the war. I will reserve my last bullet for her. If I'm strong enough to fight back.

"We're here," Quinn said and stopped at the tallest gate that I saw. My eyes widened a bit. Asking myself 'Who is Carleigh Suarez?' The gate automatically opens and the guards are falling in line waiting for their Queen to come. They all greeted me in unison.

The car starts to move again. It's like I'm an intruder who went inside the royal palace.

Quinn opened the car door and the colour brown door in front of me suddenly opened and all the maids were smiling widely. I paused a bit. I have an idea on my mind but I want to hear it from them. I know I'm not dreaming but my eyes are roaming around the whole place. Amazed by what I see.

"Welcome back Young Master!" they said. Right now I'm speechless. And I don't know the exact word that will define what I saw. Quinn called me and held my things. I politely bow to each person I saw because I feel that I need to respect them. They're all shyly smiled and following our direction.

In each step I make I'm still amazed. All the big portraits inside the mansion are all in European style. And I could say 'wow!

We stopped at the last door on the third floor. Quinn opens the door. And once again, I kept on roaming around the whole room.

"If you need anything, just press this button," he said pointing at the button right next to the door. I quietly nod. When Quinn is out of the picture. I happily turn around until I reach the soft bed. I stared at the ceiling for almost a minute. "Just do your best and the luck will come over," I said out of nowhere. Suddenly, I laughed because of my childish act even though I know no one is watching.

When I'm tired of lying on the bed. I explored Carleigh's room. I stopped at a big family portrait of them inside her dressing room. I stared at Carleigh and I realized how we look alike. From eyes to nose to mouth. Everything in her, we're all the same. But one thing is different from us because she had a mole on her nose while I have none. You will not notice it until you stare at me.

I looked away but every time I walked Carleigh's face was all I could see. In the family portrait, I felt the sadness in her eyes. And I don't know where that sadness came from. She grew up with the silver spoon in her mouth. Her parents are alive. I felt the love of her parents when I hugged them, especially her mom. I smiled bitterly, remembering my parents. She was lucky to have them.

"Why are you staring at yourself?" I startled when a voice from my behind came.

"I'm just critiquing it. If I'm good at the picture" I said out of nowhere. Praying behind my mind that he would not notice my lame excuse. He suddenly laughed and I turned to him. Our eyes meet and I'm the one who looks away because of shyness.

"You're always beautiful Carleigh," he said and left the dressing room that made me speechless. Who was that? I don't remember that he's one of the guards nor the employee here.

I was about to turn off the light when I saw a box under the shoe rock beside the pink closet. Out of my curiosity, I decided to get the box. I'm not going to steal anything. I'm just here to have some information that I need. To perfectly imitate Carleigh.

I went straight to the bed and opened the box. Inside the box is a videotape and other stuff of Carleigh. When I held the videotape, I felt something strange.

I start to watch it on television. She was smiling on the camera while dancing ballet. And also they filmed her birthday party every year. She was smiling but I know it's all fake. The same as me when I don't like the idea.

In the next scene, she's in a dark room. But I can't see it clearly because the video is shaky and no one is talking, unlike the first one that I watch. When I did not get any information. I turn off the television. And put all the videotape inside the box then I notice a small piece of paper. 9 2391212 1191212 251521. I frown when all I can see is numbers. Is this a code?

A soft knock came. I panicked and put the box under my bed. "Come in," I said in a calm tone but I'm sweating hard.

"Good evening, young master," the maid said and arrived together with the food. I sit properly on the bed while watching her prepare all the meals in front of me. She even tells me all the dishes and explains how the chef cooked them.

I grabbed the spoon and fork and was about to eat when she talked again. "Young master, Mr Jiro is downstairs," she blushes a bit when she mentions Jiro. I want to frown and roll my eyes but I end up smiling. Geez. I think I'll be a veteran when it comes to fake smiles.

"I will eat later," I said. The maid looked at me and went back to the food. "Are you sure you're, young master?" she said, a little confused.

Instead of answering her I left the room and went downstairs. I fake a cough behind the man who is sitting on the couch and busy reading a novel book. He glances at me and puts the book on the table.

"Are you waiting for me?" I ask a little bit shy. He stared at me like he didn't know who I was.

"Never mind" he mumbled. "Have you eaten?" I shook my head.

"Then, let's eat," he said and held my hand. All the maid serve as fast, scared that they might scold when they make a mistake.

"You may go," the man said and all the maids are gone. I roamed around the dining room and no one was there except me and this guy. What to do Czarina! Think! I said in my mind.

I grabbed the tuna near me when he suddenly spoke. "She doesn't like that'' I paused a bit. Thinking of another reason. I raised my head and smiled sweetly. Trying to ignore what he said.

"You're not Carleigh," he said with a firm voice.

My face became stoic but deep inside I can't breathe and I think I forgot how to breathe. I'm not even starting but I'm falling. And I know I'm fake.