CELINE:
"Celine, you have to take your sister's place tomorrow," my father, Mr. Morris Mason, said as he stormed into my room with my mother.
"Dad, I don't understand. Why would I have to take Clara's place tomorrow? Where is she?" I asked, because I knew Clara had gone to her bridal shower. How could she flee on the eve of her wedding?
"Something came up, according to Clara, and she had to take care of it," my father replied, and I sighed.
I stood in my bedroom, having not attended the extravagant bridal shower of my twin sister, Clara Mason.
Clara and I are identical twin sisters. We are both twenty-five. I know many of Clara's friends said I was jealous because she was getting married before me. But that was not the truth.
I am in a relationship with Martin Enzo, a construction worker. But Martin wasn't the type of groom my father wanted, so he rejected him.
Everyone was proud of my twin sister. She was the apple of everyone's eyes—even our older brother, Luca. I was the opposite.
I own a bakery shop in this part of the city. Last month, I pleaded with my parents to allow me to marry Martin, but my father plainly refused, saying only a rich man was allowed to marry me.
Despite my pleas, my parents refused and chased Martin and his uncles away after they came for my hand.
Because of that, I refused to attend my sister's engagement party or her bridal shower. Now she had disappeared and wanted me to take her place on her wedding day.
"How can Clara just disappear without explaining her reason to her manager? She is getting married to a wealthy man—the groom you all wanted," I queried my father, who stood in my doorway with my mother.
My father had a dark complexion, while my mother was fair like me and my twin sister. We were her exact replicas.
"Celine, I know you find this hard to believe, but Clara said she worked so hard to be selected for the Stars Award, and she cannot miss the modeling shoot. Please, you are her twin sister, and Jace Augustus will never find out," my mother begged. I looked at her face in horror.
"Mom, I cannot do it. You and Father need to order Clara to come back right now. Where's my phone?" I moved back to my drawer, picked up my phone, and contacted my sister. She owed me an explanation for this sudden disappearance.
How could she expect me to stand in for her on her wedding day? Is she crazy? I had stood in for Clara before, and many people wouldn't know I am not her. The worst part? Her fans visit my shop, take photos of me, and tag me as Clara. But I am not my sister. Dammit.
"Clara!" My angry voice boomed over the phone as soon as she answered.
"Hey, Celine. I am sorry I took so long to call you. Please, can you stand in for me tomorrow? Please, please, sister," Clara begged in her sweet, seductive voice that rendered me speechless.
I was ready to do anything for this crazy sister of mine just to make her happy and help her achieve her dream as a top model.
"Clara, I don't think I can do this. How do you expect me to stand in for you? Wait—during the wedding, the priest will ask us to exchange vows and kiss. How can you trade your wedding day for business?" I couldn't understand my sister, so I needed an explanation.
"Celine, I wish I could explain, but my phone battery will die soon. Please. After this one, I won't ask you to stand in for me again. Please, please," Clara begged once more, leaving me speechless.
"Are you saying I should kiss your groom? What if he finds out I am not you? You know I am not as talkative as you, and I am not close to him. Did you already tell him I am not you?" I asked, wanting clarification.
I knew Jace and I weren't close. I knew he was my sister's fiancé. He shows her off to his friends and other politicians, as my sister is very popular with more than ten million followers online.
"No, Celine. Please, do not tell Jace I am not you. You have to act as me and pretend you are me. You know how I behave, so mimic me," Clara said, and I sighed heavily.
"This is too risky. What if Jace finds out and locks me up? What do I tell him? You have to explain to him so we don't kiss—or even think of me as you. I don't like your fiancé, and I cannot stand in for you. I am sorry," I said, wanting to end the call.
My sister begged, "Please, Celine. I am begging you. If you don't help me, then we are no longer sisters."
"Clara!" I was tongue-tied. This was her usual threat.
"I don't think I can do this," I said.
She sobbed over the phone. "Then do not call me again."
The call ended, and I looked at my parents' worried faces, most especially my father's, which was filled with dread.
"Celine, you have to stand in for Clara. If Jace Augustus finds out your sister is missing, we are doomed," my father begged, even going as far as kneeling.
I guessed this was the price I had to pay for being born a twin. My twin sister used me for most of her silly business and sent me to cover for her with threats of disowning me. Now it was her wedding.
"Fine. I will try to do this. But I hope Jace doesn't find out. If he does, I won't go down alone," I warned my parents, and they shivered.
"No one will know. You will learn to smile and act like Clara until she is back. Besides, this isn't your first time taking her place," my mother said, making me sigh heavily.
"Fine. I will give it a try. You guys should excuse me. Let me get some sleep. It's past midnight," I told my parents. They smiled, wished me goodnight, and left my door.
I shut the door and muttered, "I hope I can do this." I went to my bed to sleep, but dread filled my heart.
