Identities

Chloe shivered when she heard a loud squeal. She already knew who made that sound, obviously. She sighed deeply and looked away from the fashion magazine she was going through.

"Can you quieten down, Ariel?" Chloe sparked, with a scowl.

Ariel was her roommate and the same age as her, 25. Chloe watched Ariel, who was looking very delighted, her eyes ogling down at her phone.

"Oh dear" Chloe sighed and shook her head since Ariel wasn't saying anything. She adjusted to the end of the bed she was laying on and turned the next page of the magazine.

"Ah!" Ariel squealed again, but this time, it sounded sorrowfully. She looked up at her friend and frowned, with her arms crossed.

"Okay, what's wrong? You had better start talking because I don't get your behavior" Chloe said.

Ariel inhaled deeply and stood up. She walked to her friend and sat on the bed.

"This isn't good at all, Chloe" She said, shaking her head.

"What is it?" Chloe asked in a demanding voice.

"Tomorrow morning is my interview."

"Wow, that's great news, and shouldn't you be happy about it? What's with the sad look?" Chloe asked.

"Tomorrow is also the D day, and it's same time, Chloe" Ariel pouted.

"What do you mean? Do you mean the date you have with Clover? Can't you guys schedule it for another day? You can't miss this grand opportunity because of a guy."

"He's not any guy. He has been my crush since our first year of college and you, my best friend, knows that. He finally asked me out after all these years. You don't expect me to call him and say—Hey Clover, can we cancel tomorrow and go on a date next time?"

"Of course, you should do that. You finally landed this hot job people are dying for. I mean, I want this job, and you're toying with it because of who again, Clover?"

"You want the job? Then, have it" Ariel smiled, and Chloe's eyes widened.

"What are you saying? Have you gone nuts?" She spluttered in surprise.

"I'm not joking. Let's do this, why don't you go to that interview instead of me and I go to that date. Please, pretty please, don't say no. You know how much I loved Clover, and I still love him. This is our first date, which might make us an official couple."

"And I can see you've finally gone nuts."

"I'm serious, Chloe" Ariel held her hands. "Just do this for me, please. I don't know who can do this for me"

"Wait, you really want me to pretend to be like you?"

"Just for a few hours, Chloe"

"And what if I get caught, huh? It's game over, Ariel" Chloe snapped and got on her feet.

"You won't get caught. Well, that if you're careful enough" Ariel said and Chloe threw her a quick glare.

"Sorry" Ariel smiled nervously. "Look, Chloe. It's not that hard"

"Easy for you to say. What if I flunk the interview? What is gonna happen, huh?"

"That won't happen, ever. I trust you" Ariel smiled. Chloe scoffed and shook her head.

"Please" Ariel muttered, acting cutely.

Chloe sighed and licked her bottom lip.

"Okay then. How do we start?"

"Yes!" Ariel squeaked and hugged her. "Thank you, friend"

"You're welcome, I guess. Even if this is very wrong and dangerous"

Ariel disengaged from her and went to her desk. She sat in front of her laptop and began to operate it.

"So, instead of my passport, I sent yours. You're just gonna bear my name for tomorrow, Ariel Peterson" She winked and Chloe rolled her eyes.

She walked closer to Ariel and stood behind her, watching as she operated the device like a pro. Apparently, Ariel is a hacker besides from being a computer-literate.

"So, how are you gonna change this passport later, huh?" Chloe asked.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten that I have a degree in hacking. My hacking skills can't be compared" Ariel smiled.

"Well, agreed"

"And done. I just replied to the company's email. I sent the personal information as well" Ariel said, as she turned the swivel chair around which made her face Chloe.

"I know you can do this" Ariel smiled briefly.

"Uh…thanks. And good luck with Clover tomorrow"

"Thank you!" Ariel squealed, and jumped up. She hugged Chloe, who started chuckling.

"You're the best, Chloe" Ariel whispered.

THE NEXT DAY*

"Wakey wakey" Ariel tapped Chloe who slowly lifted her tired eyelids.

"Awwnn… Don't tell me it's morning already. I'm so tired" Chloe moaned.

"And don't tell me you've forgotten what today is. C'mon, let's go to the bathroom and wash up" Ariel said and pulled Chloe by her arm to the bathroom.

*

Chloe and Ariel both walked out from the house with full smile on their faces. Chloe was wearing a white shirt with a black jacket over it. She had a black skirt worn and pretty dark shoes to match.

Ariel was the opposite. She was wearing a red floral dress which was at knee-length. Unlike Chloe, she had her hair down and she was on brown platform. She had jewelries on as well.

Ariel had full makeup done, which made her prettier than she always looked. Chloe was on simple makeup, and they both had black bags with them which hung on their left shoulder.

Ariel managed to flag a taxi, which they both boarded. After a few minutes, the taxi stopped and the two friends faced each other.

"You can do this, Ariel" Chloe smiled.

Ariel exhaled sharply. "I'm so nervous" She whispered.

"You don't have to. Just think of me whenever you feel this way, okay. You know I'm always rooting for you, right?"

Chloe smiled and nodded. She embraced Ariel, who reciprocated immediately. They slowly disengaged from each other.

"I think this is where we depart" Chloe said.

Ariel laughed.

"It's not like we are departing forever, so what's with the sad look. Don't worry about the interview, you'll make it"

"Thanks, Ariel" Chloe said and opened the door. She went out of the car and closed it right away. Ariel popped her head out of the window and waved at her. Chloe smiled, and waved back.

When the car was finally out of sight, Ariel turned to see the huge and tall building before her.

"Whoa. Welcome to DMC Company, Chloe or should I say Ariel" She smirked and walked in.

4 HOURS LATER*

Chloe had a broad smile on her face when she walked out. She looked like someone who had just won a lottery. It was obvious she did well in that interview.

"Let's call Ariel and see how hers went. She'll be happy the interview went smoothly" She smiled and brought out her phone from her bag.

Chloe gave Ariel a call, and it didn't take a second before it was answered.

"Hello, Ari-

"Is this the guardian of this owner of this phone?" A strange voice asked at the other end of the phone.

"Huh? Yes, and who's this?" Chloe questioned.

"The owner of this phone got into a car accident and is at the close by hospital right now" A stranger replied.

Chloe eyes bulged out and the phone which she was holding against her ear fell down the ground.

Chloe alighted from the taxi and sped towards the building in front. She ran in and went to the counter, panting heavily.

"Please...I...I was asked to come here. I heard my friend was here. Where's she?" She questioned, still panting.

"Oh! You were the one who answered the call earlier?" The chubby nurse asked, and Chloe nodded, trying to breathe well. She felt she was about to choke, but she cared less, and felt worry about her friend more.

"Hmm...Come with me" The nurse said and left the counter. Chloe followed from behind. She clenched her fists tightly as she took steps.

"Please, please" She kept whispering silently. The nurse finally came to a halt and opened the ward door before her.

"Go in and tell me if she's the one" She looked briefly at Chloe who simply nodded.

Chloe slowly walked in, her eyes were on the wall as she moved. She stopped by the bed and turned her head to see Ariel laying on it. She looked unconscious and numb. Ariel even had the vital sign monitor close to her.

"Wait, what? What…What's happening to her? Tell me. What's wrong with my friend? She was alright this morning when I saw her" Chloe cried out and the nurse walked closer to her with a doctor now by her side.

"Please, can you be calm? She's not dead…yet" The doctor said.

"What?" Chloe stuttered, and faced him quickly.

"She's in a critical condition right now. The medical team have all done their best. Despite all we did, she remained conscious. Her temperature, heart beat and sugar level are okay though they've been acting up" He explained.

"What are you trying to say, exactly?" Chloe asked, with tears slipping down her eyes.

"I'm saying…she might die, or she might live"

"No. Ariel will live. She must not die, but how did this happen? How did she suddenly become this way?"

"She had an accident while in a taxi. A truck suddenly crashed against them. The taxi driver wasn't lucky, he died on the spot"

Chloe sniffed and stared at Ariel. "Please, wake up, okay? I really need you"

Ariel had been her friend since they were four. They were actually orphans who grew up together in the orphanage and outside. They also did all kinds of menial jobs to fend for themselves.

"Here, your friend's phone" The doctor handed it to her. Chloe looked at it and hesitantly collected it from him.

"Please, do drop your personal information with the nurse. We will contact you when necessary and also email you concerning the hospital bills"

Chloe sighed deeply and nodded.

"I guess she never got to Clover" She thought.

*

Chloe unlocked the door and slowly walked in. She switched on the light and when the room brightened, she studied the empty room.

"Ariel, wake up on time. I don't like waiting long" She mumbled and laid on the bed. Her stomach growled, stating it needed food, but she ignored it, almost forgetting she was an appendix patient.

She heard her phone beep and she checked it. She frowned when she saw it was an email from the hospital. It stated her expenses.

"Gosh! 500 million dollars? How…How am I going to get this? Just…how?" She sobbed.

"I'm not even eating right, so why?" She wiped the tears off her eyes immediately.

She heard Ariel's phone beep, so she checked it. Likewise, it was email. She clicked it and saw the mail opened.

Her eyes almost fell off her sockets when she read it inwardly.

"Congratulations, you've been accepted to work as the CEO's new secretary. You're expected to resume work before 13th of February 2022, thank you"