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(REVISED VERSION)
ZACH walked into the bar, his brow furrowed in frustration. He slumped onto a stool at the bar and ordered a whiskey. He knocked back the drink in one gulp, letting out a deep sigh.
A woman approached and took a seat next to him. Zach glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She ordered a drink and shot him a sly grin.
As he drank, Zach felt her gaze on him, and it made him uneasy. He tried to ignore her, but she spoke up.
"I've seen you around before," she said. "You're that guy who got turned down in the park a few days ago, right?"
Zach's jaw clenched. He remembered the humiliating incident all too well.
"Yeah, that was me," he muttered.
The woman leaned in closer. "What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?"
Zach scoffed. "Just drowning my sorrows, I guess."
The woman laid a hand on his arm. "Well, maybe I can help with that."
Zach turned to her, his eyes narrowed. "I don't need your help."
The woman leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I think you do."
Zach hesitated for a moment before giving in to the temptation. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply. When he pulled away, he was breathless.
But his elation was short-lived. When he looked at the woman again, he realized she wasn't the one he was hoping for. His heart sank.
"You're not her," he said, his voice heavy with disappointment.
The woman looked at him with confusion. "Not who?"
Zach sighed. "Nobody, nevermind."
The woman looked at him with concern. "Are you okay?"
Zach shook his head. "No, I'm not. I just need to forget about her for a while."
The woman nodded sympathetically. "I get it. Love can be a real pain in the ass sometimes."
Zach let out a bitter laugh. "You're telling me."
The woman leaned in and touched his face. "You know, you're a good-looking guy. There are plenty of women out there who would kill to be with you."
Zach smiled wryly. "Yeah, but I only want one."
The woman next to him rubbed his back soothingly. "May I know who is this lucky girl?"
He took another swig, his eyes distant. "We were classmates, and I followed her to this city. I love her, but she can't see that. I messed up her reputation with Mrs. Stewart so that I could pretend to help her. She never wanted me around."
The woman's brow furrowed in sympathy. "You've been trying so hard. If I were her, I would be grateful for your attention."
He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really?"
"Of course," she murmured, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Let me buy a wig and dress up like her. We can have some fun."
She licked his earlobe, then stood up and winked at him before walking out the door.
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The woman lay on the bed with a white sheet draped over her body, watching as he dressed. He fastened his belt and buttoned his shirt before turning to face her.
"Are you heading home now?" she asked, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.
He gave a brief nod and retrieved his phone from the bedside table. "Yeah, I've got some work to finish up at home."
As he walked towards the door, she called out to him. "Did you have a good time?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering, "It was okay, I guess."
The woman's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Well, feel free to come back anytime. I can show you even more exciting things."
He gave a noncommittal nod before opening the door. "Thanks for everything," he said before slipping out and closing the door behind him.
Once he was outside, he took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He had come to the bar looking for a quick hookup to take his mind off his problems, but now that it was over, he felt even more lost than before. As he made his way back to his car, he wondered if this was really what he wanted for his life.
With that, he walked out of the motel and into his car. When he arrived at his house, he went straight into his room and watched the video of the woman having sex with him. The back of her head was facing the camera as her body rocked back and forth in the video. It looked exactly like Michelle because the wig they had purchased was identical to hers.
You are very lovely, Michelle.
He moaned, shut it, and put his phone on his thumping heart. He pondered what had occurred as he looked at the black hooded jacket hanging on the wall.
In the meanwhile, Michelle heard the doorbell ring in the middle of her and Kevin's small talk. Her brother gave her a questioning look, which made her shrug then walked towards the front door.
When she opened it, she spotted Nathan standing in front of her with his hands behind him.
She placed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "What are you doing here, Nate?"
He grinned and showed her a bouquet, which made her mouth hanging open. She tried to speak up, but she just took it and mouthed a 'thank you'.
"Please, come in," she said then opened the door widely.
When they entered the living room, Kevin stared at them and then eyed the flowers in her hands. "So, are you two..."
She shook her head while sitting on the couch across from him. "Kevin, he's here to help me with a new job." She placed the bouquet on the table beside the couch and turned to her brother. "If you're pointing out that these flowers are a sign of dating, then you're wrong."
Kevin narrowed his eyes. "Really?"
"Oh my God, Kevin! We're just friends! Stop making a big deal!"
He crossed his arms and continued squinting his eyes at her. "But you kept on saying his name while you were asleep. What's that, huh?"
As he said that, Michelle blushed before covering her face with her palms, which made Nathan smile and turn his head back, while Kevin slapped his thigh, stamped his feet on the ground, then clapped his hands while laughing.
Nathan turned his attention to her with a wide grin. "Is that for real? You dreamt about me?"
Hearing those words from him made her melt like she wanted to be eaten by the ground. She removed her hands from her face and threw a pillow at her brother, giving him a frown.
Kevin continued laughing as he caught the cushion. "What? I'm just telling the truth!"
"Shut up, Kevin. Just shut up for a second," she said then emitted a sigh. "First of all, he didn't come here for a night chitchat. He's here to give me a helping hand."
Nathan rubbed her back with a smile on his face. "It's okay, Miche-"
"And you, Nathan, don't easily fall for his lies! He doesn't have any proof!"
Kevin chuckled. "Well, I have. I've recorded it."
She threw a sharp glare at him. "Kevin!"
"Alright, alright, I'm just kidding, Michelle!" He stood up and walked away from them.
She furrowed her brows. "Hey, where are you going?"
Turning to them, he replied, "Upstairs. Wanna join me?"
When she shook her head, Kevin went to his room and locked the door. She let out a frustrated sigh before turning her attention back to Nathan.
"You have to excuse him. He's always like that." She shook her head while laughing.
Nathan laughed along with her. "It's fine, Michelle. I've known you both for so long. I'm used to his teasing."
She smiled at him. "Thanks, Nate. Anyway, what do you think of the flowers?"
Nathan looked at the bouquet and smiled. "They're beautiful, just like you."
Michelle blushed at the compliment. "You know how to make a girl feel special, Nathan."
He chuckled. "I do my best."
As Kevin walked to his room, he couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness. He looked over his shoulder but saw no one. He entered his room and locked the door, trying to push the thought out of his mind.
But as he stared out the window, he noticed a figure standing under the streetlamp outside. The dim light cast an eerie glow over the person's face, making it difficult to discern any features. Kevin's heart started racing as he strained to see who it was, but his vision was blurred without his glasses.
He quickly retrieved his glasses from the side table and put them on, hoping for a clearer view. As he looked back out the window, the figure had disappeared. His skin prickled with goosebumps and he felt a chill run down his spine.
"Who was that?" he muttered to himself, his mind racing with thoughts of intruders and ghosts.
He closed and locked the window, trying to calm himself down. But as he lay down on his bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
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