❦ . ❦ . ❦

Laurence couldn't have been more thankful for the weekend. It gave him two days of freedom from Isaac's close watch and a chance to continue investigating his situation now that he'd gotten a new lead.

Before leaving the Villena Residence early this morning, he texted Jade to inform her he might not be home for lunch, making sure she wouldn't fret again when she visited the house and found out he wasn't there.

From Big Sis: Are you sure you're going to be fine on your own, Rence? You should have told me if you wanted to go somewhere, so I could have given you a ride. Be careful, okay? Let me know if something comes up.

Laurence's lips strained to form a smile while his gaze softened. He had seen this response coming, even with the little reassurance he'd provided her.

yep sorry. just need to do sumthing and sorry i kinda wanna have sum time alone at the moment. y'know just familiarizing myself with the city again

After processing what Isaac had told him yesterday about his supposed end, he got the idea to visit the hospital nearest to the site of the accident last year. In hindsight, this should have been what he'd done immediately upon discovering his name was missing from the lists of people resting in any of the three burial places in the city.

He'd been certain he would have bigger odds of getting more concrete answers today. And yet, as he arrived at the Perlientas Community Hospital and inquired if there were patients with the names Laurence Villegas and Kian Fajardo, who'd been brought in the emergency during the thirteenth or fourteenth of January last year, he was told by the helpdesk attendant it was impossible to verify it at the moment because the Medical Records Department didn't operate on weekends.

"Even if it's opened right now, no assurance we can provide you the information." With pursed lips, the male hospital staff continued to browse on his office computer. "We can't just disclose the patients' records to anyone, especially if you're not a family."

Laurence gave him a polite thank you and walked out of the building. He sat by the plant box under the acacia tree in the premises' front yard while he deliberated if there was still a point in proceeding with his itinerary.

If even a government hospital was hard-set in following their protocols, he could only imagine how stricter a private institution would be.

Laurence jiggled his right foot, which was propped against his left leg, his fingers tapping his elevated knee in synchrony. He frowned at the website displayed on his phone as he scanned the description of another location he'd planned to check.

Aurora Medical Center or AMC was where he'd first woken up as Florence Villena. During his few months of stay in this hospital, not once had it crossed his mind to do some digging about the organization since he'd believed no information about the place would ever hold a significant connection to this mysterious incident that had struck his life.

As he stumbled upon the private hospital's background, a certain part of the article caught his attention.

Former Owner: Fahlgren Company

Current Owner: ND Corporation

Seriously, what else does that corporation own?

He'd only been working for a few weeks in the main office, and there had not been enough chance for him to learn everything about the conglomerate. How wide their network and influence were, Laurence had no clear estimates. He knew it was a huge operation, but he'd never expected they would have every kind of major business that could have existed in the city to their name.

As impressive as it sounded, that detail wasn't what intrigued him the most.

The fact that AMC was also under the leadership of Isaac prompted Laurence to account that some of the missing pieces of this entire puzzle might have been lying in that place all along.

Although dubious at first that his original body might have been rushed to a high-class facility like Aurora Medical Center, the revelation that Isaac had been present when he'd drawn his last breath raised the possibility. It also made sense he'd be in the same place where Florence had been, what with all the coincidences in their lives by now.

Laurence clicked out of the AMC website and browsed through the social apps that Jade had taught him to navigate. He intended to find Kian's and Grey's accounts, only to be reminded that, like him, neither of his best friends was active on these online platforms. Grey had no account at all, while Kian's last update on his Facebook was a picture of the three of them in 2019, taken to commemorate Grey's brand-new touchscreen phone.

He shook his head, a dry smirk crossing his lips. It would have been much easier for him to confirm if he was indeed dead if only one of his former coworkers behaved like the bunch of internet hypocrites who loved to post long eulogies about a deceased they'd barely given two hoots when that person was alive.

Knowing that nothing would change even if he mulled over it, Laurence decided to take chances on dropping by the AMC.

Like what he'd expected, the private institution's confidentiality system was more stringent, so he wound up nowhere with his survey.

Laurence weaved through the hospital hallways. He pulled down the visor of the cap he'd brought with him to hide his hair and avoid being recognized in case he ran into one of the people who'd assisted him during his recuperation.

The view of a tall man washing his hands by the basin greeted Laurence as he entered the restroom. Under the fluorescent lights, reddish undertones popped up from the person's chestnut hair.

Laurence didn't need to see the man's face to know who it was. The broad back and the confident posture pretty much gave him away.

His first instinct told him to backtrack, but a rational part of his brain argued that running away would only equate to admitting the truth in Isaac's supposition and his fear of being exposed.

Tugging the brim of his cap lower, Laurence sidled up to the first toilet cubicle and slipped inside.

Isaac lifted his head and glanced behind him in time for Laurence to close the door. Their eyes met at the last second before the latter locked himself in the small space.

Laurence stalled for a few minutes inside, hoping Isaac had exited. Cautiously, he drew the door ajar and peeked through the small gap. When he confirmed his boss was no longer in the spot he'd been a while ago, he dashed to the tap.

"Are you trying to hide from me, Mr. Florence?"

"Sonof—" Laurence blurted out, startled by the figure at the furthest side of the sink area.

As if waiting for a friend, Isaac stood, relaxed, with his back to the long mirror. He was busy with his phone, like usual. Or, at least, he appeared to be.

"Are you that much against giving courtesy to me outside of work?" Isaac slid his phone into his pocket. Underneath the mask of formality peeking were the glint in his eyes and the subtle curve of his mouth.

Laurence covered up any emotions in his features. He washed his hands, the murmur of flowing water infusing with the tension. "I didn't expect to meet you today, Mr. Ruiz. Are you maybe stalking me?"

Why are you even using this public restroom? Ain't you the owner of this place? Your kiss-ass admins should have their exclusive restrooms you can use in their offices.

Laurence snorted. Isaac was a bit of unorthodox for a chief executive anyway. It was his first time to have a close look inside the corporate world, but Laurence would bet not all big shots behaved like this man whose feet remained on the ground despite already being on top. He rather respected that side of the young boss, and it might have been the same trait that had earned him Florence's high regard.

Even though Isaac could be unsociable and vexing sometimes. Or most of the time.

"It's interesting to hear you speaking so politely now, Rence." Isaac leaned away from the edge of the sink. "That's also quite a heavy accusation you're throwing at me. Taking into consideration that I arrived here before you, not to mention I have more valid reasons to visit this place anytime, wouldn't it be more precise to say you're the one stalking me?"

"I've always been polite, sir. And why would I be stalking you?"

You used to be so cute in high school. Who gave you the permission to grow into this smartass hotshot that you're now?

Though, I guess, you'd always had that cheeky side even then.

The reminiscence gave him a pause for thought. Not paying attention, he rubbed the skin in between his thumb and forefinger too hard it almost stung. The old memories with Isaac tugged his emotions in polar directions.

On one hand, as a former upperclassman, he was proud of what the man had achieved at a young age. Because, once upon a time, he'd wished this for Isaac. He had rooted for his junior to reach this goal of breaking free from his father's control and making a name for his own.

On the other, he was frustrated at how much everything had changed between them. At how much a decade had changed them. Their friendship—if Isaac had even deemed it like that—had been left off at a point where it was tricky to pick it up. Laurence suspected that, even without this ridiculous phenomenon of transmigrating in another person's body, they could never return to how they'd been in high school.

"Are you washing your hands or trying to peel off your skin?"

Laurence snapped out of his thoughts. He muttered an oath at the sight of his reddened hand. He turned off the water and sent an impassive gaze at the young CEO through the mirror.

"Supposing you've always been polite," Isaac said, "you certainly forgot your tact when you were cursing at my face yesterday."

The statement drew a groan out of Laurence. "Then let me offer my apology, sir, but anyone would have freaked out and spouted..." He racked his brain for the most appropriate term to use. "Profanities if they were told the crazy shi—" Catching himself, Laurence shut his eyes. He opened them again and studied the reflections in the mirror.

Isaac's intense stare had planted weariness on Rence's expression.

"I mean, those insane stuff you told me yesterday," Laurence continued, his words coming off as a sigh. He fixed up his skewed cap and shifted to face the other man. "I never meant to be disrespectful, but my suggestion still stands. You should consider not overworking yourself, sir. I can see that mental exhaustion is still putting the most outrageous ideas in your head."

An infuriating smirk complemented the roll of green eyes. Isaac took a step toward his employee and reached his hand out.

On impulse, Laurence shrank and swatted Isaac's wrist with the back of his palm before the young boss could touch his cheek.

The CEO did not push. He shoved his hand in his pants' pocket, seeming unruffled by the blatant rejection. "As much as I find it endearing how you're trying so hard to hide your natural character and prove you're indeed Florence Villena, I can't help but be curious," more sober, Isaac said, "how long do you intend to play this pretending game?"

Laurence glared. "No one's playing any games here, but you, sir. You should seriously stop."

"Stop what? Stop speaking the truth that you're my former high school senior? And if I refuse, what will you do about it? Do you plan to resign from the ND Corporation?" Isaac's voice sank. "Are you going to run away from me, Rence?"

Despondency. That was what Laurence picked up replacing the other man's air of confidence for a second.

The image refreshed Laurence's memories of the younger Isaac from the first weeks of their encounters. Lonely, lost, that junior student had resembled an abandoned and soaked puppy who'd hoped to be found.

Ah, what the hell, Laurence cursed in his mind, recognizing he might still have been weak to this side of Isaac, that there remained a scrap of impulse to take care of this younger man like it had been when they were teenagers.

Maybe both of them had not totally outgrown their old selves, after all. Yet, Laurence didn't believe that what little was left of their past could mend their broken connection.

"Why should I? I have nothing to hide," Laurence said, coating every word with a challenge.

Truth be told, he'd considered quitting the job and severing ties with the people who'd once driven Florence Villena to despair, but he'd debated it was also a good chance to do some cleaning and putting the trashes to the dumpster where they rightfully belonged as a way to repay the original owner of the body he'd possessed.

Besides, Laurence had a gut feeling there was a greater possibility of solving this puzzle if he stayed under the ND Corporation and close to the one person who held a few important keys to unlock the whole mystery. Even though it would be a winter season in Perlientas before he would directly ask the young boss for the information.

"Of course. That's the Rence I've been familiar with. Gutsy, someone who'd never yield that easily in the face of adversity." The roguish gleam returned to Isaac's eyes. He advanced and paused next to Laurence, their shoulders brushing while they fronted the opposite directions. "Then take as much time as you need until you're ready to put an end to this act and level with me. It doesn't matter if you want to keep pretending; I'm aware of what the truth is, regardless. I can play along with your little game for now."

Laurence balled his fingers into a fist, flustered with his lack of rebuttal.

"After all, I've been patient for more than a decade, waiting for the chance to be near you again, and I can do it for a little while longer. Although, I can't promise I can sit still through all this. I won't be waiting impassively like I did before.

"So be warned that I'm set to do some chasing this time," Isaac said before he sauntered off, leaving his former upperclassman dumbfounded and irritated by his parting shot.