Seeing that stranger right in front of me and I just stood there frozen in utter shock like I did on that blueberry farm. "Roy," He began speaking to me to correct me.

I immediately got back to reality, and I remember blinking so much to make sure that I was seeing him correctly. I was even more stunned that he was this Roy guy, the travel blogger on Instagram that people were talking about.

"Oh, sorry, I was just..." I stuttered. I mean, come on, that dude looked so much like Topher. "Nevermind, sorry."

"No problem," He told me, though he weirdly gazed at me, especially at Ms. Regis. Damn, he even had that same facial expression as Topher's.

It was so awkward that I decided to leave before it got any more awkward than it already was. "Uhm... excuse me," I mumbled and just went up the stairs. I bet they found my behavior very strange back there.

I felt so embarrassed. Actually, I was feeling more than that all at the same time. Shock, confusion, and sadness were not a good combination. When I got to my room, I just broke down the moment I closed the door.

That face of his made me miss Topher all over again.

It was funny, you know, I was in the inn to get over Topher, but then it just became impossible to do that when his look-alike was staying in the same inn as I was.

I managed to process everything while tears were still pouring down my cheeks for several minutes.

I remember thinking, "Why am I crying?" I asked myself. "That's not Topher just because he's a spitting image of him."

So I took a deep breath to fix myself since I still had to go out to eat. I got up and went to the bathroom to wash my face.

Eventually, I went down to get to the dining area. It was not as packed as the previous night. There were customers around and there was...him sitting alone staring at his phone while waiting for his food to come.

Since he was distracted, I had to find a table that made me not look at him. Luckily, I did. I dashed to it before anyone could get it and sat on a chair that was facing the wall.

After ordering my food, I couldn't help but leer at him for just a teenie weenie bit. I subtly turned my body towards him. Boy, was he good-looking. Aside from being a look-alike, he wore these round wire-rim glasses.

If it looked great on him, then it would look great on Topher. Buh dum tss...

Joke aside, it was torture. I wasn't supposed to think of my fiance.

His food came and took a picture of it with his phone. Probably, it was for his blog on Instagram.

He happened to look up, and I quickly turned away. I wondered if he noticed that I was gawking at him like a creep.

Ugh... I felt like an idiot.

I argued with myself once again. "That is not Topher. That is not Topher. That is not Topher. So stop looking at him," I muttered.

I bent down and pounded my head lightly with my fist thinking that it could help me stop dwelling over it. However, that itself made me look insane. "Uhm... Pepsi," Barry called out to me. "What are you doing?"

Yeah, I definitely seem crazy that time. I stopped and darted to him as he oddly gazed at me after what I did while carrying a tray of the food that I ordered.

"Uhm... nothing," I stammered trying to act that everything was okay. Obviously, I failed. "I'm just stressed, that's all."

"Okay. By the way, here's your food." He placed the tray right in front of me. "Enjoy."

"Thanks."

Once he left to take other people's orders, I got even more embarrassed that Barry caught me like that, that I acted so insane at a place where anyone could see me. Man, was I lame. Super duper lame.

The one good thing about it was no people were filming me, or else I could be the first person to prove that it is possible to die from humiliation.

After dinner, I went back to my room once I saw Roy left the dining area first. However, when I got to the hallway of the second floor, I was horrified that I saw him entering his room and that it was across mine.

Give me a break!

Did the universe want our paths to cross? Or were they just messing with me and my feelings?

Next, I was in my room, lying on the bed early, but I couldn't sleep that night because my head was filled with Roy.

I was freaking and also tired, but my brain and heart were debating about him again.

I tossed and turned and even shut my eyes close. Nothing worked. My thoughts were affecting my sleep.

Eventually, I dozed off, but it was not enough since I had work, and I needed to be fully awake.

My shoot could mess up if I don't get enough rest. I always hated that when that happened.

The next morning, I felt like a total crap from not sleeping that well. I was trying to be aware of things like remembering to bring my camera bag, my phone, my laptop, and the keys to my Vespa.

I got all dressed and ready for work, I was hoping that I did not bump into him.

I jinxed it because the moment I got out of my room, Roy was there. I think I gulped.

"Morning," He greeted me with that friendly smile on his face, which was so very identical to Topher.

"Morning," I said to him as I closed the door behind me.

"Uhm... Are you going to get breakfast too?"

I was, but since he was going to be there, I decided not to. Plus, I was holding my breath the whole minute from that small talk. "Uh... No, I'll have to skip. I have to go to work anyway," I lied.

"Oh!" He nodded in acknowledgment.

"I have to go. I'm gonna be late. I'll see you later." I just went ahead and rushed out through the front door.

Later, I got to the photo studio, and I got there early before any of my colleagues arrived. So, since I didn't get any breakfast that morning, I stopped by the La Geole cafe, where Emmy and I loved to hang out. It was the cafe where I was moaning about my wedding dress mishap.

It had its own back story, which made it sort of very interesting to be there, which I will explain later. The brick walls, big wooden doors, and there were also steel white metal bars.

There was also that antique feel with the upcycle dessert display, bright colored shelves and window frames, Rococo-style chairs, and tables with checkered covers.

Anyway. At first, I was there alone with just a breakfast muffin and coffee with lots of cream, just how I wanted. I had another hour before going to the photo studio. That time, Mav had the keys because I gave them to her the day of Topher's funeral, so we all had to wait for her to be there to open the door.

I barely touched my muffin when I noticed a happy couple sitting at the other table. They were talking and laughing together. Not only that, the woman was pregnant. I remember thinking that we could've been like them, wishing that those two people were me and Topher being all happy little family.

Hmmm... Life is so cruel.

It was opening time, and I still had some spare time on my hands before my client arrived. Suddenly, Linus popped in next to me while I was editing, "So, did you get to meet Roy?" He asked me with crazy eyes and a grin. "I saw his post on this flower farm that you talked about."

I became fidgety. "Yup," I said. "I did."

"Cool, what does he look like?"

I remember feeling scared to describe that the travel blogger was a spitting image of Topher with glasses. I couldn't explain until now as to why I didn't want to tell it then and there what he looked like. "Just... an average-looking guy wearing glasses," I told him.

"Really?" Linus was convinced.

"Yeah, so you want me to ask for an autograph or something?"

"Oh, no, that's okay. I like to check on his posts all the time, but I'm not that kind of fan anyway. I just admire them because I want to go to all those places he went. You know, he kind of reminds me of Topher."

My eyes darted to him. "Huh?"

He got flustered by what he said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"No, no, it's fine. I should learn to get used to people wanting to talk about him and not get sad. So you guys don't have to walk on eggshells around me."

"I understand. We're all here for you, that's all."

I smiled at him. "I know."

Suddenly, he received a text message from one of his clients. "Oh, Damn!" He exasperated.

"What?" I asked. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah, worse than wrong. You know that campaign that my friend and I were working on for his floral tuxedo collection?"

I nodded. "Yeah, what's up?"

"He spilled wine on his laptop, so everything we worked for is gone."

"Oh! shit," I reacted. "That means you guys have to do the shoot all over again?"

"Ugh... Yes, he needs them this Saturday," Linus grunted.

"Well, that's such a total rush."

"Yeah, and I have to reschedule my other client's schedule. I'm gonna have to work late this week."

I instantly had an idea pop into my head. The thing was, I did that to avoid Roy since I was going crazy whenever he was near me. "Hold on. I can help out if you need two more hands for the job."

"No, we can..." Another text came in, so I checked it for a second. "Nevermind, His assistant is out sick. But are you willing to work late until Saturday?"

"Absolutely. I want to keep myself busy."

"Okay, if you say so. He already requested last-minute models to come, so let's get the room ready then."

I knew it was a crazy plan, but I was losing my mind with Roy, so I needed to give myself reasons to not see him that much in the inn.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. However, it did work for the next three days of helping Linus because I was able to dodge a fellow guest who was staying in the room across from mine.

My heart spoke louder than my brain when someone looked so much like the love of my life.

I guess it's true that love is blind. Blind enough for me to lose focus.

Until one day, when I returned to the inn after a long day of work. It was about an hour before the dinner ended, so I thought I wouldn't have to see Roy again, but my luck ran out.

It was like the world was toying with me.

Once I entered, there were loads of people in the dining area, and all the seats were completely occupied.

"Uh oh," I mumbled.

Then someone came in and heard a familiar voice say, "Oh no, this place is packed."

I jolted that I turned around, and it was Roy who stood behind me. "You... just came in?"

"Yeah, I kinda got lost in the woods to check out the Mt. Hummi," He explained.

Barry then approached us. "Hey! guys, there's one empty table. If you two don't mind sharing," He told us.

I tried not to cringe that I did not get to answer. "I don't mind," Roy replied and seemed indifferent as well.

I was about to say no, but my stomach began rumbling. "Alright," I said reluctantly. After that, I glanced towards him. "It's just one time."