I remember the time when I accidentally walked in on my brother's make-out sesh in the living room with this one girl back in high school and it was awkward that I never thought we could move on from that.

Yet, there I was, sitting with that look-alike at the same table, and I thought which one was more awkward?

If anyone I know happened to see me, it seemed like I was sitting with Topher.

No, I was not with Topher.

I was with a stranger who just looked like him, staying in one inn, and that night, we were both hungry, but the restaurant was full, so we had to share a table for the night.

After ordering our food, we were both quiet. I wasn't sure about him, but I was playing CatMart on my phone to pass the time.

"So how long are you staying in the inn?" He asked me all of a sudden.

Of course, I could not ignore him, so I had to put my phone away because I was not a rude person. "About a month," I answered.

This guy was taken aback. "Wow, same."

"Oh... What are the odds, huh?"

"Yeah... since we're here. I'm Roy, by the way," He introduced himself. "Roy Arias."

"I remember. You told me that the other day," I began rambling since looking at his face made my mouth not function correctly. "Ahem... Anyway, I'm Pepsi."

I blurted from that last part. Most times, I am called Pepsi. The name, Audrey, was way behind me, ever since the first day I moved to Barcon. Also, my photographer peers know me as Pepsi.

"Cool name," He remarked.

"Thanks, it's a nickname, actually."

"You look familiar," Roy remarked and gazed at me like he was studying my face. "Have we met before?"

I weirdly glanced at him. Probably it sounded so weird because it came from him. So I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"Sorry, never mind."

"Ahem... you're here for vacation or something?" I asked him.

"Kinda, I'm here for work too. I'm a travel blogger. So my perks are to get paid for traveling and writing about it on Instagram."

Hate to admit it, but Linus was right. That guy did have some similarities to Topher. "I heard about you from a friend of mine. That's interesting. So do you choose the places you want to go and write about it?"

"Yup, my cousin told me about Barcon when she stayed in this inn with her friends for her birthday last year," Roy explained.

"Where are you from?"

"I'm from Boston. You?"

"I live here and I have a business here too, but I'm from the city just seven hours of train ride from here," I said to him somehow I found myself being comfortable with him like he was just a new friend that I met.

"Now I live in Bali," He added.

"Nice, I went there before with my fiance," I blurted like it was word vomit. "Great beaches."

Roy became stunned. "Oh! You're engaged?"

"Uhm... Yup." I had my head down and smiled a little.

"I didn't see a ring. Not... That it's significant," He stuttered, feeling like he was being too nosy. "Anyway, congratulations. So... Where is he tonight?"

I got tongue-tied as he began wondering about my fiance and why he was not with me that evening. "He's... uhm... Not here..."

"Not here, like he's out of town, or...?"

"He passed away."

Obviously, Roy was stumped with the look of pity right after. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

"Thanks," I said back while managing not to cry in front of him. "Part of the reason why I'm here in the inn. I don't want to be in the house for a while."

"Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean."

"So Uhm... How do you like Barcon so far?" I questioned.

"Awesome, except for the cold though," Roy answered bluntly.

"Not a fan?"

"Not really, but I guess I'm just not used to this much cold. Still, I have to enjoy it while it lasts because Bali can be scorching hot when I get back."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, there are times the heat was so bad that I get migraines," He added.

"Yikes, that bad, huh?" I responded.

Okay, so it was not as awkward as I thought. He was kinda cool, like just being with a friend who happened to look a lot like my fiance.

"By the way, what kind of business do you have?" Roy interrupted my thoughts for a second there.

"I own a photo studio," I said to him.

"Nice, like for photoshoots and stuff?"

"Yup."

"Wait, I remember I saw a sponsored post on Instagram when I got here. Picardi Studio Shoot. The ancestral home turned photo studio."

I was a bit surprised, to hear the name of my precious studio. "Yeah, that's the one," I confirmed.

"I knew it." Roy looked impressed. "That's cool."

"Thanks."

The food came a few minutes later. Well, only his. A T-bone and french fries. I remember in my: Damn, why didn't I order that instead?

Yeah, why didn't I order that instead?

Oh, right, because I could not afford it that night.

I had baked salmon and mashed potatoes that time. Which was also delicious, but that T-bone looked better, though. That garlic butter melting on that medium rare five-star graded meat.

Anyway, I noticed that he wasn't eating after taking a couple of pictures for his Instagram and posting it. "Aren't you... gonna eat?" I asked.

"Oh, no, I'm not gonna eat until your food comes," He replied. Wow, he was so polite, just like Topher was.

"No, that's alright. Go ahead. Although, how long does it take to bake a salmon?"

Roy chuckled for a second. "You know what, you can have some of my fries until it comes."

I was taken aback by that. "Really? I can?"

"Yeah, I mean, I should've had my food before that guy over there."

"Wow, thanks. I'm kinda starving." I took one from his plate and ate it. He was so kind like Topher was, even sharing his food with me with a person he barely knew.

"No problem," He assured him, then ate a french fry.

Not long after, my food came before I finished half of his french fries. We began eating together. You know, that evening with him was not so bad, even though we were both so hungry that we didn't talk to each other after that.

It took a while for us to finish eating, and people were starting to leave once they were done. Roy and I walked to our rooms together since his room was across mine anyway.

"That was a great dinner, wasn't it?" I remarked. "Thanks again for sharing your fries with me."

"No problem," Roy said with that gentle smile on his face and had that twinkle in his eyes too. "Have a good night."

"You too." I wasn't sure what my face was that night, but I hoped it didn't look stupid.

When I got inside my room, and that time, I did not cry. Also, I was not freaking out. Okay, maybe, a little bit. It's a tad bit. A millimeter bit.

My point is that I was sort of happy. Which was kinda weird, I know, because I had dinner with the dude that looked a lot like Topher. It did occur to me that Roy was not my dead fiance, but still, he was such a gentleman and so friendly.

How could you dislike someone like that, am I right?

I guess for the first time ever, I was not sad. I started feeling sort of giddy. At the same time, I remember contemplating that feeling a bit and became confused as to why I felt that way.

Was it because of the obvious reason?

Perhaps.

Or perhaps not only that obvious reason, it was because he was kind of friendly and sensible.

It would be easier if he was not friendly and sensible, then I had a very good reason not to go near him.

----

The next morning, it felt like I woke up on the right side of the bed. I didn't feel that exhausted from being sad. So I got up, dressed up for work, and then got out of my room.

It seemed like Roy was not up yet, and it was okay because I was planning on not interacting with him after that previous night.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike him. I just didn't want our interaction to be more than what it was. Haayzz... It's complicated because... You know why. Look, he was nice, but you know.

I was going to avoid him again by quickly going down the stairs to get to the kitchen to have my breakfast. It was not like I wanted to shun him from my life, but it seemed like it was for the best. For me, at least.

It was early, very early, and I waited for my bread to toast in a microwave oven in the dining area for less than ten minutes. I was going to have a quick, and by quick, I mean fast, breakfast to start my day. Plus, I had to skip coffee.

When my toast was ready, I grabbed one of those little butter and jams and then started eating. All of a sudden, "Morning," I heard his voice, that sunny voice of his.

I turned around with my eyes wide open and a mouth full of toast, seeing him wearing a hoodie and pajama pants at the bottom. So I swallowed half-chewed bread with strawberry jam stains at the side of my lip that I didn't notice. "Morning," I uttered. "You're up early."

"You too." After that, Roy began toasting his bread in the microwave oven.

"I'm going to work."

"Do you usually wake up this early to go to work?"

"Uhm... Not all the time," I mumbled, then kept eating my bread.

"Okay." His toast was ready, and took it out from the small oven, and placed it on a plate, then took two packs of blueberry jams. After that, he sat with me at one table.

I didn't mind that time, even though I planned not to interact with him more. "What are you up to today?"

"After what happened to me yesterday. I just wanted to stay here and just chill," He said, then began eating.

"So why are you up so early?" I asked him as I butter my toast.

"I'm a morning person," Roy said. "Plus, I start to get hungry around 5 a.m."

"Good to know."

"Yup. My body is sore from all the hiking I did, and I'm afraid to get lost again," He said to me. "Although, it's worth it because I love the view at the mountain, but I didn't get a great picture of it from all the fog."

"I know a spot where you don't have to hike and with a better view of the mountain."

"You do?"

"Yeah, if you need any help, just let me know what you want to see here in Barcon," I told him. Don't get me wrong, I was just being nice. "I know this place like it's the back of my hand."

"Awesome, I kinda need a tour guide while I'm in town, you know."

I was stumped. What I meant was I suggested him a place, not be his personal tour guide. I had to manage my business. "Uhmm... That's not what I meant..." I stammered, but after seeing his face, I stopped talking. "Sure, why not?"

Roy was so delighted to hear that. "Yes! Thanks." Then he hugged me.

"Don't mention it. But I'm only available on the weekends and Monday. If that's okay with you."

"Yeah, no problem. I get it."

"Great, I'm your... Tour guide." I pretended to sound enthused. I hope I didn't sound that obvious.

I remember thinking: What did I just do?

Honestly, I had no idea what came over me as to why I offered myself to be his tour guide. Maybe because I literally saw Topher's face that made me want to help him. It felt like I was hypnotized by that darn face of his.

Damn, that darn face.

I also remember thinking: He just needed my help. There was nothing wrong with that. It was only a month to help him see the wonders of Barcon.