Chapter 7 ACCEPTING ANOTHER IDENTITY

Ayla stood lost before the mirror, staring coldly at her new identity. The reflection was familiar, yet completely alien. She gazed for long till she felt the strange reflection was mocking her. The mirror distorts not her image, but her reality.

She could barely recognize herself. Tears slid profusely down her cheeks. Memories of the good old days came passing by, days when she could still recognize herself, days when she was still Ayla with no touch of Defne, a girl with no strings, no lies, no masks, days when Defne never left her side.

Her heart burned, the more she reminisced the past. Remembering Defne's mischievous grin, the chaos she caused at school, and the bond they share.

Back then, in high school, Defne had always done her things her way; she was notorious, a truant, smoking at designated places, and chasing her crush with an obsession that was both pathetic and strangely admirable. Notwithstanding her ill-fame at school, she was known not for cruelty but defiance.

There again was- Deniz, the school hunk, cold, arrogant, and never acknowledges his admirers, least of all Defne. He treats the girls in school as though they are invisible. Ayla earlier was a girl who only focused on her academics rather than boys.

She barely knows much about him, apart from the part where he is rumored to be cold and arrogant. He was two classes ahead of them, so the barrier to knowing more things about the unapproachable heartthrob of the school was drawn earlier.

Regardless of his unapproachable qualities, Ayla remembers watching Defne try again and again, pushing and provoking until even Deniz would snap and warn her to leave him be.

She never takes it lightly with anyone who dares desire her man, notwithstanding Deniz never approved of their relationship. Defne has been obsessed with him since high school, but he never considers her feelings.

Then came the drugs, as if Ayla had foreseen the harm those hard drugs would cause her friend; she earlier warned, pleaded, and cried – but nothing she said could make Defne stop spiraling. When she took that final dose- whatever it was- it broke something inside her. The hallucinations start the paranoia, the breakdown. It becomes too critical that her parents secretly fly her abroad for rehabilitation.

Without warning, the door burst open.

Ayla is still engrossed in her sad thoughts when Mrs Dogans stormed in like a hurricane, her eyes blazing with fury. She yanked Ayla by the hair, dragging her face down until their eyes met. Dragging people, especially the subordinates, by the hair had become a trademark of Mrs Dogans cruelty.

"For how long do you have to keep us waiting? Didn't you understand the meaning of get dressed, come down, and go on a date with Deniz?" she asked harshly.

Ayla braced her head with both hands Incase Mrs. Dogans released it too suddenly, and she hit the floor.

"Mind you, do not put on those cheap rags you call clothes; Nisa left some nice outfits in the wardrobe, put them on, and come downstairs. You have just 15 minutes to do that, you b*tch", Mrs Dogans sneers, releasing her tight grip.

"Okay ma", Ayla responds, trying not to look vulnerable.

"Good," says Mrs. Dogans, hissing as she walks out the door.

Ayla swiftly locked the door, grabbed a towel lying on the bed, and then rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower. She knows better than to keep Mrs Dogans waiting.

Minutes later, she is done dressing; she wears her expensive dress, according to Mrs Dogans, before rushing downstairs.

"Oh, wow! This is incredible", Mr Dogans stares unbelievably at Ayla- his daughter's replica as she descends the stairs.

"I told you Doctor Mustafa never disappoints; he always delivers excellently," Mrs. Dogans said to her husband, her voice racing with cruel satisfaction.

"I'm not so sure I could tell them apart if the two stand side by side. Mr Dogans doubts his recognitory ability, scratching his head, and adjusting his glasses, his gaze still fixed at Ayla.

"Oh, come off it darling. You will because she still stinks; her fragrance will always scream poverty. Hahaha", Mrs Dogans came again with her unending verbal abuses, laughing at her insult.

"You said so", he responded flatly, already turning his attention to his papers.

Ayla stood before them, head bowed, her feet trembling, fear gripped her soul as though she was about to encounter a monster.

She wasn't sure who the real monster was, the Dogans or Deniz Yilmaz, the rumored ruthless billionaire she was about to meet.

"You are seven minutes late," Mrs. Dogans said, checking the time on her wristwatch.

"I'm sorry ma", Ayla apologizes softly, fear thick in her voice.

"Thank your stars. I'm pretty much satisfied with what I'm seeing; if not, I wouldn't give it a second thought to skin you alive".

"Ma please......may I say something?" Ayla musters every ounce of courage to let out what she has buried deep in her heart for a very long time.

The room was engulfed with silence. Obviously, they gave her a chance to speak- perhaps out of curiosity or to see how far she'd go.

"I'm grateful for everything you have done for me", she begins. "My education, the upkeep, everything. I know what I'm about to go into is risky, but I dare not refuse; it's a way of repaying your charity. But, I need you to understand one thing, Define- your daughter's current predicament isn't my fault. Besides, I tried my best to stop her but she didn't listen. I beg you.... stop rashing out your furies on me; I'm also a human with emotions and dreams; I never wished for a new identity; I only ever wanted to be me.

Since we have gotten to this extent, so be it if I must continue this game. But, please....exclude my family from this crazy game; they owe you nothing; I'm the one indebted to you, not them, please." Ayla finally came to the end of her pleas.

"How dare you? Mrs Dogans roared, springing to her feet like a vampire, thirsty for blood. "How dare you crazy b*tch to say that to my face?" She strikes a resounding slap across her face, leading the innocent girl to stagger a bit. Before she could recover, the woman grabbed and pinched her left ear till it turned red.

"What motivated you to command me how to do my things? Who the hell are you?"

"Honey....honey that's okay", Mr Dogans finally intervened. "Remember she has a date to attend, don't leave marks, that's a wrong impression",

"Now you listen up", she commands, her voice icy. No one dares dictates to Dogans. Do what you are told, I mean perfectly. Then disappear, get your wretched self out of here. Who wants to get involved with people of lower class like yours? If not for Defne's foolish insistence on making you her best friend, do you think Dogans would possibly spend a dime on a nobody like you? Come on, you must pay the price in one way or the other, every dime", she spits terror from her mouth.

"Ayla," Mr. Dogans called, setting aside his papers. He looks up and meets her eyes; he begins, "We didn't demand much from you; this is a simple task anyone with an IQ can perform effortlessly.

But I can't fathom why you are so scared, why? Dogans never go back on their promise. Once you get your marriage certificate with Deniz Yilmaz, he will pay the bride price as agreed and finalize the partnership deal. We will wash our hands off anything concerning your family.

Then when Defne gets better and returns, you are done with the impersonation. We can sponsor another plastic surgery and fly you out of the country for good. I think this is fifty-fifty, a fair deal. But if you dare mess things up, trust me, your family will pay", Mr Dogans reminds in a more terrifying tone.

"Kaan!" he calls out to the driver, who instantly rushes into the sitting room.

"Take her to the place".

Mrs Dogans moves in close, pretending to stroke Ayla's hair like she would her biological daughter. "Remember not a single word should escape your mouth", she whispers into her ear with a mischievous grin.

With that, the driver zoomed off, leading the helpless lady to her destined devil.