'Vigil'

It was around 10 in the evening. Trish took a deep sigh as she stared herself into the mirror. Her face was covered with make-up. She was dressed well in white.

Her lonely eyes looked at the doorstep as the door creaked. Whifler came in.

"Are you ready?" Whifler asked worriedly. Trish sighed once again.

"I have no choice but to be ready." Trish turned around to look in his direction. "How's Tristan?"

"He hasn't been out of his room since last night. We tried to serve him meals but, no matter how much we knocked, he wouldn't open us."

Trish's eyes lowered. "He won't attend Summer's wake, too?"

Whifler shook his head. "He doesn't respond either."

Trish nodded then slung her bag over her shoulder. "Let's go."

They went out of her room and she halted in front of Tristan's room. She took a deep breath before she knocked. "Tristan?"

No response, his room was so quiet. Trish leaned her forehead on his door. "Tristan. I understand what you are going through now. I know how you feel. But, please... Don't be like this. We're worried."

Tristan's room was still quiet. Trish couldn't do anything but, let him be for now. "We're going to Summer's wake. I-If you're ready... Just tell us, okay?"

"Uhm. We're leaving." Trish told then she left with Whifler.

Tanya was already waiting at the car, she rolled down the car's window as she saw them approaching. "Is everything fine?"

"Yes," Whifler answered. "Anyway. News about Melissa's funeral?"

Tanya started the engine after they entered the car. "Her family arranged her vigil in their province. They wanted it to be exclusive for their family or relatives so, we can't go there."

"I see," Whifler answered, then they all fell silent.

.

.

.

Heavy atmosphere greeted them at the entrance of Summer's house. Some were mourning and some were whispering.

Trish glanced at the surroundings. Summer's celebrity friends, acquaintances, and other unfamiliar faces were gathered inside. She walked the aisle-like way towards Summer's urn.

Amber arranged her house that way and made her urn beautifully presentable—surrounded with her favorite flowers and funeral ornaments.

Trish stopped in front of the urn. She bitterly smiled while her tears started to blur her vision. She placed a customized candle beside her urn. "Summer."

Trish wiped her tears. "I never thought our next meeting will be like this."

"What triggered you to do this? Why did you give up?" Trish whimpered.

She stood there for a couple of minutes, talking heartfully to Summer's ash, then she decided to sit in one of the vacant seats—beside Whifler.

"Do you need water? I'll get one for you," Whifler offered. Trish just nodded.

Trish looked at her left side as Amber sat beside her. "I thought you weren't going to come here after you ran like that yesterday."

Trish's brows furrowed. "Ran?"

"Yes. Yesterday. You don't remember?"

"Oh. Yeah. Yesterday. Uhm. I'm sorry if I ran away from you. Uh. I wasn't in the right mind. Uhm. Did you come home safely yesterday?"

Amber confusedly stared at Trish. "You mean, to our house?"

"Uh. Yes."

"No. I didn't go home."

"Oh. I see." Trish nodded. "Where did you go home then? At Summer's?"

Amber became more confused but, she still played along. "Yes. Why did you run? Did I say something upsetting? Or... Did you not like the food; the place?"

Trish flinched. Actually, she didn't know what to answer. "Ahm... I-Uh. I just had an emergency."

Trish anxiously fiddled her thumbs, uncomfortable at their conversation.

"Trish." Amber seriously called while staring at her intently.

"Yes?" Trish formed a nervous smile.

"We were just at Summer's place yesterday. I let you see her urn first." Amber told which made shivers climb up to Trish's spine.

She was too stunned to speak.

"Sorry, I took so long. Nature suddenly called." Whifler halted looking at the two intently staring at each other. He confusedly cleared his throat, trying to get their attention. He got Amber's, while Trish only lowered her gaze.

"What's the matter?" he asked Amber who was now weakly smiling at him.

"Nothing. We were just empathizing with each other. Uhm. I have something else to do. I leave you first." Amber bowed then, she left.

Whifler slowly sat and handed the water to Trish. "Was that really it?"

Trish shook her head. "Raj. I think I messed up."

"Huh? Messed up with what?"

Trish gripped the glass. "Tristan went here yesterday. He saw Summer's urn first. No wonder why he was like that when he got home... Just now, Amber was asking me why I ran away suddenly that time. I have no idea that was what happened. So... So..."

"So, you told her a suspicious reason?" Whifler asked, cutting her off.

"Worse than that."

Whifler fell silent. He saw how worried she was. Although he wasn't sure how serious it was or worse, he didn't want her to worry about it now. "Forget it. I'm sure Amber will not take it seriously. She's not in the state of minding something else at the moment."

Whifler patted her shoulder. "If she did, I'm sure she still had nothing to do with the situation of the both of you."

Trish felt lightened a bit by what Whifler said. He was right. Whether she noticed she met two different people or they switched, Amber would not care about it.

Or so she thought?

"Uhm. Did I just overlook or Heidi was really not here?" Tanya got both of their attention as she spoke.

Whifler wandered his gaze around the house so as Trish. They both didn't see any trace of Heidi.

"I think she's really not here." Trish agreed. "After the issue of the murder case she was involved in, she probably made herself low-key."

"Didn't her innocence was proved? And she was already released. Wouldn't she at least go here? She was Summer's friend, right?" Tanya commented.

Whifler just sighed. "We don't know her reason and situation so, we shouldn't question nor judged her. Besides, people's misconceptions won't change immediately, especially since it was a serious accusation against her. It's possible that some were still angered or disappointed. Consequently, it's risky to go out."

"Also, she might just be mourning alone like Tristan. Not showing up at one's vigil or funeral doesn't mean one didn't care about it. We all have different ways of overcoming or dealing with the tragic circumstances in our lives." Whifler added which left both of them in awe.

"Wow. That was so deep." Tanya deadpanned. Whifler just glared at her.

"Shut up." He mumbled then, sighed for the nth time. "But... I'm not saying that I'm not wondering, too."

They all fell silent as the speaker called everyone to stand for the prayer.

Meanwhile, Amber couldn't stop glancing in Trish's direction. She was contemplating something in her mind.

She knew it wasn't the same person she met yesterday and the person who she talked to earlier. Although she couldn't fill in the blanks, she was also not that stupid. She was certain that they were two different individuals with identical appearances.

Was it a clone? Wait. Did that even exist? Perhaps, twins? Yes. Might be.

But, what more confused her was which one was Summer liked? Did they really like the same person?

Or, were they like either of the two?

Which one did she meet and spent the moments she remembered? Was it the real Trish or the cloned one?

Amber shrugged off her thoughts and just focused herself on listening to the prayer.

'I'll deal with it later. I'm sorry, Summer. I'm being like this in your vigil', she sighed.

She once again glanced at Trish. 'But, I am really hoping we didn't like the same person.'