Spring Snow Cupid

"I want Chinese rice, steak and onki mushrooms."

"Slow cooked veal leg with seasonal vegetables." She said with the fakest smile in the world while gently closing the menu.

I know that much.

"Really?" I shrugged a little, still not satisfied with both her order and her appearance. Look what she's wearing; a bland suit in a steakhouse?

Yes, we are sisters and everyone thinks sisters should love the same things, do the same thing, be in the same place, wear the same things, even have the same face, but yes we do have the same face because we are twins, twin sisters.

Kim Aera.

Kim Areum.

The only way you could distinguish us was Areum's mole which was on her forehead, but she hides this a lot by wearing hairstyles with bangs.

★

"Do you, Lee Hyun Woo, take Kim Aera to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"

The priest had asked on my wedding day. With glassy eyes, I could feel Hyun Woo give my hands a little squeeze and with a sweet smile, he said;

"I, Lee Hyun Woo, take you, Kim Aera, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to love and cherish you, to support you in all that you do, and to be there for you in times of need."

And with great delight, I knew it was my turn. I gave my baby the biggest smile I had, ready to become his and make him mine in front of these people and with a quick glance at Areum, my sister, who was right behind Hyun Woo in a long distance seat, I could see her lip sync what I was about saying. It seemed I was the only one who could see her or maybe it was just us three at the altar.

"I do."

"I do."

It was no news that Areum loves my husband, Hyun Woo, but she's also not lucky he chose me instead of her. Hyun Woo is my highschool sweet snow not just a charming and alluring man, but also the heir of a billion dollar group. Areum had shown interest in what I loved for the first time and that was the man I loved, but I wasn't going to let that happen.

She almost had him to herself when we were eighteen. I had fallen sick and begged her to go on a date with Hyun Woo in my place since we both have the same face. Areum had sworn on her life earlier that Hyun Woo was not her type of man so I didn't let this bother me much and I let her fit in the dress, but that evening, she came back with roses and kisses.

She had been charmed by my snow.

She had fallen for him.

She was in love with him.

Do I have the right to be jealous?

Tch.

I called her into this. And that was the beginning of her days in stealing my roles and the best part, she's a very good actress. Her profession?

An actress.

The perk of being a twin? You both can get out of trouble by being mischievous. Just like Jacob and Esau, our parents had a favorite daughter and that is?

Areum.

As for me, I was deeply loved by my grandparents and when they passed on, their conglomerate group was willed to me, but I know little to nothing about handling a business so huge. But now, with Hyun Woo by my side, I won't let anyone down.

Right now, I can't wait to see my husband. I had called Areum earlier to pick me up from the hospital. Hyun Woo has been busy all day and I'm going to surprise him with a visit with some surprising news.

He's no longer a husband now, but a

Father.

For now, it's a little sister's time and we're blasting on some music as she drives.

"I'm a million dollar baby~"

"~ain't never rep no set, baby" Areum continued, happily pushing on the steering wheel.

Ring!~

"Hold on." I said still full of party smiles as I grabbed my phone.

·–SNOW–·

I pushed on the receive option and gladly plopped the phone against my left ear waiting to hear his voice first.

I miss him.

"Honey, I'm so sorry, okay. The work and everything… it's just…"

"It's okay, babe. Areum came to pick me up and we are on our way back home already." I said to him while smiling like a diligent fool. Of course, I was in love. It's been three months with Hyun Woo and the sparks were just right.

I love Hyun Woo.

I love him so much.

"Areum?" I heard him say, over the phone. "Your sister? W-why are you with her? Did I not say I would come and get you?" Hyun Woo continued, his tone rising fast and uneasy.

The smile on my face slacked off as I slowly turned to look at my twin sister who was still singing away. What could be wrong?

"Hyun Woo…"

"Aera, get out of her car right now. I will send my secretary to come get you. No, no. I'm coming over to you right now!"

"But…"

"Shut up and listen to me, please. Just…"

Maybe he was right or maybe he called too late. Maybe he should have come when I called for him, maybe he should have taken the day off for me.

My phone slipped out of my hand as the car somersaulted multiple times on the high roads just like in the movies, maybe even more deadly. I groped my tummy hard as I had to protect the life within me at all cost.

Not my baby.

Not my baby.

Shards of glass perched through my skin and my head spun a lot, my eyes were unbalanced and all I could see when the dramatic roll stopped

…was smoke

…and then the world was upside down

…and then, there was nothing.

"Aera?... Babe?... Honey?!"

°~°~°~°

SIX MONTHS LATER

"Can you see me?" A woman asked me the moment I finally forced myself to open my eyes.

Dim lights, white walls, delicate, intricately designed ceiling, an IV drip bag with its roots plugged into my hand, the constant beep of a heart rate monitor and standing by the door was Hyun Woo.

"Where am I?"

"She's awake!"

As if everyone was waiting, patiently waiting for me to come back to life, they all rushed in full of smiles. The feeling was good.

Really good.

Mom was here and she fondled my cheeks countless times. I saw her cry and then she smiled. She kissed my cheeks, held my hands to make them warm, told me;

"Thank you for coming back to me, my baby."

I smiled.

Is this what it feels like to be loved dearly by mom? Dad bought me a limited edition car to celebrate my comeback after a six months coma. But, Hyun Woo was distant. So was Areum.

Why?

I never got to tell him about the baby.

"Mom, what happened to my baby? Is it okay?" I asked mom one night as she slept next to me in bed.

"What baby?" She had replied with utter confusion on her face.

Did I lose my baby?

Without even seeing its face?

I cried.

Mom couldn't ask why.

Until she said;

"It's okay, Areum."

Areum?

"Mom, why are you calling me Areum? I'm Aera."

I stood up from the bed and gave her a questioning look. What was happening? Why haven't I been able to speak to my husband ever since I woke up? Why am I being called Areum when I'm Aera? What is happening?

"I want to be with Hyun Woo tonight. I need my husband."

"What husband?" She replied with a snicker on her lips. "Why would you want to be in your sister's husband's arms? Hyun Woo belongs to Aera and not you."

"Mom!"

"She's right." Another voice boomed, walking in as if they had been listening to the conversation from the beginning.

It was dad.

"Aera, Hyun Woo belongs to Areum now, so is your name. I'm sorry you're not my favorite, but my daughter has to have all the perfect things. Both your husband and your grandpa's will. Areum will rule this empire as Aera." He coldly said with a wild grin on his face.

My baby.

My husband.

My inheritance.

My name.

They've all been stolen from me in one night, with one accident, with one single breath. That's the perk of sharing the same face with someone. Everything gets taken, but at least

…give me my name back!