Chapter 15 — Cheating
“I AM the real Audrey,” Althea repeated. “I am the first and real Audrey.”
Justin looked at her. The creased on his brows deepened. “You’re the real Audrey?” he repeated. “What do you mean?”
Althea raised an eyebrow at him. She took a deep breath and looked around the road. “I am the real Audrey. This is what she really is—I mean, this is really what I am. Audrey’s persona is just an alternate ego. The real me is me. Don’t you get it? You’re a psychology major, but you don’t get what I’m saying?”
Justin cleared his throat. He knew what she’s trying to explain; he just wanted her to keep talking so he could analyze her personality more. It’s normal for a person with dissociative identity disorder to think this way. All the characters that exist in a person’s body were a reflection of his or herself. But Audrey’s case was different. Her alter personality kept on insisting that she was the real persona and Audrey.
“I am the real Audrey,” Althea repeated in an irritated manner. “I don’t know when I started to acquire my name, or maybe I just forget it…” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Oh, I remember now…Dr. Edward—the jerk doctor, he’s the one that gave me this name. She created Audrey; he’s the one that woke up Audrey—”
“Dr. Edward? Your uncle?” Justin cut off with furrowed brows. He can’t keep up with every revelation she’s spilling.
“He’s not my uncle,” she said and was about to say more when a public bus with flashy tarpaulin passed by them. “Oh, I think I would like to try that famous claw machine!” she said, pointing at the public bus. “I remember when I was a child, Uncle Edward taught me the cheat on getting the stuffed toy in time.” She giggled. “That doctor really knows a lot about cheating.”
Justin studied Althea’s face. This is his first time to encounter a person with split personalities, and he didn’t expect that it could be Audrey. That girl was so innocent and kindhearted. How could she have a mental disorder that can be acquired by having a traumatic childhood experience? Justin felt sad and worried for Audrey. What happened to her childhood that gave her this kind of sickness?
“Can we go now, Justin?” Althea interrupted his thoughts. “And, please, stop staring at me like that. Your Audrey girl will not wake up with that stare,” she said sarcastically and walked away first.
Justin followed her shortly. He doesn’t know now how Audrey will wake up. But then she remembered that Audrey went back to her senses when he came to save her from those bullies. Is it because of her emotion? Justin doesn’t know. He watched Althea walk confidently, unlike Audrey, who always keeps her head low and doesn’t want people to look at her. Audrey was a shy girl, while Althea was a fierce one.
“You know what? I envy Audrey because she can’t remember anything for our past,” Althea suddenly told him. They’re entering the mall, and the guards were about to check their bags. When it was Althea’s turn, she just placed it over the counter instead of opening her bag. “Check it by yourself.”
“Open it, miss—”
“It’s your job to open it, not mine,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“Excuse me?” The mall security eyed her name tag. “Miss Saavedra, do you want to visit our head office for not following our protocols?”
Justin quickly came to her rescue. He grabbed her bag and zipped it open. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. She’s not in the mood today.”
“Tell your girlfriend that we don’t have time for another Karen,” the security guard let them pass but took a note of Audrey’s name. “I’ll keep an eye on you.”
Althea glared back. “Whatever—”
Justin dragged her away. “Althea, please! I told you to stop doing anything that could Audrey in danger when you switch again.”
Althea glared at him. “One more ‘Audrey’ and I will make sure that you’ll regret involving yourself in our problem.” She walked away and didn’t even bother to wait for him.
Justin ran to keep up with her. “The Arcade section is at the top floor,” he said and took her hand. When the woman looked up at him, he said, “just to make sure that you won’t go anywhere.”
Althea smiled and inched closer to him. “If you’re always like this to me, I might behave and follow all your orders, Justin.”
“You’ll enjoy it here, I’m sure.” he looked at her and smiled. It was a genuine smile because what he saw while looking at her smiling face is Audrey.
“Yeah, poor Audrey, she will not remember this,” she said as she excitedly dragged him towards the claw machine.
“Why only you could remember? And not Audrey?” he asked. He fished out his wallet from his pocket to buy tokens.
“Because Audrey was just part of my subconscious,” she said casually. “Her persona is sleeping inside my head. When she takes over, I remained.” She held his eyes, “because I am the real Audrey.”
But Althea’s eyes were empty and shallow. What Justin can see in her eyes were hatred and an unexplainable eerie feeling. Every time she stared into her eyes, he felt as if he was looking through a deep well. While Audrey’s eyes were bright, full of joy and kindness. When cast by sunlight, her eyes sparkled with happiness.
“You’re the real Audrey because you remembered everything?” he asked, trying to fish for the information again.
Althea nodded. Her eyes were fixated on the tokens in his hand. “Audrey is fake,” she said and grabbed the coins from his hand. She hurried towards the claw machine. “Watch me get what I want.”
“Is that how Dr. Edward taught you?” he asked, watching her every move.
“Yes,” she said, grinning in excitement. “He taught me to wait for the weakest point to come before attacking.” She giggled. “Just like what she did to my mom.”