“Did you see the way he lied just then?” Ben whispers as Tom looks at him in shock.

“Ben, even a child could tell he was covering for you.”

“He’s totally faking,” Ben says convinced. Tom stares at his friend concerned as Ben’s face now turned maniacal. It was a strange feeling Ben had when he heard Andrew lie, it wasn’t what he said but the way he said it, almost like he was mocking him. He felt that before when fencing with Nicholas and in almost every one of their interactions. Now Ben had a certain reassurance, this man is Nichols. But Tom on the other hand is convinced otherwise.

“Let’s just take him home and no more incidents please,” Ann says sternly as the two men nod. Tom no longer has any agenda against the man but Ben does. He is convinced of the man’s identity but not his circumstance.

About a week later, Andrew is still recovering and has decided to take an online course to help him get a job. Ben is now determined to expose ‘Nicholas’ but cannot get close to him with Ann’s constant interference. Ann has made sure Ben would not hurt Andrew again and so would not let Ben take him out or even come near him again.

Ann is in a constant struggle with her emotion and now at work, she cannot help but sigh because of the situation.

“What’s wrong?” Emma asks noticing her friend deep in thought.

“Nothing,” as Ann replies Emma can’t take her silence on the matter any longer.

“I know I said I’ll give you your space but we’re best friends so that’s not going to happen,” Emma says hoping to see a grin however she’s met with silence. “I know it’s about Nicholas but I don’t know the details. You seem so different ever since…”

“Andrew,” Ann says sighing and then pauses for a moment. “He said he remembers his name is Andrew.”

“That was quick,” Emma says surprised. “Is that all he remembers?”

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“So far,” Ann replies. “He remembered when Ben slammed a door to his head knocking him out.”

“What is wrong with your boyfriend!” Emma says annoyed. “Sorry Ann, I know you love him but he can’t be this impulsive all the time. This could have ended terribly.”

“That’s what I said,” Ann says. “I think Ben is convinced this guy is my ex.”

“Why? Does he look like him or something,” Emma comments as Ann gives her a look. “Oh.”

“Nicholas used to have brown hair and had a tattoo as well. This guy doesn’t have that.”

“Yet, you think this Andrew and Nicholas are the same person?” Emma asks. “It’s not unlikely but I mean you can change your hair colour and remove a tattoo. But if he says he remembers his name and it probably is not Nicholas.”

“That’s right,” Ann lets out a painful sigh again. She wants the man she brought home to be the man she once loved. It was not because she hoped he returned to her life, but, simply because she wanted to relive the memories she had with him, the way he spoke, the way they laughed together, the way he made her happy...

Ever since she saw him in that cabin, all her buried feeling suddenly sprouted up like a flower in spring. But like the season’s change, the situations caused her joy to be short-lived. She has gone through his reports and she knows for a fact that he has amnesia. In order to protect him from the police and other dangers, she wanted to have him close and so, brought him home. However, this recent revelation about this name left Ann disappointed and with many questions. ‘Who was that man living in her house? Why does this man look like Nicholas? And where is the real Nicholas?’

“Ann, there’s a lot you aren’t telling me, right?” Emma asks noticing her friend’s clear dilemma.

“If I knew the answers, I would have told you,” Ann replied.

“Does he know?”

“What?”

“That you guys named him after your ex-boyfriend,” Emma says and, in that moment, Ann realised what might happen if he found out. “He needs to know.”

“I know,” Ann says as she finishes lunch. She knows that hiding such information from Andrew is not a good idea. If he found out otherwise, not only would he feel betrayed but he would worry they brought him here with ill intentions. Not wanting to upset the already hurt man, Ann decides to tell him the truth soon.

Ann then goes to her office as she takes a moment to calm down and think. Admitting such a thing to Andrew would crush him, in his eyes, Ben and Ann are two kind strangers who helped him. He even went so far as to cover for Ben, there’s no saying how he would feel when he learns the truth. But what worried Ann the most is Ben telling him, she knows she can handle the situation better. Also, Ben might say certain things that aren’t necessary in Ann’s opinion and it’s better she tell Andrew before Ben does.

“May I come in doctor?” a tall man with hazel eyes and silky brown hair stands at the door.

“Good afternoon, Kane.”