Jake arrived at the same hotel early the next morning, still jet lagged from the long flight. He barely threw his bag inside his room before heading straight to Mercy’s door. Without hesitation, he started ringing the doorbell repeatedly, the noise echoing through the hallway but luckily nobody was there to notice since it was too early and it was weekend.
Mercy cursed under her breath as she stumbled out of bed. Her hair was a wild mess, and she could barely open her eyes. She shuffled to the door, muttering, “Who the hell...?”The moment she cracked the door open, Jake burst inside, nearly knocking her over. “What the hell, Jake?” she groaned.
Jake, unfazed, jumped onto her bed, making himself comfortable. “Alright, spill it. What’s going on? Why did you drag me to Paris?”Mercy rubbed her temples, trying to shake off her grogginess. “Ugh, you’re like a hyperactive puppy.” She sulked her way to the phone and dialed room service. “Hi, I need coffee. Lots of it. Stat. Thanks.”Jake sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at her expectantly. “Well?”
Mercy plopped down on the edge of the bed, sighing dramatically. “I’ll tell you everything, but first, you need to chill, bro. Get some rest because we’re heading to an art gallery later in the afternoon.”Jake blinked. “An art gallery? Mercy, are you serious? I flew all the way here for an art gallery?Why? Was Leonardo Da Vinci resurrected?”
Mercy shot him a look. “I think stardom has got to your head. You have started to think too high of yourself.It’s not just any art gallery. Trust me, it’s important.”
Jake flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “This better be good.”Mercy couldn’t help but smirk. “Oh, it will be. But you’re gonna need some coffee before you can handle the rest of the day.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Mercy hopped up and let the room service in, a tray laden with coffee and pastries.
She handed a cup to Jake, who sat up eagerly. “Okay, you’ve got my attention. Start talking.”Mercy took a sip of her coffee, savoring it. “Alright, so here’s the deal. We’ve got a big day ahead, but I’m not giving away all the surprises.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. “Surprises? Mercy, you know I hate surprises.”Mercy grinned. “Yeah, but you love my surprises. Just trust me on this. We’re going to the art gallery first thing. Then we’ve got a few more stops.”
Jake sipped his coffee, looking skeptical. “And this art gallery...?”
Mercy nodded vigorously. “Yep, it’s gonna be amazing. We’re talking world-class art. Plus, it’s part of a bigger plan.”Jake shook his head, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Fine, but if this is another one of your wild goose chases...”
Mercy cut him off, waving her hand dismissively. “You’ll thank me later, promise.”
They spent the next few minutes drinking coffee and bantering, Jake slowly waking up and starting to feel something different,something good in the air of that unknown city.He was feeling alive and he loved it. Mercy filled him in on some of the details, hinting at the surprises in store but never mentioning Lea.As they finished their breakfast, Jake leaned back, feeling more relaxed and full. “Alright, Mercy. I will nap a little. Wake me up when it's time to dress up. ”
Mercy grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, you’re in for a treat, big bro.You will need this rest." Lea tucked him in, pulling the blanket over him and taking off his shoes as he drifted off.
***
A few hours later, Jake was awakened by Mercy gently shaking his shoulder. “Hey, sleepyhead. Time to get up.”
Jake rubbed his eyes and yawned. “What time is it?”
“Almost noon. Get dressed. We’re heading out soon,” Mercy replied, tossing him a fresh set of clothes.Jake quickly got ready, his curiosity piqued. “You still haven’t told me what’s so special about this art gallery.”
Mercy smirked. “Patience, Jake. You’ll see.”Jake couldn’t help but be impressed by the grand building. “Okay, this place does look pretty cool.”
Mercy led the way inside, navigating through the crowds with ease. She stopped in front of a particular exhibit, grinning. “This is it.”
Jake looked around, puzzled. “What’s so special about this?”It wasn’t until they reached a particular section that he felt his breath catch in his throat.
Standing across the room, gazing intently at a painting was a woman who looked astonishingly like Lea. She was elegant and poised, her presence captivating even in a room full of art.
" This used to be Mother's favorite artist. She often grabbed me here when I was child. I hated it back then but now I see it's true worth !" Mercy pretended to be absorbed in a nearby piece, but she was carefully watching Jake’s reaction out of the corner of her eye. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she said softly, referring to the painting, but her eyes were on her brother.
Jake barely heard her, his focus entirely on Lea. “Yeah,” he muttered, his voice heavy and droopy.
Mercy decided it was time to make her move. “Come on, Jake. There’s more to see." Before he could be sure it was her, Mercy tugged his arm."Wait,” Jake protested, craning his neck to get another look, but the crowd had shifted, obscuring his view. “I think I saw someone…”
Mercy’s grip on his arm was firm but gentle. “You’re always seeing someone. Let’s keep moving.”Jake let himself be pulled along, though his mind was still back with the mysterious woman. “She looked different,” he murmured to himself, the image of her lingering in his thoughts.
Mercy glanced at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Different how?”
"More… I don’t know, more gorgeous. More… grown up. A woman...not a girl anymore,” Jake said, frustration creeping into his voice as he struggled to describe the feeling.
Mercy chuckled softly. “Paris has that effect on people. Let’s focus on the art, okay?”
"It’s such an honor to have you here!” The old curator in a tailored suit exclaimed, shaking Jake’s hand vigorously.It didn't take him much time to recognize the sibling duo. Jake tried to look over the man’s shoulder, but the crowd quickly closed in, cutting off his view of the woman. “Uh, thank you,” Jake said distractedly, his eyes scanning the room.
Mercy was immediately engaged in conversation with a group of art enthusiasts. “I’ve always admired the work of contemporary artists,” she said smoothly, her eyes flicking to Jake. “It’s a pleasure to support their craft.”Jake was jostled further away, losing sight of the mysterious woman entirely. “Excuse me, but I need to...” he started, but another admirer grabbed his attention, praising his recent ventures.
Frustration bubbled inside him as he exchanged pleasantries.“Come on, Jake. Let’s see if we can find something for my room,” Mercy finally said, pulling him away from the crowd.