Two Faces, One Fate
Ep 1 - The new beginning
*The black car stopped in front of the huge stone building. On top of it, the letters read : Oxford University Press.*
Damian Carter Miller
so this is it… to the world, I no longer exist. from today, I live as Dylan.
Damian Carter Miller
Did I forget to introduce myself? I’m Damian. I have a twin brother his name is Dylan.
*pauses for a moment, staring up at the tall building.*
Damian Carter Miller
we may have shared the same face… but our lives were nothing alike.
Damian Carter Miller
Dylan grew up in the city with our father. He was the perfect son kind, gentle, and smart. Father adored him.
Damian Carter Miller
Me? I was sent away to the province. I studied there quietly, far from Father’s world, far from Dylan’s shadow.
Damian Carter Miller
But that day… when we visited our mother’s grave together, everything changed.
We got into an accident.
And Dylan… my twin… didn’t make it.
Damian Carter Miller
but when I woke up, the name on the tombstone wasn’t his, it was mine.
*his eyes darken as he takes a step forward, students’ chatter echoing around him.*
Damian Carter Miller
My father erased me. To the world, Damian Miller no longer exists. I was forced to live as Dylan… to take his name, his life, his world.
Damian Carter Miller
so here I am now… standing in front of a new school, living my brother's life.
*he takes a deep breath, adjusts his bag, and walks through the wide hallways. Students laugh and chat around him. His steps feel heavy, but he keeps moving until he finds the classroom.*
Zykie Jude
dylan! man, you’re back. Where have you been these past months?
Cleonel Jay
yeah, you just disappeared last semester. We thought you transferred or something.
*Damian freezes for a second, the cheerful energy around him doesn’t match the weight in his chest. He forces a small smile, remembering he must act like Dylan.*
Damian Carter Miller
Ah… yeah. Just… had to deal with some family stuff. Sorry for making you all worry.
** - actions
() - thoughts
The room suddenly quiets as footsteps echo at the doorway. The class president walks in.
Aysha - Vice President
be quiet everyone! pres yuan's here.
*Shan Yuan sets his books down on the desk, his gaze sweeping across the room until it lands on Damian.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
alright, get your math books. Open them to page 52. *firmly*
*Everyone moves quickly, flipping pages. Damian hesitates, frozen. Shan Yuan’s eyes narrow as they fall on him again.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Where’s your book, Mr. Miller?
Damian stiffens at the name. He forces a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
Damian Carter Miller
Oh… I… left it at home.
Shan Yuan Haynes
*raising an eyebrow* “you’ve been absent for two months, and now you show up without your book? You were always one of the most active students, weren’t you?”
*the class looks between the two, sensing tension. Damian forces a smile, but inside, his chest tightens.*
Damian Carter Miller
(Dylan, was this the person you admired so much? Why does he feel more like an enemy than a friend?) *thinking*
Shan Yuan Haynes
since you were absent for two months, you’ve already missed last month’s lessons. And now, you didn’t even bring a single book…
Shan Yuan Haynes
Try solving this, Mr. Miller. *sternly*
He grips the chalk, staring at the equations on the board.
Damian Carter Miller
*thinking* (Dylan, was this your daily life? Was this the pressure you faced from him?)
Damian Carter Miller
(Dylan admired you this much? You feel more like an enemy than a friend.)
*He starts writing on the board without hesitation. His strokes are quick, sharp, and clean.*
Damian Carter Miller
the answer is… this.
Krystal - Secretary
Whoa, that was fast…
Zykie Jude
he's solving it so easily. Damn dylan! how to be like you?
Aysha - Vice President
it's the real definition of being smart.
Shan Yuan Haynes
*pausing, then frowning slightly* “…Not bad, Mr. Miller. I suppose two months didn’t dull your skills.”
Damian Carter Miller
(Skills, huh? No, Shan Yuan Haynes. You don’t know me. I’m not Dylan.)
[Cafeteria – Noon]
Damian walks into the cafeteria with his tray. The same classmates from earlier wave him over.
Zykie Jude
dylan! over here! *grinning*
*Damian sits down, trying to keep Dylan’s easygoing smile on his face.*
Faye
dylan, you solved that math problem like it was nothing. I swear, you and Yuan are on a different level.
Zykie Jude
yeah, but wait a second
you always hated math, right? You said you prefer English.
the table quiets a little, curious eyes turning to him. Damian freezes for a split second, then forces a small laugh.
*thinking, panic under control*
Damian Carter Miller
(dylan hated math? Tch… I didn’t know that…)
Damian Carter Miller
oh, my father got me a tutor while I was away. I… studied in advance.
the table quiets for a second, then bursts into laughter and teasing.
*Suddenly Shan Yuan Haynes walks in, followed by his usual group of smart, popular friends.*
*they head straight to their table, not even glancing at Damian’s side.*
Zykie Jude
“Speaking of the genius…” *he tilts his head toward Yuan’s group, settling down across the room.*
Cleonel Jay
*leaning closer to Damian* “Dylan, do you still like Shan Yuan? I heard he got a girlfriend these past two months while you were away.”
*Damian freezes, his fork pausing in midair. He glances toward Yuan, who is sitting gracefully among his circle, flipping through a book even while others chat around him. His presence is commanding cold, unreachable.*
Damian Carter Miller
(Like him…? Dylan, so this was real. It wasn’t just rivalry… you actually admired him. Maybe even… loved him.)
Damian Carter Miller
(damn, what am I getting myself into?)
Damian Carter Miller
Oh?A girlfriend? *aloud*
Cleonel Jay
rumors, you know. But with Shan Yuan, anything’s possible. Still, I never thought you’d actually have a crush on him, Dylan. *chuckling*
Faye
come on, don’t say that like it’s new. He’s had a crush on him since high school. *chuckled*
Damian Carter Miller
*eyes widen slightly, then lowers his gaze*
“…High school?”
*thinking, gripping his fork tightly*
Damian Carter Miller
(So it wasn’t just a simple crush… Dylan liked him for that long? He never even told me…)
Zykie Jude
See? You’re blushing again. Some things never change, huh Dylan? *laughing*
Damian Carter Miller
*forcing a small smile, voice low* “…Yeah. Some things never change”
(Except everything has. Because the Dylan you all knew… is gone.)
Ep 2 - Now living as Dylan.
*they all went back to their classroom after lunch*
*everyone settles back to their seats. Damian sits quietly, his hand resting on Dylan’s old notebook, the only thing he has of his brother. *
Damian Carter Miller
this notebook… Dylan’s handwriting. His secrets, his dreams, his feelings… If I read it, maybe I’ll understand the life I’m forced to live.
*he opens it slowly. The first few pages are full of jokes, doodles, and class notes. But then
A line catches his eyes.*
Damian Carter Miller
“Shan Yuan Haynes… ever since high school, I’ve admired you. You’re always so far ahead, but just once… I want to stand beside you.” *he read it on his mind.
*he freezes, his chest tightens.*
Damian Carter Miller
(so I'm not wrong..Dylan really liked him...No he admired him. But why does it feel so heavy when I look at Shan Yuan myself?)
*Suddenly the teacher enters with Shan Yuan at his side, handing out papers.*
Mrs. Lilah
Good afternoon class. For this project, you’ll be working in pairs. This project is simple. You will get to know your partner by your heart, genuinely. After four weeks, you’ll stand here and present what you’ve learned about him or her. I’ll give you the freedom to choose anyone you want.
Excitement erupts immediately. Students begin shifting seats, calling out to friends.
Damian Carter Miller
Shit… what should I do? Cleonel and Zykie already paired up. I don’t know anyone else well enough. *panicking*
*he looks down at Dylan’s old notebook, fingers tightening around it.*
Damian Carter Miller
(no… maybe this is my chance. If I want to understand Dylan… I need to get closer to him.)
*Slowly, Damian stands up and walk towards Yuan.*
Damian Carter Miller
“Let’s—” *nervous*
*Before he could finish, the prettiest girl in class steps forward, all smiles.*
Celestine
Let’s pair up, Yuan. *sweet smile*
Shan Yuan Haynes
I'm not interested.
*pauses, then his gaze shifts past her, landing on Damian. His eyes narrow slightly. He shoves her hand aside, calm but firm.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
after class. Library. Don’t be late. *calmly, turning to him*
*without waiting for an answer, Yuan turns back to his seat, cool and composed as if nothing happened.*
🌞 At the library late afternoon.
Shan Yuan Haynes
I'll start first, who exactly are you? *calm but firm*
*Damian freezes, the words hitting harder than he expected.*
Damian Carter Miller
(So this is the reason why you agreed… to pair up with me. You’re indeed smart and observant, Shan Yuan.) *thoughts*
Damian Carter Miller
What do you mean? I’m Dylan. Who else would I be? *aloud, lightly*
*yuan leans in slightly, his eyes narrowing, scanning every movement of Damian’s face.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
The Dylan I knew never solved math problems that fast. He hated it. The Dylan I knew… laughed louder, talked more. But you—”
Shan Yuan Haynes
*he pauses, voice steady* “—you’re not him.*
Damian Carter Miller
(So he already noticed… this is dangerous. I can’t let him find out the truth.)
Shan Yuan Haynes
Where did you hide him? What did you do to Dylan? *serious staring*
Damian Carter Miller
Hide him? What are you talking about?” *mind racing, keeping calm*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Don’t play dumb. You may look like him, but your eyes, your tone… Dylan was cheerful, reckless. You… you’re too careful, too cold. *narrowing his eyes*
Damian Carter Miller
(you’re sharper than I thought, Shan Yuan…) *thoughts*
Damian Carter Miller
Maybe… people just change after being gone for two months.” *aloud, with a faint smirk*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Or maybe you’re not Dylan at all.
📱 [suddenly phone rings — “Father” on the screen]
Damian Carter Miller
sorry...It's my father. I have to go. *stands up quickly*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Tch. Running away already? *watching, coldly*
Damian Carter Miller
Let's continue tomorrow, pres. Take care! *turning his back, forcing a small smile*
*he leaves the library, leaving Yuan staring after him, suspicion in his eyes.*
Damian Carter Miller
*walking out of the library, slipping his phone back in his pocket, whispering*
“Thank God I set up a fake caller app…”
*he exhales in relief and heads toward the school gate.*
A sleek black car stops in front of him. The driver steps out and opens the door respectfully🚗
Uncle Driver Zane
get in, young master!
Damian Carter Miller
Pheww😮💨 just in time. Thank you, Uncle Zane.
Damian Carter Miller
Let me introduce you to my uncle driver. Ever since the accident, he’s been the one picking me up and dropping me off. Uncle Zane isn’t just a driver… he’s the only one who truly understands me as Damian and not Dylan. *narrating*
The car stops in front of their grand house. Uncle Zane opens the door for him.
Uncle Driver Zane
your father is waiting for you inside. *smiled*
Damian Carter Miller
He’s too early to be home. *frowning*
Damian walks into the dining hall. His father is already seated at the head of the long table, the silence heavy. Damian sits down across from him.
Tyler Dale Miller - Dad
come here, take a seat. How's school?
Damian Carter Miller
It’s… good to be Dylan, I guess. But… can’t I be Damian here at home? *forcing a small smile*
*His father’s eyes harden, his voice cold and final.*
Tyler Dale Miller - Dad
you’re no longer Damian. He’s dead. You are Dylan. Don’t mention his name again.
*damian lowers his gaze, his hand tightening into a fist beneath the table.*
*damian forces himself to eat, though every bite tastes like ashes. The weight of living as Dylan suffocates him. After dinner, he excuses himself and retreats to his room.*
*Inside, he locks the door, collapsing onto the bed. He pulls out Dylan’s diary, flipping through familiar scribbles.*
Damian Carter Miller
Dylan… you admired Shan Yuan so much. You wrote pages about him..his kindness, his brilliance… even his smile. And now, I have to stand in front of him, pretending to be you. Do you know how cruel that is? *thoughts*
*he slams the diary shut, staring at the ceiling, torn between duty and his own identity.*
Damian Carter Miller
I should be the one who died…*tears falling*
Damian Carter Miller
you deserved to live more than me, Dylan. You were kind, cheerful, loved… I’m just a shadow, forced to carry your name..*thoughts*
Ep 3 - Memories Only We Know
*Damian wipes his tears, unlocks Dylan’s phone. He hesitates, then searches “Shan Yuan” on Instagram. The profile pops up: @shanyuan_hayes. 14.6K followers. 55 posts.*
Damian Carter Miller
Woah..He’s… famous. *frowning*
*he scrolls down, staring at the posts yuan by the beach, smiling with teammates, late-night campus photos, even small things like food and a keychain.*
*as he scrolls down, he freezes.*
It’s a picture of Yuan at the beach… standing beside another boy. The boy’s face isn’t shown only his back but Damian’s breath catches.
📱 Caption: “sunset with someone special 🌅”
Damian Carter Miller
that's Dylan, I can't be wrong. It must be him.
Damian Carter Miller
‘someone special’… was Dylan really that person to Yuan? Did Yuan… love him back?
Damian Carter Miller
Or maybe… there’s something more about them two.
Damian Carter Miller
I should check… their convo. *he swallows, staring at the photo, then clenches the phone tighter.*
*Damian stares at the phone for a long moment, then hesitantly opens the private messages between Dylan and Yuan.*
Damian scrolls back to the date. His chest goes numb.
June 11.
His eyes widen, the air in his lungs suddenly heavy.
Damian Carter Miller
That day… the day before we were supposed to visit Mom’s grave.
Damian Carter Miller
so the night before… Dylan confessed to Yuan. They fought. And the next morning… he got into that accident..
*voice cracking*
Damian Carter Miller
if only I… If only I was the one who died instead.
Damian Carter Miller
I get it now… The reason why Yuan knew I wasn’t Dylan… is because when I came back, I acted like nothing happened.
*he shuts his eyes, replaying Dylan’s angry confession, the rejection, the fight… then the crash.*
Damian Carter Miller
yuan doesn’t even know Dylan died the next day. To him, Dylan just vanished after that fight. And the Dylan who came back… wasn’t the same one.
*his voice cracks as he mutters*
Damian Carter Miller
I’m just a replacement.
Next Morning – Classroom
Damian walks into class, looking like he didn’t sleep. His eyes are a little red, but he forces a smile.
*students are chatting, the teacher hasn’t arrived yet. Shan Yuan is already at his seat, scrolling on his phone. He glances up briefly when Damian enters, but says nothing.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
did you cry?you look like hell. *raises a brow, smirks faintly*
Damian Carter Miller
Didn’t really… sleep much.
Shan Yuan Haynes
Hm. Figures. Maybe because you’re hiding something?
*Damian stiffens, caught off guard. Before he can reply, the teacher enters.*
Mrs. Lilah
Alright class, today is your first day of the project. Remember, you have four weeks to prepare, so start knowing your partner by heart. Use today to ask questions, learn, and write down your first impressions.
*The class groans a little, but pairs start gathering.*
*yuan closes his notebook and gestures to the seat beside him.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Sit. Let’s start. We didn't finish yesterday.
*damian sits down, nervous. Yuan immediately leans forward.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
so… dylan. Why don’t we start with something simple? *he stares at him intently, like he’s trying to read his soul.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
What’s your… favorite memory? *slowly, testing him*
*Damian freezes. His mind goes blank. On one hand, he doesn’t know Dylan’s real favorite memory. On the other… his own favorite memory as Damian is completely different.
He grips his pen tightly.*
Damian Carter Miller
(Shit… if I answer wrong, he’ll know. But if I answer as myself… he’ll notice too…)
Shan Yuan Haynes
What’s wrong? You used to answer this one so quickly. *tilts his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.*
Damian Carter Miller
oh…it’s… at the beach, with you.
Shan Yuan Haynes
What about the beach?*eyebrow raised, probing*
Damian Carter Miller
When… we were together, yeah… that’s it. *forcing a casual tone*
*yuan studies him in silence for a beat, then smiles faintly warm on the surface, but his eyes say otherwise.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
“…I see.” *smiling, almost amused*
Damian Carter Miller
what about you? What’s… your favorite memory of us? Only we would know?
Shan Yuan Haynes
Honestly? That one time you told me you wanted to kiss me under the bleachers. *teasing but sharp*
*Damian’s eyes widen. His throat tightens. He freezes hands gripping the edge of the desk.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
What? Surprised I remembered? You said it first, Dylan.
The silence between them stretches. Damian doesn’t laugh, doesn’t deny his shock says enough.
Shan Yuan Haynes
Got you. Dylan would’ve laughed it off, turned it into a joke. But you… you’re not him, are you?
Damian Carter Miller
What do you mean? I’m Dylan… there’s no difference. I just… *forcing a shaky laugh*
Shan Yuan Haynes
There’s a lot of differences, actually. If you’re really Dylan… you wouldn’t be acting tough in front of me right now. *He leans closer, eyes narrowing.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
I knew him well… better than anyone. So tell me who are you, actually?
Damian Carter Miller
I'm...
*he waited for damian's response*
Damian Carter Miller
I'm Dylan Carson Miller, the son of Mr. Tyler Dale Miller. What do you expect me to say?
Shan Yuan Haynes
You might not admit it for now… but soon, I’ll make you admit it. Right in front of me.
Damian’s fingers tighten around his notebook, his throat dry. For the first time, he realizes: Yuan isn’t just suspicious, he’s certain.
Damian Carter Miller
(Dylan. Why did you got yourself Involved with this guy?it's making things difficult for me to live as you.)
Shan Yuan Haynes
Stay here. Sit with me. I’ll have to keep my eyes on you. *Patting the seat beside him, half-smirk.*
Damian Carter Miller
What, are you my boyfriend? Tch.*rolling his eyes, arms crossed.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Do you want to be? *teasing*
Damian Carter Miller
“Stop daydreaming.” *snapping back, a faint blush he tries to hide.*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Dylan liked me. So it’s clear you’re not him.
*Expression hardens, tone sharper.*
Damian Carter Miller
(shit, Damian. Busted again!?)
Damian freezes, his breath catching for a split second before forcing a scoff, but his eyes betray him.
Damian Carter Miller
Tch… I told you already, I’m Dylan. Stop messing with me.
Shan Yuan Haynes
Oh really?then prove it. "voice, law and calm. Teasing*
Damian Carter Miller
prove what? *tense*
Shan Yuan Haynes
If you’re really Dylan… then tell me what did you whisper to me that night, after the fireworks? The night only the two of us shared. *smirking*
(Damian eyes widen, heart pounding he has no idea what Dylan said. His fists clench under the table as he forces himself to look calm)
Damian Carter Miller
I don’t remember every little thing, Yuan.
Shan Yuan Haynes
That’s the problem. Dylan remembered everything about me. *chuckling, eyes sharp*
Damian Carter Miller
Enough. I’m tired of this conversation. *turns his face away, muttering*
Shan Yuan Haynes
Sooner or later, you’ll admit it. And when you do I’ll be waiting.
*Damian feels a chill run down his spine, but he keeps his expression cold, pretending Yuan’s words don’t bother him.*
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play