Sincere Lies

Nine

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"Dear, may naisip ako," Lannie—I mean. . . Zoey (the black mask she was wearing at the moment)—said, tugging at my arm. "May alam ako para ma-test natin ang loyalty or faithfulness ni Chris sa pinakahihintay niyang oo mo."

"Ha?" I said, chuckling because Zoey, like, crouched down and hid from someone who wasn't around or even existent. "Ba't ka ba nakaganyan? Sino ba pinagtataguan mo?"

It was another day of allowing this addiction called "Town in a Building" slide again. The building was a bit less crowded than yesterday, and the sky was a bit brighter than yesterday. It was another simple day, but this day was more exciting because I would be able to show "Mime" to Chris (after Zoey's plan, at least, maybe), because—well—he had the right to know, because. . . he made me so happy.

"Ganito, since curious ka naman sa Secret Mail at since ite-test natin ang loyalty ng suitor mo, may plano ako."

"Ano 'yon?"

"Ito na nga," she said, clearing her throat and standing up straight. "Kasi. . . basta, magse-send tayo ng message sa kanya gamit ang Degree One."

"U-uh. . . ano naman ang magiging laman no'n?" I asked. Again. Well, I forgot to tell you: Maddie was somewhere else, not with us. Maddie was busy being Azure. Yup.

"Kunyari galing sa akin, kay Zoey. Ang laman no'n, parang lalandiin ko," Zoey giggled.

With that, I snorted. Purat nga talaga 'tong pinsan ko. Ang lakas ng tama, e.

"Sige, sige, tapos nakasilip tayo?"

"Oo," she cackled.

"Sige, paano? Lead the way," I said.

"Firstly, we will go to the Secret Mailposts or the Secret Post Office."

"Wow, those are cool names for places."

"I know, right?"

"Pero may pagkakaiba ba 'yon?" I asked, sounding desperate for the information.

"Ang Secret Mailpost, parang mailpost mo plus locker, ta's 'yong Secret Post Office, 'yon ang mismong parang post office," Zoey explained.

"Ang dami palang pasikot-sikot," I said.

" 'I know, right?' again."

After the both of us understood what we had just planned, Zoey led the way to the Secret Post Office where messengers spend their time to. . . well, I guess. . . work. 'Di kaya magalit si Chris sa gagawin namin? I thought, still considering if we should do it or not. I was just there, pacing back and forth over the decision of whether we should continue it or not. But it just didn't work. I just. . . went along with the flow because of this sugar-rush-like happiness that overflowed through my brain.

All because one person asked me if he could court me. Well, Cerulean. Pero kinikilig pa rin ako, the fuck.

Zoey was walking beside me, just a few inches ahead to lead the way. She took me in front of the two now-iconic (in my head, at least) and marble-walled elevators of Town in a Building. Malinaw na malinaw pa sa isip ko kung ano ang nangyari noong mga unang pasok ko sa isa sa mga elevator na ito. Yes, I was held captive by Chris' mask, and of course, I met him.