Sincere Lies

Seventeen

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I was staring at the picture of Cerulean's mask attached to a page in my Scrapbook of Moments, analyzing the color of the mask. Maybe I had already noticed it before, but I couldn't help but think, like, Cerulean is different from the shade this mask had shown, which was teal. Then, suddenly, I started to gradually realize that we all have a difference from the person everyone calls us. Kung sino man ang nag-design at nag-name ng mask na ito, siguro ay may hidden meaning siya rito. That was what I thought as I touched the mask on my face, and the thickness of the mask welcomed me into its expensively crafted presence.

"Cerulean," a voice called. And I thought it was familiar.

I turned around to see who it was, expecting Chris. When I looked up to the gentleman's face, I saw an all-black mask covering three-quarters of his face, but as soon as he stepped in front of me and as soon as the light had hit his face, the mask turned out to be an extremely dark shade of blue.

"I'm Gideon Thorne," he said as he held his hand out for a handshake.

"Y-you already know who I am," I uttered, looking him in the eye.

"Yes, you're Cerulean," he said, sitting on the chair in front of me.

"How did you know?" I asked and looked away.

"Don't look away, Cerulean," he said. "There's nothing to be shy about."

I set my eyes back on his, analyzing the Sapphire blue contact lenses on his eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked, although I was already kind of nonchalant about the conversation. Nawalan na ako ng paki, and I was just messing with the situation.

"Do you really know me?" I asked again.

"Yes, and I think you're really pretty."

"Huh?" I uttered. Then, I whispered, "I'm just a nobody."

I was about to roll my eyes because I just knew this person would be someone Chris would punch, but he said, "And nobody's perfect."

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang matagal because I thought I just knew who this person was. But I wanted to keep on playing with him.

"And?" I smirked.

"And nobody's precious," Gideon said, smiling. "And she's also so adorable."

"Oh, come on, you're lying," I said, giggling.

"You know. . . the secret to all my lies is sincerity," he said.

"My pardon, Chris?"

"Never mind," he said, brushing off the fact that I recognized him and called him by the name he always used to meet me because of his choice of words.

"You know, I lie sincerely, too," I said.

"What do you mean, my lady?"

"Nothing. Never mind," I said, pulling a mini revenge because he also said "never mind."

We sat there in silence as the people around us remained the opposite. I had questions in my mind. And they were like this: What is this for? Why did he introduce his other mask to me? Isn't that supposed to be kept as, like, a secret? Why?

"Uh. . . why are you, like. . ." I uttered, suddenly refusing to look at him the way I looked him when he was Chris.

"Hmm?"

At the sound of his voice, I almost fainted. Just kidding. But it was just so beautiful—the tone of his voice. It was the voice of the love of my life—Cerulean's, at least—and it sounded so good to my ears. I just loved hearing it.

I almost rolled my eyes at my thoughts. But good thing, I didn't in real life because if I did roll my eyes, I knew Gideon would ask why, and I didn't want him to know about my cringe-y thoughts. I am so corny, and it's getting gross.

"Uh. . ." I said, yanking myself out of my thoughts. . . again, "I mean, why do you do this?"

"Do what?" he chuckled.

"Why are you introducing me to another mask?" I asked. "Did something bad happen to Chris? Did he, like, you know?"

"What?"

"Get hacked?" I snorted.

Tumawa lang si Gideon nang marinig niya 'yon. When I realized what I said and how ridiculous it sounded, I laughed as well.

"How would masks get hacked?" he laughed, face-palming.

"I mean, like, no!" I giggled. "I meant 'stolen' or 'lost'."

"Nope," he said, smiling.

"Mabuti naman," I sighed, in relief, yes. "Pero bakit mo nga 'to ginagawa?"

"I just. . ." he started, "wanted you to know this other mask just in case something bad happens or my mask, Chris, gets 'hacked,' as you say."

"Uh. . . okay," I uttered.

"In case lang na magkaproblema," he said then winked in a chill manner.

My goodness, he didn't have to do that. Kahit na hindi 'yon flirtatious wink, damn.

"Did I make you uncomfortable a while ago, my lady?" Gideon asked, while I was still processing to be used to his other mask's name.

"No," I giggled. "But the moment you flirted with me, that's when I knew you would be someone 'Chris' would punch."

Then, Gideon laughed, mumbling, "No, no."

"I'm just telling the truth about what was on my mind," I said, smiling.

"You're damn funny on that one," he said.

"But uhm. . ." I started, "thank you."

"Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for lending me your time in introducing this other mask," I said. "Thank you for thinking about what to do about us when something happens to your mask Chris."

"Of course, my lady," he smiled.

"Thank you for caring about me," I said. "I know you didn't have to do this because this is just a town of lies and—"

"Hey," Gideon said, lifting my chin up despite the space in between us taken up by the table.

And to be honest, it felt more romantic that way.

"Don't ever think that I won't do things for you," he said. "You're my lady, and I can never afford losing you."

Slowly, I felt myself smiling upon his words. Just like that, I felt the happiest I've been again, just like how he always made me feel. I felt so valued and so loved.

"Never, okay?" he said, looking directly into my eyes.

"Okay."

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