Sincere Lies

Twenty-Eight

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"Hey, I saw your drawing called 'To Stand'," Chris said, welcoming me in his arms. "It was so powerful. Napakaganda rin ng iba mo pang in-exhibit sa Dreamers' Gallery."

"Really?" I said in disbelief, smiling at the thought of Chris visiting the Dreamers' Gallery for me or my artworks.

"Yeah, of course," Chris chuckled, his arms crossed as he leaned on the wall on the balcony. "Ikaw lang naman ang ipinunta ko kahapon doon."

"Oh, my," I smiled. "I guess it's true that some people make you feel lucky by telling you so, while some make you feel lucky because you have them."

"Well, I agree," Chris smiled back at me. "I'm so lucky because I have you."

"No, I'm so lucky because I have you."

There was silence. There was just a stare he gave me. I looked down, feeling like the most beautiful lady within the walls of Town in a Building.

"I don't know how you found me gorgeous at all," I said. "I know I might regret this, but may I know who are the amazing girls you liked?"

"You," he smiled.

"I mean. . . before me," I said, knowing that I would probably regret it anytime soon.

"Hmm. . ." he uttered, "you know Blair, the teen actress of our age?"

"Yeah," I nodded, recalling her face in my head. "Blair Brillantes?"

"Yeah," he nodded, looking at the skies behind me. "I found her really beautiful."

"Yeah," I said, smiling. "She really is beautiful."

She's someone I envy. Everyone knows her name. Everyone adores her. Everyone thinks she's beautiful.

And no one told me I actually looked lovely except Chris.

"Sino pa?" I bravely asked, smiling to conceal the tiny amount of jealousy I could feel. It was better off that way. That I knew who were the people that captured his heart. That I knew who were the ones I would expect to be with him if he would leave me again.

"A female basketball player in our school," he said. "She's awesome."

"Tell me more," I smiled as the jealousy grew more. I kept on wanting to feed it as time went on and on. It felt satisfyingly hurtful.

"Our class president who was also our rank 1," he smiled. "She's really good at academics."

"Oh, okay," I said, nodding.

"Wait, are you jealous?" Chris chuckled, lifting my chin. "My lady, they amazed me only when I still haven't met you."

"No," I said, faking a smile. I knew so well that I was going to be jealous, but what the heck did I do? I asked him to tell me more. "I'm not jealous."

"Really?" Chris pouted.

"Yeah, I'm not jealous." I lied.

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The whole week was "Be Your Everything" in a nutshell, but it was reversed. Half of the week, Chris and I were sweet and in love—even joking about how those three girls he mentioned made me jealous, while the other half of the week—which ended today, this Saturday—was painfully bland.