The Sea

XII

"Hello," the girl greets, her little voice resonating in the air. Everyone takes notice of her presence. Normally they would go about their day. The only times they would look her way is when they asked a question. They are taken aback by her sudden gesture. She had never been the one to make the first move. She is so closed off that people assume she is being aloof. That's the magic of masking. That's the magic of pretending. No one knows who she really is. No one knows what she really feels. She hides behind a mask that covers her entire face. Not a single part of skin is visible on the surface. But today, everyone seems to think that something is different. It's like she grew two heads. It's like they don't even know who the person before them is. How ironic, because in truth, they were interacting with a clone in the first place.

Her lips are no longer painted red; it's pink like the color of the roses. It's unusual. Never has she worn a color so neutral. That boldness that accompanied her stoic mask is gone. It's replaced by the bare skin of her lips, no make-up. Suddenly, she smiles. It isn't a full blown grin that reaches her eyes. It's so subtle to even notice that the edges of her mouth are raised up.

She walks to her seat. She sits tall and straight. Her teacher is nowhere to be seen so she closes her eyes and takes a moment. She's back by the shore. Her smile grew. The waves greet her. She starts to walk to the water.

The sun is at a point where it's nearing the midday mark. The scenery is beautiful as the sea reflects the sunlight. It's hot on the skin but the breeze is like a cooling mint. It's a paradise of an ecosystem where harmony exists. She takes a deep breath and in that dimension closes her eyes. When she opens them, she is back to the reality that is her life. After that, she never lost her smile. In her ear, in her mind and before her eyes, she's surrounded by water that she has come to love. Despite the stares that she feels from a hundred of eyes, her small grin never falters even a second of time.

Day after day, night after night, every morning rise, the girl would practice and to herself makes a promise. Before the sea, before the fish, before the waves and before the island that has been her safe place, before her reflection on the water's surface, one by one, she takes off her mask. She uncovers the beauty under all that make-up. This is her promise, and this is her chant:

"I will learn to love myself."