Behind That Mask (Faces of Reality)

Chapter 7. Unexpected Visitor

- HA WON/U-JIN -

I don't really know what's happening to me. The guilt is overwhelming me, especially now that I am seeing her smiling from ear to ear. But at the same time, I cannot help but be flustered by her actions.

I know that she is only doing it without malice because she thought I am a girl but I am not. I am a hundred percent straight guy. So it is just normal for me to feel like this.

Argh. What am I even saying?

Who am I even trying to convince?

"Ha Won, ayos ka lang ba?" I almost turned pale when she placed her palm on my forehead.

This is dangerous.

"I need to go t-to the bathroom." Rushing my way into the nearest bathroom, I still heard her murmured, "Problema nun?"

For real though, what is my problem?

"Tagal natin ah. Nag-number 2 ka siguro no? Ahahaha. Don't worry, atin-atin lang yun." Halos mapunit ang mga labi niya sa sobrang ngiti.

But instead of giving in to her banter, I strode towards the refrigerator to check the tarts that we have made.

How did she know that I love blueberry?

With this in mind, a little smile crept across my face.

Or maybe, it could have been just a plain coincidence?

"You know what, Bestie? Oh di ba, napapa-english ako? Remember the girl na kinuwento ko sa iyo noon? Yung hinarass ng boyfriend niya?" I turned my head to her direction while carefully closing the refrigerator door.

With a slouching shoulder, I faced her with a raised eyebrow. Did she get herself in trouble?

"Kaibigan ko na siya ngayon. In fact, nanggaling ako last time sa ospital para bisitahin siya. Ilang araw na nga siyang naka-confine pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nadi-discharge. Ang sabi naman ng mga doktor ay malayo naman na siya sa peligro pero may mga bruises at sugat pa siya na dapat pagalingin. The very reason din kung bakit ayaw pa siyang idischarge ng family niya ay para matutukan ang pagpapagaling niya hindi lang physically kundi higit sa lahat, emotionally lalo na sa trauma na maaaring nakuha niya dahil sa dinanas niya."

Is she talking about the patient she visited last time?

"Hay naku! Sa tuwing naaalala ko talaga ang mga sugat na tinamo niya, nanggagalaiti talaga ang buong kalamnan ko! Ito naman kasing si Lulu, napakamapagbigay, napakabait. Minsan nga tinatanong ko siya kung bakit hindi niya man lang magawang ireklamo yung nanakit sa kanya. Biruin mo, ang sagot niya ba naman sa akin ay dahil mahal na mahal niya raw yung lalaki at humingi na raw ito ng tawad sa kanya! Hay naku, makita ko lang talaga yung lalaki na yun, bibigwasan ko siya-oops sorry, nasobrahan ata ako sa kwento hehehe."

Looking at her right now and listening to her rants, I can really say that she is a nice person. Kaya hindi talaga matanggap ng sistema ko ang contradiction sa mga nakalap na ebidensya ni N laban sa totoong pagkatao ni Andrei. Maybe it really is true that she have an alter but how can we even prove it?

What could be the trigger to summon her alter?

That is what I want to believe in-that she really does have a split because I want the Andrei in front of me to be the real deal.

- ANDREI "REY" -

Habang naghihintay ay naisipan namin ni Ha Won na manood ng movie at saktong katatapos lang ng intro nang biglang may mag-doorbell.