MASKARA

seven

Nivek Notrop's Point of View

It's been weeks since I last saw Nelihc at dumarami na ang mga namamatay. Once a week, may isang namamatay. And I saw a common denominator in them, they're all a friend of Yram Aroon.

Well, bumalik na ako sa opisina ng club namin dahil wala naman na akong rason upang pumasok pa sa klase ni Nelihc. She already know that I am a professor, so what's the sense?

"Pag-iisipan ko."

Iyan ang huli niyang sinabi sa akin nung huling pagkikita namin.

Well, hindi ko naman siya mapipilit. Maybe she really needs time to think if sasabihin niya sa akin ang lahat tungkol sa past niya at kung ano ang totoo sa likod ng pagmumulto ng kanyang kaibigan.

Actually, kinakabahan ako dahil baka lumipat na siya sa ibang skwelahan para matakasan na ang mga kababalaghang ito. Pero sana ay huwag niyang takasan ito dahil may posibilidad na marami pa ang sumunod sa mga kaibigan ni Yram.

Nabalik ang utak ko sa akin nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto.

"Come in."

Sabi ko doon sa taong kumakatok sa pintuan.

The door flew open and I was shocked to see Nelihc.

"G-Good morning, Sir Nivek."

Nauutal niyang bati sa akin. Hindi rin siya makatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko.

Now, she became awkward towards me.

"You don't have to be so formal towards me Nelihc. Naging magkaibigan naman tayo sa klase mo noon, right? So, you can treat me just like the way you did before. And hindi naman nagkakalayo ang edad natin. I'm just 19 while you're 16. Tarayan mo ako or whatever, it's gonna be okay for me."

Sabi ko sa kanya and suddenly, I saw her tensed muscle relax. I saw her shy eyes became fierce.

"I am here to tell you the truth."

***

Nelihc Dilab's Point of View (She's talking to Nivek)

I, Yram, Yggir, Noiram, and Enuj were patiently waiting for Naliorf to comeback dahil ito ang nag-volunteer na bumili ng snacks namin.

We were in a band. Naliorf was for the lead guitar, Yggir was our vocalist, Noiram was at the rhythm, Enuj was at the drums, Yram was in the bass, and I was the one who does the second vocals.

Our band was formed when we were second year high school.

Kakatapos pa lang namin sa pag-practice ng huling kanta na gagamitin namin para sa battle of the bands ng skwelahan namin dahil napag-isipan naming sumali dito since all of us has the guts and the talent to play.

There were three songs in our setlist at si Naliorf ang pumili ng mga ito.

"Naliorf! Finally, hahaha. Thanks dude!"

Bati sa kanya ni Yggir.

He just smiled.

It's weird. Hindi siya nagsalita. It's not so him not to talk. Baka pagod lang siya, so, I just shrugged it off.

After ng Battle of the Bands, our band won first and we were so happy. We had a celebration.

Enuj suggested na mag-invite kami ng iba pa naming mga kaibigan pero mariin itong tinutulan ni Naliorf.

Before our band was formed, the six of us were really close. We once swore to ourselves na hindi kami magkakaroon ng ibang kaibigan maliban sa isa't isa. We had our blood oath. Nung una ay ayaw ko ngunit nang nanguna si Naliorf sa pag-sugat sa palad niya ay kumuha na rin kami ng kung anong matulis na bagay at pinatulo na namin sa isang sacred na lalagyan ang mga dugo namin. Our blood mixed. At doon na kami naging matatalik na magkakaibigan.