Sincere Lies

Two

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"This is your mask." Lannie placed a mask on my lap as my hands were busy weaving my hair into a loose braid. The color of the mask is a shade I favor, but I am not sure what is the name of the shade. Maybe. . . teal?

"Stephanie," Lannie said. "Nakikinig ka ba sa akin?"

It was only then that I realized that I was lost, staring at the windshield. Tumingin ako kay Lannie para masabi na niya ang gusto niyang sabihin. She was looking at me as I finally finished styling my hair. Binigyan ko naman siya ng "why" look, but she didn't say a thing at that moment. Maddie and Lannie both don't need much hairstyling, actually. Ang ganda kaya ng buhok nila. 'Yong akin, ang hirap kausap, e.

"Okay," Lannie said in a way that it seemed like she was still collecting her thoughts. "I'll tell you what you have to know about Town in a Building."

I sat up straight, and I caught myself being thrilled. Bakit ba masyado akong excited?

"Siguro naman ay alam mo na ang maskarang 'yan ay sinusuot, 'di ba?" ang sabi ni Lannie habang nakangisi.

"Oo naman," I chuckled as I looked at the features of the mask. Simple lang ito, pero kung bibigyan pa ulit ako ni Lannie ng isang chance na pumili ng bago, I think I'd still pick this mask. Strange as it seems. . . hindi ko rin naiintindihan.

"So. . . first of all, when you enter the Town in a Building, you must wear the mask you have," Lannie started. "These masks aren't just simple masks. They are registered with numbers."

"Whew."

"Each mask is registered—yes, but walang name na nakarehistro sa kanila," Lannie continued. "Basta't nanggaling sa kanila ang mask, at dahil bawal makita ang mukha mo, online ang process sa pagbili ng mask. A bit complicated."

"But in the Terms and Conditions, they said that your IP Address and such won't be compromised," she added quickly.

There's nothing complicated for her though. Siya ang pinakamadiskarteng taong kilala ko. And when Lannie was speaking, I slowly felt nervous. May naramdaman akong mga alaalang bumabalik, pero pinilit kong kalimutan na lang. I'm afraid, pero hindi maaari. It might ruin my experience for today.

"When you wear that mask, Stephanie," Lannie said, "your name is Cerulean Hathaway."

"Whew." Nice name. I was amazed once again. . . but I was a bit sad because there were memories coming back. I'd forgotten them long enough, but they kept coming back.

"Kailangan mong tandaan ang golden rule sa Town in a Building," Lannie resumed. "You must not reveal anything about the one behind the mask you are wearing."

"Meaning?"

"You must not reveal your true self, your name, your. . . pretty much everything."

"Okay, okay." I could hear my own breathing. It was heavy. Pinakikinggan ko ang bawat tunog na naririnig ko, although the sounds were minimal.

"Ano pa ba?" Lannie said, then I realized that she was talking to herself. "Oh! Mayroon pa pala."

I looked at her. Parang masaya siya sa sasabihin niya, pero hindi naging masaya ang boses niya.

"It's a place filled with lies," she said. "Be careful. Hindi lahat ng nandoon ay totoo. Napepeke roon ang lahat. . . kahit na ang pagkakaibigan, pagmamahal, at pagiging totoo."

Oh, shit. Napatulala na lang ako sa labas. Parang ayaw ko na tumuloy, I cowardly thought. Baka makita ko rin kasi 'yong mga lalaking naka-itim. Nakakatakot kaya.