In the Eyes of Love [HIATUS]

Chapter 01

Chapter 01: The Mask Boy and His Curse

THIRD PERSON's PoV

Binuksan ni Laszlo ang kurtina sa bintanang gawa sa salamin at pangiting sinalubong ang araw. Nag-inat siya habang unti-unting pumapasok ang liwanag ng umaga sa loob ng kanyang kwarto.

Naghanda na siya para sa unang araw ng pagbabago ng takbo ng kanyang buhay.

From shower, to grooming, and to clothing, Laszlo now is facing himself in front of a wide mirror while tying his tie.

Looking at his face on the mirror, someone just popped out on his mind. It's the woman with peculiar eyes he encountered months ago. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ito mawala-wala sa kanyang isip.

"Who is she, at bakit hindi siya naapektuhan ng sumpa?" he uttered midair.

Those queries made him touched his face.

"Laszlo, anak?" someone knocked at the door of his room, his mother, kaya naman ay kaagad siyang humablot ng isang mask mula sa isang pack nito at ito'y sinuot.

"Pasok po kayo." magalang niyang tugon at sa sumunod na sandali ay maririnig ang pagbukas ng pito ng kanyang kwarto at pagpasok ng kanyang ina. Pinasok na naman nito ang mga dalang pagkain sa kanyang kwarto, hindi na ito bago para sa binata sapagka't bata pa lamang siya'y ginagawa na nila ito upang maiwasang masumpa ng kanyang mukha ang mga magulang.

Lumapit ang kanyang ina at niyakap siya, "Handa ka na ba sa unang araw mo sa school anak?"

Behind his mask were his lips that arched into smile, he nodded and said, "Opo ma."

His mother smiled and patted his head, "Mabuti kung ganoon anak."

"Hays, 'di sana talaga ako papayag to let you go in public especially after what happened few months ago, but hindi rin naman pwedeng ipagkait namin sa'yo ang higher education." his mom added.

"I understand po ma, and I can manage."

"O siya, maiwan na kita nang makapag-breakfast ka na. Mag-iingat ka sa school ha, and..." sabi pa ng kanyang ina at sinadyang huminto.

"You know what to do." dugtong nito pertaining to proper measures of handling his curse.

"Yes ma." tugon naman ng binata, bago lumisan sa naturang silid ang kanyang ina.

Not too long when his phone's ringtone echoed the entire room, may tumatawag. He reached it and knew he just got an early call from Miyaka, his childhood friend and the only daughter of his parents' friends.

"Miyaka." he answered by her name.

"I heard you're finally going out to school? Ba't hindi ka nagsabi?! Gosh, sa ibang school pa talaga?!" ang naiinis na boses pa talaga nito sa kabilang linya ang unang sumalubong sa binata.

"Haha, sorry. But I'm pretty sure you already know my situation right?" tugon naman ng binata sa kausap.

"Hays, oo alam ko. But why not here nalang kasi sa school namin 'di ba?!" -Miyaka.

"Hmm, my parents don't think I'd fit there. Masyadong maraming students d'yan kaya... HAHA." natawa nalang ang binata.

"Hay, eh magagawan naman ng paraan-"

"Miyaka magbi-breakfast muna ako bye."

"HOY-" Laszlo dropped the call bago pa siya ma-stress sa kakulitan ng dalaga.

Silence elapsed shortly before he released a sigh. Muli niyang hinubad ang kanyang suot na mask and looked at his face in front of the mirror. The face that brings an immediate curse to anyone who sees it. He can't even believe himself in a uniform that he never gets to wear before.

Kinakabahan man ay sinusubukan niyang lakasan ang loob sa pagsuong niya sa isang panibagong mundo.

He smiled, "Yeah, I'm ready."

***

Laszlo parked his motorbike. He smiled behind his mask the moment he got a gaze on the school he got in for the very first time. Never in his entire life he gets to study the traditional way, not when this day came.

"So this is how being inside a school feels like, huh?" he smirked.

He saw other students na masyadong nakatutok sa kanya-kaniyang cellphone.

"Hala ang ganda niya!"
"Naka-follow na ako sa kanya."
"Sayang taga-kabilang school siya." they kept on saying that and more.

It's obvious that people around him are very particular in looks at babad sa social media. But to Laszlo, hindi niya alam ang mga bagay na ito. Masyadong pribado ang kanyang buhay at kailanma'y hindi nasanay sa labas ng mundo.

'Di pa nagtagal ay pansin niya ang mga estudyante na panay ang tingin sa kanya. Narinig pa niya ang nga itong nagsalita.

"Ang weird niya."
"New student ba 'yan?"
"Dunno, naka-mask kasi."
"Baka ang pangit niya kaya siya naka-mask."
"For sure gano'n nga, HAHA."

If only they know the real reason why he must cover his face with a mask. Napailing nalang ang binata at nagpatuloy na.

"Oh, so you are the student who has an extreme and unique case." sabi ng isang teacher na kaharap ni Laszlo.

Laszlo gave him a nod, nasa loob ng office cubicle sila nito.

"I am Mr. Clement Realiza, sir Clem nalang for short, and starting today I will be your homeroom teacher." pagpapakilala ng guro with enthusiasm.

Laszlo gave him a bow as a projection of respect.

"It's a good choice you enrolled to this school this semester. This school has separate department for normal students and students with special cases, this is to ensure the fullest and utmost welfare of greater good. In view with your case, all the faculties are pretty aware of the situation you are in, you can expect hindi ka namin pababayaan dito." sabi pa ni sir Clem.

"Would it be really possible, sir?" medyo kinakabahang paninigurado ng binata.

Sir Clem gave him a smile, "Rest assured we'll do our best, there's no need for you to be nervous. We've been informed by your mom that all your life you're settled with homeschool, don't worry, tutulungan ka namin sa pag-adjust with your new study environment." kalmadong ngiti pa ng guro.

Napabuga ng hangin si Laszlo, alam niyang pagkatapos ng pag-uusap na ito ay ipapakilala na siya sa mga kaklase.

"O s'ya, this is your school I.D. and now I'll be leading you to our classroom." the teacher gave him his I.D, it has its name but it has no picture.

He can't believe he finally have his school I.D. Napangiti ang binata.

Bumaling siya sa kaniyang guro, nakangiti na ito sa kanya, and said, Welcome to Sayman High."

Nakasunod lang ang binata sa kanyang guro. Kinakabahan ang binata habang naglalakad sa hallway ng naturang gusali, hanggang sa nararing na nila ang classroom, and there, ngiti ng kanyang mga kaklase ang unang sumalubong sa kanya. Mga espesyal ang mga ito, and seeing then somehow makes Laszlo in place. Sampu lamang sila sa klaseng iyon, may kaklase siyang pilay, may isang walang kamay, at yung iba naman pepe, and he knows, like him, may kanya-kanyang kwentong nakapaloob sa bawat pagkatao't pagiging espesyal nila. Kahit papaano ay nawala ang kaba ng binata at siya'y nag-bow sa lahat para magpakilala.

Laszlo, was about to introduce himself nang may namataan siya sa hallway, someone who's familiar to him.

That moment agad siyang natigilan at nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang nakilala niya kung sino ito. Sa hindi niya alam na dahilan bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso, and the world as if moved slowly.

It's the girl with peculiar eyes.