It feels like everyone was taken back in time, when kings, queens and noblemen threw lavish parties. The whole vibe of the was beyond regal. Crystal chandeliers were like still stars suspended from the vaulted ceiling. Silk drapes and sculpted busts adorned every corner. The air was a distinct mix of cigar and designer perfumes. Just like any posh gathering, everyone wore clothes fit for a royal ball and their faces cover with masks.

"This is bonkers Dee! Lahat naman tayo naka-mask paano mo naman nasisigurado kung sino sa kanila si Joseph?" walang bilib na tanong ni Freya sa kaibigan. Magkatabi sila sa mesa dahil si Devon, ang plus one niya bilang manager nito.

"Sweetie trust me in this ok! Ilan lang ba ang pinoy na nagpapa- custom made ng isang Dior tuxedo?" kumpyansang bawi ni Devon. "My sources are reliable."

Napailing na lang ang dalaga at bumalik aa inumin niya. Kanina pa kasi siya pinipilit ng kaibigan na humanap ng tyempo para mapansin ni Joseph. Pero hindi iyon ang pinunta niya rito. She's only here because of the charity cause she supports. Iyan ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi niya sa sarili niya.

Who is she kidding?

Hindi niya pa rin maipagkakaila na may parte pa rin sa kanya na tuwang-tuwa ng malaman na isa si Joseph Dela Torre sa mga dadalo. It's been years since she first developed a crush on him. Siya lang naman kasi ang archetypal boy-next-door na kinababaliwan ng bawat babae sa campus nila. She never had the guts to even speak in front of him, let alone confess.

That was a long time ago. That was Felize. Tonight she wears her mask once more. Tonight she is a goddess.

"Oh! Look quick," pinihit siya ni Devon para tignan ang isang grupo ng mga kalalakihan na nagdidiskusyon malapit sa terasa.

No doubt this lot are some of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Their whole group was meat packed with testosterone and appeal that's enough to awaken every woman's dirty desire.

Deadly. Gano'n sila ilarawan ni Freya.

"The man with the jet black tux and black mask with red accents who's about to get a glass of champagne. Siya 'yan!" kinikilig bulong ni Devon with matching kurot sa tagiliran niya.

Sinipat ng dalaga ang mata at sinubukan aninagin ng mabuti mula sa malayo. Mamaya ay isang matangkad na lalaki ang kinuha ang champagne mula sa tray ng waiter at marahang nilagok ito. He's wearing black tux just like what Devon said.

Parang nanuyo naman ang lalamunan ni Freya habang pinagmasdan ang lalaking iyon. Right from the start, he was the one who drew her attention. There is just something about him that pulls her in like a fish on a hook. No doubt he's the one in her fantasies.

"Oh... natahimik ka?" untag ni D.

"Nothing. I'm just taking a good look at him," pasimpleng sagot ni Freya pero hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ng kaibigan ang bahagyang pagtaas ng boses niya.

"So? Ano pa ang ginagawa mo? Take this chance... Freya," himok nito sa kanya.

Nanatiling tahimik lang ang dalaga at mula sa malayo ay sinundan ng tingin ang binata sa kabilang bahagi ng venue. Mayamaya ay lumayo ito mula sa grupo at mag-isang pumunta sa open bar. Humingang malalim naman si Freya at pasimpleng inayos ang sarili bago tinungo rin ang bar.

You see, on normal days she won't even have the audacity to walk up to him. Not a tad but everytime she wears her mask, it feels like she can conquer the world, like she's unstoppable. That's what she's about to do. Conquer. Hindi na muna niya poproblemahin ang pwedeng patunguhan nito. She's just up to take this chance.

Marahan niyang hinawi ang dulo ng pulang evening gown niya at umupo sa stool malapit sa binatang naka itim. It feels like he immediately became aware of her presence so he turned slightly to face her.

"It's a lovely party, don't you think?" pagsisimula ng lalaki ng usapan.

"I'm sorry what?" sumenyas pa ang dalaga na kunwari'y hindi narinig ng mabuti ang sinabi ng katabi. Medyo malakas din kasi ang tugtug sa dancefloor at naka-dim ang lighting sa bar.

The man leaned in closer to her and she was silently celebrating the success of her tiny plot.

"I said it's a lovely party," his baritone voice resonated. Even in the low-lighting, and with half of his face covered with a mask, his features are very prominent. He has a strong jawline, sharp cheekbones and an aristocratic nose as if it was carved out of mable. Lalaking-lalaki ang dating. "And maybe I know the reason what made it so lovely," swabeng pahabol pa niya.

Freya let out a girly giggle and rested her chin on the back of her hand. "Does that line normally works for you?" tila hindi kumbinsidong tanong ng dalaga.

"Maybe. You tell me," mabilis na bawi niya.

"Only if you'd buy me a drink."

Napangisi naman ang binata dahil do'n. Sinenyasan niya ang bartender pero hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin kay Freya. Na- conscious naman ang dalaga dahil sa tingin na iyon. Tila sinusuyod pati ang pinakamalalim na bahagi ng pagkatao niya. Naramdaman niya ang kakaibang init dahil sa paglapit pa sa kanya ng binata.

"Martini very dry, with three olives for this beautiful lady with me," he said to the bartender with any hint of irony.

Freya faltered for a bit. Ito ang eksangtong inumin na nasa isip niya.

Can he read minds? Piping bulong ng isip niya.

"You seem a bit on the edge tonight. Is something troubling you?" tanong ng binata.

"Wala naman. Maybe this whole event is just surreal for me," she said taking a sip from her martini.

"I say this night is quite magical. It feels like anything can happen here," seryosong sabi ng katabi niya.

Mahinang tumawa naman si Freya. "Masyado na atang cheesy 'yon."

"What can I say? Sitting next to makes me think of all those sappy and poetic lines," napakamot na lang ng batok ang binata.

For some odd reason it made Freya smile seeing her effect on him. Mukhang may pag-asa nga siya. She just needs to play her cards right.

"Look, bago ko pa tuluyang maipahiya ang sarili ko sayo, can I at least have a chance to dance with you?" alok ng binata. Nakalahad ang kamay niya at matikas na nakatayo sa harap ni Freya.

She took his hand without hesitation.

Pagsampa pa lang nila ng dance floor ay magkalapit na agad ang katawan ng dalawa. Nakita ni Freya si Devon mula sa malayo na nakaawang ang labi tila hindi makapaniwala. Isang simple ngiti lang ang pinakita niya sa kaibigan. Naramdaman niya naman ang paghawak ng binata sa baywang niya.

They started dancing to the groove. The rythym was slow but the song was modern and sensual. Magaling sumayaw ang kapares niya. He's got natural rhythm and something tells her that it wasn't from practicing on studios and performing on stage. No. The way he moved was tempting- erotic even. Sinabayan naman ni Freya ang init at indak ng kapareha. If anyone can see them, they'd think that they're a couple having a great time.

Freya liked the thought of that. Joseph and her hitting it off, wouldn't that be great.

Ngayon ay nakatalikod siya sa binata at sensual na ginagalaw ang katawan habang isang braso ng lalaki ay nakayakap sa kanya. She can feel is body against hers. His breath against was fanning on her neck.

He pulled her close and whispered, "Let's get out of here."

Tila sinilaban naman si Freya na tumango at siya pa mismo ang dumapit sa binata palabas ng venue. This isn't her. She rarely acts on impluse but there's this undeniable high that comes with it. Hindi siya kailanman nagpadalos-dalos lalo na pagdating sa mga lalaki. She was always a caged bird but now her heart is thumping and she's thirsty for a piece of this man.

Ganito pala. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng malanobelang tagpo. She said to herself. She understood the concept but she never really embraced it. Sa lahat ng mga nasulat niya ay makailang ulit niyang pineke ang mga emosyong ito. Pero ngayon hindi na. She never felt this alive.

They went to a secluded place at the back of the event center. May magarang garden doon na naiilawan ng iilang malamlam na lamp post. Pareho silang sabik kaya't nang makalayo sila ay agad na siyang humarap sa binata, kinawit ang mga braso sa balikat nito at tumingkayad para halikan siya.

He was taken aback. Not that he was suprised but because he was amused. No one ever kissed him the way this girl just did. He didn't respond at first so Freya broke the kiss. Nag-aalala pa ang dalaga baka hindi niya na dapat ginawa iyon. It was evident in her face but then he lean in and he was the one to kiss her this time.

In her mind she's celebrating. Akala niya kung habang buhay na lang mananatiling pantasya ang mayakap at mahalikan si Joseph pero heto sila ngayon. She will worry about the consequences later. She will worry about how to disclose her identity, how to deal with it but now, all she wants to do is bask on this kiss they shared.

He pulled her closer making the kiss go deeper. Naglalakbay na ang mga kamay ng binata mula sa batok niya papunta sa ibang parte ng katawan niya. She doesn't feel alarmed. The anticipation is killing her. Kaya naman naglandas ang mga kamay niya sa buhok ng binata. Kinapa niya ang tali ng maskara nito at dahan-dahang binuhol. Naghiwalay ang mga mukha nila at tinggal ng binata ang naka takip sa mukha niya.

The dim light from the nearby lamp post reveal his face and as it slowly unravels Freya gaped in disbelief.

Parang binuhusan ng malamig ng tubig ang dalaga. Natuod siya sa pwesto at natigilan ng sandali.

"Y-you're not Joseph," mahinang naisatinig niya.

"No I'm not," nakasalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Wait, all this time you thought I was a different person?"

"Oh God... no, no, no. This can't be happening," tumalikod si Freya estrangherong kahalikan niya nito lang. "This is terrible!" she said to herself as she was starting to panic.

Hindi na niya ata kayang harapin ang lalaki kaya nanatili siyang nakatalikod. At least hindi naman siya pormal na nagpakilala at naka maskara pa rin siya. Iyon ang pampalubag loob niya. She lifted the bottom part of her dress and hurriedly walked away from him. She can't deal with this right now, she'll die of embarrassment.

"Sandali!" Habol pa ng lalaki. He caught ger wrist and uttered something that made her freeze.

"Don't worry. Everything you ever wished for is about to come your way Freya," pasimple niyang bulong. "Pero mukhang close na rin lang tayo dahil hinalikan mo ako, I should call you Felize. Felize Andrada."

Namumutla niyang hinarap ang lalaki. Bigla siyang pinagpawisan ng malagkit. A playful grin crossed his face as if he just had victory.

"P-paanong?"

Gulong-gulo na siya. She never mentioned she was Freya how could he have known? More importantly, no one knew her as Felize. How did this happen? Who the hell is he?

"You may cover half of your face but your smile... it's to iconic not to recognize," makahulugan niyang sabi.

She took a good look at him. Questions upon questions are burning in her head as of the moment and she can't find the courage to voice out a single one.

"Don't stress yourself out, Love. We will meet again."

Just like that he walked past her and left her there. Hindi na magawa ng dalaga na lumingon o habulin pa ang misteryosong binata. She's having trouble catching her breath and keepin up with whats happening.

How?

Ito lang ang laman ng utak niya. How come that he knew her? Not just as Freya but as Felize.

All this time she was careful and very uptight about her private life. This man just came along and sees right through her even though she stayed masked this whole time.