"You're not even going to ask about my real name first?"

Napasinghal ako at pinanliitan nalang ito ng mga mata. "Okay, let's rewind this shit. So what's your real name and why are you here?"

"My real name is Valentin. Valentin Rockgod." Taas noo niyang saad.

"Wow, ang layo sa ginagamit mong pangalan ngayon ah." Umismid ako at muli siyang pinagtutulak paalis sa kama ko. Kung 'di ba naman kasi sira ulo, talagang inangkin na niya yung pwesto e.

"Valentine is actually my twin sister's name. We're also identical so I'm basically pretending to be her in order to swap our fates." Hindi pa siya nakuntento at kinuha na yung unan ko at humiga na. Napaka tigas ng mukha.

Pero imbes na 'yon ang mapuna ay hindi ko mapigilang mapatanong. "Swap your fate with your twin sister? Why?"

He sighs and keeps his gaze towards our ocean-like ceiling in a golden sunset. "With her, having the freedom she deserves and with me, marrying a noble and becoming a perfect wife."

"Why the hell would you want to marry a noble?"

Bahagya lang siyang natawa dahil doon. "I don't. But there's so much life left in her eyes and I couldn't relate. The only way for me to help is by not letting her marry a man she didn't love and live her whole life in a cage."

Napaawang ang bibig ko.

Hindi ako makapaniwalang hindi siya kasing gago ng akala ko.

"B-but what about the guy you'll end up marrying someday?" wala sa sariling tanong ko maya maya at napakurap.

"What about him?"

"I mean, paano kapag nalaman niya na hindi pala ikaw ang totoong Valentine, at hindi ka pala babae?"

Sa pagkakataong 'yon ay bumuga lang siya ng hangin at nilaro ang buhok.

"Well, even if he find out he'd still want me the same. I can make him gay and that's the reason why I am the prettiest in Spade, even if I'm not a woman."

That night continued with us realizing that maybe the one who's trying to frame Val might know who he really is, and they are trying to make the Spade Club hate him. Just like that, we unconsciously decided to trust one another as we're heading the same journey of unveiling the culprit.

I just found myself the next day in front of my vanity mirror, finishing my make up while Val kept nagging from the hallway.

"Kuina, anong oras na? Get down faster because the whole school is about to pretend that there's no murders and crime here, just to accommodate the sons from the noble family and continue the playdates."

Napasinghal nalang ako at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalagay ng lipstick. "Tumahimik ka nga d'yan, maririnig ka ng mga officers!" giit ko na ikinadabog niya lang.

"Just get yourself ready then!"

"Pwede ka namang mauna, hindi mo ako kailangang hintayin. Saka hindi ka naman ganyan dati!" bulalas ko na at itinapon sa direksyon niya ang walang laman kong eyeliner pen.

"No, we kinda agreed last night that we'll trust each other so shouldn't it better for us to stick together?"

"Oo na. Pahiramin mo nga ako ng mascara mo."

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "What do you mean, this is natural." Tinuro niya pa ang pilik mata niyang hayop siya. "I don't use mascara, cause I was born this way."

When he told me that his pronoun can be she or he, and said it wouldn't matter anyway so I can just call him whatever I want, I should've suggested calling him a biatch.

Unluckily, I couldn't throw the whole table towards his face. So I have no option but to fasten my pace and meet him outside our room, both wearing some fancy gowns and pretty faces.

Because he's right. Since it's Saturday, we are obliged to gather in the supper area to hold one of the most important occasions here in Schlemiel Academy. The date with the Nobles.

Para lang kami nilang ginawang putahe na idi-display sa harapan, tapos pilili ang mga noble ng kung sinong gusto nilang i-date. 'Yung mga katulad ni Val na mataas ang ranggo sa visual ranking, talagang maraming pipila para makipag date sakanila. Two hours 'din ang tinatagal ng okasyon na 'to kaya sila sila na rin ang magkakasundo sa hatian ng oras.

Habang nag aantay sa mga turn yung ibang nobles, pinapapili nalang sila muna ulit ng ibang babae na pwede nilang gawing pampalipas oras, hanggang sa available na ulit yung first choice nila.

Kaya yung mababa ang ranggo sa visual ranking, magiging pampalilas oras lang talaga sila ng mga nobles. O dalawang oras silang mabubulok kasama ng kung sino mang poncio pilatong pumili sakanila.

Katulad ng palagi kong kinahihinatnan sa okasyon na 'to.

"Huwag ka ngang sumimangot. Si Mingi na nga lang pumipili sa 'yo, aayawan mo pa." Siniko ako ni Val.

Napaismid ako. "But being chosen by a man doesn't define my worth."

•••

The whole supper area became a real life Romeo & Juliet Banquet, with those elegant furnishings, tables and chairs on the side, foods, romantic music and a whole space in the center for the pairs to dance.

I found Mingi, waiting for me at the left side table wearing his signature suit and tie. And of course, I have no other option but to follow him. He's from the Mondevilla Clan and was actually the only one who kept choosing to date me ever since I came to this school.

His height was enough for me to hear his beating heart whenever he's hugging me, and his rounded glasses always suited his slick back hair that reminds me of the sun rays.

But I sure know those glasses are only for style. Because how can he keep smiling like that when the whole world around him is collapsing? When his entire family, along with other nobles was responsible for this dystopia?

When he knew damn well that every girl in this institution was forced to become their wife in the future, and he's still happily running to see me every time?

How can he be so blind?

"Thank you for your time, Kuina! I can't wait to marry you!" His summer-like energy brought me back from my reverie.

Just like that the two hours are almost up, and I am now here in his arms, dancing to the rhythm of a classical piece I couldn't recognize.

No murder, no causality, everything went suspiciously smooth. And before the music stops, I stare at Mingi's eyes before uttering the words that's been running in my head.

"Why did you keep choosing me?"

His confused puppy eyes darted into mine, as if that was the most absurd question a person can ask. "Why not? I only feel safe when I'm with you. You're like...you're like a home."

Bahagya akong natawa. "Kung makapagsalita ka, para ka namang walang bahay."

What can he do anyway? He's just a son of a Nobleman. He's just another kid who wants to be loved.

Just like my cousin. Just like Typo.

After bidding goodbyes with all the guests, Val immediately nudged himself towards me. "Tulungan mo'ko."

Napakunot ang noo ko dahil doon at pinasadahan ito ng tingin. Na kung hindi ba naman sira ay pinagbibitbit na ang napakaraming plushy at iba pang mga regalo na natanggap kanina. "Marami pa doon sa table ko, dalhin natin 'to lahat sa kwarto."

Suminghal ako at napakamot sa batok. "At kailan mo pa ako naging P.A. aber?"

"Hep. As part of the punishment you can't take your gifts this week."

Kapwa kami napalingon ni Val at nadatnan si Buttercup. "We're going to confiscate it for the meantime. Makukuha mo nalang ulit ang mga 'yon after 1month."

Napasinghap si Val at halos pagsakluban ng langit at lupa. "What about the chocolates?"

Umiling si Buttercup.

"No! Hindi n'yo pwedeng gawin 'to pinaghirapan 'yon ng mga jowa ko! Isusumbong ko kayo sakanila!"

Nakapamewang niya lang na pinasadahan ng tingin si Val at inutusan ang guard na kasama na kuhanin ang mga hawak na regalo nito. "Baka nakakalimuntan niyong kayo ang magaayos at magliligpit dito sa supper area? So stop being a brat and get change already."

Umalis na siya pagkatapos no'n at iniwan ako sa tabi ng ngumangawa pa ring si Val. Napasapo nalang talaga ako sa sariling noo.

"Tumayo ka na d'yan, parang gago naman 'to." Sinubukan ko siyang aluhin kaso winagli lang ng mokong ang kamay ko.

"Bakit parang hindi ka affected eh nakiki kain ka naman ng mga chocolates at snacks na bigay sa 'kin!"

"Tayo na."

"Binibigay ko nga sa 'yo 'yung ibang mga plushie!"

"Oo na, tara na magbihis na tayo."

"Nagpabili pa ako ng bagong make up set at art materials kanina para ibigay sa'yo next week e!"

Parang nalaglag ang puso ko dahil sa narinig at napaupo na rin sa sahig. "T-talaga?" nanunubig ang mata kong sambit, lalo na nang matantong isang bwan nga pala kaming hindi makakatanggap ng kahit ha anong regalo mula sa mga nobles, at kung gaano ka-seryoso ang bagay na 'yon.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

"Kuina, Val! Maghunos dili nga kayo."

Suminghot ako at iniangat ang tingin. Doon nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Chris, at sa isang iglap ay agad akong natauhan.

"Oy, hi Chris! Kamusta, ikaw pala." Mabilis akong tumayo at nagpagpag ng sarili, bahala si Val sa buhay niya.

"Alam ko mahirap ang mga punishmento at naiintindihan ko ang mga sentimento niyo. Pero hali kayo dito may sasabihin ako," pabulong na saad ni Sage, na siyang kasama ni Chris.

Napatayo na din naman si Val dahil doon at kapwa kami lumapit kay Sage. "Have you noticed it? The culprit didn't make a move when the Noble kids were here," seryoso niyang saad at inayos ang frame ng salamin.

"Meaning, the culprit doesn't want the Nobles to know, unlike the Spade who wanted to expose this school's secrets so we can get this academy to close," dadag niya pa na tinango tangoan naman ni Chris.

"Yes, she's right. So we can assume the culprit might be the teachers, the founders, or those chickling who have some small power to control and benefit from Schlemiel Academy, and just wanted to have more. Be it for money, position or connections," ani Chris.

"So who are we exactly talking about?"

"The Main Officers."