Chapter 6: Facade

It is easy to hide our emotions but not to someone who also wears a mask.

Walang nagsasalita sa amin ni Magnus habang papunta kami sa cafeteria. The words of that man still lingered on my mind. He called Magnus 'brother' so that explains their similarities.

"Hey, you okay?" I lowly uttered.

He shrugged and smiled. Napansin kong pilit iyon kaya pinigilan ko siyang lumakad. Nagtataka niya akong tinignan.

Itinaas ko ang aking mga kamay at tinakpan ang kaniyang bibig.

"Huwag ka na lang ngumiti kung pilit lang din naman. Don't fake your emotions when you are with me. Remember, you are a cool stranger so I will not judge you."

His eyes widened on my words. Tinanggal ko na ang mga kamay ko pero hindi pa rin siya tumitinag. Unti-unti na ring nawala ang ngiti niya. He sighed and nodded.

Nang marating namin ang cafeteria ay pinaupo niya ako at siya ang umorder ng pagkain namin.

"Ang dami naman yata niyan. Balak mo ba akong gawing sulbabida?" reklamo ko.

"Hindi. Batsa lang." Humagalakpak siya sa tawa nang makita ang reaksyon ko.

"Not cool, stranger."

He stopped laughing but I can see humor on his eyes. It is good that he is showing me now his true emotions. Napangiti ako sa aking naisip.

"Why are you smiling? Is it because of me, miss?" Bakas ang panunuya sa kaniyang tono. Nailing na lamang ako at nagsimula nang kumain.

Hindi siya kumikibo sa sobrang gana niyang kumain. Sunod-sunod ang ginagawa niyang pagsubo na parang mauubusan siya. I chuckled when he finished his meal within just a few minutes.

"What is his name?" I asked breaking the calm atmosphere.

"Why did you text me earlier? Is there something you need from me?" he asked, changing the topic.

I understand that he doesn't want to talk about him. Instead, I'm just going to ask for his help.

"I need your help." Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay habang pinapakita ko sa kaniya ang aking notebook.

Inabot niya ito at tinignan. Umangat ang gilid ng kaniyang labi. Bahagya pa siyang natawa bago binalik iyon sa akin.

"Hindi kita matutulungan. Para saan ba 'yan?"

Bumagsak ang aking balikat sa kaniyang naging sagot. I really need to accomplish all of it. I badly need his help.

"It is for my blog. Please. Help me, stranger. In exchange, I will do you a favor. Anything." I projected my sad but cute face. Mas lalong lumawak ang pagkakangiti niya.

He let a heavy sigh. "Alright. Be thankful that I can't resist your cuteness." He sounds defeated.

Napapalakpak naman ako at hindi napigilang yakapin siya. Nagulat ako nang yakapin niya ako pabalik at kinandong sa hita niya. Mataman din niya akong tinitigan.

"A-anong ginagawa mo?" utal-utal kong sabi.

Napansin ko na mas lalong dumami ang tao sa cafeteria kaya mas lalong dumami ang nakatingin sa amin. Ang iba naman ay kinikilig habang ang iba ay nandidiri ang tingin. Hindi ko sila masisisi. Kahit ako ay naaasiwa sa posisyon namin lalo pa at nasa school kami.

"What did you do to me?"

His question stunned me. Before I could process anything, he already whispered on my ears.

"May ipagmamalaki ka naman pala, miss." He chuckled.

Pinamulahan ako ng pisngi nang marinig ang kaniyang mga sinabi. Agad ko siyang tinulak at kinuha ang gamit ko. Hindi ko na siya hinintay, kumaripas na ako ng takbo. I didn't expect that he is a pervert!

I am catching my breath when Magnus' brother walked towards my direction. He is more serious than Magnus but the latter is more charismatic than him.

"You are Magnus' friend, right?" he asked.

Umiling naman ako at sinubukang lagpasan siya. Sa bawat hakbang ko ay sinasabayan niya kaya hindi ako makaalis. Napabuntong-hininga ako nang mapagod. Wala akong choice kundi sagutin siya.

"Nope. We are strangers," I nonchalantly answered.

The side of his lips rose for a smile.

"Strangers? As far as I know, strangers don't hold each other's hands."

Napipi ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Uminit din ang aking pisngi na pakiramdam ko ay nagmukha akong kamatis. Dumagdag pa sa hiyang baramdaman ko ang nangyari kanina sa cafeteria.

"May I talk to you? It's about him," he said.

I nodded as he guides our way to his car. He casually slid to the driver's seat. Sinenyasan naman niya ako na sumunod na sa kaniya.

"I will introduce myself first. I am Memphis Caspian Monreal, Magnus' older brother."

I stared at him and noticed that he has stubble on his face that makes him look older than Magnus.

"Dad doesn't want me to meddle with these things but I am as stubborn as him so here I am. You see, Magnus is a great pretender. He always wears a mask whenever he is in front of everyone. Hindi niya kailanman pinapakita ang mga emosyon na akala niya ay gagamitin laban sa kaniya. He doesn't want to get hurt again," he explained.

Iyon ang pinakauna kong napansin kay Magnus. Hindi siya nagpapakita ng tunay niyang nararamdaman. Itinatago niya ito sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kaniya.

"Our Dad and my mother had an affair five years before Magnus' birth. Nagbunga ang pagtataksil na iyon. I am the fruit of that mistake. Nagmakaawa si Tita Germaine kay Dad na huwag siyang iwan. Kahit nalaman niya na may kabit si Dad, tinanggap pa rin niya iyon kahit ako, tanggap niya."

I noticed that he adores Magnus' mom so much. His eyes twinkle as he talks about her. Maybe because he has a kind heart even for the ones who sinned against her.

"She loved Dad very much to the point na nagpakamartir siya. Pagkatapos ng dalawang taon mula noong ipinanganak ako, isinilang ni Tita Germaine si Magnus. Nagsama sila pero nakikipagkita pa din si Dad kay Mama. Tiniis iyon ni Tita kasi mahal niya si Dad. Pero dumating ang araw na nagkagulo ang business nila. Unti-unting nawalan ng investors at may mga napurnadang projects. That's the reason why they got separated. Binalikan kami ni Dad at nagpakasal sila ni Mama. Si Tita Germaine naman, may iba na ring pamilya."

Katulad nga ng kuwento ni Magnus sa akin, dahil sa business maghiwalay ang mga magulang niya. It's so sad to think that he is alone in his house. There is no one beside him on special occasions like his birthday and Christmas. Hindi ko maatim na isipin ang kaniyang kalagayan.

"Kaya nakikiusap ako sa iyo, Red. Help Magnus find his true happiness. Hindi na iyon magagawa ni Dad dahil alam niyang may hinanakit sa kaniya si Magnus at si Tita Germaine naman ay busy sa bago niyang pamilya. Please stay beside him no matter what happens. He needs someone who will be with him through his darkest days."

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa at agad na tumango. That cool stranger is broken like me. There's nothing wrong if I will help him pick up his broken pieces even if it cost me my life. Sa kaunting panahon na magkasama kami, nahawakan niya agad ang pagkatao ko na hindi ko ipinaparamdam sa iba. That takes a lot of courage, to see a person's soul and be able to touch it.

"I promise to stay beside him. You have my word."