FACADE

Chapter SIX

[Narrator]

 Napatingin ang tatlong babae kay Akoz at kay Klein. Habang si Akoz ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala at nakatingin kay Berlin. Again, who would have thought she is friends with Klein?

"He was my co-member in the Theatre Club I used to joined back when I was still a senior high school." Dugtong ni Klein habang masayang pinapakilala si Akoz.

 "So, Akoz I would like you to meet first Elynna Lois Wei. The Vice President of this club, and my classmate."

Nagulat si Akoz nang may biglang yumakap sa likuran nya, agad nya itong tiningnan and it was Elynna, he was surprised to see her personality. Elynna, from a calm woman turned to hyper one.

 "Hi Akoz, you can call me Elynna. Nice to meet you, my baby brother!" Masayang pakilala ni Elynna sa kaniya. Nahihiya man ay ngumiti sya dito. Elynna is a sweet woman, she reminds him of his late mother.

"If you need money, kay Elynna ka mangutang. Kahit pa milyon utangin mo, bibigay nya agad tas wala nang bayad bayad." Biro ni Klein. Natawa naman si Akoz sa biro ni Klein. 

"Hi! I'm Cassidy Andromeda. I am the writer of this club. Nice meeting you, Akoz!" Pakilala naman ng babae na nakaupo sa harap niya at may hawak na envelope. 

"2nd year college rin siya. She is from class 2 and siya lang ang nalalayo samin. Anyway, she is one of the writers here." Klein added. 

Cassidy is the tallest among them, her long black hair and sexy smile is alluring. The girl offered her hand to Akoz for a handshake. Tinanggap naman ito ng huli. 

"She is the Alluring Cassidy. Siya ang pinakasakit saming lima kasi kahit celebrity, napapaakit niyan." Elynna said while giggling. Cassidy winked in response. "I know right. Sorry sila, di ako playgirl eh."

Itinuro naman ni Klein ang babae na may pink long hair and specs. The girl is playing something on her phone. 

"Our half-Japanese gamer and serious friend, Sakura Nakajima. She is on the same class as you." 

Tumingin naman si Sakura kay Akoz at ngumiti nang bahagya, "Hi Akoz, nice meeting you. I'm Sakura." Pakilala nito sabay balik ang atensyon sa nilalaro. Akoz is looking straight at Sakura, aside from being her classmate. Sa tingin niya, nagkita na sila in some event pero he can't remember. Her name and face looked familiar. Maybe he should ask Yohan after class. 

"Oh. Have you met my cousin? She is your classmate as well." 

Nanlaki ang mata ni Akoz at napatingin kay Klein, muntik na siyang mapasigaw sa harap ni Klein. Good thing, restraining himself is his main skill. 

Pero did he hear it right? 

[Akoz POV] 

Cousin?!?! 

Lumapit si Klein kay Berlin, who is wearing her big headphones. Klein tapped her shoulder, Berlin looked at her.

 From his view, at some point may similarities si Klein and Berlin. They have the same shape and color of eyes. They have this aura too, na hindi nya ma-explain pero its unique at silang dalawa lang ang maalala mo. 

Berlin is Klein's cousin?

Small world.

 Everleigh Klein S. Mendez and Berlin Min Scott. It makes sense, may western blood si Klein from her mother side which is kapatid ng father ni Berlin.

"Hey Berlin, whatcha doin?" Klein asked her cousin. Berlin shrugged her shoulder, "Nothing much." The latter answered and smiled. 

"How was your first day of school?"

"Ate Klein naman," napailing si Berlin habang nakangiti pa rin. "We just met kanina sa room! Pero sige, I'll answer it. Great."

 The two laughed in unison. 

It is the first day of class, but witnessing Berlin's smile and laugh are like, kind of rare event.

 Eh? We aren't close, ano ba pinagsasabi ko?

Mukhang galit nga siya sakin eh.

But she seems the type of woman who doesn't show her true feelings to someone, unless kilala niya ito. She seems the type of woman na quiet, serious but mysterious and interesting.

"Anyway, Akoz this is my cousin Berlin Min Scott. I believe you guys are classmates. Berlin, this is Akoz our new friend. Galing din sya sa Eleanor University. Bet you didn't know him because you joined Music Club before." Klein explained. Napatango ako sa sinabi ni Klein, so we were used to study in the same school during our SHS days?

However, Berlin joined Music Club and I joined Theatre Club with Klein. 

I showed my friendliest smile to Berlin, maybe it could lessen her unwanted feelings (anger). 

"H-hi Berlin, nice meeting you. I am Akoz."

 But I was wrong.

Berlin looked at me with her bored expression, tumango at nagsalita. 

"Oh, same here. Nice meeting you… too."

She isn't even smiling.

And I am bothered.

Napahiya ako doon huhuhu.

Unknowingly, napatingin ako kay Klein. It's like asking for a comfort after akong ma-snob in other way ng pinsan niya. But I guess she didn't notice it since di naman din niya alam kung anong nangyari sa park kanina. "That's it! So, we should give you a Theatre Tour before magstart ang assembly!"

"Girl, we only have 5 minutes bago magstart ang assembly." Putol ni Elynna kay Klein. 

"Oh shoot. Paano ba?"

I secretly roamed my eyes to check Berlin. But to my surprised, she is already staring at me. Napaiwas agad ako ng tingin sa likuran nya para magpanggap na sa piano ako nakatingin. "N-no, it's fine. After na lang siguro ng assembly." Paninigurado ko kay Klein. Ngumiti naman siya, dahilan para mahulog na naman ako.

Ilang beses na ba nagcicircus yung mga butterflies sa tiyan ko? Buong school year ata ako magiging ganito. 

"Okay. Medyo mahaba ang assembly natin today since isasama na namin yung plano for our upcoming stage play. If you need help, you can ask Berlin and Sakura." Cassidy answered while fixing her papers.

 Maya-maya pa ay narinig na namin si Elynna na nasa stage na. We need to move forward with our chairs para mas malapit sa stage and para mas marinig sila. Two sections lang kami ngayon sa club, more or less nasa 80 kami sa malaking room na ito. Nagpaalam na rin si Cassidy and Klein na aalis muna sila since sila ang magprepresent sa assembly.

 Kinuha ko ang isang plastic chair malapit sakin at dahan-dahan na sumunod sa area nila Berlin and Sakura.