FACADE

Chapter SEVENTEEN

[Narrator]

Tuesday.

Naglalakad mag-isa si Klein sa hallway, papunta siya ngayon sa office ng club dahil may ibabalik siyang mga documents. Gusto na niyang magmadali, habang tinitingnan ang langit sa bintana ng hallway. Mukhang malakas ang ulan at ayaw niya maabutan sila ni Berlin ng traffic jam sa highway.

Kaso, kahit pa gustuhin niya ay hindi pwede. May mga hawak siya papeles at may kabigatan. Gusto niya sana tawagan si Elynna kaso busy naman ito sa ibang bagay na related din sa school requirements nila. Good thing, wala silang practice.

Hopefully, may makasalubong sya na pwede siya tulungan.

"Klein!"

Thank you Lord, bulong ni Klein sa sarili. 

Paglingon niya ay nakita niya si Akoz, nakasuot ito ng university jacket. Tumatakbo ito papunta sa kaniya. Buti na lang nakita sya ni Akoz.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ni Akoz at kinuha ang mga hawak niyang documents kahit wala pa siyang sinasabi. Napangiti siya sa 'simple kindness' na ginawa ng lalaki. Pinaiwan naman niya ang isang folder, para madala niya.

"Sa office, napirmahan na kasi ito sa registar. Kaya ilalagay ko for filing. By the way, we don't have practice today." Klein explained and pressed the elevator's button. 

Akoz moved his head to face her, "Hmm, why?" The guy asked her. 

Itinuro ni Klein ang tanaw na langit sa bintana ng hallway. Madilim na kahit 3:56pm pa lang. Pakiramdam ni Klein malakas ang buhos ng ulan ngayon.

"Malakas ang ulan ngayon, baka mahirapan tayo umuwi. Did you bring your car?" Akoz shook his head, and Klein was about to offer a ride pero agad din nagsalita si Akoz.

"I am sleeping at Yohan's house. Kaya hihintayin nya dapat ako. Pero buti na lang walang practice, hindi na niya need maghintay." Akoz giggled and brushed his hair with his hand.

Klein realized that at some point, may mga gestures din si Akoz that makes him manly. However, it is just great to see Akoz doesn't care about the image of masculinity. He simply wanted to be a human with kindness.

Napangiti si Klein nang maisip iyon

Pagkabukas ng pintuan ng elevator ay pumasok na sila ni Akoz. May ibang students na nagkwekwentuhan kaya hindi na siya nag-abalang daldalin si Akoz habang sakay ng elevator.

After few minutes ay bumukas din ang elevator sa floor kung saan makikita ang hall at office. Kaya lumabas na sila. Kinuha ni Klein ang susi ng office at binuksan iyon

"Saan ko ito ilalagay, Klein?" 

Tinuro ni Klein ang empty table sa tabi ng piano. Inilagay naman ni Akoz ang mga documents. Habang siya ay umakyat sa isang stool para kunin ang blue binder kung saan niya bala i-file ang mga documents na hawak sa isang folder.

Medyo may kaliitan nga si Klein kaya tumitingkayad pa siya kahit nakapatong na siya sa stool. Inaabot niya pa rin ang blue binder.

"Be careful, gusto mo ako na lang kumuha--

Tumingin si Klein sa kaniya at ngumiti, "Don't worry, I can do this. Sanay na ako dito." sabi nito at agad na binalik ang atensyon sa blue binder. Pero mahirap talaga abutin.

Tumingkayad pa nang husto si Klein para maabot ang blue book. Pero nang akmang hihilahin na niya ito ay naramdamang niya tumagilid ang stool na pinapatungan.

Sheez, malaglag pa ata siya.

"Oh my God--

"Klein!" 

Klein heard big footsteps papunta sa direksyon niya. Probably it's Akoz. Pinikit ni Klein ang mga mata habang nararamdaman na niya ang pagbagsak.

[Akoz' POV]

"Klein!"

Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta kay Klein, dahil anytime pwede sya bumagsak at tumama ang ulo niya sa stool. 

I tried my best to catch her body safely, both of my hands landed to her waist and her back. Good gracious, muntik na siyang bumagsak. Ang taas pa man din ng stool na pinatungan niya.

Klein opened her eyes slowly. We are facing each other and I am still holding her. Our eyes met with different kinds of expressions.

I knew I looked worried.

Klein looked surprised to see me. Or maybe, this close.

It's my second time. Pangalawang beses ko na maranasan ang ganitong kalapit kay Klein. And I always feel my heart beats crazy. I couldn't take my eyes off. I am still staring at her, with my worried face. 

If I will follow those common scenes na nababasa ko sa romance novels or movies. I will kiss her.

But no, it's like kissing without her consent. Just because I saved her, I deserve a kiss. Second, I haven't confessed yet. I don't know when and where. But nope, wala akong gagawin sa dalawa.

Just, staring at her beautiful face.

I say this a lot. But I will never get tired adoring her perfect face. An amazing masterpiece. She has a beautiful face and beautiful smile, of course a beautiful heart too.

Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng mukha ko pero hindi pa rin ako makakilos. Maybe, she can feel my heartbeat. 

"T-thank you…" she uttered. That made me back to my senses. I slowly pushed myself away at binitawan siya. Nakatingin pa rin ako sa kanya. Baka mamaya may masakit pala sa kaniya.

Pero hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita.

Siguro nagulat din siya sa nangyari sa kanya.

"M-may masakit ba sa iyo?" Hindi ko natiis itanong. Umiling naman si Klein at tumalikod para itayo ang stool at ibalik ito sa pwesto nito.

"Wala naman. Pero thank you Akoz, you saved my life. Ang dami ko na yata utang sayo." 

Wala iyon, ginawa ko naman iyon dahil gusto ko. At dahil gusto rin kita.

Sana nga kaya ko sabihin sa kaniya kung ano man yung nasasabi ko sa isip ko. I breathed deeply, when will I have the courage to confess?

"Huwag mo na isipin iyon. But I suggest tomorrow mo na asikasuhin iyan. Or kahit ipasuyo mo na lang sa iba. Uulan na, baka maabutan kayo ni Berlin." I suggested. Klein nodded and carried her bag. Sabay kaming lumabas ng office.

Actually, umuulan na nga.

"Klein…" 

Sabay kami napalingon ni Klein sa boses ng babae na tumawag sa pangalan niya. The girl is not from our department. She is from a different program. She is from College of Architecture and Fine Arts. Based on her college polo shirt.

"Oh, Hi Aleczanna!" Klein greeted the woman. The two hugged each other. Oh, maybe she is Klein's friend.

Gusto ko sana magpaalam na mauuna na ako pero it seems Klein is having a serious conversation with the Aleczanna girl. I can wait naman, pero hindi si Yohan.

Lumingon sa akin si Klein at lumapit kasama si Alec. She's taller than Klein, maybe she has the same height with Cassidy. Alec is wearing an eyeglasses na same style kay Harry Potter. She's cute. She is like a bear haha.

"This is Akoz Pricel Frondozo freshie from Performing Arts, Akoz this is Aleczanna Yuan from Fine Arts." Masayang pakilala samin ni Klein. 

Agad akong ngumiti kay Alec at naghi, ganoon din siya. Nawala tuloy mga mata niya dahil sa pag-ngiti niya.

Matapos noon ay nagpaiwan si Klein kasama si Alec, mukhang may aasikasuhin pa sila. Kaya agad naman ako sumakay ng elevator papuntang first floor para makauwi na at inilabas ang payong. Baka naghihintay na rin si Yohan sa baba. 

[Cassidy's POV]

Ang lakas ng ulan.

Halos hindi ko na makita yung labas ng building. Ang foggy tingnan ng glass wall. 

Kanina pa ako dito pero I decided not to go home early. Hindi rin ako sumabay kay Elynna, baka makita nya pa ako at si Yohan. 

I am trying to avoid Yohan.

I sighed. Alam kong hindi pwede magtagal sa ganitong setup pero napapagod na ako patigilin siya. 

Tiningnan ko ang phone ko na may text niya, he asked me kung may dala ba akong kotse dahil pwede naman niya ako isabay pauwi. He's with Akoz too. I don't like seeing the two of them together.

"I will call my driver to pick me up na lang after this rain." I said to myself while watching the foggy glass wall.

Pagkatingin ko sa likod ay nakita ko si Akoz, may hawak itong payong at nakatingin sakin. 

Gosh, bakit ako kinakabahan?!

"Cassidy, what are you doing here?" Akoz asked and opened his umbrella. Gusto ko sana sumabay kaso, makikita ko naman si Yohan.

"I am waiting for my driver, ikaw? May dala ka bang car." I questioned him kahit alam kong kasama niya si Yohan.

Umiling si Akoz, "I am with my friend." Sabi niya at tumingin sa labas. Napansin niya rin siguro ang lakas ng ulan.

Akoz moved his head to looked at me, "May dala ka bang payong?" 

Speaking of payong, I misplaced it.

"I misplaced it." Pag-amin ko, "But I can call my driver and wait here, don't worry." 

Tumango naman si Akoz, nagpaalam na siya at umalis. Napatingin ulit ako sa cellphone ko, hindi pa rin siguro nababasa yung text ko. Kailangan ko na umuwi, I need to sleep. I have so many things to do by tomorrow.

"You can take it…"

What the….

I looked up to see the man who handled me with an umbrella and it was him. 

Why is it always him?

"You can have it, I am with Yohan naman." Akoz offered his umbrella with a genuine smile. "Get home safely, okay?" He didn't wait for me to respond and leave the building, trying to conquer the rain.

No more lies Cassidy.

You don't need to pretend. 

Sa lahat ng kabaitan na ginawa ni Akoz, ang dali. Ang dali para sakin.

However, Yohan who did everything for a year, and still wala akong nararamdaman even a single bit of love.

Now, I have to admit to myself.

It is Akoz.

But why all of the men here, it has to be that guy?

Akoz, who is Yohan's bestfriend?

Napapikit ako ng mata at huminga nang malalim. Welcome to the real world Cassidy.

You like Akoz.

[Berlin's POV]

"Where's Cassidy?" I asked ate Klein, we are almost soaked in water after we tried to walk under the heavy rain. Buti na lang uwian na.

Inabot sakin ni ate Klein ang towel, "Magpapasundo siya sa driver niya. May aasikasuhin ata siya eh. Nauna na nga si Elynna umuwi."

Ate Klein started the engine and nagdrive na siya papalabas ng university. Sinuot ko naman ang earphones ko at nagsimulang magpatugtog.

How about Akoz?

Napakunot-noo ako, why would I think of Ako out of sudden? Hindi nga nagtama landas namin after class eh. We didn't talk today too. 

Hindi naman siya mahalaga sa akin.

Did that guy bring his car?

It's raining so hard though.

Baka mamaya maulanan iyon at lagnatin. Baka di maka-attend sa practice.

Okay, Berlin you are worried he might not able to enter the class and practice. Nothing more, we are not even friends! We aren't getting there.

"Where's Akoz? Did you see that guy?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin sa bintana. Whatever, I already asked about him.

"Yes, he helped me. Matutulog siya sa friend niya today so iyon ang kasabay niya." said ate Klein. Pagkahinto na sa red light ay napansin ko ang pagtingin sakin ni ate Klein.

"He is a nice kid, why don't you befriend him?" 

Flabbergasted, I moved my head. 

What's with that question?

Ate Klein giggled the moment she saw my reaction. Alam niyang hindi naman ako palakaibigan, and I had never a chance to have a male friend.

"Why would I?" I asked her back.

"He is someone you need in your life." Ate Klein explained. "He may be a shy boy but he is a warm and kind guy. Akoz understands everything and is considerate." She sounds serious.

"Lagi na lang kayo nag-aaway, or if away is not the right term, siguro lagi mo siyang tinatarayan Berlin. Kaya di ko alam kung may nagawa ba siyang mali sayo." 

Come to think of it, I was a bit harsh to him for the past month. But he never gets mad at me. He smiled and tried his best to talk to me.

Siguro nga, I acted too much. I judged him too much. What if, hindi nga siya ganon? Tulad nang iniisip ko?

"Is he really a nice guy?" I murmured.

"He is the nicest man, I have ever met." Ate Klein proudly said, I heard her deep sigh.

"He is like your brother. He reminds me of your brother." 

My brother.

I rested my head on the seat and closed my eyes. Maybe, maybe I should see him in a positive way. 

Siguro, siguro I can be friends with Akoz.

Not now, but maybe soon.

"I'll try ate Klein." Nasabi ko na lang at tumingin ulit sa window.