~Lu Han~

Napataas ang tingin ko mula sa binabasa kong libro nang marinig ang mabilis na pagbaba ni Kyungsoo mula sa hagdan. Naka-ayos siya at mukhang may pupuntahan.

"May lakad ka, Kyung?" tanong ko at tinanggal ang salamin ko. "Mukhang nagmamadali ka ah."

Nagumiti si Kyungsoo at tumingin sa malaking salamin sa isang wall. Inayos niya ang buhok niya. "Meron, Luhan." sagot niya at lumingon sa akin. "Kaya, ikaw muna bahala dito ah, mukhang okay na kayo ni Master Seth eh. Gawin mo nalang yung mga gusto niyang ipagawa sayo."

Tumango ako at tumayo mula sa inuupuan ko. "Sige ba, ako na bahala." sagot ko.

Pinanood kong umalis si Kyungsoo gamit yung kotse. San kaya siya pupunta? Date kaya? Sino kayang boyfriend ni Kyung?

Napa-shrug nalang ako at bumalik sa sala. Tinuloy ko nalang ang pagbabasa ng librong kahapon ko lang sinimulan. Nakita ko lang ito sa basement nung nag-aayos ako ng gamit. Beastly by Alex Flinn. Tungkol sa isang lalake na naging halimaw.

Paano kaya kung totoo?

~Oh Sehun~

Matagal ko nang kinalimutan yung rose na binigay sa akin ni Sulli ng gabing yun. Hindi ko makuhang tignan. It pains me to know that my time is running out. Pero alam kong this time, i need to know.

Naglakad ako papunta sa box kung saan ko tinago ang rosas. It's a big box with ancient carvings along the sides. I pulled the lid and revealed the thing that marks my human days.

One petal down. Nine left.

I held the dried petal and stared at it. My time's slowly running out. At hanggang ngayon, hindi ko parin alam kung sino ang true love na sinasabi ng Sulli na yun. I feel so hopeless. Sa tingin ba talaga niya, may magmamahal pa sa akin sa ganitong kalagayan ko?

"Masyado ka namang malungkot, Sehun."

Napalingon ako at nakita si Sulli na nakaupo sa gilid ng kama ko. I sighed in relief and glared at her. Binalik ko na yung rosas sa box at lumapit sa kanya.

"What do you want again this time, Sulli?" tanong ko at umupo sa sofa, malayo sakanya. Pang tatlong bisita na niya ito sakin. And i would never want her again. She's just as annoying as usual.

Natawa siya ng mahina. "What?" she shrugged. "Pumunta ako para kumustahin ka. So, how's life going?" she asked then smirked. She really loves to mock me.

I rolled my eyes. "That's a stupid question." i answered. "I'm still this."

She sighed. "Alam ko." sagot niya at ngumiti. This time, it's real. "Do you think you'll find your true love soon enough?" she asked and i can almost hear hope in her voice.

I shrugged and looked away. "Hindi ko alam." i murmured. "You turned me into this, why not just tell me exactly what i should do?" i asked her, totally frustrated.

Umiling siya. "Alam mong hindi ko pwedeng gawin yan, Sehun." sagot niya. She looks pained. "Ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko. Kung hindi ko ginawa yan, you'll never learn. You'll stay being a monster."

"You turned me into one, Sulli!" i shouted. "You turned me into this horrifying creature! Akala mo ba madali?! I'm hiding in the dark! I'm not me anymore!"

"Because I have to!" sagot niya pabalik at may lungkot sa mga mata niya. I looked away, i don't want to see her sad. I feel worse about myself. I feel pathetic. "Kailangan mong matuto, Oh Sehun, kasi alam nating dalawa na hindi sapat ang salita sayo. Tinutulungan kita! Believe me, i really am. Pero masyado kang manhid."

I frowned. What is she saying?

Napatingin ako sakanya. "Anong sinasabi mo?" tanong ko.

She shrugged. "I've always been trying to guide you, Oh Sehun." sagot niya. "Look around. Notice the people around you."

I shook my head. "Why do you always take turns and curves while talking?! Sabihin mo nalang ang gusto mong sabihin, Sulli!" i shouted out of frustration. "I would notice who?! Sino, Sulli?! Sino?!"

She shrugged. 

"You're imposible." i grumbled and closed my eyes.

I massaged my temple and felt the hairs along my face. They're as thick as ever and they're growing longer every passing weeks.

When i opened my eyes again, Sulli's not there anymore. But there's something on my bed.

Naglakad ako papalapit dito at nakita ang isang salamin na kasing laki ng isang picture frame. It's color black and red with roses along the sides. I lifted it and stared.

I can see myself on the mirror. But it's a different version of me.

I can see my old self. The Oh Sehun everybody wants. Handsome and perfect.

I turned the mirror. I don't want to look at that face anymore. It pains me to know what I've lost because of my attitude.

But i was surprised to find a note on the back of the mirror.

"What you can see in this mirror is your greatest desire, Oh Sehun. You want your old face back right now, yes? That's why you can see it.

But look into your heart. What do you really want? Or who?"

I frowned. It's a stupid message.

Who i want? I want my true love.

Pero nang tumingin ako ulit sa salamin, yung dati ko paring mukha ang nakikita ko. I flinched at the sight and let go of the mirror. I placed it in a drawer and sat back on the sofa.

I still want my face back. I admit that.

But i also want to be loved. The real love chosen people feel.

A knock on the door made me jump.

"Master Seth?"

It's Luhan. And i suddenly felt my heart skip a beat. It's a weird feeling. Something i never felt before. I tried fixing my heartbeat by breathing normally but it's almost impossible.

What is happening to me?

"Master Seth?" he called again. He calls me Seth. And i want him to call me Sehun. To use my real name.

I looked at the door. "Yes?" i answered, barely audible for him.

"Yung lunch niyo po, Master." he answered.

I smiled. "Leave it there. I'll eat when i'm hungry." i answered and walk to the door. I placed my head on it and listened to his voice.

"Yes, Master." then i heard his footsteps until they fade away into the hallway.

I sighed and my heartbeat started to loosen up a bit. I don't know why but i grabbed the mirror from the drawer and held it to my face.

I can see the old Sehun but smiled as the image slowly fades away.

It was replaced by another scene. Another person.

I can see him reading a book in the living room. A book entitled, Beastly.

*****