His true facial identity

"It's a secret." He made curiosity swallow her up.

"Okay, Tan," Liliana picked up the cards. Well, Tristan had been listening to her thoughts on shortening his name but how about he shortened her name too?

"Lia," Tristan caught her attention, and she stared at him with those big eyes.

"Huh?" Liliana knew he shortened her name but she played dumb or wanted to confirm. Liliana motioned for him to sit on the floor with a red wool shaggy rug on it.

"You named me Tan, I give you Lia. Fair right?" He told Liliana as he slid down to sit on the rug. Liliana couldn't fathom how they became close all of a sudden that he listened to her without hesitating or thinking twice about it.

This was what she wanted, a friend she could love, and share her feelings with, a friend that would also love her just as much. She couldn't assure herself of his behavior being this way for his stay with her because he can't live with her forever. Tristan was like a chameleon, a chameleon changes color because of its reaction towards things and just like a chameleon.

Tristan's actions change but she didn't know why, and what type of thing or occurrence changes his color. She couldn't pinpoint that at all.

She couldn't figure out what causes his change in reaction. But now that they were this close, she wished they could be this way every day which she knew can never be possible.

Her parents, when they were still with her. With the love they shared and the peace between them. She still sees her parents fight sometimes. She also does fight with her parents though the love was present.

In Tristan's case, was there love? Even if they fight will they reconcile every time?

Her thoughts were piling up with different assumptions and prospects.

Now, that Tristan had apologized, she guessed it was time they start again as neighbors and friends especially. She wanted to be close to Tristan because...

No, deep down inside her, it wasn't because they lived together. There was another reason she wanted to be close to him and know him. But, what was that reason?

Liliana placed her hand on his head and danced her fingers into his hair which seemed to be always combed by his fingers. Tristan on the other hand didn't one hundred percent feel the pleasure of her fingers on his scarp.

Liliana massaging so slow then realized something, she figure out something about his hair. From his forehead to his hair, there was this particular line that was so faint. It would be hard for anyone to see the line and then, with curiosity. She dipped her finger into the line and it went through.

Gasping, Tristan was wearing a wig! Why? "Tristan, you enjoying the massage?" She asked.

Tristan nodded, very much aware of her thoughts and what she'd figured out. But he waited for her questions.

"How's that possible when you have a wig on?" She confronted him. His head that was resting on her closed knees moved up to meet her gaze.

"Huh?" He acted innocent.

Liliana gave him that look. 'You tryna lie again?' Tristan gave up immediately. Right now, he needed to gain her trust.

Revealing his true facial identity wouldn't change a thing. He knew Liliana, her mouth wasn't a broadcasted type. She wasn't a gossiper or someone who leaks other people's secrets anyhow.

"Alright, you caught me," he stood up and her gaze went with him. He could view her curiosity through her brown gaze. "I do have a wig and a mask on," he told her.

Liliana gave that look of 'I knew it' Actually, he read her mind but she still offered such a look. "But promise you wouldn't leak out my secret," he demanded with squinted eyes.

Liliana stood up. "Or else you'd kill me right?"

"Thought you forgave me and have forgotten."

"I have but can't forget if you keep reminding me with your action. Up till now, you don't trust me."

"Do you trust me, Liliana?" He asked, Tristan wasn't interested in knowing or even asking but now that the question came out unexpectedly, he was curious to know if she does trust him.

Silence occurred. And she asked herself again. Does she trust Tristan? That question was rendered with no answer. She didn't know if she trusted him or not.

Her parents had always cautioned her on who to trust and who not to. And Tristan was a brusque description of who her parents explained to be trusted.

With his behavior towards her the few weeks, he'd been with her. She couldn't and shouldn't trust him. With his sudden change in appearance and attitude, she shouldn't trust him at all. Actually, she shouldn't for now because she might not know his true intentions.

Who knows his attitude towards her now might be an honest one.

"I know, I know. It's hard for you to trust someone who almost killed you."

"I'm glad you get my point," she said immediately trying to stand on her ground. She shouldn't show him that mercy so easily.

"Then I guess we don't trust each other, I think we should work on that."

Liliana scoffed. "Really? Tan, we..." Liliana diverted her hand that was pointing at herself to him. "...We should work on trusting each other?" She sarcastically questioned him. "Are you kidding me?"

"What do you mean Liliana? I'm trying to be good and here you are making it seem like a hard long equation," he frowned.

Liliana toyed with her hair. "Don't mind me but those words coming from your mouth surprised me. Men it did," she was sincere.

Tristan was relieved that she finally talked to him the way she does and is free with him. "Whatever," he looked away.

"Hey, don't forget you were still on the goal of showing me your real face," Liliana felt he was trying to slide that part away, he didn't mean it that way though.

"All right but don't freak out and don't drool and don't be too mesmerized when you see me,"

Liliana laughed. "Are you that. . . handsome?" She asked, with her expectations, confined. She didn't believe he'd be too beautiful.

Tristan pulled off his wig in just five seconds and from then, she was already becoming dumbstruck by his hair's appearance, it was so dark like a Raven and it looked soft as it fell marvelously on his shoulders.

She never knew Tristan's hair was this long to reach his shoulders and at that moment, he was slowly taking off his mask.

When that was achieved, Liliana's arms were folded until the moment she set her eyes on his face. Just as he had mentioned before exposing his facial identity. Liliana was mesmerized!