Incognito

Strangers In The Night

pretty face // public

Do you know her, the girl that looks to you, would you love her the way she loved you?

Would you be there to help her push on through? Would you know her if she did ended up with you?

Are we enough?

~

The rain had stopped, finally, on the eighth of November. I mark my calendar as another day has gone by, wasted by mindless garbage. I feel particularly bummed out for no apparent reason. My parents always find ways to keep me anchored at home on the weekends, which explains why I'm on my bed, drowning myself into my favorite book that I've read at least a thousand times. Pride And Prejudice. The only book I've ever cared for.

Of course I've loved books before, but none like this. None that can capture the human heart and emotion like this. And as I read and reread it over and over, I feel contempt, no matter the gloominess that hangs over me. Maybe it is the post-rain clouds that blanket the sky, denying the privilege of the sun's rays to beam down upon us. It might even be because I still haven't figured out who this mysterious Ditto Incognito is. On second thought, that's obviously it.

Somehow, I believe, he knew I would end up like this. As if he could hypothesize that I would feel gloomy because I can't figure out his stupid little riddles. The boy, or man, behind that mask is someone I am very familiar with. But I've went through my yearbooks. I've went through my memory box. There's nothing.

There is not a single soul that could possibly be him. And that there is why I feel awful. I feel deprived and cheated. I always thought that I have been great at figuring hard things out, that's why I'm great at math. I'm the champion of CLUE for godsakes!

Whoever he is, he must have thought over this a million times before presenting himself.

My eyes stare at the ring he had given me. He's so peculiar. It's now blue, matching my current emotions. I narrow my vision to the window, the droplets of water barely clinging to the glass. There's a house, in shades of greys and blues. It used to be Ryder's and it used to be my second home. Because we were best friends our entire lives, our parents were also the greatest of friends. So close that we had each other's house keys and baby sat each other's kids. However, that's all gone now.

I wonder where he is, now that he's back in Monterey. Why isn't he back at his home? Does it hurt him too much? What am I saying, he doesn't feel. He didn't care about me, nor his parents, let alone a house.

"Lorena, time for dinner!" My mother calls me from the kitchen. It isn't far, but far enough for me to sink even farther into my bed because I'm lazy. My legs refuse to use the little energy I stored for tonight. I would be going to the movies with Julie and some of her other friends. I had no idea who they were exactly, but I am completely okay with it since I'll at least know Julie.

Speaking of her, I still haven't figured out a way to tell her.

The dining room is fairly large and as it comes to view, I'm greeted by the sweet smell of baked beans and the essence of turkey is near. Turkey with baked beans is my Dad's favorite, something big must be happening. Because, obviously, that's the only reason why Mom was actually cooking. With her job nowadays, seeing her cook is a miracle.

"How was your day, Donovan?" My mother asks, peering through her reading glasses that are at the verge of slipping off her nose. She lets out a smile, encouraging him to speak. He gives one in return and looks at the both of us.

"It was great, actually. And, well, I've got some news for you both." Gently, he sets his knife and fork down to address us. I honestly can say I am thoroughly confused on this matter. First, my mom makes my dad's favorite meal and now he has news to share with us? What is this? Christmas?