Casting Light on Deception: The Ascension of a Simple Man

Jeannie, smiling, walked out, inviting Michelle in to showcase the results of their hard work. My heart pounded, breath held, uncertain of what Michelle's reaction would be. As Michelle stepped in, her shiny new black dress caught my eye. As always, she looked incredibly beautiful and a hint of surprise played on her face upon seeing me.

"Great work," Michelle praised Jeannie, her laughter bubbling out. With satisfied smiles, Jeannie and her friend exited, leaving us alone. Michelle approached me, adjusted the collar of my shirt, and patted my shoulder. "You look amazing," she said, her gaze meeting mine in the mirror. It reflected a striking couple; a beautiful woman and a man who appeared…

(I hesitated to admit that I looked handsome, even charming, perhaps fit for a magazine cover. )

"I think this place could turn even a village monkey into a model," I admitted, blushing.

"That watch suits you," Michelle noted, satisfied with its size and taking my arm, "Let's go." I glanced at my watch and sighed.

(Maybe it's me who doesn't suit this watch.)

After taking a few steps, my body moved awkwardly, everything felt unfamiliar. The shiny shoes were far different from the flip-flops I usually wore.

This village monkey may have turned into a man, but still walks like one.

My awkward walk and discomfort in my attire were clearly reflected in the mirror. Something was definitely amiss. I halted, leaving Michelle confused. "Michelle, I appreciate what you've done, but I don't think I should attend the party. I'm not the right person," I stated seriously.

"Why?"

"Even though you've dressed me up...turned a monkey into a suitable companion...I'm still a monkey," I grimaced, "My walk, my discomfort, doesn't it all seem absurd to you? I feel alien in this new skin, as though I'm becoming something I'm not. I might embarrass you with my clumsiness."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. And you look handsome, very handsome. Let's go," Michelle's eyes sparkled and she tugged on my arm.

"No," I insisted, stopping her. I felt like an imposter, clothed in the guise of a sophisticated gentleman, looking perfect through her eyes. I felt out of place and had to act before I embarrassed myself further with my unnatural gait. I closed my eyes, remembering the adage of our village.

"If you wish to live as a true man, then you must live authentically. If you can reveal your heart, place it in the palm of your hands for all to see, without shame, then you are a true man."

This principle had always guided me, but now it hindered me. I was a poor man, presenting myself in finery I could never afford. I was deceiving myself, and it contradicted everything I believed in. This life was not mine. From the beginning, it all felt wrong.

I needed to escape this situation as soon as possible. I looked at Michelle, her eyes often filled with tears, hurt more often than not. I couldn't disappoint her, especially after her recent breakup. She deserved happiness. Besides, I had promised to accompany her. A man should keep his word. What kind of man would I be if I couldn't make her happy?

"Michelle..." I held her gaze, pondering my next move until her cheeks flushed.

"…"

"…"

"Are you going to kiss me now?" Michelle asked hopefully.

Annoyed, I pinched her cheeks, "Tell me what you really want to do today. What should I do?" I had to do something. I wouldn't get anywhere continuing like a country bumpkin dressed in luxury. If I continued with my current demeanor, I would only embarrass myself further. Another guiding principle of mine stated, "When you offer help to someone, give it your all, even at the risk of your own life." I had decided to help Michelle, and I needed to understand what that entailed.

"Don't you already know?"

"What?"

"Accompany me to the Masquerade Ball."

"As what?"

Michelle looked down, her voice softer, "As my lover. I want to show everyone, especially Andreas, that he isn't everything. I want everyone to know that you are my lover. The only one for me."

"Your lover?" I frowned.

"Michelle looked at me shyly, "Well, and I also want to convince my friends that I'm not lacking in male attention after Andreas left. But, you should seriously consider being my lover."

Her lover, I pondered. This LXX, these luxurious clothes...

"Alright," I conceded, "Could you wait for me at the front? I need some time to adjust my inner self."

Michelle chuckled and left, calling over her shoulder, "Don't fall in love with your own reflection." I gave a wry smile and turned back to the mirror, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes.

"This is all just an act," I reminded myself, "Just performing a role from here to the BtP Masquerade Ball." My role was to portray a BtP officer, wealthy, confident man who dons these clothes daily. A man comfortable with luxury and charisma, capable of captivating anyone. "I am strong, exceptional, and I am in love with Michelle."

After taking several deep breaths and repeating those words, I began to feel a peculiar comfort. My imagination painted a lavish childhood, a life of luxury, a membership in BtP, my own car, and many other things. I needed to deceive myself before I could deceive others. To become a prince for Michelle.

I remembered an old storyteller's words, "A prince may be born, but a true king is made. No one is perfect from birth. There may be many princes destined to be kings, but there are far more great kings created by their circumstances, ordinary men with nothing to begin with. Through hard work, sweat, and a sincere desire to make others happy, may True Source Blessed it."

(Where all of this begin?)

I was an orphan from a small village. Life had hardened me early on, with struggles that often seemed insurmountable. Confidence was an alien concept to me, a luxury I could hardly afford amidst the demands of survival

The Master introduced me to the concept of self-belief. "If you cannot trust yourself, Jaime," he said, "how can you convince others to trust you?" His words resonated deeply within me. I realized that my lack of self-confidence was my biggest barrier to progress.

The Master taught me that Neurolinguistic Programming / NLP was about harnessing the power of my thoughts and emotions. "If you can feel, if you can empathize with your own emotions, you can become whoever you want to be," he advised. The idea was astounding, but as I delved into the world of NLP, I began to see its truth.

The transformation wasn't overnight. I started by observing my thoughts and emotions, getting comfortable with them. I realized that my low self-esteem was a construct of my own making, born out of my circumstances and experiences. I keep choosing to believe my low self-esteem. Only me force myself to feel and be the low self-esteem.

I had the power to change it, to change the narrative of my life. This realization was liberating.

Every day, I worked at EVE, but my real job was working on myself. As I interacted with customers, I practiced projecting confidence, even when I was quaking inside. I used the NLP techniques I was learning, visualizing success, anchoring positive emotions, reframing negative thoughts. Slowly, I started to feel a shift.

The transformation was not just about becoming successful or popular. It was about becoming the best version of myself, a version that was not constrained by low self-esteem or fear. It was about realizing my limitless potential.

"In the grand vastness of life, I stand humbly as a testament to unlimited potential. I am, after all, a divine creation. The boundaries I perceive are mere illusions; God designed us to be limitless. Every challenge serves as an opportunity to stretch these wings of mine, to fly higher, closer to my boundless potential."

"I refuse to limit myself, for doing so would limit God's creation. Each step on this continuous journey of growth brings me closer to understanding this truth: the sky is indeed the limit. I carry within me a spark of divine power, a reflection of the cosmic energy that fuels the universe. This understanding empowers me to dream, to aspire, to grow, and to live my divine birthright to its fullest potential."

"Embracing my divine blueprint, I stand firm in the belief that I can manifest into anything, as the True Source wills. This infinite universe, with its boundless possibilities, is within me. I am a vessel of potential, waiting to be shaped by the divine will of the Source. With faith as my guiding light, I know that there are no boundaries to what I can become."

"I choose to be unlimited light!"

A tingling sensation shot through my body, bringing relief. My breath slowed, my heart beat gently, and when I opened my eyes, I felt at ease with what I was wearing. What was once burdensome now felt natural. A newfound confidence surged within me.

A new me was born.

A complete gentleman.

***

"Wow, you've got quite the catch this time," teased Jeannie to Michelle by the cash register. Michelle laughed in response, "He's mine, and I'm not giving him up to you."

"Michelle," Jaime's voice called out, approaching her.

Immediately, all faces turned towards Jaime. Something has changed, thought Michelle, as she noticed his relaxed and comfortable smile, his natural and pleasing walk. Jaime approached her and gazed deeply into her eyes. His fingers gently brushed her forehead, tucking away a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. Michelle was stunned, her heart racing, especially after receiving such a tender look from Jaime which made her feel immensely loved. Jaime's surrounding energy resonated within her, comfortable and warm.

"You look beautiful," Jaime softly whispered, looking directly into Michelle's eyes. Michelle held her breath. She felt beautiful, and her desire for Jaime was now uncontrollable, she wanted to completely possess him. Something was different, and intoxicating. Jaime leaned over and whispered gently in her ear, "Is everything done?"

Michelle felt her ears turning red and quickly nodded.

"Shall we leave now?" Jaime asked, gently nibbling on Michelle's earlobe, which turned her face red and made her yelp in surprise. Jaime had never done that, especially not in public.

"Yes," Michelle stammered in reply. Jaime gently touched Michelle's arm and guided her out of the place. He did not forget to thank Jeannie with a charming smile, causing Jeannie to sit down clutching her racing heart, her face blushing. Michelle watched Jaime in silence, trying to find something different.

Jaime's aura had suddenly changed, or the atmosphere around Jaime became tranquil, his face more serene and mature. Everything had changed for Michelle. She just stayed silent, her heart was racing, and her face felt hot, she was experiencing a new sensation that she had never felt before. It was as if the time two years ago when Jaime was still close to her had returned, maybe even more so, her heartbeat started racing. She felt immensely loved.

Throughout their journey passing by shop after shop, Jaime appeared carefree, teasing her with jokes and even twirling her around a few times to the rhythm of a street musician, causing her to laugh and blush from feeling loved. Everything felt so natural, their relationship, the way Jaime looked at her, and touched her. It was as if they had been lovers for years. No matter how many pairs of eyes were watching them, there were no more judgmental looks, only admiration. They looked like a happy and well-matched couple.

***

"Sensei, Sensei, Sensei ...!" Michelle shouted again upon arriving on the third floor of the mask shop. The atmosphere was quiet, no answer.

"Did he run away?" I teased Michelle.

"He wouldn't dare," Michelle replied, and just as she was about to shout again, the old man they called Sensei suddenly came out of the room with a wide smile, something unexpected by both me and Michelle.

"I've been waiting for you," he said, looking in my direction.

"Good then," Michelle responded happily.

The old Sensei looked at me, "Are you a superhuman?"

Michelle also turned to look at me. "I hope so," I shrugged, "But I'm not wearing that thing," pointing to the object wrapped around Michelle's upper left arm, "So I'm not a superhuman."

"Is his blood superhuman blood and can become that special superhuman mask?" Michelle asked the old Sensei, full of curiosity.

"No, not until I add my blood to it," Sensei replied.

"Huh?" Michelle almost understood where the conversation was going and didn't intend to prolong it. She didn't want the old man to know that she was using that mask to sneak Jaime, who is not a superhuman, into the BtP party, and indirectly asking him to add his blood to make a special mask. "Sensei, I don't know what you mean but what's important now is the mask, have you finished it? I am in hurry!" Michelle insisted.

Sensei paused for a moment, looking at me and then laughing loudly, "Hahaha, okay-okay, I won't interfere in this matter, after all, I also don't want to bother fellow normal humans." He laughed, handing over two large black boxes to Michelle, and raised his eyebrows, smiling as he glanced at me.

Michelle couldn't wait to see what kind of mask she would have, though she had already been able to see her mask from earlier. She immediately opened the first box and saw the contents, which was a beautiful mask covering a quarter of the left eye upward, while the rest was made of a transparent material and colorful like a rainbow. The mask was very beautiful because of its extraordinary shape, it was intriguing, mysterious yet so elegant, clearly Michelle's type.

After admiring her mask, Michelle was immediately curious about the mask made for me. She opened another box and what she saw made her grimace, clearly a bit displeased. I knew it was my mask and immediately tilted my head to peek inside the box. A black mask as dark as a piece of coal that covered from the eyebrows to the nose, the shape was rigid and had many sharp angles following the contours of the face, and overall, the shape was very simple.

Just a plain, rigid black mask.

My heart pounded hard as I looked at the mask. I instantly loved the mask that depicted simplicity, innocence, hardness, character, and honesty without any fuss. A mask that perfectly described my soul. Michelle, on the other hand, looked at Sensei and stared at him, "What does this mean? Where is the beauty and majesty, is this some kind of joke?"

Sensei laughed, "Is that so, young man, I can replace it if you want?" Sensei asked me directly, who still could not take my eyes off the mask.

"No," I answered quickly "This mask is perfect, I feel there's no mask that would suit me more than this one."

"Huh?" Michelle was dumbfounded, "Alright, you both have absolutely no taste, Jaime, we must go now," Michelle replied, grabbing my arm and pulling me down as quickly as possible.

"Young man," added Sensei while turning back to his room, "I added a note on your box, if you want to learn how to make a mask, you can read it. Until we meet again…."