Mask of A Legend

by Stephen Andrew Salamon

  “Oh, and I guess you’re Mr. Perfect. Stephen, you know, as well as I know, that you’re just like me. So, practice what you preach,” Mark said. He began walking vigorously toward the back door.

  “I do practice what I preach, I’m not cheating on Dina whatsoever,” Stephen yelled. Mark stopped in his tracks and turned around. “You better start growing up and realizing that Legend is the best thing that ever happened to you!”

  “I know, but I still have to get some with something. Legend may be beyond beautiful, but she still wants to stay a virgin, and I can’t live with that right now. I mean, I don’t know why you’re getting so defensive toward my actions with other women. This is not your relationship, it’s mine and Legend’s!”

  Stephen walked fast toward the water fountain.

  “You don’t realize what you have, do you?” Stephen asked. He calmed down and Mark walked up to him. “Legend is going to be, most definitely, one of the most famous, beautiful women ever in the history of this world, this nation . . . and you have her. . . . You’re eighteen years old, and you have the most beautiful girlfriend ever, who cares for you, and you don’t realize it. You don’t realize how many guys would give anything to have a single stare, with deep meaning, from Legend. Guys would give anything to get a kiss from Legend, as you do every day.” Stephen stared at the water fountain. He couldn’t even look at Mark that’s how disgusted he was at him. “Guys would give their lives to make a wish that Legend would fall in love with them.”

  Mark looked at him with serious eyes. “My God,” Mark said, starting to smile.

  “What?”

  “Oh my God!”

  “Why are you saying ‘Oh my God’ like that?”

  Mark commenced smiling more, shook his head and walked away from Stephen. Mark then walked back and said, “You know, my whole life, I have been envious of you, Stephen. I have been envious of your looks, charm toward women, and overall, your wealth. . . . And now, I have something that you want.” Mark walked up closer to Stephen. “I would have never thought, in a million years, that I would possess something that you yearn for.”

  “Yearn? What the hell are you talking about?” Stephen knew what Mark was hinting at. He put up his guard, his shield, and asked again, “What are you talking about?”

  “Legend. You care for Legend, don’t you?”

  Stephen’s mind got overwhelmed with anxiety. “No, no I don’t. I care for Dina, and that’s it. You know, that’s very rude of you to judge my character and my feelings toward–” Stephen suddenly stopped. “My God, I’m beginning to sound like Legend.” Stephen dropped in a seating position on the ground that was made of green grass.

  “You like her, don’t you?” Mark asked. He sat down on the ground also and looked up at the clear night.

  Stephen sat in silence, not knowing what he should say to his best friend, who has the love of his life in his possession. This was something very new to Stephen. “You know, Mark, I see the way you put on a mask whenever you’re around Legend.” Stephen’s voice was calm. “And I admit, I did, and probably still do become jealous of you for that. . . . For the way you put on that mask so greatly, and are able to fool Legend. . . . But when it comes to you dating her . . . I’m not jealous of that. I don’t wear a mask, put up a front, in front of her, and for that, she doesn’t want anything to do with me. And personally, for some odd reason, I would never want to wear any other character in front of her. I wouldn’t feel right–”

  “You care for her, don’t you? Stop beating around the bush: do you, or don’t you care for her?” Mark asked. His tone showed some sincerity to it, as if Stephen was his younger brother, and he was helping him with a problem.

  Stephen gazed up to Legend’s bedroom window, seeing white drapes waving in the wind. “I never cared for another girl before, Mark. . . . I didn’t know what it felt like to care, or even to love another girl. . . . I was just interested in beyond beautiful girls, and making sure I got laid by them. . . . But, with Legend, she’s so beautiful, and yet I don’t care if I have sex with her or not. I mean, all I want is for her to stare at me, and say the same feelings to me that I have for her. . ..

  “I just want to hold her forever, and never let go. . . . So, the answer to your question . . . is yes. . . . I do care for Legend, but I know she’s with you, and you’re like a brother to me. For that, I just have to get over it,” Stephen explained.

  Mark got up from the ground and dusted off his pants.

  “You know, Stephen, you’re right about me wearing a mask in front of her. But the thing is, I don’t think I care for her as much as you do. . . . I mean, whenever I’m around her in public, I’m there only for the attention I get from the media when they see me holding Legend Conaway’s hand. Or, when we’re alone, all I think about is having sex with her, and then leaving her be. . . . I admit, I do have something special, but I don’t think she’s as special as you do. . . . It’s all in the eye of the beholder,” Mark said with complete honesty and sincerity. He never did that before. He realized Stephen was truly in love with her, and for that, his tone showed seriousness to it, a type of solemnity that he never showed before. “I tell you what, I’ll break up with her tomorrow.”

  Stephen jumped up from the ground.

  “No, no, no, don’t do that, you’ll only hurt her. I told you already, I have to deal with this, it’s okay. . . . She’s your girlfriend, all I’m saying is for you to realize that she’s the best thing you ever had,” Stephen said. They both walked toward the back doorway.

  “Well, she’s the best thing that you ever had, too, it’s just you know it mentally,” said Mark. They entered the house again and headed to the foyer.

  “Well, it’s going to stay in my mind, and that’s it. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Stephen said. He began to walk up the staircase, and leave Mark standing by the front door when he suddenly stopped on the eighth stair, and turned around. “Wait a second, what is it you had to tell me before?”

  Mark opened up the front door and said, “Oh, I just heard that some popular charity event wants Legend to give a speech.”

  “Oh, yeah, I already know that. She’s going to do it this Sunday.” Stephen then continued his journey up the staircase and Mark exited through the front door. Stephen entered a hallway, and walked to Dina’s room.

  Suddenly, he noticed a door open, and realized it was Legend’s room. He looked inside, and saw her sleeping body. The window to the balcony was wide open. So, he felt the draft from the wind soaring through the window, and decided to shut it. As he walked in, Dina left her bedroom and wandered down the hallway, in search of Stephen. Dina passed by Legend’s room, saw him passing Legend’s bed, and coming up to her window. Dina hid behind the wall, and stuck her head in the bedroom doorway, suspiciously watching Stephen walk through the room of the girl who Dina was most envious of.

  “Who’s there?” Legend asked. Stephen turned around and realized she was still sleeping. “Leave me,” she said. Stephen smirked, knowing that she was talking in her beauty sleep.

  “It’s only me, Legend,” he said. Dina still watched his actions from a distance.

  “Mom, I’m sorry for not calling you,” Legend said in her sleep. Dina listened more closely and Stephen walked out onto the balcony, admiring the view. “I am beautiful, but it’s a mask,” she said. Dina’s face settled into confusion.

  Stephen strolled back inside, shut the window and said, “Well, I shut the window for you, have a good rest.”

  “I love you,” Legend said.

  Stephen stopped walking and turned around to face this beautiful sight.

  He walked up to her, Dina watching with jealousy, and bent down by her bedside. He caressed Legend’s blonde hair and moved his hand down to her gentle face. “You know, Legend, I watch you a lot while you’re sleeping, and you never answer me as to who you love,” he whispered. “I don’t care if your eyes are shut, it would still mean so much to hear you say you love me, even if you are dreaming
.”

  “I love you,” Legend said. Stephen slowly kissed her on the forehead and then got up from his knees.

  “Yeah, I know you love Mark,” Stephen said. He headed toward the doorway and Dina ran back to her room before he entered the hallway.

  As soon as Stephen shut the door, Legend whispered, while her beautiful eyes were still shut, “I love you, Stephen.” She woke, but fell into slumber again.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Thousands upon thousands of pain-stricken women sat in an auditorium listening to the M.C. give a speech about abused women, and how they are not alone. They watched with saddened eyes as the M.C. said that they shouldn’t stay in a home where their husband is causing them pain physically and mentally. “This is the first annual event where money is raised for abused women who have nowhere else to turn,” the M.C. announced in the microphone. The audience clapped, but they still had discomfort engraved on their faces. “Some of the top modeling magazine distributors and agencies are coming together tonight, and bringing hope, through their beauty, to those less fortunate to have a home where spouses don’t abuse them.”

  The audience clapped louder.

  She continued. “Tonight, the viewers at home, as well as some of the audience members, could and should help those women who are abused, or neglected, and give money to this charity to help these women escape the saddened life of always being hurt physically, and allow them to leave that life behind, and begin a new one. The first speaker, whom we have the honor of hearing tonight, is very well known when it comes to her beauty. And tonight, she will share her inner beauty with you.” The audience members clapped even louder with excitement in their minds while three television cameras went up onstage, and went closer to the podium. “First, I would like to explain to you all about this young woman, and also about all the other speakers who will be giving their time to helping this charity raise even more money than it possibly could. . . .”

  As the M.C. explained a little about the charity, Legend was sitting at the back of the stage, having make-up put on her, and going over the speech that someone else wrote for her. “Is this all I have to read?” Legend asked.

  William and Stephen stood by her and a make-up woman blotted lipstick on her beautiful, sensuous lips.

  “Yeah, and then after you say this, just add that you’re wearing a Jack Fronter ensemble, and then walk off the stage while waving your hand,” William replied.

  Four other models walked past Legend, giving her a dirty look. Legend looked at them: misunderstanding took over her eyes. Subsequently Stephen saw her puzzled look and grabbed her hand instantly.

  Stephen stared at her eyes and said, “Don’t worry, those models are just jealous of you.”

  “Why?” asked Legend. The make-up woman started to put mascara on her.

  “Because you’re the only model who was chosen to speak at this event. Those models are just here with their agencies, sitting in the audience and listening.”

  The make-up woman gave out a sigh and tapped her foot in an aggravated way. “Listen, could we please go to a mirror? I need a mirror so I can put on your make-up better,” the make-up woman explained with a strenuous nature. Legend looked at Stephen in dread.

  “No, you’re doing fine as it is, Shaunna,” Stephen said.

  Shaunna gave out an even greater sigh. “Fine, but if your make-up looks crappy, it’s not my fault,” Shaunna said.

  “Hey, Legend, how was your photo shoot with MG? Did you enjoy it?” William asked.

  “Oh, yes, it was great. You mean the one two days ago?”

  “Yeah, that’s the one, did you enjoy it?” William asked. Shaunna finished putting make-up on Legend’s face and started to put her things away in a box that resembled a tackle box.

  “Yes, I enjoyed it a lot, John was very kind to me. So, when is that photo coming out anyway?”

  “It’s coming out in the June issue,” Stephen said.

  A man walked up to them and grabbed Legend’s hand. “Alright, Miss Conaway, you’re up in two minutes,” the man said. Legend put the paper, with the speech on it, inside her pocket on her dress. She got up from her seat, nervousness still showed through her make-up, and proceeded to follow the tuxedo-dressed man to the side of the stage. She looked beyond the curtains, at the audience, and then at the M.C. on the stage.

  “Are you nervous?” Stephen asked, standing behind Legend, and looking out at the M.C. also.

  “No, I know everything I have to say, it’s right on this piece of paper.” Legend smiled and patted her pocket on her long, white dress.

  The M.C. turned to Legend, smiling toward her beauty, and said, “Now I would like to introduce the girl whom everyone is talking about. Legend Conaway!”

  The audience clapped while Legend slowly turned to Stephen and he winked his eye. She faced the M.C. again, and walked on the stage. Everyone stopped clapping and gave widened eyes toward her beauty. Her beauty stung them, like they were seeing a savior, an angel getting ready to speak to them. She walked up to the podium, and the M.C. went up to her ear and whispered, “Good luck.”

  Legend then turned toward the audience. Television cameras stayed on her beauty, and she slowly gave a smile. “Hello,” she said, the audience members still staying silent. She reached into her pocket, and said at the same time, “Well, abused woman–”

  She then paused, feeling her speech wasn’t in her pocket. Nerves flushed over her already make-up-covered, panicked flesh, and the audience members were just staring at her silence. “Um, well, um, I had a speech to give, but it seems like I’ve lost it,” she announced. She turned toward Stephen and gave widened eyes. He shook his head, he didn’t know where her speech was. “Um, well, they asked me to come up here and give a speech about abused women. Well, I guess I have to give my own speech, um, because I lost the one they gave to me.” The sweat formed on her mask, her beauty, and the audience still stood in calm.

  “Father, she lost her speech, where is it?” Stephen asked. He ran up to his father and frantically searched through his pockets for him.

  “What do you mean? She has her speech with her,” William said, but Stephen still kept on searching his pockets.

  “If she doesn’t get that speech right now, then she’s going to screw up with her words. Father, this could seriously stop her career, it could end it.”

  Stephen and William ran up to the side of the stage and stared at Legend with terror. They didn’t know what to do, say, they almost forgot to breathe. They were so used to being Legend puppeteers, that once the strings were cut from Legend, all they could do was soak in their anxiety.

  “Well, I know she has it. But if she lost it . . . then it’s all up to her,” William said.

  Legend looked out at the audience, nervous, afraid, scared, fear-stricken, and she didn’t know what to do. Her mind was silent, reminding her of the ironic peace she used to have in her noiseless bedroom back in Chicago. Her words were hidden. She wasn’t prepared to give her own speech on abused women, because she’s a model, and a speech was already written for her. Legend realized she had to do something, give her own views on abused women, but she was afraid. Legend looked up at the audience even more and said in a shaky rhythm, “Um, well, my theory on abused women . . . is that they’re stupid.”

  The audience made an appalled noise and William popped an aspirin, no water, just swallowing it whole.

  “Oh my God,” William hummed.

  The audience booed her.

  “What the hell is she doing?” Stephen asked.

  Legend heard the boos, and realized she had to go deeper into what she meant by that. “I was abused,” Legend announced. That shut up the audience, silencing them again, and looking at her with shocking eyes. Legend continued. “They printed it in this latest magazine issue that I pose on the cover for that I was an abused child, and that’s true. . . .” She became silent, she didn’t want to tell her past to the people that looked up to her, and the people who recently
booed to her. But then, she knew that she had to go deeper into her past, and tell them about it.

  “When I was younger, my father would physically, as well as mentally . . . abuse me to the extent of causing me to go to the hospital. . . . He would always do that, and I didn’t know why.” Her eyes formed a shield of tears. “He would always hurt my mother, and after he left, my mother would abuse me. It was like she took his role, and for that, I had to face the consequences. . ..

  “I was stupid, stupid because I stayed in a house where I was hurt, where my ambitions and self-confidence were destroyed.” A single tear fell on her mask of beauty and shined its wetness toward the audience. “I was abused because I was ugly, to them at least.” She paused for a moment, too honest, and saw she had to develop a lie in order for them to not realize her mask. “I mean, I was ugly to them, I guess, um, because it was in the eye of beholder. . . . I mean, I was constantly reminded of my looks, especially by my mother. . . . We, as women, want someone to love, we want someone to love us. But what we want is a perfect love, a perfect man who could love us for our inner beauty, as well as the outer. . . . Yet, when they hurt us, they are shattering our beauty, they are causing are inner character to be transformed into nothing but shallowness,” she announced, another tear escaping from her eyes.

  She waited again, tried to keep in the rest of the tears, but failed. “When we’re hurt, we feel like we’re nothing, we feel like we deserve to be hit, only because it’s our fault for looking like we do, or for not saying the right words to him. . . . But, the thing is, it’s not our fault, it’s theirs,” she announced. The audience listened closer, watched more tears fall from her shields.

  “I lied to you, my mother was never abused by my father, I was the only one abused by them. And I’m going to explain to you why. . . . You see, throughout my life, so far, all the women who were ugly were abused. At least through my eyes they were. But why is it that men never abuse a woman who is beautiful? Why is it that they buy them expensive gifts, and spoil them with expensive love? And with the ugly ones, they hurt them, and give them nothing that would describe their love for them?” she yelled.