Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 30

“When will this be over?” Castriel asked while I was putting the eyeshadow on his lid. I didnʼt answer him and continued putting the make-up on his face. I am focusing so I can get the right angle while applying the cosmetic.

“Look upward,” I ordered when I was going to apply the eyeliner. Doon ako pinakanadalian dahil hindi naging magalaw si Castriel. Heʼs probably used to eyeliners since they often wear it on their gigs and concerts.

“Why do you have to practice? You can just hire a make-up artist at the day of the pageant,” he said when I finally finished. Tinitigan ko ang mukha niya mula sa vanity mirror at malawak na napangiti.

“We canʼt just always rely on make-up artists. We sometimes need to do our own look.” I combed his hair.

“All these things on my face feels so heavy. What if it ruin my face? I donʼt want to have pimples.” natawa ako at maingat na hinawakan ang pisngi niya at pinatingin siya sa akin. I inspected every details of the look closer. Iʼm preparing for the make-up look that Iʼm going to do on the night of the pageant. The event is kinda big so I really need to do some effort to stand out. I asked Castriel if he can be my model tonight so I can test the make-ups and he agreed. Although heʼs been whining while Iʼm applying everything to him.

“Weʼll clean your face thoroughly later. Look at you, I think youʼll be prettier than me if youʼre just a girl,” I teased. Wig na lang ang kulang at talagang mas maganda na siya sa akin. The masculinity on his face cannot be really covered but still, heʼs gorgeous.

“I wouldnʼt want to be a girl,” he said, face twisting. I chuckled and sat on the vanity table so I can observe his face even more. Inilapit niya naman ang upuan papunta sa akin at ipinatong ang mga kamay sa hita ko.

“Are you satisfied with your work?” he asked while grazing his thumb at the side of my thigh. I nodded and tilted his chin.

“Can we take a picture?” he sighed. Napipilitan siyang tumango kaya excited kong inabot ang cellphone at kinuhanan siya ng litrato. Noong una ay akala ko hindi ko siya mapapapayag kaya naman nagulat ako nang hindi niya naman pinaabot sa pahirapang pilitan. I need to take a picture for the memory.

“Are you gonna post that online?” he asked on a weird tone. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at nakakalokong pinagmasdan.

“Should I?” he stared at me before heaving a sigh again.

“If you want to.” I laughed and put down my phone.

“I wonʼt. Itʼs for my eyes only.” a small smile crept into his lips before circling his arms around my middle.

“Iʼm sure you will be the most beautiful nurse in that pageant.” I grinned and kissed the tip of his nose. The contestants of that pageant are all nurses. I wasnʼt really planning to participate since my work at the hospital is already exhausting me, but my co-nurses managed to convince me. Mas maganda raw kung may magpaparticipate mula sa hospital namin dahil mga big shot daw ang judges. Once I won that pageant, they said that it could give me better opportunities. Lalo na kapag nagustuhan ng mga judges ang advocacy ko.

“You think so?” he nodded.

“You have the beauty and the brains. Youʼll stand out.”

“You think I have the brains? I failed a lot of times in my high-school days.”

“That was before, you were a brat and troublemaker then. You didnʼt really focused on your studies thatʼs why you failed some subjects. But your advocacy in every pageants are good.” tumaas ang kilay ko at pinanliitan siya ng mata.

“How can you say that? Have you watch me compete before?” he smirked.

“Of course I did.” my eyes widen and I stared at him accusingly.