Peaks And Valleys

Phase 50

VANESSA and I went to a salon. Sakay naming ang sasakyan nito nang umalis. Since I wasn't entirely familiar with the place, she chose the salon. Marami ang costumer doon but she was a vip so we were given special treatment. Ibang room din kami inilagay. Vanessa had her hair cutted short. Tapos, ngayon ay namimili na ito ng kulay na ilalagay sa buhok nito. Ang akin naman, hair treatment lang. I don't want it short like hers. Ayos na ako sa ganito.

"Ayaw mong magpakulay, Liberty?" Si Vanessa nang mapansing nakaupo lamang ako sa katabing upuan habang nakatingin sakanya.

Umiling ako. "Baka hindi bumagay. Isa pa, ayos na sa akin ang ganito. Wala rin naman akong ibang pupuntahan."

Pero naisip ko lang. Ano kaya ang ipapakulay ni Vanessa? We only have a half a month. May pasok na ito sa susunod na buwan. Would it be allowed? Hindi ba mahigpit sa skwelahan na pinapasukan nito?

"I bet dark brown would look good on you." She commented. "Pero hindi kita pipilitin kung ayaw mo. Baka mamaya, pagalitan na naman ako ni Cali." She rolled her eyes.

"Pagalitan?"

"He scolded me for bringing you yesterday night!" Isinarado nito ang brochure. "He said I was being a bad influence to you. Ang lalaking iyon, why is he being overprotective?"

Nahihiya akong nagbaba ng tingin. Hindi ko na nagawang sumagot noon nang lumapit iyong isang babaeng staff para tanungin kung nakapili na ito ng kulay. Vanessa said he wants it pink. Tapos, pina-ayos na siya ulit ng upo.

"Kayo po, Ma'am? May ipapa-ayos pa po? May promo po kami ngayon. Eyebrow threading, eyelash extension, and face massage are discounted only for selected customer." She smiled at me.

I smiled back. "Face massage na lang po."

"Iyon lang? Magpa-eyelash extension ka na rin." Si Vanessa.

"Hindi ba masakit iyon?"

"Hindi!" Tumingin ito sa babae. "Huwag kayong makinig diyan. Do what can highlight her beauty. It's on me."

Si Vanessa talaga. Parang kani-kanina lang ay sinabi nitong hindi ako pipilitin dahil pagagalitan siya ni Caliban.

"Model ba iyan, Ma'am?" Narinig kong tanong noong staff na nag-aayos ng buhok ni Vanessa. "Ang ganda ng mukha, parang inaalagaan."

"That's what I thought at first. Ang liit ng mukha at ang ganda ng ilong."

"Bago ninyong kaibigan, Ma'am?"

Vanessa nodded. "Yup! Anak ni Sir Demetrio. Iyong may ari ng malaking farm sa kabilang barangay?"

Nagyuko na lang ako ng ulo. It feels weird that they're talking like I am not here. Parang gossip girls lang.

"Anak ni Sir Demetrio? Kaya pala mukhang mayaman!" She gasped. "Iisang anak, hinid ba?"

"Yup! And her house there is big. Parang mansyon. Mas malaki pa sa munisipyo natin."

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa baa ko sa sinabi niyang iyon o mahihiya. I decided to use my phone to ease the awkwardness I was feeling. Mabuti na lang, nalipat din agad sa iba ang topic ng mga ito.

Bumalik iyong babaeng sinabihan ni Vanessa. Inayos niya iyong inuupuan ko para pahigain ako. Her materials was beside her. Sinabihan akong iyong eyelash extension daw muna ang uunahin. I was told to close my eyes and it lasted for two hours. Although it felt like half an hour. Kahit matagal ay hindi ako nabagot dahil masarap sa pakiramdam. It was air conditioned and the chair was comfy so I didn't have a hard time. Vanessa probably felt hungry halfway. Nagpa-order ito ng pagkain naming, 'saka inilibre iyong dalawang staff. Huminto muna kami para kumain bago ako ipinahiga ulit para sa face massage. It was almost five when we decided to go home. Sa daan pauwi, bumili pa ito ng pasalubong para kay Sunshine at Manang.

"I knew the eyelash extension would look good on you," sabi ni Vanessa habang nagmamaneho.

"It feels a little heavy."

"Tiis ganda lang. Masasanay ka rin." She grinned. "Now, what do you say about this lovely hair pink?"

I smiled as I gave it a look. "It's beautiful."

"Really?"

Tumango ako sakanya. "It suits you. Kahit pa tingin ko kanina na ang weird ng pink na kulay."

"I actually didn't choose that. But I wanted something new so, yeah."

Adventurous. I guess that's Vanessa's charms.

Tumagal ang tingin ko sa magandang buhok nito. It looks shiny right now. Hindi katulad sa mga barbie na parang ang tigas. Hers look soft and I bet its texture is tender. I can tell. Kapag gumagalaw ito, sumusunod iyon. It's bouncing. She looks really elegant right now. And I don't know why pink looks so good on her, when it's supposed to feel odd. I mean, who dye their hair pink?

She's the only one. Her confidence even carries it.

"Paghatid sa'yo ay uuwi na rin ako. Make sure you bring this empanada to Sunshine, okay?" Bilin nito sa akin.

Habang tumatagal ay mas lalo ko pang nakikilala si Vanessa. I saw sides of her that I didn't think I'd come to know. She wasn't like this the first week I knew here. O siguro'y sadyang iba lamang ang naging tingin ko sakanya. Was that because I thought she's Caliban lover?

Vanessa's more like Andra, pero mas intense. I don't think Vanessa's afraid of anyone. She has so much confidence. She's goofy. She's friendly. She's fun to be with. Vanessa's definitely the famous gorgeous type of girl. Iyong malakas ang dating at alam mong tatak sa isip ng kahit sino. I wonder why she's single though. I wonder why Caliban, when she can literally pull anybody.

But I shouldn't be the one to talk.

Pagkahatid sa akin ni Vanessa sa bahay ay agad na rin itong nagpaalam sa akin. I went upstairs to change my clothes, tapos bumaba rin. I took pictures and sent it to Andra and Louisse. Dahil makapal iyong eyelashes na inilgay sa akin ay kitang-kita iyon sa picture. I even wowed at my own pic.

I-sinend ko rin iyong picture naming ni Vanessa sa sasakyan. I talked to them as I wait outside the house. I have told the two about Sunshine and Vanessa, but Andra's still jealous with it. I doubt she'd feel the same if she's here. If anything, she should get along well with Vanessa since they're pretty similar.

Ganoon din kay Louisse na sa tingin ko'y makakasundo si Sunshine.