Sinner and Savior

Chapter 3

When I arrived home, the first thing I did was to open the card Thaeo gave me. And I called him right away after I've read the invitation. He said that it was an invitation of an island opening. Not even a beach opening but a whole damn island.

Lalei Island.

Thaeo obviously got the invitation because he is one of the Cortez' company lawyers. Sa tingin ko naman bibigyan din ako ni Leira ng invitation bukas o kahit hindi na dahil isasama naman talaga niya ako. I'm already imagining her telling me that their island was named after her and her brother, na para akong slow learner na hindi agad mage-gets kung paano nabuo ang pangalan ng isla nila.

Hindi ko na muna inintindi ang invitation dahil dalawang araw pa naman bago ang opening. Nag-asikaso muna ako ng sarili dahil hindi pa pala ako nakakapagpalit at umupo agad ako sa sofa kanina pagkarating ko dahil nga sa na-curious ako sa invitation. Hinubad ko ang lahat ng damit ko nang makarating ako sa banyo para maligo. Mayroon akong mahabang salamin sa CR kung saan kita ang buong katawan ko.

I have never liked looking at my body in a mirror but later on I've made it my motivation.

For the justice I've been chasing for years.

As I stood naked in front of my life-size mirror, I traced every scars in my skin. There was a scar in my left cheek, just under my eye. It was carved deeply so the scar is still slightly visible. Nilalagyan ko lang 'yon onti ng concealer kada aalis ako. Mayroon din akong mahabang peklat sa kanang binti. Pababa 'yon at hanggang sakong na nasa likod ng binti ko. I also have a scar in my tummy at iyon ang pinakamalalim sa lahat.

I closed my eyes and let the cold water run down my body. I remember Leira would always compliment my hour-glass shaped body. But I can't even thank her for that and I'll just always forced myself to smile.

I would never be grateful to have a scarred body. Others may see it as perfection in the outside but behind every perfection, there is a scar you can't see.

Scars with an untold story.

********

"Good morning, Ma'am."

"Good morning, Kuya," nakangiti kong bati kay Kuya Raul.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako pagkapasok ng building nang may bilang kumapit sa braso ko. I looked at the person who did that only to see a red-haired Leira. Sanay naman na ako na paiba-iba ang kulay ng buhok ni Leira pero medyo nagulat ako dahil ngayon lang siya nagkulay ng pula. She looks more outgoing and adventurous. Leira loves exploration and travel.

"So? What can you say, Miss Jian?" ani niya nang makasakay kaming dalawa sa elevator habang naka-angkla pa rin ang kamay niya sa akin.

I shrugged. "Well, mas lalo kang nagmukhang maikli ang pasensya at mabilis maging emosyonal," seryoso kong sagot sa tanong niya kahit nagbibiro lang ako.

"What?" she asked, obviously annoyed.

"Oh, see? Galit ka na agad," ani ko kaya natawa kami pareho.

Hindi na siya nakasagot dahil bumukas na ang elevator at bungad non si Lael na pasakay rin ata. Nag-iwas agad siya ng tingin nang magtama ang mga mata namin. Nahiya siguro siya sa ginawa niya kahapon.

Akala ko nga sasakay na siya agad pero nakalabas na kami ni Leira at sumara na ang elevator ay hindi naman siya sumakay. Nakatayo siya sa harap namin ngayon at nakatingin kay Leira.