Beauty Beyond Compare

Chapter One:

TW: Violence

I couldn't bring myself to leave the room even though I was hungry. As long as I could hear my parents around, I wouldn't step out.  Gutom na gutom na ako. Pero mas pipiliin kong magutom kesa harapin sila.

Wala ring maid na naisipan man lang katukin ako para kumain. Sigurado akong utos iyon ng mga magulang ko. Lumipas na ang almusal at tanghalian pero hindi ako lumabas. I wouldn't be surprised if my parents didn't invite me out; who am I to them anyway?

I stood up, feeling weak, and made my way to my favorite spot in my room, the window where I could see the beautiful view of our mansion. I hadn't eaten since yesterday at noon. I felt like I was about to pass out any moment.

I sat by the window and hugged my small teddy bear. I couldn't help but cry. Just yesterday, Daddy raised his hand on me because I insisted on being allowed to at least play with other kids outside.

But instead of agreeing, he gave me a strong slap.

Ayaw na ayaw talaga nila sa mukha ko, iyon ang palaging nasasaktan sa akin. Iyon ang palaging pinupuntirya nila.

"Wala ka bang utak? Hindi ka nag-iisip! Do you really want to embarrass me and let everyone know that you are my child?"

Tumatak iyon sa akin at talagang pinangako ko na hinding-hindi ko kailanman ipapahiya ang mga magulang ko. Even if I had to hide the fact that I am their child, I would do it... just as long as they don't hurt me again.

I was startled when Mommy and Daddy's car left at the same time. Where are they going? They took different roads.

I quickly jumped out of my large window and almost fell to the floor because of my weak knees.

Maingat akong bumaba ng malaking hagdanan na para bang hindi ako nakatira sa bahay na ito.

When I confirmed that my parents were really gone, I headed straight to the kitchen and looked for food. I went to our refrigerator and took out a cheesecake and some fruits, managing to carry everything along with my drink, pero nagulat ako nang may marinig na nabasag sa likuran ko.

I immediately turned around in fear that it was them, ready to beat me again, but it was a boy who stood before me. His eyes widened when he saw my face, and he stepped back.

Nakakatakot ba talaga ako?

I stopped him from moving, afraid he might step on the broken pieces he dropped earlier.

"'Wag kang gagalaw," ngunit mas lalong namutla ang mukha nito nang magsalita ako. 

"Ahh! Multo! Mama!" nagulat ako nang tumakbo ito at nadapa pa. Hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupunta dahil sa laki ng mansyon namin.

Wait, why is he here? Outsiders are not allowed here, and it's really a rule set by my father for any worker because they don't want the public to know that they have a child like me.

Masakit, ang itanggi nang itanggi. Paulit-ulit na sasabihin sa iyo na ayaw nila sayo, na hindi ka nila anak, akala mo naman hindi mo narinig kanina lang. Paulit-ulit, araw-araw. Palagi at walang pinagbago.

"Moore, ano ba? Bakit sumisigaw ka? Alam mong wala dapat makaalam na nandito ka—" nagulat ang katulong namin nang makita ako sa loob ng kusina.

"Ma, may multo!" agad na nagtago ang batang lalaki sa likod ng nanay niya. Takot na takot siyang nakapikit.

"A-ano bang sinasabi mo diyan, Moore. Hindi multo si Ms. Bell, anak siya ni—"

"Aakyat na po ako," pigil ko sa kaniya. Mukhang naintindihan niya naman na hindi dapat ipaalam sa kung sino kung sino man ako sa pamilyang ito.

"S-sino ka?" Moore spoke up as I passed by him. I turned and stared into his eyes. He stepped back, mouth agape at my action. Nakakatawa ang expression niya. Parang nagsisi siya agad na kinausap niya ako.

"Gusto mong malaman kung sino ako?" I asked. I really didn't want to talk anymore because my stomach was growling, and I was so eager to eat the food I brought with me. I hugged them tightly because of the amount I brought.

"E-ewan ko," umiwas siya ng tingin at mahigpit na yumakap sa palda ng nanay niya. Nakatingin lang ang babae sa aming dalawa.

Ano kayang sagot iyon? Tinatanong niya kung sino ako tapos ngayon, ewan ko?

I didn't answer him and went upstairs. As I closed the door, I laid out the food I brought on the bed. I chuckled softly as I counted them, reaching six different bread slices, four oranges, and three juice boxes. Nagtaka ako dahil nawawala iyong cheesecake na kinuha ko kanina lang pero binalewala ko na lang dahil nanlalambot na talaga ako sa gutom.

Binuksan ko ang isang tinapay at kinain iyon.

"Sarap," para akong maiiyak dahil sa wakas ay nakakain na rin.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pag-inom ng juice nang may kumatok sa kuwarto ko. Nagtataka man ay tumayo ako at pinagbuksan iyon. Napaatras ako nang si Moore iyon. Nakayuko siya at hawak ang nakabalot na cheesecake na mukhang nalaglag ko kanina.

"N-nalaglag sa hagdan," he said, not looking at me as he handed it over.

"Thanks," I was about to close the door when he turned to face me and looked me in the eyes.

"H-hindi ka multo?" natatakot na aniya. Ang gulo-gulo ng mata niya, minsan ay titingin sa akin minsan ay kung saan. Hindi niya kayang tingnan ako sa mga mata.

"Hindi mo mahahawakan ang katawan ng multo," nilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya para subukan niyang hawakan ako.

Napaatras siya sa ginawa ko at takot na tumingin sa kamay ko. Nakita ko ang isang kamay niya na may hawak na saranggola. Agad akong nakaramdam ng inggit. Gusto ko rin maglaro sa labas. Makipagkilala sa ibang mga bata sa lugar namin.

I often saw kids playing from afar through my window. It was envy-inducing, so much. Sa sobrang inggit ko, sinubukan kong tumakas para ma-experience ang makipaglaro sa kapwa ko bata. Pero nagsisi lang ako.

"Can I join?" they stopped running when I spoke. I sneaked out of the mansion because Mommy and Daddy weren't there. It was the first time I did that and the first time I went out to play with kids like me.

No one spoke, and everyone was too scared that they step back. Some even dropped what they were holding. Some cried and ran away.

"A-aswang!" sigaw ng isang batang lalaki na agad kinatakot ng mga kalaro niya. Agad silang nagsigawan at tumakbo pero may isang batang lalaki ang huminto at kumuha ng bato saka iyon binato sa akin. It hit my forehead, causing me to fall to the ground and immediately cover my bleeding forehead.

It didn't end there because some kids came back and did what the first boy did, throwing rocks at me. If a dog didn't arrive and chase them away, they wouldn't have stopped. They ran as other dogs joined in chasing them.

Tinanggal ko ang kamay ko sa ulo ko na tumakip kanina sa mga bato nila at tiningnan ang braso ko.

It was all wounds and bleeding. Some parts were already turning violet. I felt weak and cried as I felt the blood trickling down my forehead.

Bakit nila ito ginawa sa akin?

Tatayo na sana ako at aalis na pabalik ng bahay nang makita iyong asong tumulong sa akin.

"T-thank you," I sobbed uncontrollably. There were no people in this area because it's somewhat rural, so no one saw what happened to me earlier. No one helped me. But this dog did.

Of all the beings that could help me, it had to be a dog.

Bumalik ako sa ulirat nang may humawak sa kamay ko. Oo nga pala, nilahad ko ang kamay ko kay Moore upang ipakita sa kaniya na hindi ako multo.

Mabilis niya lang iyon ginawa at binawi rin ang kamay niya.

"A-ako si Moore, i-ikaw?" sabi niya at ngayon ay tiningnan na talaga ako.

Natigilan ako. Ito ang unang beses na mayroong taong pormal na nagpakilala sa akin. Isang batang gustong makipagkilala. Masaya akong ngumiti na umabot iyon sa mga mata ko.

"At ako si Bell."