Beauty Beyond Compare

Chapter Two:

TW: This chapter contains themes of child abuse (physical and emotional), strong language, and graphic depictions of harm. Reader discretion is advised.

From that day on, Moore and I became friends. He couldn't come to the mansion, especially when my parents were around, so I would sneak out of the mansion and head straight to the farm owned by Lolo Alejandro, Daddy's father.

Dumiretso ako sa kubo na gawa ng mga farmer namin upang gawing pahingahan. was wearing a pink dress today, but I still had a jacket on because the sun was scorching. I also carried a basket full of food and drinks for us.

I was surprised to see leaves scattered around when I climbed up the hut.

"Happy birthday, Isobel!" I was startled. Ate Matet, Moore's mother, was already there. They were also with Moore's grandparents and other farmers I had met because of Moore.

At first, they were surprised when Moore introduced me, but he told them there was nothing to fear because I was a kind person.

They couldn't argue with Moore because even if he hadn't said it, they wouldn't have spoken up because they already had a hunch that their boss had a child, but they didn't know who it was. I agreed with Ate Matet that she would be the one to tell them who I really was. They were surprised at first, but they accepted me later on.

"Thank you," I cried as they greeted me one by one. Ten years old na ako, pero kahapon pa iyon, pero parang walang ganap sa bahay. Hindi man lang nila ako binati. Kaya ngayon lang ako nakalabas ng mansyon dahil ngayon sila wala.

I took off my jacket without any fear of being seen by anyone. Because in this place, with this family, even though they weren't related to me, they accepted me wholeheartedly, more than my own family.

"Happy Birthday, Bell," Moore handed me a box as he approached me.

From: Moore & Moose.

"Salamat, ano to?" inalog ko pa kunwari.

"Pinag-ipunan namin iyan ng kapatid ko ah. Sana matuwa ka," hinanap ng mata ko ang kakambal niya at nakitang kumakain na ngayon ng munting handang iniluto ng pamilya nila para sa akin.

Binuksan ko iyon at nagulat nang isang music box ang laman noon. Agad kong pinihit iyon at napangiti nang marinig ang paborito kong kanta.

Balisong by Rivermaya.

We just ate and talked. Some of them even sang and played the guitar. Meanwhile, Moore and Moose were showing off their dance moves in the middle.

Tawa ako nang tawa dahil sa ginagawa nilang sayaw.

Nang makatanggap ng text si Ate Matet mula sa driver ni Mommy na malapit na raw silang umuwi ay nagpaalam na kaming dalawa. Hindi ko akalain na magiging kakampi ko ang mga tao sa bahay, kung dati tahimik lang sila at walang ginagawa, ngayon ay pinagtatakpan pa nila ako. Kapag aalis ako at makikipaglaro kay Moore, Ate Matet would help me, and the drivers of my parents would tell her when they were about to come home so I could go back to the house.

Naging masaya ang buong summer ko dahil doon, hindi na rin ako masiyadong pinapansin ni Mommy at Daddy, minsan ay pagsasalitaan, pero hindi na nila ako sinasaktan. Pero natatakot pa rin akong baka isang araw ay may gawin nanaman sila. Lagi akong handa para doon, pero hindi para lumaban. Hinahanda ko lang sarili ko— naghahanda sa bugbog, naghahanda na ng first ade kit.

Wala naman kasi akong magiging kawala kaya ang gagawin ko na lang, gamutin ang sariling sugat na binigay ng mga magulang ko.

Sobrang excited ako nang matapos ang summer dahil kung noon na tinitiis kong mabully nang sobrang lala sa school, ngayon ay may kasama na ako at alam kong po-protektahan ako ng dalawang iyon sa school ko. Daddy didn't enroll me in any expensive school before because why would he spend money on me if he didn't consider me his child. So I studied in public school before, where I was the target of bullying but my parents never saved me. Hinayaan lang nila akong umuwing umiiyak.

My excitement faded when the day I dreaded arrived.

"Isolde!" Even though my room was closed, I could hear Daddy's shout downstairs.

Tahimik akong lumabas at sumilip sa mangyayari.

"Ano nanaman ba iyon, Alessandro? kung makasigaw ka parang—"

"Tumahimik ka! Alam na ng publikong may anak kang abnormal!" napaatras ako sa sinabi Dad.

"W-what? P-paanong nalaman nila? Sinong nagsabi? Hoy, Alessando, hindi ko lang ito anak, anak mo rin ito!"

"Wala akong anak na abnormal, Bobo!"

"Oh, so how did people find out! What will I tell my amigas! What will the public say about me!" Mommy panicked and held Daddy's shoulder, which he immediately removed.

"It's not just you who's affected, you're really stupid! You're probably forgetting that I'm a senator! I'm running again next year! You're screwed if I lose! I'll kill you both!" I was shocked at what Daddy said.

Agad akong pumasok sa kuwarto ko pero nagsisi ako agad dahil napalakas ang pagsara ng pinto ko. Baka anong isipin nila. Baka magalit sila lalo. Baka saktan na nila ako.

I was right.

The door immediately opened, and Mommy's angry face appeared. She immediately pulled me and grabbed my hair.

"Mommy! Tama na po! Masakit po!" I pleaded, almost lifted off the ground because of the force of her pulling my hair.

"Bwisit ka talagang bata ka! Malas ka sa buhay ko!" nagulat ako nang ibalibag niya ako at may kinuha sa study table ko. Hindi na ako nagkaroon pa ng oras na makaramdam ng sakit sa katawan nang makita ang hawak niya.

Gunting!

Takot na takot akong gumapang palayo.

No! Baka anong gawin niya sa akin.

Ngayon niya na ba gagawin sa akin?

Nagulat ako nang hilahin niya ulit ang mahaba kong buhok at walang awang ginupit iyon. Nanghina ako at  nawalan na nang lakas nang makita ang buhok kong nalalaglag sa sahig.

Naramdaman kong nasugatan niya pa ang anit ko. Nang matapos siya ay binato niya sa akin ang gunting. Laking pasasalamat ko dahil ito tumusok sa kahit na anong parte ng katawan ko.

She looked at me with malice, tears in her eyes.

"Malas mo rin. If you hadn't been born, you wouldn't have experienced this,"

I nodded and cried.

"Sorry po, sorry kung ako yung anak niyo," nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. "Sorry po kung nahihirapan kayo dahil sa akin, I'm sorry po, Mo-ma'am. K-kalimutan niyo na pong anak niyo ako," mas nanlaki ang mata niya sa sinabi ko.

"I-I've been doing that for a long time,"

I nodded again and bowed my head to my knees.

"H-hindi niyo na po ako anak." I said before I heard the loud slam of my door.

The only thing I could hear in my room was my cries. I regretted crawling towards my mirror to see my appearance. Why did I even think of doing that?

Ang noong hanggang bewang kong buhok ay hanggang tenga na lang ngayon. May mga mahaba, mayroon ding mas maikli pa. Dumudugo rin ang ulo ko at kitang kita iyon dahil sa puti kong buhok.

"I-I still love you," I spoke as if I was talking to myself.