But you make me wanna act like a girl. Paint my nails and wear high heels
Yes, you make me so nervous that I just can't hold your hand
-Heart Attack by Demi Lovato
--
Bailey was giving Lena weird looks. Kanina pa iyon simula paggising niya. Maaga kasi siyang bumangon. Naglinis siya ng bahay at saka naligo. Ngayon naman ay nag-aayos siya ng sarili. It wasn't a drastic makeover though. She's just trying to learn how to put a little makeup. She figured that since Cyrus always looks so good, it wouldn't hurt for her to try to look good as well.
"What?" tanong niya nang umungot ito. Natanong tuloy niya ang sarili kung mali ba ang paggamit niya ng eyebrow pencil. "Masyado bang makapal ang lagay ko?" tanong niya sa alaga, to which he answered with another whimper.
Her eyebrows felt sticky. Parang nilagyan ng clay ang mga kilay niya.
"Hmm... maybe it was too much."
Pumunta siya ng banyo para maghilamos. It took her a while to take it off. Pagkalinis niya ng kilay ay hindi na niya iyon ginamit. Kinuha na lamang niya ang paboritong eyeliner at nilagyan ang gilid ng mata. But she was still not satisfied. It made her eyes too dark. Para syang dadalo ng goth party.
She dropped the pencil in frustration. Maybe she shouldn't try changing herself too much. He likes her the way she is already, doesn't he? But she wanted to make an effort to look better for him. She wanted him to find her beautiful every day. Gusto niyang sa kanya lamang ito titingin. She wanted him to like her more.
God! What is happening to her?
She knelt on the floor and gestured Bailey to come closer. When he did, she buried her face in his neck and let out a muffled scream. Minsan, gusto niyang hilingin na sana kagaya pa rin sila ng dati, noong sila lamang ni Bailey ang magkasama. Things were simpler back then. Natatakot siyang maging sobrang saya. Baka hindi niya kayanin kapag binawi.
Lumayo siya ng bahagya kay Bailey at saka pinisil ang pisngi nito.
"You like Cyrus, don't you?" she asked. "I like him too. I like him very much."
She pressed her forehead on his.
"And that scares me."
--
Lena didn't eat breakfast. Para kapag kumain sila ng tanghalian, magana siya. Matutuwa kasi si Cyrus kapag kumain siya ng marami. Sumisikip na nga halos lahat ng pantalon niya sa kanya dahil palagi siyang kumakain. She was used to eating just once or twice a day, pero simula nang maging sila, pinakamababa na niyang kain ang tatlo sa isang araw.
Nakakabubuti naman iyon sa kanya dahil bihira na siyang nmamutla at mahilo. Minsan na lang, kapag nakakalimutan a rin niyang kumain.
Frustrated with makeup, she decided to not try and put anything on her face anymore. At least, not for the day. Magpapaturo na lamang siya kay Kenna o Lacey para hindi maaksaya ang mga gamit niya.
Mahirap pala ang maghintay. Parang lalong bumabagal ang oras. It's already ten thirty in the morning and the clock seemed to have gone really slow. Sinubukan niyang matulog ulit pero hindi naman siya dalawin ng antok. Gusto na niyang kumain. Nagugutom na siya. She wished Cyrus would arrive sooner. Siguradong mas masarap ang dadalhin nitong pagkain sa kung anumang lulutuin niya. Not that she can cook, anyway.
Kahit si Bailey, hindi mapagtiyagaan ang luto niya. She tried to feed him once with menudo (or what looked like it). He snubbed the food and ran away. Maybe he thought she's trying to poison him. It wasn't that bad, though. Hilaw lang lahat ng gulay, malabnaw ang sabaw at matigas pa ang karne. Pero kinain pa rin niya iyon dahil gutom na gutom na siya. Tapos ay hindi na siya sumubok ulit.
