Dear diary,
One week passed and still I don't click to anybody. I mean, it's not my goal why I enrolled here. But it would be nice to have a friend, right?
I know, I know, kasalanan ko rin naman kung bakit wala e. Lagi akong nasa taas ng classroom. Even if the class has ended, nagpapaiwan ako just to kill time. Ang eccentric rin lagi ng suot ko. Whereas sila naka-shirt at skinny jeans lang, ako naka-Harry Potter-ish na hood, shades, and boots. All black pa. Para bang kagagaling ko lang sa photoshoot ng Men in Black, Matrix, or something.
It's not a style though. It's a necessity. Yet some people gave me the eye roll every time they see me dress unconventionally. Kung tutuusin pwede naman akong mag-shirt e. Kung gusto ko. Or rather, kung gusto ng balat ko.
Kaya nga nagse-search ako sa Google saan may bilihan ng silk fabric. I want to make my own shirt. To fit in. If that makes sense. Been doing that, diary, until I saw a skinny guy, with brushed up blonde hair hugging the door while looking at me. My gaydar was on and it said he's 100 %, so instead of ignoring him, nginitian ko siya.
He invited himself inside, his hand ready for shaking. His name was Max, tourism student. I figured by the chic uniform and grooming.
"Ano'ng ginagawa mo sa pintuan?" tanong ko sa kanya no'n.
Tinitignan ako. Obviously. Ang hindi ko lang na-assume ay 'yon bang sabihin niyang gusto niya akong makeup-an, then and there. Hindi naman kasi ako ma-makeup na babae. Ma-moisturizer, oo.
"Bakit gusto mo 'kong makeup-an?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Well, to be honest, I find you beautiful in your natural color. I'm wondering how you would look with a makeup on. Nagma-makeup ka naman, 'di ba?"
Naalala ko iyong nakaraang Sabado nang magbihis akong Elsa. I put makeup then. In-enhance lang nito pagka-pale ng balat ko. "Madalang lang."
Hobby niya raw manood ng makeup tutorials sa youtube at nasubukan niya lahat ng iyon sa sarili. Basically he's telling me meron siyang credibility. So I let him.
Binuksan niya ang bag na naglalaman ng single most important thing para sa kanya – his makeup kit. Hindi libro, notebook or whatever. Since we're using tables specifically for us, Archi students, sa lap ko na lang nilagay ni Max ang gamit. Or else, pupulutin niya 'to sa baba nang lumuluha.
He's kind enough to ask suggestion kung ano'ng gusto kong makeup, pero siya na pinagdecide ko. Parang kanina lang, diary, 'di ba, iniisip ko 'yong pagkakaroon ng friend. I didn't want to assume but I think we are now. I found him easy-going. Plus, kapag sinasabihan niya 'ko ng bakla or gaga, hindi ako naiinis. It's a term for endearment. You'll only get that when someone's comfortable enough with you.
Our conversation went from knowing each other's birthday, number of siblings to number of boyfriends. He's a Virgo but not a virgin, as he said. Lagpas sampu na ang kanyang naging boyfriend and I'm his opposite. I am an Aquarius and a virgin (by choice, charot!) with zero jowa (not by choice, charot again!).
Noong sinabi ko 'to, he didn't start me with, 'You're being too hard on yourself!' but rather with an air of, 'Somehow, I get why.' And it's not only because he felt like I'm a loner kaya niya nasabing 'gusto kitang maging sister'. Actually, ang una niyang sabi ay sister-in-law. He's the lone gay among the four siblings. No sister. No talk like this whatsoever. So, the tendency is to really find it from somebody.
I'm an only child and I don't know how it's like to have a sibling. And that settles it. Although I know upon seeing him, ako ang magiging older sister sa kanya. I'm three years ahead of him and so I get why when he finally remembered may klase pa pala siya, bigla na lang itong kumaripas ng takbo. Kinalimutan na ang makeup kit niya.
Gustuhin ko mang hintayin siya sa room na 'yon, kumakalam na ang sikmura ko. I figured, bibilisan ko na lang ang pagkain nang makabalik agad sa kwarto. Or I could give it to him. Right side ng second floor ang pugad ng mga HRM/T students. Definitely nandito lang siya sa isa sa mga kwarto.
I got out of my seat and left the room. I forgot to look at myself on my front cam so hindi ko maintindihan ang mga tingin ng mga tao. Hindi rin ako in-offer-an ng vaklang twoo ng salamin!
Ten steps to go at nasa 3rd floor na ako, when all of a sudden, Grazel appeared from the left corridor, sukbit ang bag sa isang balikat. His friends behind him was wildly cheering. How would they expect me to react? Kiligin? Please.
Patuloy ako sa pagbaba, nakahawak sa handrail; Grazel walked near the stairs and said, 'Hi!' His dermographism was evident on his right face.
"Namamantal pisngi mo," ang sabi ko.
"Ah, oo, kinamot ko." Tinakpan niya ito ng palad niya. "Mukha kang bampira!"
When he saw my eyes got big, "I mean, magandang bampira. Hindi 'yong anemic!" He's struggling. "Ang gusto ko lang talagang sabihin, ang ganda ng pormahan mo ngayon tas bagay sa 'yo makeup mo."
"Talaga ba? Then I guess, Max did a good job."ang sabi ko, my back turned for the stairs to second floor. But Grazel stopped my track.
"Max? As in, Maximo Montablanc?"
Kinuha ko ang makeup kit sa shoulder bag at binasa ang naka-attach na pangalan sa ilalim. "Hm, tama. Magkakilala kayo?"
"Bunso namin 'yon."
"What?" That I asked a little extra.
Napaisip ako.
Noong sinabi ba ni Max na gusto niya akong maging sister, may ideya na ba siyang magkakilala kami nito ni Grazel o wala pa? Kasi kung meron na, diary, sasambunutan ko pilikmata niya!
Then again, bakit niya sinabing sister-in-law, in the first place?
