Naked Series 1
A healthy relationship doesn't just revolve around butterflies and kiligs, a healthy relationship is something that helps you both grow together. But not every relationship comes to a happy ending, some just end there, and some find t...
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"Stop! Tama na! We will be there for a good 30 minutes, goodness gracious!" I shrieked and pushed the brush away from my face.
Liarra being the Liarra that she is narrowed her eyes at me and swatted my hands away. "We're almost done, suck it in!" iritableng sigaw din niya at muling dinuldol sa mukha ko ang brush na hawak niya. "See?! There's no such thing as too much blush!" proud na sabi pa niya at nakapamewang na sinipat ako.
"Now, now, shall we move on to your lips?" maliit ang matang sabi niya at sinuyod ng tingin ang table ko para hanapin ang 'perfect shade' kuno na paniguradong aabutin ng taon bago siya magdesisyon kung alin.
"I'll just go with my usual subtle pink lippy, Liarra. Please, I'm begging you!" muryot nang paki-usap ko dahil pakiramdam ko ay pudpod na ang pang-upo ko sa tagal ko nang nakaupo rito habang inaayusan niya ako.
"No can do! Wala ka na ngang partner tapos chaka ka pa? Hindi siguro," agad na sagot niya na siyang ikinatawa ko. Napipikong binato ko siya ng handbag sa tabi ko na agad niya namang iniwasan.
"Oh my god! Ganito ba ang hobby ng mga mayayaman? Ang magbatuhan ng Dior?!" tili ng kapapasok lang na Yevtte at agad pinulot ang bag ko na nasa lapag. It was a mini Lady D bag kaya madaling ibalibag.
"Iniwanan ko lang kayo nang sumandali tapos ganito na kayo kagulo?" panenermon niya at maingat na ipinatong ang bag sa ibabaw ng vanity ko.
Nakangusong tumalikod si Liarra na parang batang napagalitan.
"Where's A3 and Ellie?" kaagad na tanong ko para maiwasan ang sermon niya.
"Downstairs, they're with Nanay Mary," simpleng sagot niya saka dumiretso sa likuran ko para itali ang damit ko.
I bit my lower lip out of anxiety. "Were you able to get a copy of the guest list?" mahinang tanong ko.
"Don't worry, I checked it surname per surname. There was no Strobel in the master list," she assured me then patted my stiff shoulder. "Relax, everything's going to be fine," dagdag pa niya at magaan akong nginitiin sa salamin.
The Charity Ball will be an intimate event between the orphanage's long-time sponsors so I was able to breathe a bit. Saka I won't stay for long naman, I'm just gonna get this over with.
Fear flowed through every fiber of my being when I stepped foot in Bulacan for the first time in five years. My nerves are stiff and my mind are in turmoil, but the moment I saw the entrance of Home of Hearts, my breathing stilled and my heart swelled with pride at how far the orphanage have become. I only heard about all the changes from Asher, but seeing it in real-time sent a different kind of fulfillment and a twinge of sweet ache to my heart. For a moment, I wondered how things would've been if things didn't go the way they did.
"You must be the hidden jewel of the Lucados," a middle-aged woman dressed in a gold shimmery dress greeted me when I approached the most secluded corner I could find.
