Breaking Free From Envy

Kabanata 14

I was staring at myself in the full-length mirror sa loob ng silid ko. I went to a parlor for the first time yesterday with Cleofe. She's that lady I met two days ago on the rooftop.

There's no trace of the old Dionne, anymore. Physically speaking. This is the new me. My curly hair is gone. Napalitan na ng mahaba, makintab at malambot na buhok. My eyebrow is perfectly done. Nagpa-derma din ako para sa mukha ko. Nagpa-full body bleach kaya mas pumasyaw nang kaunti ang morena kong balat. 

Tinuruan din niya ako kung paano mag-apply ng light make-up at kung anong  shade ng lip at cheek tint ang babagay sa complexion ko. Slight reddish ang ginamit ko today. I bought 20 shades of lip tint yesterday. Nag-apply din ako ng kaunti sa cheeks ko. 

Wala na ang simple at barefaced Dionne na papasok ng school. At dahil hindi na regular class, more on practice na lang kami this week, pinayagan na kaming magcivilian.

Even my wardrobe changed. Cleofe brought me to her fashion boutique sa mall after our scheduled spa. Imagine, at the age of 18, she already has her own boutique. And most of it is her own designs. Wow, talaga! Mapapasana-all  ka na lang.

She taught me the things to consider in choosing the proper dress code according to place and purpose.

She actually urged me to make my own YT channel and start vlogging about my changes and the new hobbies I've found. And I did. 

It feels nice to express your own feelings in front of the camera. Noong una ay nahihiya pa ako pero nang magtagal, I am enjoying it. My lines and speeches came out naturally. Hindi na kailangan ng rehearsal.

Ipinakilala  ako ni Cleofe sa isang editor. I hired him as my personal editor. Hayun, my first ever vlog was posted last night. It talks about tips on "what to wear in different places and occasions..."

"You seem to be naturally good at this," Cleofe commented yesterday when we finished. Six PM na nang makauwi ako sa bahay. Good thing, my parents are not yet around.

Muli kong tinignan ang sariling repleksiyon. Umikot-ikot pa ako. I never felt satisfied like this before.  

Since I am going to school and attend our graduation practice, I can wear something casual but not too formal. Chill lang. So, I am wearing a white off-shoulder crop top and distressed blackish gray jeans, belt on, and paired with my chunky white sneakers.

I sprayed my sweet perfume around the air and let it sink through me.

Pagkababa ko nang hagdan ay tanaw ko na silang  lahat sa dining area na nagsisimulang kumain. Napalingon silang lahat sa akin nang makalapit ako sa long table. Yaya Trining assisted me. 

Umuwi pala ang mga  kapatid ko. Two of them are studying at UNI. Samantalang 'yong dalawa naman ay nagtatrabaho na sa agency sa Subic. 

Iilang beses lang ang pagkakataon na nagkakasabay kaming kumain. Sa laki ng bahay, halos hindi din kami nagkikita-kita. We have our own businesses to mind.

"Where's Freya?" Birong-tanong ni Kuya Fritz.

"You look different." Ani Ate Farrah.

"Change is waving." Kuya Franz teased.

"I like your new hair." Puri ni Ate Fridah.

"I'm taking all of  that as compliments." Pahayag ko bago nagsimulang kumain.

Medyo nahihiya ako sa kanila. But one thing that Cleofe taught me is, "if you can't value your self-worth, how can you make other people appreciate you?"