A Thousand Wounds

Wound 3

Wound 3

Suminghap ang aking mga kaibigan sa aking likuran. Nanahimik ang aking mga kamag-aral at lahat sila'y nakatutok ang mga mata sa aming dalawa ni Lester.

Mariin kong kinagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi. "Can we talk outside, Lester?"

He nodded gently and followed me when I exited the room. Nagpapasalamat na lamang ako na hindi pa nag-ri-ring ang bell, hudyat na tapos na ang recess.

Lumapit ako sa isang bench ilang dipa ang layo mula sa aming classroom. Nakapuwesto ito sa likuran ng library kaya naman hindi kami kita sa classroom. Tahimik lamang rito at walang mga estudyanteng nagagala dahil karamihan sa kanila'y nakatambay sa school canteen.

"What is your answer, Belle? Can I court you?"

Huminga ako ng malalim at tumitig sa kaniya. "I'm.. I'm sorry, Lester."

With that, his eyes widened. He stared at me in fear before he bowed his head.

"You're a good man, Lester.." simula ko.

"..but not good enough for you?" he interjected with a small voice.

"No," I tapped his shoulder. "I'm sorry because I'm not ready for this. I'm still young. Please do understand that this is out of my priorities right now."

Walang imik itong tumango. His face is still out of my view, so I sighed. "I'm really sorry," I apologized again.

I kept my mouth shut and just sat there beside him. Tahimik rin ito sa aking tabi. Then, when the bell rang, I gently stood up.

"Let's go," aya ko sa kaniya. He silently stood up and followed after me.

I sighed. It was our Christmas break when our family decided to spend it on a beach resort.

"Magpalit ka na, Belle," my cousin Nina told me while busy applying a lip tint on her lips.

"Lusong na tayo sa beach!" she exclaimed happily.

I nodded in glee and grabbed my sando ang shorts. Pagkalabas sa banyo ay humalukipkip si Nina habang pinagmamasdan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

Hinila niya ako sa harapan ng salamin. "You should try this," abot niya sa lip tint na gamit niya. "It would look good on you."

Marahan akong tumango at nag-aalangang binuksan ang lip tint. "How to apply, pinsan?" I asked, still unaware of what to do.

Humalakhak ito sa aking tabi. "Just put it on the inner part of your lips," she said, so I followed.

"Oops," pinigil niya ang kamay kong nakahawak sa lip tint. "Don't apply too much." Tumango ako.

"Then blend it outwards using your fingers for a gradient effect."

When I was able to do what she instructed, I faced her with a smile. "Hayan, ang ganda mo na, pinsan," she said while staring at me in the mirror.

"Thanks," muli kong ngiti at pinasadahan ng tingin ang sariling repleksiyon sa salamin.

"You're the new queen of Linavio, pinsan. Dapat maalam ka na sa mga bagay na 'yan!"

Marahan akong humalakhak. Humalukipkip ito at saglit na nag-isip.

"Sabagay, hindi na 'yan kailangan sa lahi natin, pinsan. Natural na tayong magaganda," she boldly said before she flipped her hair.

Sabay kaming humalakhak ni Nina. "True!" pagsang-ayon ko. Indeed, we, the Melendres cousins, were able to bring home the crown in two consecutive years. It's such an achievement.