Imperfect Hearts [On Going]

2nd IMPERFECTION (06-08-2020)

"Skinny but has curves. Skin is too white, para kang labanos, ang putla naman ng labi mo. You should use liptint instead of that stupid lip balm." Batid kong umiiling-iling pa ito.

"Anyway, you also have long, shiny, amber, tousled beach waves. 5'7 ft tall, not bad for a girl who holds a pretty, pale face like you. Can you be my Barbie Doll?" Chella said it as if I am really a sort of toy.

I am facing my laptop, working on the manuscripts the company gave me to proofread habang kinukulit ako ng aking kapatid na kasalukuyang nakapangalumbaba sa aking harapan habang nakaupo sa sofa, cross-legged. She looks like a sophisticated girl in that red rose-colored dress and  tiny, white sandals. Kahit wala namang pupuntahan, naka-ayos ang lola ni'yo.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. I adjusted the bridge of my specs and continued typing.

Tsk. This one is too ungrammatical. Masakit na sa mata, masakit pa sa ulo.

"Ate, can you be my Barbie Doll? Please answer me." Pag-uulit nito sa napipikong boses.

"Sayang itong mga dress mo na binili ko sa online store oh."

I glanced at her dahil hindi ko na matiis pa ang pangungulit at kaingayan niya.

"Can you be my punching bag in return, Chella?" I asked emotionless.

Nakakarindi e. Tignan natin kung hindi siya tatahimik.

Ngumuso ito saka inihampas ang magkabilang kamay sa sofa.

"You're so mean. Tara na kasi sa mall, ang boring dito. All I see is a plain, scratchy wall na napaglumaan na dahil sa itsura. Let's buy some wallpapers." Pagmamaktol nito sa aking harapan.

Bakit ba ang cute nito? Ang sarap tirisin dahil sa kakulitan. As much as I wanted to work para maipasa ko agad ang manuscripts before the deadline, wala na akong nagawa kundi pagbigyan ang aking kapatid. I closed my laptop. Tumayo at nag-inat. I started walking towards the door as Chellary stares at me weirdly.

"Are you going to sit there or we go to the mall?" Lumingon ako sa kanya when I reached the doorway.

Umiling ito habang nakakunot ang noo. She stood and followed me.

"Uhm, are you going to the mall with your pyjama?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito

I rolled my eyes. Ito na naman kami e.

"Yes, is there a problem with that?" Taas ang kilay kong tanong sa kaniya.

Mabilis itong tumango habang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

"Yes, definitely yes there is a big, big, as big as your specs, problem with that. The last time we went shopping with that kind of outfit turned out bad. Napagkamalan kang yaya ko. And hello," She flipped her hair.

". . . you're with me, kita mo ang ayos ko, pero I am going to walk with a sleepy head on the mall. Where's justice?" Masungit nitong tanong at pag-uusisa sa suot kong pyjama.

I am wearing my usual navy pyjama and a black, fitted, V-neck shirt paired with cream-colored flip-flops.

What's the problem with this? At kahit pa isipin nilang yaya ako ng sosyal na batang ito, nah, I don't mind. People are always like that, stare-and-judge.

"Pupunta ba tayo sa mall para lang laitin ako sa suot ko? Well, if that's the case, I would rather work para may maipakain ako sa'yo. There's justice in there." Nakapamaywang kong sabi sa kaniya.

Tinalikuran ko siya at akmang babalik na sa aking trabaho nang mabilis akong hinila ni Chella.

"No, ate, nagbibiro lang ako. Tara na. Tara na. I'm sorry. Go ahead, I'll get the car key." Tinulak ako nito palabas sa room namin and I ended up in the hallway with some strangers staring at me.