Chapter 27

Ginger girl

All the time of make-over she was talking to me, she even put some blindfolds on my eyes to make the results surprise for me. Nakisama na lang ako sa gusto niya and I wouldn't even want to stopped her and she might feel something that I'm not liking what she's doing... though, I think I really needed some make-over pero hindi ko lang inasahan na ura-urada. What would my parents reaction kapag nakita nila ako with a new hair color?

They might freak out!

"Alex, how would you talk to Gi?" she asked, and being blindfolded, I can almost see her smile widen up to her ears.

Napakibit-balikat naman ako sa kanya, ni hindi ko nga sigurado kung gagawin ko ba iyong sinasabi niya sa akin. Pakiramdam ko parang nagiging way niya lang ako para sabihin ko kay Korg na bumalik siya sa ex niya. It would be hard for me to talk him about this lalo na't iniilagan niya rin si Mia na mapag-usapan.

"I would suggest something," she squeaks, and I think she's almost done to my hair blowing, "put the both of us in a date..."

"Uh... at para saan naman?"

She giggles, "it is like a blind date, if you know that, you know what I mean."

Napatango-tango naman ako sa pinupunto niya, "so you're saying, that I'll put the two of you on an on-the-spot date? Gano'n ba?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, hold my shoulders. Ramdam ko ang pagka-excited niya at ang conceited niya talaga sa ganitong sitwasyon. I don't know what will Korg's reaction kapag sinabi ko sa kanya iyon, or else kapag ginawa ko naman iyon, magagalit siya sa akin dahil pinapunta ko siya sa isang date which he will accompanied by his ex. Nakakaloka kung iisipin ko pa lang... and I don't know how to execute it without hurting someone... or even myself. "Okay, we're done!"

"I wanna see it!" kanina pa ako hindi komportable makita lang ang magiging hitsura ko.

She slowly stripped the blindfold out of my eyes. Medyo nabulag pa ako sa ilaw ng vanity mirror niya at nang mag-adjust naman ang paningin ko ay halos maluwa ang mga mata ko, napatayo kaagad ako sa kinauupuan ko.

This is...

What the hell?

Inilapit ko ang sarili ko sa salamin, ang bilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Hinawakan ko ang buhok ko na namumutawi ang kulay ng kwek-kwek! Agad kong hinarap si Mia and she was like surprise sa reaction na nakita niya sa akin. Gusto kong maiyak sa kanya.

"What, Alex? Didn't you like it?"

"You never said it would be this color..." nanghihina ang boses ko, "mukha akong kare-kare at kwek-kwek."

That wasn't intended to be a joke pero tinawanan niya ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong emosyon ang ilalabas ko sa kanya, natulala na lang ako at hindi na napigilan ng luha ko ang tumakas. Niyakap naman niya ako bigla dahilan para mas lalong atakihin ang emosyon ko.

"Sorry... I thought it was good on you, mas lalo ka ngang pumuti eh." Aniya, hinimas niya ang likod ko, to make me feel a lot better pero hindi iyon nagiging dahilan para makampante rin ako. I pushed her away from hugging me, "Alex?"

I wipe my tears, couldn't even look at her in the eyes. "Uuwi na ako... thank you for having me."

"Alex..." her tone was really sad, and I was only by the modifications she did on my hair. "Okay, I can give you a ride home."

Mabilis akong umiling sa kanya, "no, you don't need to. I can book myself a car."

I immediately leave her room, dire-diretsyo din akong bumaba ng hagdan. Hinanap ko naman iyong maid na nagtabi ng bag ko. Inabot niya rin naman ito sa akin, nagpaalam naman ako sa kanila, ni hindi na ako lumingon dahil nahihiya ako sa hitsura ko ngayon. Pagkalabas ko ng bahay niya ay agad akong nag-book ng masasakyan.

I have to wait for freaking ten minutes bago pa iyon dumating!

Nanginginig ang kamay kong itinapat ang camera ng phone ko sa sarili ko at isang malalim na buntunghininga na lamang ang nagawa ko matapos makita ang make-over na ginawa ni Mia. I don't know she was making fun of me or she did sabotage my look. Hindi ko nagustuhan and I'm way over with it.

Habang hininhintay kong dumating sasakyan ay lumabas mula sa pinto si Mia. I took a deep breath and I don't know how to face her this time. Nang makalapit siya sa akin ay inabot niya ang kamay ko, and then I had to look on her face.

"Sorry to do this..." muli niya akong niyakap and I just let her embrace me kahit ayokong gawin niya iyon sa akin. "But I will make it up to you." Ganado nitong sabi pero hindi pa rin ako kumbinsido.

Luckily dumating na naman iyong ibinook kong sasakyan.

"I gotta go Mia, thanks for the night..."

"Alex..." she called my name once again but I didn't look back.

Tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa loob ng sasakyan. Kahit nasa loob na ako ay hindi ko siya magawang lingunin. Doon ko lang din naman napansin iyong driver na panay ang tingin sa akin mula sa rearview mirror. And I know it is really weird to have an dark orange hair. Mia had her ways to change me—and I can be the subject of bullying by what she did.

Or was it really her intention?

When I reach home, nagmamadali akong bumaba ng sasakyan papasok sa loob ng bahay. Kailangan kong maging ninja sa parents ko and I wouldn't want them to find me in such situation like this. Dahan-dahan pa akong pumasok sa loob, pero mukhang tinalo pa si spiderman dahil sa lakas ng kanilang mga pakiramdam. Rinig ko ang yapak nila patungo sa akin but I hastily run to the stairhall and was stopped when my Mom called me.

"Mom, I need to rest and I still have homeworks to do!"

"Did you had your dinner?"

"Yes, that's why I'm heading off to my room now!" Oh gosh, this is so infuriating.

"Okay, but why are you in a hurry? Can't we see you before you go to your room?"

"I'm already tired..." sagot ko at inartehan ko na lamang na pagod na pagod na ako.

"Alex!" and that's it! Bumagsak ang balikat ko kasabay ng malalim na pagbuntunghininga. I wasn't prepared to see their reaction. Gusto ko nang lamunin ng lupa and they will totally freak out dahil sobrang tingkad ng kulay ng buhok ko ngayon. Dahan dahan naman akong bumaba ng hagdan, nakayuko lamang ako at nang makatungtong sa unang palapag at inangat ang tingin ay nakita ko ang parents ko with similar reactions that I was really expecting them to have.

"I know right, this is a bad taste." Ngisi ko naman sa kanila.

"Alex!" her voice were implying something saka lumapit ito sa akin at hinawakan niya ang buhok ko, "what happened to your hair?"

My father's eye were still figuring out my new look. He shook his head, trying to get back on the senses. "I thought someone was going down the stairs... and it is our daughter... and it is not a bad taste, you look more beautiful, Alex."

Napangisi naman ako, "stop saying those Dad, alam ko naman iyon and still, this new look doesn't really my doing."

"Oh, who did it?" tanong ni Mom sa akin.

"Mia." Diretsyong sagot at namuo naman ang pagtataka sa kanila, hindi naman nila kilala iyon. "Mia is Korgian's ex-girlfriend... and before you ask why would she do this kind of make-over, she was up to something—but I'm not really sure of that... she did this to get some favor on me."

"Can I talk to that Mia?" Mom asked.

I shook my head, ayoko naman na umabot sa gano'n. "No, Mom, I can handle her, in fact, maybe I just have to deal with this new look."

"That's my little girl," my father embrace me with his hugged and its slowly tightening, "okay, I know, it's too much." He chuckles when he knows I'm already gripped on his arms, but I just love how they accept the fact that what you look doesn't matter at all. Pinaboran ko lang masyado kung anong makikita ng ibang tao sa akin.

"Should I go with it or not?"

Nagkatinginan pa silang dalawa sa akin bago ako sagutin. Mom do the speaking when she know, how to handle this things very well. "Well, if it's okay with school's policy, then we're fine."

I nodded, "yes, thank you... I may be hate what Mia did to me, but maybe some mistakes always makes you something... good night, I'll be heading now!" and before running back to the stairs, I hugged and kissed them.

When I reached my bedroom. Nahiga na lang din ako sa kama ko, inabot ko naman ang phone ko at kinuhaan ang sarili ko. I was still trying hard to accept the dark haired color but maybe when I'm used to it, I wouldn't hate it.

Naisipan ko namang i-send iyon sa groupchat namin nila Pee shooter at Bella. Hinintay ko naman ang response nila kaya naisipan kong ayusin ko muna ang mga gamit ko, pati na rin ang mapagkatuwaan ang sariling buhok sa harap ng salamin.

It is like I'm cosplaying someone... pero mukhang hindi eh, resemblance lang siguro.

When my phone popped a notification, mabilis ko iyong tiningnan. I stopped for a minute when his name were flashing on the screen and I think it is like some kind of mistakes but when I checked the notification coming from. Muntik ko pang maibato ang phone ko pero naalala kong basag na nga ang screen nito, so I shouldn't done that.

Nanginginig at namamawis ang kamay ko. Kinakabahan ako. Ang tanga-tanga naman kasi bakit hindi ko muna chineck na kay Korg ko pala na-i-send ang picture ko at hindi sa groupchat namin?

Korg:

X send? New look, looks great.

I left the conversation seen. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung anong i-re-reply ko sa kanya but saying something would make him know na hindi para sa kanya ang picture na iyon.

Korg:

Hey, you there?

Me:

Uy. Korg! This wasn't meant for you though, but thanks!

Korg:

I knew it.

How you come up with the change of color?

Tired of being blonde?

Me:

Ahm...

Sort of...

Couldn't tame to be called desperate blonde once again.

Korg:

Fair enough.

But you didn't answer my question, why would dye your hair?

Me:

I didn't.

Korg:

Oh, you did.

Me:

Mia did.

Korg:

Wth.

Did Mia dyed your hair?

Me:

Yes... and I don't blame her. I was also up for her make-over thingy.

Korg:

Are you still with her?

Me:

No, just got home.

Korg:

Why would she do that on you?

Me:

No, idea.

Did I looked drag?

Korg:

No.

Me:

Simply, no?

Korg:

Yes.

The color suits you and I don't know what to say more. You more like a ginger than me.

Me:

No one can beat you.

Korg:

You did. Anyway, I gotta go. The game's finally happening tomorrow. Hope to see you there, and you can bring your family there.

Me:

Of course, thanks! We will!

Break a leg, Korgi!

Korg:

Korgi? Like a dog?

Me:

Didn't mean to say that.

Korg:

But I like it.

Good night, ginger girl.

Matapos ang conversation ay hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi ko. Nailagay ko pa sa dibdib ko ang aking phone, simply tells that I love how we talked so good. Hindi ko rin naman inaasahan na magrereply siya sa bawat response ko but he was the one who insist the chatting! I won't forget this night, siguro it always sums up how my day start to have so many hurdles but it always gonna end up in a way that I'm gonna be happy, eitherway of what's happening.

And I think, I can finally say, I really like Korg—Korgi.

Maybe all this was too much for me, pero wala namang masama kung susundin ang nararamdaman diba? Or maybe, he's just being a jerk at kinabukasan ay tampukan na naman ako ng usapan.

But I trust Korg, he wouldn't do that.