MAY PININDOT DOON si Sean at kaagad nagpakita sa screen ang kanilang Mommy at Daddy na mukhang kakatapos lang ding mag-dinner, base sa ilang soiled dishes na nasa background nila.
Their father is still lying on the white hospital bed, very thin and weak-looking. Makakapal ang eye bags sa ilalim ng mga mata nito habang ang labi niya nama'y medyo namumusyaw na. Her chest is starting to hurt again, if she just can take the pain from him, she'd do it right away!
"Hey, done eating?" maligayang bumati sa kanila ang Daddy nila. He's still trying to belie what they were seeing right now. "Let me guess, nag-foodtrip kayo? Nakakainggit naman." He then let our a hearty laugh.
He's truly strong and brave ever since. He never let anyone hurt him lalo na ang kaniyang pamilya, he used to make sure to win every battle he has. At sa tingin ni Sapphire ay 'yon ang minana nito sa kaniyang ama.
"Yes, Dad. Ikaw po, nainom mo na ba ang medicines mo? Mommy told me the last time we talked, there are times that you're being severely stubborn. You know that it's just for your own good," pinanliitan siya ni Sapphire ng mata na kalaunan ay nag-trigger dito para humagalpak.
"Hon!" Kaagad siyang nilapitan ng kanilang Mommy para muling sawayin. Hinaplos nito ang dibdib ng kanilang Daddy. "Too much emotions might kill you. Ano ba?"
"I'm sorry. Ito kasing anak ko, e! You're being more a parent to me, huh? Mas strikto ka pa sa'kin." Natatawa pa rin ito habang itinuturo si Sapphire na animo'y isinusumbong sa kanilang Mommy. Kapagkuwan ay binalingan naman nito ang nasa harap na si Sean.
"Sean, son, can you find your childish sister? I think fraud ang nasa harap ko ngayon. It shocks me a lot to meet this someone in front of me."
Maski ang kanina lang ay nag-bblush na si Sean ay napapa-ngiti na sa kakulitan ng kanilang ama. Lumapit ito sa screen para sakyan ang trip ng Daddy nila.
"We're on the same page, Dad. I think we have to organize a search and rescue operation now," anito na ikina-irap ni Sapphire. "She's acting strangely this past days."
Ilang minutong biruan sa loob ng kanilang sasakyan, kahit na nakarating na sila sa bahay at nasa loob na ng kanilang garahe ay pinili ng dalawa na huwag munang bumaba. They missed their father so much and moment like this is so precious to both of them, hindi naman kasi madalas na nakakapag-usap sila ng ganito at isa pa'y hindi palaging ganito kasigla ang kanilang ama.
Nagkuwentuhan sila ni Sean about sa study nito at sa plano nilang ipag-train siya sa kanilang company this up coming vacation. Hindi na kukuha si Sean ng full load sa school dahil half of his day will be spent in the office. Medyo hassle iyon sa pandinig ni Sapphire, for her that spells so much of responsibility. No more fun anymore, not that she's telling that her brother is fun to be with dahil ang boring ng mga trip nito.
But yeah, his next days will gonna be real stressing. Sana lang pagtungtong ni Sapphire sa kolehiyo ay hindi siya sumunod sa yapak ng kaniyang kapatid at makulong din sa ganitong tadhana. . . Matagal din ang naging pag-uusap ng mag-ama tungkol sa kanilang mga plano, eventually ay nag-shift ang topic nila sa contest na sasalihan ni Sapphire.
"I thought you don't need crown or any sash to prove that my daughter is the prettiest, why is the sudden change of mind now?" usyoso ng kanilang Daddy.
"Eh, kasi Daddy I need the points I could gather from the contest. Also, I want some fun."
"Good luck, then. I'm sure you'll win this with no sweat, bibilisan ko na ang magpagaling para maka- panood ako."
Ibinahagi din ni Sean ang tungkol sa idea ni Peter na kaagad namang ikinatuwa ng kanilang Mommy. Ito naman ang lumapit sa camera para makausap ng maayos ang mga anak.
"Why don't you try it, Sappy? You're close to Peter ever since, you used to bond with him more than Sean actually. Nag-aaway ba kayong dalawa?"
Obviously, she has no slight idea of what happened between Peter, Sean, Helene and Sapphire. What is the world expecting Sapphire to do? Tell them what she saw in his freaking condo unit? Gosh! Baka bumangon pa ang Daddy nila para bugbugin lang si Peter.
"If only I could order Monique to go back now para matulungan ka niya sa preparations. But I know how much she wanted that project at ayoko namang sirain ang pangarap niya, hija," she sound troubled. Even her weary eyes says so and Sapphire felt bad for her mother
Madami na itong problemang inaayos at hindi magandang pati ang para sa pageant ay iisipin pa nito bago matulog sa gabi.
"It's okay, Mom. I can handle everything po."
She assured them that her friends will help her in everything, she also shared that Trisha's Auntie Neries will be helping her with her gowns and all. Pero ipinilit pa rin nito na subukan ang idea ni Peter, mukhang maski sila ay kinausap na ng mokong kaya't kumbinsido maski ang kaniyang Mommy na bigyan ng chance ang ipinagmamalaki nitong pinsan ni Helene..
SO, SHE ENDED UP meeting them in nearby cafe, Saturday morning 9:30 a.m. exactly. Sa bilugang lamesa ay si Peter kasama ang naka-ngiti nitong girlfriend at ang pinagmamalaki nilang si Aira na sa unang impression pa lang ni Sapphire sa suot nitong skirt at blouse ay para na siyang uurong at tatakbo nalang palayo.
Is this really happening? Why did she come here in the first place? To give them the chance?
Kumaway si Peter nang maaninag siya nito, agad itong tumayo at ipinakilala ang mga kasama kay Sapphire. Aira looks familiar to her, marahil siguro ay nakaka-salubong niya ito sa kanilang campus paminsan-minsan sa tuwing nasa college department ito. A little bit of introductions and chitchat happened, both of them are nice to her actually. Shy type and very modest si Aira habang patawa naman si Helene na madalas sinasakyan ni Peter ng halakhak.
They should never be here, Sapphire keeps on throwing them a death glare but they seem to not notice. Nakaka-rindi ang mga halakhak ni Peter, bakit ba kasi sumama pa ito rito, e?
Kalaunan ay umalis ang dalawa para um-order ng snack sa counter. Aira took that chance to showcase her portfolio. Bawat desinyong ipinakikita nito ay binibigay niya ang hanggang sa kaliit-liitang detalye. Sapphire can sense her love about dress and fashion, kitang-kita 'yon sa mga designs nito. She hates to admit it but Sean's true about her, she's like Monique.
"I heard mayroon daw talent portion ang contest. What will be your talent to show?" She flips her hair gracefully bago nito pinulot ang frappe niya sa table.
"I haven't think about that part yet. I'm not good in singing, not blessed in dancing. Wala akong talent actually. Maganda lang talaga ako," proud nitong saad at nagtaas ng kilay.
"I agree with that. But that portion is part of the contest, you can't tell them that you're just pretty and it's good," pagsingit ng pakialamerong si Peter
"Of course I know that. Pero pinag-iisipan ko pa."
"Why not go for art, then? You paint great and that's proven."
Sapphire thrusted out her lips, she's not good at his idea. "I don't think so?Five minutes is not enough to make one."
Although, he's right about his suggestion. Sapphire loved to paint, one of her greatest piece is their family picture hanged on the wide wall of their dining room. Past time niya lang iyon subalit marami-rami na rin siyang nai-paint at ang ilan doon ay ipinamimigay niya lang o 'di kaya naman ay naka-display sa office ng kaniyang Daddy.
But recently, she found no time to paint because she's busy investing her time to the love of her life. Naging mailap na ang pagkakataon kaya't medyo nawalan na siya ng practice doon.
"That's great!" manghang komento ni Aira, her face lit up like a candle. "May ibang mga beauty queens ang gumagawa niyan, e. That's a better idea, para maiba naman."
Mas lumawak pa ang ngiti ni Peter, "see? Just make it simple, Sappy. Para hindi ka maubusan ng time. Do not put too much details but make sure that the lines and colors will amaze everyone particularly the jury. I know you can do it!"
Well, Sapphire really never doubted her cousin's mind despite of his stupidity when it comes to love. But aside from that, tunay naman talagang bright minded itong si Peter. Tama naman ang suhestyon nito, pero hindi parin nito mapapawi ang inis sa kaniya ni Sapphire. He's still unforgiven!
Dinala nito sa kaniyang bibig ang straw ng shake at agad na uminom, sinulyapan niya ang mga kaharap na nag-aabang sa kaniyang sagot.
"I'll still think about it..."
ANG SUMUNOD NA linggo ay semestral break na nga, the school given them a week of vacation to rest, to have fun, to do the things they wanna do. Except sa mga kasali sa parating na pageant that will take place just the first week of the next month.
The first three days were spent in rehearsals, kabilaan iyon na minsan ay gabi na sila natatapos at nakaka-uwi. Being a newbie in this kind of matter brought Sapphire a really really stressing days, hindi pa nakakatulong na wala sa mga kandidatang kasama niya ang natutuwa sa pagsali nito.
May mga pagkakataong nagkakaroon ng sagutan sa linya niya o 'di kaya naman ay may pasimpleng humihila sa buhok nito na she knows from the start it was Trixie. But she has to hold her temper and act as if she don't mind. Hindi welcome sa pageant ang pagiging war freak nito kaya naman nagpipigil siya, pero hindi rin naman siguro malaking bagay kung gaganti siya.
So, when she was given the chance to do a little revenge, pa-simple nitong ihinarang ang kaniyang paa sa daraanan ni Trixie habang magkausap sila ng isa sa mga choreographer ng kanilang intermission number. Panalo ang acting ni Sapphire, tumilapon si Trixie sa hagdanan at naputol ang isa sa mga pumps nito habang si Sapphire ay kunwaring tuon pa rin ang atensyon sa sinasabi ng kausap.
"How dare you!" sugod nito kay Sapphire. Handa na nitong hampasin ang dalaga subalit si Rovic mismo ang sumalo sa kamay nito para hindi iyon tumama.
"What's happening here, Ms. Cortez?"
"That bitch!" Mariin niyang itinuro si Sapphire na umaakto pa ring inosente.
"Miss, kindly filter your words. We don't allow any form of vulgarism in here, at bakit mo isinisisi kay Ms. Aralez ang pagkaka-tisod mo when it's you and your carelessness who destroyed your shoes?" Rovic said it very straightforward.
"No!" Hindi ito makapaniwala sa nadinig, nais niyang umiyak sa inis. "Pinatid niya ako. May nakakita roon, alam ko! Common, prove them that she did it."
"Trixie, nananahimik ako rito. I was talking to Kaisen about the steps, huwag ka ngang bintangera. Hindi por que madalas mong gawin sa akin ay feeling mo gaganti ako anytime."
Bahagyang umingay dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ni Sapphire. Kabilaan ang naging bulungan na halos lahat ay laban kay Trixie, she look anxious as her eyes roamed around. Sumasayaw ang labi ni Sapphire sa pagpipigil nitong ngumisi dahil sa sinasapit ng maldita...
"I wish I was there to witness that, kainis naman!" But then, Alexis continued with her endless laughters.
"Don't feel bad about it. Surely may part two pa iyon, right, Sappy?" si Eren na malaki rin ang ngisi.
"Surely, kapag hindi siya nagtino at pinilit niya ang pangangalaban sa akin."
Day six and her long gown is already done. Katunayan ay naroon na ang mga kaibigan niya maliban kay Trisha na kasalukuyang nasa out of town vacation, naroon na rin sina Peter at Helene para husgahan ang long gown nitong tinapos din ni Aira sa mismong araw.
The design she approved was a long white and black evening dress with a high slit at the right side. It's an A-line type tule gown detailed with digital beads all over the upper part, the neck style is in grecian while at the back is a deep V. Animo'y isang manikang naglalakad si Sapphire nang finally nayari din sila sa pag-fit sa kaniyang kwarto.
One word for everybody's reaction, pagka-mangha. Peter even let his jaw dropped out of amazement, palagi namang maganda at kamangha-mangha sa paningin nila ang dalaga subalit iba ang karisma nito ngayong naka-suot siya ng gown at animo'y isa siyang diyosa sa underworld. Well, she's no saint in the first place.
Umiikot-ikot ito at wala halos makapagkomento they were all lost for words. Panay tuloy ang pasalamat ni Sapphire kay Aira sa creativity nito sa kaniyang designs. But wait! Hindi pa doon natatapos ang lahat, she still have to prepare for her talent entry.
Sa tuwing napapag-isa ito ay siyang pagkakataon niyang makapag-paint nang mas mabilis. Kasama ng kaniyang art materials ay ang timer na ginagamit niya sa pag-check ng bawat minuto. Nang unang araw na magbalik-loob ito ay sumubok siyang magpinta ng isang natutulog sa ulap na anghel, sa dami ng detalye nun ay madalas natatagalan si Sapphire.
Not just one but two, four, eight. She lost count, hindi rin naman kasi worth it bilangin dahil panay palyado ang nagiging practices niya. But then, she still keep on trying and improving.
"You're doing great now, Sappy. Congrats!" Pumalakpak si Aira sa tuwa nang makita nitong tama na ang paglalakad ni Sapphire using her six inch black platforms. Hindi na siya gaano'ng kabado at wala na ring signs ng pagkaka-dapa. "Now all you have to do is to be prepared to whatever question they might throw on you."
Pabagsak itong umupo sa malapit na couch para kalasin ang lock ng suot niyang sapatos. Both of her feet muscles feels really really sore. Nagpakuha ito agad ng hot compress para dito, iba talaga ang kirot kapag hindi ka sanay sa matataas na sapatos. This is one of the reasons why she prefer flat shoes and sneakers, bukod sa matangkad na naman siya ay masakit din ito sa paa.
"Do you think it will be academics related?" takang tanong niya kay Aira.
She sweetly smiled. "Usually, not. Pero sila Camille kasi, they wanna make some changes on the usual pageants. So, still be prepared."