Loving the Nation's Idol

Stage 27: Body Talk

However, rather than being amazed by his well-developed body, it saddens Isla seeing a lot of bandages sticking on his smooth skin. Some of the wounds are turning purple. Kumuha ng cotton ball si Isla na may alcohol at dahan-dahan na pinahid sa bandage para madali lang itong matanggal. "M-Masakit pa ba talaga?"

Evident pain on his face, he leans on the sofa. "Yeah.." He mutters under breath. "Para akong sinaksak."

Isla bit her lower lip as she slowly removes the sticky gauzes on his body. Mas lalo siyang nahabag nang makita ang mismong mga sugat nito. They were deep and obviously... "Isaiah.." Tiningala niya ang lalake. "...magiging peklat 'to." Those deep wounds will obviously leave scars.

"I stopped caring, Isla." Pumikit ito nang nilinis ni Isla ang mga sugat ng betadine. "Plus... scars can be covered with make-up."

Tahimik lang na tumango si Isla at pinagpatuloy ang ginawang paglinis sa sugat.

He knew Isla subconsciously blames herself to what happened to him. Kaya nagbukas siya ng usapan. "You're reading a women's magazine."

"A-ah... oo." Kita ni Liam na namula ito habang ang atensiyon ay nasa katawan niya.

"Why?"

"Para... m-may mabasa lang."

"You look great on your new look."

Nakisali na rin ang tenga ni Isla sa pagpula. "T-Talaga?"

"Yeah." Isla loves to be complemented with each of her works. Yes, making herself look good is a hard work.. especially to someone who's used to wear boy's clothes all her life. "What made you decide to change?"

"Pag kasama ko kasi sila June at July... nararamdaman ko kasi na napabayaan ko na kung sino talaga ako."

"And that is???"

Her almond-eyes look up to meet his blue-eyes. "Napabayaan ko ang pagiging babae ko."

The corner of his lips twisted upwards. "Ngayon mo lang na-realize?"

Lumabi ito at pinagpatuloy ang ginawa. "Noong na ospital ka kasi, nakita ko paano alagaan ni June at July ang sarili nila. Sinusuklay nila buhok nila, may nilalagay silang lotion tapos nagpu-pulbo. Di naman sa sinasabi ko na gagayahin ko sila.. parang na-realize ko na kailangan rin pala ng atensiyon ko ang mismong katawan ko."

"You've been with Hailey and Avery.."

"Duh!" She rolls her eye upward. "Ibang level naman kasi ang kagandahan nila. Magsimula muna ako sa baby steps."

Pumikit si Liam. "Took you long enough to notice."

"Babae naman talaga ako." Lumong saad ni Isla. "Sa buhay ko kasi noon, di ko masyadong napagtuunan ng pansin ang pananamit ko.. o kahit ang pag-alaga man lang sa sarili kong buhok kasi masyado akong tutok sa paghahanap-buhay. Uunahin ko pa ba ang pulbo kung kumakalam naman sikmura ko? Gusto ko rin kaya magpalda. Mag-lipstick.. ganun."

"Just so you know, Isla... you look beautiful on whatever look you wear."

Isla raises her eyes. Nakangiti si Liam habang nakapikit. "Talaga?"

"Overlarge shirt or that Tinkerbell costume... that messy bun or the neat ponytail you are wearing right now.. it doesn't change the fact that you are still the red-haired Isla I knew."

Her heart races faster as she looks down. Nanginginig ang kamay niya sa pagbukas lang ng bagong pack na bandages. May iba pa kasing rason kung bakit niya inaayos ang sarili. Whenever she's with Liam, knowing he has drop-dead gorgeous male cousins and head-turners female cousins... not to mention a beautiful best-friend, Isla's can't help but to feel pressure to keep up with them. Na para bang pag kasama siya sa grupo ni Liam, dapat rin maganda siyang tingnan.