Lipstick Readings

(SSPG WARNING! Read at your own risk!)“Damn, we shouldn’t be doing this, Lauren,” gigil na bulong ni Zai habang nakaupo ako sa kanyang kandungan. Patuloy pa rin ang paghalík niya sa akin. Nalalasahan ko naman ang alak sa kanyang dila. “Uhmm~” Umawang ang labi ko nang sapuin niya ang malusog kong sùso habang patuloy sa pagsípsip sa aking labi. “Ugh fùck, stop grinding on my top,” awat niya kasabay ng paghapit niya sa aking baywang. Sumubsob ang sùso ko sa kanyang matigas na dibdib. Ngunit hindi ako nagpatalo at mas idiniin ang sarili ko sa kanyang alaga na kumakawala na sa suot niyang slacks. Saglit akong humiwalay at napatitig sa gwapo niyang mukha. “What?” namamaos niyang bulong. Basa ang labi, at kumalat na ang lipstick ko sa gilid ng kanyang namumulang labi. “We both hate each other, but why in the fùck are we kissíng?” lasing niyang bulong at naging hudyat ‘yon upang mas halíkan niya ang labi ko. Hindi ko rin alam ang sagot, o baka lasing lang ako dahil uhaw na uhaw ako sa kanyang haplos, at halik. “Your boyfriend is gonna kill me,” gigil niyang bulong at hínimas ang hita ko dahilan para umangat ang micro skirt na suot ko. “You’re gonna regret this, Lauren. Your boyfriend is like my brother, but I couldn't care less. Now that you’re on my top, fuck.” Pinag-init ako ng kanyang sinabi dahilan para hímasin ko ang kanyang alaga na tigas na tigas at umaabot na sa kanyang puson. “Fùck!” malutong niyang mura na ikinangisi ko.

I am Maybelline Mia Park. Actually hindi ko alam kung bakit Maybelline ang unang pangalan ko, siguro big fan ang Mommy ko ng Maybelline make-up o baka naman uso talaga ang Maybelline products o di kaya wala lang talagang ibang maisip ang parents ko ng magandang pangalan. I really hate being called Maybelline dahil hindi naman ako mukhanag lipstick o face powder o eyeshadow o kung ano ano pa mang make-up na meron sila. Kung tinatanong ng iba ang pangalan ko, sinasabi ko lang "Mia Park." Short and decent. I am the epitome of clumsiness. Kahit ano ang gawin ko hindi ako ume-excel. Kahit saan ako magpunta palagi akong nadidisgrasya. Not actually disgrasya katulad ng nasagasaan o kaya nahulog sa building. Sa awa ng Panginoon hindi pa nangyari sa'kin ang ganun ka lalang sakuna. Maliit na disgrasya lang naman kagaya ng nadudulas, nahuhulog sa canal, mabuhusan ng tubig, natapunan ng pagkain. Can you still consider it small accidents? Kakambal ko na siguro ang .malas'. Sanay nadin naman ako sa mga hindi magandang nangyayari sa'kin sa pang araw-araw. Uggh!! ..but so much for that. Ever since nakita 'tong si Mr. Handsome and Mr. Hot sa mall nong gumala kami with my friends, hindi na ako napakali kaya hinanap ko talaga siya. Sinuyod ko ang buong town para lang malaman kung anong pangalan niya, san siya nakatira at sang school siya pumapasok. Well, di naman ako nabigo at nalaman ko din ang mga impormasyong gusto kong malaman. Then guess what? I transferred to livingstone Univeristy kung san siya nag-aaral ofcourse with my friends. Hindi naman din kasi sila magpapaiwan. I did everything para lang mapansin niya ako.

To afford train tickets home for New Year's Eve, I searched for a part-time job and stumbled into a livestream that was practically throwing money at the chat. A young woman in a silk robe rested her chin on her hand. Behind her, a villa glowed under expensive lighting that reflected off polished marble floors. "Being kept in here is suffocating," she said in a voice that mixed boredom with sweetness. "My sponsor gives me more money than I can spend. Help me out. Take some off my hands." Cash drops flashed across the screen one after another. I tapped as fast as I could, my heart hammering. A few large ones landed in my account. I was close. One more would cover both my ticket and my boyfriend's. The streamer leaned closer to the camera. "He keeps saying my tear mole looks like his girlfriend's," she said, her mouth twisting with disgust. "So unlucky. Of all things, I had to match with some broke girl." My finger slipped. I had a tear mole under my eye in the same spot. The live chat flooded with questions. [How is the sponsor's girlfriend broke?] The streamer gave a short snort and reapplied her lipstick, as if correcting a minor flaw. "He's just messing around. He tricked her into 200,000 dollars in debt. She's so stupid she works multiple jobs to help him pay it off." A chill settled in my chest. My boyfriend also owed 200,000 dollars. She continued, her tone light, "The funniest part? He slept with me for three days. When he left, I asked if he was giving her a taste of honey." She smiled cruelly. "He said all he has to do is claim he's going to work a construction site hauling rebar. The idiot will feel guilty and deliver food all night. So he won't need to please her." Another large cash drop flashed across the screen. The total reached the exact amount I needed. My phone rang. Benjamin's name lit up the display. When I answered, his voice sounded worn down, as if it had scraped against concrete. "Via, we still don't have enough for the tickets," he said. "I hauled rebar and made a little over 40 dollars. I'm heading home now."