SIN: Valeria Caruso

11: Life's Full of Surprises

Normal lang naman na may problemang nagaganap sa bawat araw na lumilipas sa isang tao. Regardless of their wealth, success, or fame, everyone, including the richest and most accomplished individuals worldwide, faces challenges as part of the human experience. As they say, life is full of surprises. Pero bakit sa sitwasyon ni Valeria, iyon pa ang mapipiling maging surpresa para sa kaniya? It came intentionally even though she never desired it. If she decided to seek guidance from a psychic about Johann's sudden appearance, would she discover the answers she's looking for?

Lumabas si Valeria mula sa cubicle at hinugasan ang kamay sa rumaragasang tubig mula sa gripo. Her gaze remained fixed on her hands immersed in the frigid water. Both of her palms were reddening due to her frequent fist-clenching. There were still traces of red lines on the sides that she had forgotten how she got.

Lifting her face, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Kapansin-pansin ang lower and upper eyelid niya na kulay bright pink pa rin ang kulay, bukod pa roon, magang-maga pa. Ilang beses na siyang naghilamos ngunit visible pa rin na wala sa normal na ayos ang mga mata niya.

I'm fucking tired of crying.

She straightened up when she heard the door open, intending to leave until she saw who entered.

"Ang haggard mo na tingnan, girl." bungad sa kaniya ni Arden. Natawa lang siya sa iniusal nito. "Huwag mo nga ako ma-tawan-tawanan d'yan." Arden raised an eyebrow and handed her a mineral bottled water.

Valeria furrowed her brow. "What am I going to do with that?"

"Ipa-print mo." Arden frowned. "Kunin mo tapos kausapin mo--- jusko ka, Valeria. Kahit hindi ako doktor masasabi kong simot na simot na mga acids mo sa katawan." panenermon nito. "Umayos ka nga! Mag-make-up ka, ang putla mo."

Valeria couldn't help but burst into laughter. Pucha. It feels like just a while ago she was on the verge of tears, and now she's laughing. Life is truly ironic. Napapailing na lang niyang tinanggal ang takip ng bottled water at mabilis na tinungga iyon. Mabilis, as in, hindi na siya nagpa-tumpik-tumpik pa. Baka nga pati yung bote malunok niya na 'rin. Joke.

"Ang hilig-hilig umiyak tapos sa maling tao naman," sumabat na naman si Arden the great. "Naaalala mo pa ba mga achievements mo nung nag-aaral ka pa? Pinagpala ka sa babaeng lahat tapos mag-s-settle ka lang sa lalaking---"

Valeria wiped her lips. "Sssshh! Don't say bad words."

Arden took out her makeup essentials. Hindi pala talaga ito nagbibiro sa sinabi na kailangan niyang mag-make-up. Malay ba ni Valeria, akala niya ine-eme lang siya nito.

"Hindi ako magsasalita ng bad words kaya hindi ka na rin dapat mag-s-settle sa bare minimum. Nakakaloka ka."

The phrase 'bare minimum' seemed to strike a chord in Valeria's mind. Alam niya naman ang meaning nu'n pero napag-isip-isip niya, bare minimum ba talaga ang lahat ng mga sinasabi, ipinapakita at ginagawa ni Johann sa kaniya noon? Perhaps. Pero ano pa't nilikha ang salitang bare minimum kung hindi naman gagamitin, hindi ba? At least, Valeria enjoyed that bare minimum treatment from Johann.

Shucks. What did she say?

"Humarap ka sa akin." Arden ordered, and Valeria obediently complied. Starting off with a gentle approach, her friend applied a light creamy foundation to her face.