Harsh Beauty

Not everyday do we always feel beautiful. We may look good in the outside but deep inside, sadness aside, we feel ugly and discontent.

Our standard of physical beauty sometimes become the basis of what we think of one person.

First impression.

Ang babaw.

I boarded the bus earlier this morning papuntang ciudad to make my routinary tasks.

I was dressed in my usual polo tee, jeans and sandals. In short, normal ako kanina.

I sat beside the bus' door para madali lang akong makababa pagdating sa ciudad.

Pagdating sa next bus stop, may mga sumakay kabilang na ang isang lalakeng umagaw ng pansin ng halos lahat ng nasa bus.

Malaki ang katawan nya. Muscle kung muscle. Balahibo sa balahibo. Machong-macho.

But...

His long curly hair was bleached copper. He was wearing a spaghetti strapped tank top with glittery prints matched with denim short shorts and platform wedges.

I'm not shocked sa itsura nya. I'm used to seeing that. But the people around me however was totally surprised.

I heard laughter all over my side and one vocally commented how 'sexy' our sister is, but in a pangungutya way.

Dedma lang si sister.

Ganito talaga in this side of the bukid. They're not used to seeing this everyday.

Naawa lang ako sa kapatid natin 'coz I knew he was hurt by the people's reaction. Or not. I'm not sure.

Nung tumingin siya kung saan nakaupo ako, I smiled at him and mouthed 'dedma lang'. He smiled back.

At least he knows na hindi siya nag-iisa dun.

Was it our sister's fault? Or the people around were just too judgmental?

I don't know.

All I know is that whatever makes you happy, express it. It may not conform to what the conservative society dictates, at the end of the day it's always you who's in charge of your own body.

Tomorrow, I'll be wearing a miniskirt.