BLUSANG ITIM (RE-IMAGINED) - PART 1

Pinoy Komiks collector and old-school film lover know by heart the story of the magical black dress that can turn an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. This story is based from that classic tale but mostly what you are about to read is inspired from the vision of Ian Sta. Maria from his graphic book collection called "Salamangka".You can check out his works on his Instagram and I promise, you too will get inspired from it.

I hope you will enjoy my version and stay tune for part 2 and 3.

Jessa couldn’t believe that she was tricked by a well-played scheme of a senile old woman.

She put a lot of effort into fixing the black dress that the old hag requested to her. Looking at her customer's shimmering locket and bulging rings on each of her fingers, she thought its a total jackpot. She put aside all other requests to her (even though some of them are already due since yesterday) and focus on the deep, shadow colored dress until midnight.

Then in the morning, a messenger whom the old woman sent to her, give the news that made her choke the pandesal she’s eating in between drinking her coffee.

“I am sorry Ate Jessa. But Manang Oryang can’t pay you with money. She said that in return you will be keeping the black dress for yourself instead.”

Jessa wanted to douse the messenger with the newly boiled water from her kettle and bath him with all the curses she knows. But she manages to calm herself and pull the reins of her own beast.

“Where is Manang Oryang? I need to talk to her.” She slammed her table and gritted her teeth with anticipation. She can’t wait to make the old crook feel her fury.

“I am sorry Ate. Manang Oryang went out of town. She said she may not be back for a long time.” The messenger nervously replied while trying to move as far as possible from the raging Jesa. But then again after seeing the grotesque countenance of Jessa, the messenger can't help but to silently chuckle. 

"Panget na nga, boba pa..."

Despite saying it as softly as he can, Jessa eyed the messenger as if she was going to eat him alive upon hearing its mocking wordsin front of her.

“I-I should go now if you don’t have any more questions.” After a few seconds, he runs without even turning back at Jesa who is about to blow now.

“Punyetang!” She violently sweeps all the cups and utensils on her kitchen table; letting them crash and shatter one by one as they break the silence inside her house.

She buried her face on her arms. Biting her lips and trying to pull back the tears that are now starting to blurry her eyes, Jesa look up saw herself in the mirror hanging in front of her. The anger suddenly is replaced by a searing pain on her chest.

“How pitiful.” She said while staring at her own reflection; the countenance that forever made her an outsider in their place. A face so grotesque she was even labeled as a “maligno” from birth until she grows up.

“He is right. You are not just ugly Jessica. You are also damned stupid.” And she broke down alone with only the walls listening to the wail of a maiden who since birth seems to feel that the world loves to make the life of her kind just too unbearable.

Despite the heartbreaking news, Jessica has no choice but to work that day as a dressmaker in a small yet thriving tailor shop in their town. She is not in condition though; she cut the shirt he is repairing in the wrong portion, stitch incorrectly the seam of pants and measured poorly the waistline of her customer.

“What’s wrong with you Jessica?! You are ruining my business hija!” The shrill cry of Manag Tessie is enough for other dressmakers to stop abruptly on their work; staring at Jessica with mix look of sorry and despise.

“Everything you do is all wrong! What’s the matter?! I thought your face is only the wrong thing in you?!”

Some can’t help but chuckle upon hearing those words but Manang Tessie said out of anger and not for humor.

“I-I am sorry Madame. It won’t happen again…” Jessica can’t even look in the face of her boss and instead clench her fist upon the fabric she is holding.

“It won’t happen because you are now fired!”

The last words of Manang Tessie sound like an endless cacophony of discord to Jessica; it echoes with every tick of seconds and leaves her mind in a state of blankness.

“N-No. You can’t--”

“Yes I can! Now go get your thing and don’t enter this shop anymore from now on!” Their conversation ended with Manang Tessie slamming the door of her office. Jessica lost any words to say and the silence that comes after becomes a torment.

She tries to look for anyone for a comforting glance but the show is over; all of them are now working on their own project like nothing happened. Perhaps pretending or perhaps they just really don’t care whether she is here or not.

Anyway, who would want to see her face on a daily basis?

Jessica left the shop with dark clouds above her. Her steps are heavy and her chest felt empty. She went home without nothing to bring save from the black dress from Manag Oryang; the last payment she had from her work.

“I just wanted to die…” She crawls on her bed upon entering her room with her aching soul. She hugged her pillow and muffle the sound of her second outburst for today. It seems hell is really a place on earth and he is the only one left there.

It’s just so unfair that even a hideous woman like her will also ended with a life that shares the same quality of her face.

“Please let me die…” She whispers to herself or maybe to anyone unseen around her that she hopes will listen. Somebody who will lift the burden of existence from her in a quick, painless way.

“If you will die, at least die beautifully.”

‘Am I…dreaming?” Jessica raises her head upon hearing the voice that seems heed her prayer. She looks around her room and found only the void.

“I am dreaming…” She closed her eyes and wish that the darkness perhaps will be more merciful than the people around her.

“Wear me, Jessica. Make me your second skin.”

Again Jessica opened her eyes from the persistent voice that tugging her slumbering consciousness back to waking life. She rises from her bed and scan once more in her room.

The dimming setting sun gives way to rays of shadow that coalescing on the four corners of her room. It is a comforting sight when finally the light the unveils everything is now dying and letting darkness conceal the once obvious repulsive details of the world.

In the night, the ugliest thing reign under the protective veil of ebony.

Jessica looked around her bed and found the black dress beside her. The voice becomes silent but there is a finger on her gut that keeps on prodding; as if trying to tell her that the voice comes from the mysterious dress.

A laughable idea and yet instinct urge Jessica to believe it.

She took the dress and let her eyes wander around its overall appearance; the old fashioned cut and red blood swirl that runs from its neck down to the left edge of its skirt. For the first Jessica starts to appreciate the elegant dress although it doesn’t suit her taste slightly due to its color that seems to be darker than any black she saw on her entire life.

“I wonder why Manag Oryang just left you like that. Perhaps she found you too ugly…just like me.” She smells the dress and the odd smell from it lingers on her nose; the warm, strong scent of hair when it gets wet.

“Alright then. Make me beautiful before I die.”

She left the bed and went to the tall mirror. She slowly undresses while thinking about how she will end her life tonight with the black dress on her. She is thinking about hanging herself but scratches the idea immediately. She doesn’t have any guns nor poison on her home which made those options unavailable.

“Maybe slitting my wrist will do.” She said to himself as she put on the black dress to her naked body. Surprisingly the fit is perfect for her lithe, slim figure.

Suddenly, the black garment felt so cold on her skin. Jessica can’t help but shiver as if ice-cold water starts to run on her veins. She is convulsing as she dropped on the floor. The black dress’s fabric tightens its fit on her like a vice grip that coils to her body in living, breathing shadow.

Jessica can’t believe that the dress will actually decide for her on how she will die. It doesn’t even give her a chance to struggle.

Finally, darkness answers her prayer.