Chapter 21
"Ano bang bet mong look this prom?" Angel asked while scanning the dresses na naka-display. We're currently at a mall, mamimili ng mga gagamitin para sa prom.
It was two weeks before the prom. It's going to be our last kaya napagdesisyunan namin ni Angel na paghandaan iyon nang bongga. Syempre I want to look great. Nakakahiya namang tumabi kay Andrei kung hindi ako mag-eeffort. Para naman wala ring masabi 'yong mga tao sa akin kasi alam ko namang they'll judge Andrei and me. Not that it matters, I just want to show them na bagay rin naman kami.
Nahirapan rin akong magsabi sa parents ko about it kasi I needed some money for my dress, shoes, other accessories and make up. 'Nong nagsabi ako ay naintindihan naman nila agad na last ko na 'yon kaya they didn't ask further. Nag-volunteer pa nga si Mommy na sumama sa amin ni Angel kaso biglaan rin siyang kinailangan sa office kaya credit card na lang ang naiabot niya sa akin. But it's fine for me.
Kasama rin dapat si Andrei since it's weekend pero he said they have an out of town family trip kaya hindi na ako namilit. Syempre family first. Di ako pwedeng mag-demand na unahin niya ako kesa sa del Fuerto family. Ayaw ko namang ma-bad shot.
"Di ko pa alam. Ikaw?"
"Gusto kong mag-gold this prom. Para mukhang mamahalin," sagot ni Angel sabay tawa.
"Totoo?"
"Oo nga."
"Di ka magmumukhang tanga? Di ka magmumukhang gold bar na palakad-lakad?"
Angel laughed. "Gaga. Meron sa pinterest. Magagandang ideas. Try mo."
As she suggested, I opened my pinterest app on the phone and looked for prom inspirations. Wala kasi talaga akong maisip kaya kailangan ko ang tulong ni Pinterest.
Naupo na lang ako nang may makita akong upuan sa boutique while Angel continued to roam around. Nakakapagod kapag susunod-sunod pa ako sa kanya tapos hindi ko naman alam anong hahanapin.
Matagal-tagal rin akong pa-scroll-scroll lang before I finally found something. I downloaded the photo and stood up.
Bilang isang tamad na nilalang, I just asked the saleslady hurriedly rather than roam around just like what Angel is doing. I showed her a picture of the dress I am trying to look for. 'Yong di na baleng hindi ganoon kakapareho as long as the style is the same. Meron naman daw but she can't guarantee if it's the same. Pero pumayag na lang akong i-check iyon.
The saleslady headed somewhere kaya sumunod na lang ako. She pointed at the display of dresses in nude colors. Pakiramdam ko nag-form into heart ang mga mata ko.
Agad akong lumapit doon and searched for the ultimate dress.
And my eyes twinkled when I finally found it.
•●•
A week before prom ay halos hindi ko mahagilap si Andrei. He's been so busy with SC works. Madalas siyang excused sa classes, along with the other SC Officers. Kaya hindi na lang muna ako nanggulo. Masyado na nga silang busy, may katulad ko pa na mangungulit sa kanya?
"Ay, no Andrei again today," Angel mumbled as she took the seat in front of me. Nasa cafeteria kami for lunch. And like she said, wala ngang Andrei today. "Ganoon ba talaga sila ka-busy sa SC?" She asked. I just shrugged. Di ko naman kasi alam. Tini-text ko nga siya but he isn't replying. Siguro ganoon nga ka-busy.
"Nagtatampo ka na ba sa kanya?"
I looked at her weirdly. "Hindi, ah. Busy 'yong tao at naiintindihan ko 'yon."
Angel grinned at me. "Naks, ang understanding naman, ate girl."
"Dapat naman-"
"For you," someone said. Sa harapan ko ay may isang pint na ng cookies and cream ice cream.
