Huling Sandali

Chapter 20: Debut

This is the day!

Nakaharap ako sa salamin at masasabi kong ang laki ng pinagbago ko. From the nerdy type of girl... isang ganap na dalaga na ngayon. Mas gusto ko pa rin iyong nerdy outfit ko kahit hindi naman pang nerd ang utak ko.

"Ang ganda naman ng prinsesa namin!" Puri ni Mommy nang pumasok ito sa dressing room.

Sobrang daming tao ngayon sa garden ng mansion. Mga collagueos ni Mommy at Daddy sa businesses nila, mga kakilala ni Kuya Kobi, Kuya Nate, Kuya Cole, schoolmates nila, at schoolmates ko. Hindi ko na alam kung anong nagkasya pa ba sila roon. I told to my parents na hindi naman kailangang mag-imbita ng marami. But they keep insisting it.

I'm just wearing a off-shoulder red ball gown. (See media for the photo of the gown.) I'm not wearing necklace because I hate it. Nilagyan lang ako ni Rico ng hikaw. Siya ang nagmakeover sa akin.

"Hay, sana araw-araw debut mo para makapag-ayos ka ng ganito." Sambit nito na tinawanan ko na lamang.

"Anyway, who's your escort? You didn't inform me, huh?" Maarteng saad nito. "Huwag mong sabihing si Chaz 'yan?"

I nodded. "Siya nga."

"Wala ka talagang pag-asa. Lumubog ka na at hindi ko alam kung makakabangon ka pa."

Yes, I know to myself na hindi lang pagkagusto ang nararamdaman ko kay Chaz. It's more than that. Mahal ko na siya at hindi ko na ito mapipigilan pa.

"I'll go ahead, Trix. Hintayin mo nalang ang hudyat, okay?" Paalam nito sa akin.

Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib dahil sa mabilis na tibok nito. Tila ba nais na nitong lumabas mula sa kinalalagyan.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa hagdan nang magbigay ng hudyat.

Sa ibaba, sa dulo ng hagdan, a man wearing a tuxedo is waiting for me. Malawak ang ngiti nito na hindi mo makikita sa kaniya noon. I think, he's happy at sana ako ang dahilan ng mga ngiting iyon.

His eyes were mesmerizing, I can't looked away as I staring at him. Tila ba lagi akong hinuhugot ng mga matang iyon. His hair were fixed and his black tuxedo were added to his manly feature. He is more handsome right now and a lot of visitor, mostly girls, are drooling over him. Mainggit nalang sila dahil sa akin lang nakatuon ang mga matang kinahuhumalingan nila.

"You're so beautiful, Trix." Nakangiting bungad  nito sa akin. Nilahad nito ang kaniyang kamay na tinanggap ko naman.

I don't know but I saw my Kuya's are glaring at him pero wala lang iyon kay Chaz. Nakangiti pa rin ito habang inaalalayan akong makarating sa stage.

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen!" A host started. "May I call on Mrs. Alyanna Gonzales for a welcome message!"

"Good evening, Everyone!" My mom started. She looked at me and I smiled at her. "Everyone is welcome, and thank you for celebrating Trixie's 18th birthday with us tonight. It just wouldn't have been the same without all of you - all of the people who have had such a positive impact on her life.

Tonight is Trixie's 18th birthday and we hope she recalls it fondly in the years to come.

My daughter has passed through many milestones in the last eighteen years. We've witnessed her maturation into an adult. We've witnessed my daughter learn to make friends, have fun, and enjoy life - slowly at first, but steadily developing in confidence." She smiled to the crowd.
"We've seen  difficulties conquered, honors received, and tremendous growth and development in every aspect of my daughter's life. What an honor and joy it has been part of this remarkable young lady's journey to adulthood."