Since You First Believed

Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Prom (Part 1)

- Issa's POV -

"You look so perfect." Mommy whispered to me. Tiningnan ko ang repleksyon ko sa salamin at namangha sa nakita. I looked so different, halos hindi ko na nga makilala ang sarili ko. Pero pagtagal ay hindi ko rin naiwasang mapangiti. Because I never imagined myself looking like this...

Suot ko na ngayon ang long gown ko na lilac-colored. It was a simple one-shoulder dress with almost no designs except for folds sa upper torso part. It fitted me perfectly. But the gown wasn't the only one that made me look different. I'm wearing makeup and my hair is in an updo. I'm not wearing my eyeglasses tonight and instead, naka-contacts lang ako. Tinanggal na rin ng dentist yung braces ko. I'm going to wear retainers pagbalik sa school pero for tonight, pumayag siya na hindi ko na muna suotin.

Pero hindi magiging posible ang lahat ng 'to kundi dahil sa tulong nila Mommy, Tita Pam at Tita Karen. Sobrang excited kasi nila sa pag-attend namin sa prom! Sila ang naging in-charge mula sa attire namin hanggang sa makeup. Sila nga din ang namili ng coat and tie nila Dan at Dave.

Yes, tonight is finally our promenade. Halo-halo ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Excited ako para sa mga mangyayari ngayong gabi dahil syempre, ito ang first time ko na aattend ng prom. Masaya ako kasi pakiramdam ko ang ganda ko ngayon gabi. Haha! Minsan lang naman kasi dumating ang ganitong pagkakataon na magbihis at magpaganda. At syempre, kinakabahan din. Paano kung madapa ako dahil sa taas ng heels? Paano kung matapakan ko yung kasayaw ko? And of course... I'm going to confess my feelings to someone tonight.

"Hello?" Bumalik lang ako sa realidad nang marinig ang ring ng cellphone ni Tita Karen at sinagot niya ito. Nandito kami ngayon nila Mommy, Tita Karen at Tita Pam sa kwarto ni Ate Mel. Dito kasi kami nila inayusan. Nandito rin si Ate Mel kanina kaya lang, dumating na yung date niya kaya nauna na siya sa prom.

"Yup... Wag ka nga kabahan! Yeah... Yeah, she's ready. Alright... Bye." Pinindot na ni Tita Karen ang button sa phone niya at ibinulsa ito. Ngumiti siya sa akin. Just by her smile, alam ko na kung sino ang tumawag.

"Issa, are you ready? Your date's waiting for you." Nakangiti pa rin niyang sabi. Nginitian ko rin siya pabalik at tumango. Tita Pam examined my face one last time for any makeup smudges. Nginitian niya ako at binigyan ng thumbs-up sign nang makitang okay na.

Kinuha ko na ang small pouch ko na ka-terno ng long gown ko at sinamahan na nila ako lumabas ng kwarto. Dumungaw ako mula dito sa second floor at nagtago ng ngiti nang naaninag ko si Dan. Dahan-dahan na akong nagsimula bumaba ng hagdan habang inaalalayan ni Mommy. Nakasunod lang sila Tita Karen at Tita Pam sa likod ko. When I reached the final step, that's when I finally had a full view of Dan.

The moment I saw him, I was tongue-tied. He's so handsome! He was wearing a black tux and black slacks. He wore a lilac-colored long-sleeves inside with a matching tie with black and lilac diagonal stripes. Ito ang pinili nila Tita para raw match kami. His naturally messy hair stayed messy, but this time it really looked so much better on him! Fine, it's been some time since naghiwalay kami at wala na rin akong nararamdaman sa kanya, but I really can't help but feel attracted to him! I was surely a lucky girl to have him as a date tonight!

Dan smiled at me and studied my look the moment he saw me. We looked at each other for a moment. And then, we knew this was our wish being fulfilled, our high school dreams being realized.

"Whoa. Why did I have let you go? Can I have you back?" Dan joked, with his eyes still not leaving mine.

Pinalo ko tuloy yung braso niya. "Ikaw talaga, Dan!" Tumawa lang kami ulit dalawa.

"So... shall we?" Dan offered his hand and I gladly accepted it. He softly kissed my hand before holding it. Sabay na kaming naglakad ng mabagal palabas ng bahay.