Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Twenty-Nine

So.

I'm waiting for Ara to pick me up, because, well... today's the end-of-summer party.

And I'm dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Sabi naman ni Ara, semi-formal lang daw 'yung pwedeng suotin. Bawal 'yung long ball gowns, at bawal rin 'yung masyadong casual. So I chose to wear a yellow dress and white flats. Naka-wig rin ako na brown tas naka-half bun. I didn't wear much make-up at wala rin ako masyadong jewelry. In fact, watch lang yata at pearl earrings ang jewelry ko.

My phone buzzed with Ara's text appearing on the screen saying na nasa baba na siya.

I checked myself on the mirror. Hmm... siguro okay na 'to?

I went down. Lumabas na ako kung saan naghihintay si Ara and when my eyes landed on her, my jaw immediately dropped.

She had a blonde wig that was braided into a french braid and she paired it with a blue lacy dress and a pair of silver heels. Nakita ko ring may purple eyeshadow siya tapos may dark pink (pero hindi red) na lipstick with dramatic eyelashes. She was Elsa from Frozen, and she looked stunning.

Napansin ko ring nakatitig siya sakin, apparently surveying what I'm wearing.

"Oh my God."

"Oh my God," Sabay pa naming sabi.

I walked towards her and the nearer I get to her, the more beautiful she gets.

"A-Ang ganda mo," I said.

Pero mukhang 'di naman yata siya nakikinig. Nakatulala lang siya sakin.

"You're drop-dead gorgeous," She said nang nakatulala pa rin sakin.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Do you get it?" She asked.

"Ang alin?"

Tinuro niya 'yung costume niya. "I'm Elsa. Remember nung first day natin sa factory?"

It took me a while to remember our conversation that involved Elsa. But I figured it out: nung stress na stress na siya, pero 'di niya nilalabas frustrations niya, sabi ko, para siyang si Elsa--conceal, don't feel.

"So si Elsa ka pa rin pala? Gusto mo pa rin cin'conceal lahat ng feelings mo?" I asked.

"No," She said immediately. "No. This is the Elsa na kumanta na ng Let It Go, 'yung part sa movie na nirelease niya na lahat ng tinatago niya sa loob niya. That's what I want to do, Mika. I want to let it all go for you."

And Ara did it again: she made me smile again.

She opened the car door for me but I refused it.

"Bakit?" She asked.

I shook my head. "You're a lady too," I simply said and walked over the other side and opened the driver's car door for her.

"Thank you, Mika."

---

We arrived at the party just in time, kasi nagsstart na 'yung sayawan. The factory wasn't the same as I remembered it anymore, wala na 'yung apat na mahahabang tables, instead, isa na lang 'yung natira tapos nasa isang side. Nandun lahat 'yung food. Mayroon ding round tables tas may labels yung iba para sa mga managers and CEOs. May space sa gitna, dun nagsasayawan 'yung iba. May disco ball na naka-hang sa pinakataas then may DJ sa side. The vibe was all party-ish, and the employees were dressed as Disney characters which made it even more exciting.