"Hello, Ate Tess!" Ngumiti si Yella sa babaeng nakatayo sa may counter. "May costume ka for her? Para sa dinner party ni Hugh ito."
"Sinong Hugh?" I asked Bernice.
"He's a friend. Engagement party niya mamaya and everyone is invited. Kahit si Jude. Naku, natutuwa ako at ikaw ang plus one niya. Ayaw niyang pumunta roon eh, hindi naman daw kasi siya bagay but at least now, he's coming at sapalagay ko, hindi lang dito nagtatapos ito." Bernice held my hand. Pinisil niya ang palad ko. "Please, Arielle, be patient on him. Please..."
Hindi ko maintindihan kung para saan ang pakiusap niyang iyon pero natagpuan ko na lang ang sarli kong nakangiti sa kanya at tumatango. Hindi naman nagtagal ay nagsimula na kaming mamili ng susuotin ko. Ayon kay Yella, may costume na daw sila nila Bernice. Themed pa nga iyon kasi per family ay may assigned themed sila, kay Bernice, Flinstones tapos kina Yella naman daw Adams Family. Si Ido daw, siyempre may something tungkol sa gwapo at kagandahan.
I particularly had my eye on that 1920's style dress na may jeweled headband na ka-pair. It reminded me of the movie Great Gatsby. I loved that movie. I loved Daisy's character.
"I like that." Itinuro ko iyong dress. "Great Gatsby. Ang ganda." Sabi ko pa. Kinuha noong Ate Tess iyong costume. Si Yella naman ay ipinasukat sa akin. It fits so, iyon na lang ang binili ko. After that, we ate lunch sa isang Korean Restaurant.
"Do you sing?" Yella asked me.
"I wish. Isa sa frustrations ko. But I play the piano. Iyon lang, kasi nga requirement sa school namin."
"Do you wanna be a mermaid?" Again, Yella asked me.
"When I was a kid, yes." Sagot ko. I giggled.
"Do you eat fish?"
"Yes, I do..." Itinaas ko iyong steamed white fish na kinakain ko. Ngumiti si Yella tapos ay kumain na. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ako tinatanong nang ganoon. Naisip ko na lang na baka initiation iyon kasi nga bago nila akong kaibigan.
At three in the afternoon, umuwi na kaming lahat kasi kailangan pang mag-ayos para sa party. Jude said na susunduin niya ako mamaya sa lobby ng hotel.
Pag-uwi ko ay naligo na naman ako agad para matuyo agad ang buhok ko. I will try and style it just like Daisy's in Great Gatsby. Gusto ko talaga siya. The Great Gatsby is one of the most haunting stories I've seen and read. It talks about wealth, love and sacrifices. I loved how Jay Gatsby loved Daisy Buchanan. Basta. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang kwentong iyon – although it didn't end the way I wanted too, ginusto ko pa rin siya.
Ganoon naman talaga ang buhay, may mga kwentong kahit gaano kaganda sa simula, if its meant to end in a tragic way, it will end that way. Ang mahalaga, sa bawat pagtatapos ng kwento, may bagong simula.
I did my own make up. Hindi naman ako masyadong magaling sa make up sa dami ng make up tutorials na napanood ko, ang natutunan ko lang ay kung paano maglagay ng tamang lipstick saka magkilay. Hindi naman totoong make – up is life.
I put my dress on and I made sure that I look like a 1920's girl. When I am satisfied, napangiti na lang ako at saka tumingin sa orasan. It's five in the afternoon and I don't know what time Jude will arrive pero hihintayin ko siya.
Hindi naman ako nagtagal sa paghihintay dahil ilang minuto lang ay tumawag na ang receptionist para sabihin na may naghihintay na sa akin sa baba.
Bigla na lang lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko.
Pakiramdam ko nasa prom night ako tapos ngayon lang ako maide-date ng kung sino. It's funny. Kung makikita lang ako ni Mommy, magpa-panic iyon.
Masayang lumabas ako papunta sa elevator. Pagbukas niyon sa lobby ay agad kong nakita si Jude. Nakatlikod siya pero sigurado akong siya iyon. He was in the middle of the lobby. He had a black three piece penguin suit. He slowly turned to me and I realized that he was dressed like Jay Gatsby.
I swallowed hard. How can a thirty – something man look like this? He looked so good. I actually want to eat him up but that's not who I am.
Judas grinned.
"Well, I'm certainly glad to see you again..." I told him just like in the movie.
"I-I'm certainly glad to see you as well." We had to looked at each other's eyes for a long while. I don't know why but the moment called for it. Yes, we have a moment, and this is that moment. The moment when everything seemed to be slow and vivid. It makes my heart flutter. It makes me feel giddy.
He offered me his arm and I put my hand around it. Our eyes were still locked and it makes me feel thousands of emotions – some are still unknown and new to me, but its definitely there.
Challenge # 08
Start from the beginning
