Chapter One: Christmas Prep.

This one looks beautiful to me. But the model on the neck cut made me look so thin. It makes my collarbone stand out." Said a beautiful woman in front of a mirror who was in this boutique.

I began to approach her and with a smile growing on my lips, I began to say. "If you'll permission me, may I can give you a suggestion?"

The woman looked at me through the mirror nodding. "Of course you can."

"The dress fits your body because the color matches your skin. If I may ask what hairstyle you would wear when wearing this dress?" I asked the lady who was a regular customer at the boutique.

"I want to do my hair with a low updo style or multiple chignon." You know what I mean?" This woman said to the mirror that reflected my reflection.

"Of course I know. It's a modern style of bun adorned with flower-shaped hairpin, isn't it?" I am asking her to make sure.

She nodded her head as she smiled. "I already have that pin flower hair accessory and I really want to wear them."

"You can try the style of half updo. You quite asked the stylist to make curly on half your hair. After that, you braided your hair with like half updo. Your stylist can pin the flower accessory to the back of your braid." My argument stopped because this woman cut me off.

"What does this have to do with the dress? You're just giving a solution to using my hairpin." The woman asked, pointing at the dress she was wearing.

So I began to move toward him. Now we're face to face. I politely asked.

"Can you untie your hair?" I asked as I glanced at the back of her hair.

The woman looked puzzled. But she finally unshackled her hair and it made all her hair hang behind her back. I started picking up some of her hair on the right side and the left. Then I put it forward over his collarbone.

"Take a look, miss. This way you can cover it up. Especially when you do your hair with style like half updo, you look lovely in this dress." I convinced her.

This woman smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her white ivory gown was the one she was going to wear for her engagement day. She seemed satisfied with my explanation. Immediately she walked into the changing room, changing her clothes. I followed her and packed the clothes she gave me from behind the dressing room. Then she walked to the counter and paid for a dress that I had neatly wrapped in a paper bag.

"Thank you very much for your advice." The woman held out her hand.

Taking hold of her hanging hand, I said. "You're welcome, miss. Thank you for your visit and welcome back. Also, I congratulate you on your engagement, miss."

* * * * * *

"Are you really going to wear it?" My friend asked me a question.

"Of course!" My reply to Katty.

Katty's my best friend. We worked as waitresses at a boutique store in the mall. LOU mall is the name of this place.

"But if you really need money, I can lend it to you. Did Abigail cause trouble again? Do they demand significant compensation?" Katty keeps asking me.

"Calm down, miss Katty. It's not what you think." I say, while wrapping up the santarina costume around my body.

"Then, why are you making extra money in this costume?" Katty asked, but she helped me tidy up my santarina costume.

"You know that Christmas is only a few days away. I was just looking for some extra cash to buy Abigail a present. This year's Christmas I want to celebrate with Abigail in particular. I'm going to buy her a beautiful dress for her birthday." I explained to Katty.

In one instant, Katty's eyes widened and he clapped his brow. "Oh, I forgot that Christmas was her birthday too."

I just smiled at her. "I will tell Abigail that her beloved aunty is forgetting her birthday."

"Hey Emily, do you want to see Abigail mad at me? I already got her a Christmas present, but I forgot her birthday present." She said with a chuckle.

"All right, I'm gonna go to work. Remember, we'll go home together later!" Without waiting for an answer from Katty, I walked out of the boutique.

I walked into a Christmas tree in the middle of this mall. My job is to decorate this Christmas tree in santarina costumes. I'll also hand out presents to customers who get raffle tickets. When I finished putting presents under the Christmas tree, I started decorating the tree with various knickknacks.

"Excuse me Miss, I'd like to switch coupons." A young man said to me.

Then I got off the chair that was on my feet. I was decorating the tip of this pine tree. Because it was high enough, I used a chair to reach it. I lost my balance when on the way down. Luckily, the young man caught my wrist.

With shame, I said. "Thank you."

He smiled, then said, "I got the sixty-seven number on this coupon."

The young man handed me a slip of paper toss. Then I looked through the coupon number. I started looking for number sixty-seven among the piles of presents located on the roots of this spruce.

"This is your gift." I said as I handed him a rather large enough present.

"Did you already exchange it?" A beautiful woman approached this young man. Pushing the trolley, she caressed her belly with a little big.

This young lady looked pregnant. She's probably five or six months pregnant. They must be a married couple.

The man handed the present to the wife, "What do you think was in it?"

This pregnant woman grabs the present that is in her husband's hand.

This man who's gonna be a dad is talking to me again. "Thank you, miss."

He smiled at me and then started taking control of the trolley next to his wife. He took his wife home and pushed the trolley while his wife was still hugging the present. That man reminds me of someone. When Abigail was in my womb, we used to shop together. He'll push the trolley while I pick out our baby things equipment. Every once in a while there's gonna be a little argument because he insists on the pink setting, but I pick the blue one. He believed that our unborn child was a daughter, but I told him that we were going to have a son. If only he were still here, maybe Christmas would be more beautiful for me.

* * * * * *

I started walking down the street, and then after several minutes I walked and turned into the alley. It's unusual for me to be home this late. Because I usually get the early shift at the boutique. And I'm going home in the afternoon, while Katty's got the night shift until the mall closed. As Santarina, I get to go home after the mall closes and it happens at eleven pm. Katty texted me that her boyfriend took her out after her shift. And here I am, walking alone into my home. It just so happens that my house is not too far from my work. So I can walk and save money. My house is almost visible from here. I just need to walk a little longer. But why do I get the feeling that something's wrong? I think someone's following me. I saw a light coming from behind my back. The light was shining in my footsteps. I quicken my pace. But something pulled my bag from behind. What I had to do. Screaming, running or fighting for my bag. If I shout out, would anyone hear me at this time? I think everyone was asleep. So it's either run or do I have to fight him?

*ToBeContinued*