Chapter 24
Ana Louella
I looked at the salesclerk one more time as I flashed a smile at her and she looked at me confusedly. I moved closer to her before I spoke.
"Miss, can I ask you a favor?" I asked her and she smiled at me before answering.
"Sure, what is it miss?" She replied.
"Do you see that woman?" I asked as I pointed Meg and she nodded.
"She is my friend. Whatever gown she picks, tell her that it only costs one thousand pesos and I'll take care of the rest. Can you do that?" I replied and she nodded.
"Let's go!" I stated and then I smiled at her.
"Let's do it." She spoke out and we went towards Meg who is intently staring at a navy gown that she is holding.
"Hey, do you like it?" I asked as I stared at the gown she is holding.
She raised the gown and then looked at it for a moment. It is an embroidered backless mermaid-style tulle gown with appliquéd plunging neckline. It is quite beautiful and I am sure that Meg will look good on it.
"Uhh- I do but I don't think I can afford this." She said and then she sighed.
I winked at the salesclerk signaling her to do her act and she immediately went in front of Meg.
"Miss, this gown is currently on sale and its price is only one thousand pesos." She stated.
Meg's eyes widened in surprise as she searched for the gown's price tag. She glanced at it for a moment and then she looked at the salesclerk confusedly.
"But the price tag indicates that it's twenty five thousand-" She cut Meg off.
"We just forgot to replace the price tag, miss. That gown is only one thousand pesos." She said and Meg looked at her confusedly.
"But there isn't any signage that says there is a sale today." Meg said confusedly.
"I- we just forgot to put them." The salesclerk stated and Meg turned his head to look at me.
"What about your gown, Lou? How much is it?" Meg asked and then she gave me a confused look.
"Same as yours." I said as I smiled at her.
"Do you like it?" I asked her and she immediately nodded.
"Come on, let's try our gowns together!" I exclaimed as I held Meg's arm and urged her to come with me but she isn't moving.
"But I still can't believe that it only costs one thousand pesos." She said and I sighed before replying.
"Hey, let's go." I said and she gave me a confused look but still walked along with me.
I turned my head to look at the salesclerk. I mouthed a 'thank you' and then I flashed a smile at her. She just nodded and smiled back at me.
We went inside the fitting room and we changed into our gowns in separate cubicles. After a few moments, I heard a knock on the door and then Meg spoke.
"Hey, Lou. What's taking you too long?"
"Coming!" I exclaimed as I tied my hair in a bun.
"I can't wait to see you, Lou. I bet, you'll look gorgeous in your gown." Meg stated and I smiled even though she could not see me.
"And I can't wait to see you too, Meggy. Well, I am pretty sure that you'll look like a goddess in your gown." I said as I adjusted the gown's straps.
I wiped the beads of sweat on my forehead using my handkerchief and put it back on my bag. I opened the cubicle's door and there, I saw Meg with a deep furrow in her brow. She is probably thinking about the real price of the gown.
"Hey!" I exclaimed and she was a bit startled.
"You're gorgeous!" Meg exclaimed and I smiled at her.
"You too." I said and she smiled back at me.
"Should we call Andrei-" I cut her off.
"No! He won't let us wear these!" I piped up and Meg chuckled.
Andrei is quite conservative when it comes to us and he won't surely let us wear these gowns since they are a bit revealing. It would be better if he will just see us wearing them in the ball. In that way, we won't have to change our gowns anymore.
"Thanks for reminding me." Meg said and we both chuckled.
"I think, your gown no longer needs adjustment." I said and she nodded.
"Your gown suits you well too." She replied.
"I still can't believe that I am wearing a gown made by Luciana Henarez." Meg stated joyously.
"Come on, Lou. Pinch my cheeks. I still can't believe that I am wearing her design! I feel like I am just dreaming!" She exclaimed and I playfully rolled my eyes at her.
"There's no need for me to that! You aren't dreaming!" I exclaimed.
"Come on." She said and I lightly pinched her cheeks.
"Silly! You are wearing her design and you aren't just dreaming!" I retorted and we both chuckled.
I am so glad that I made her happy.
"I can't wait for us to meet her, Meg. I hope, we can meet her sometime." I replied as I flashed a smile at her.
"We will meet her soon. I can feel it." She said confidently as she nodded.
Luciana Henarez is our favorite Filipino fashion designer and we are always looking forward to her design. She is also one of the fashion designers that we look up to because of her amazing and creative designs.
"Let's change into our clothes and pay for our gowns." I stated and she nodded.
We both entered the cubicles where we left our things and changed into our clothes. After a few minutes, we exited the cubicles at the same time.
"Give me your gown, I'll pay for it-." Meg cut me off.
"I'll just pay for it, Lou. I bought this so I'll be the one to pay." She said as she shook her head and I chuckled at her.
"Silly! I was saying, I'll pay for it and just treat us to dinner in return." I said.
"But-" I cut her off.
"Come on, we miss your adobo." I said and she sighed before replying.
"The price of that gown is too much compared to the actual cost of adobo." She said and I chuckled.
"Your effort and love in making adobo is priceless, Meg." I said meaningfully.
"Fine." She replied and then she pursed her lips as she handed me her gown.
We both exited the fitting room and went directly to the counter to pay for our gowns. After paying for the gowns, the cashier handed me two paper bags and I took them from her hand. I gave Meg's and I held mine on my right hand.
"Your receipt, miss." The cashier said and I quickly snatched it from her hand and crumpled it and then I slid it on my pocket.
"I want to see the receipt, Lou. I still can't believe that my gown only costs one thousand pesos." Meg said as we walked.
The money that I spent on her gown is nothing compared to what she has done to save my life. Meg was the one who pulled me out of darkness, she is always by my side whenever I feel lonely. More than that, she never left me unlike my parents and that is why I am so grateful to have her in my life.
"I already threw it. Come on, Andrei's probably waiting for us now!" I lied and thankfully, Meg didn't ask for it anymore.
We walked towards the men's fitting room and waited for Andrei to come out.
"Hey! You haven't asked for my opinion and yet you already bought your gowns!" Andrei exclaimed as he went out from the fitting room.
"You look good in that tuxedo, Drei." I said as I chuckled.
"It's unfair! You already saw me wearing my tuxedo but I haven't seen you two wearing your gowns!" He said and then he scowled at us.
Oh! I almost forgot that Andrei can be childish sometimes.
"Come on, change into your clothes now and pay for that tux. Meg will make dinner for us!" I bawled at Andrei and he chuckled before going back in the fitting room.
"Hey Meg, do you have a pair of heels?" I asked Meg and she shook her head.
"I don't have a pair of heels yet but I'll try to borrow from my cousins." She replied.
"I can just lend you a pair, if you want." I said and she quickly shook her head.
"No, it's too much-" I cut her off.
"Come on, I have plenty of pairs at home and besides, I seldom use them." I said and then she sighed.
"Thank you." She whispered and she flashed a smile at me; I smiled back at her.
After a few moments, Andrei went out of the fitting room and we directly went towards the counter. Andrei paid for the suit and we left the mall together to have dinner at Meg's house.
Oh! I am starving and I can't wait to eat now.
...
TRIVIA:
Adobo (derived from the Spanish term "adobar" which means "marinate") is a popular Filipino dish of chicken, meat, seafood, fish or vegetables marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns, which is browned or seared in oil, and then simmered in the marinade that is traditionally cooked in clay pots. Nowadays, people cook adobo in metal pots or woks and various versions of it (for example, adobo sa gata is a version of adobo cooked with gata or coconut cream) arose as time passed by.