WINDOW SHOPPING
The development of window shopping, as a form of recreation, is strongly associated with the rise of the middle classes in seventeenth and eighteenth-century Europe. Glazing was a central feature of the grand shopping arcades that spread across Europe from the late 18th century. Promenading in these arcades became a popular nineteenth-century pastime for the emerging middle classes.
With a well-thought-out, inviting design, a window display could cause a passer-by to turn and enter your shop, where they may ordinarily have walked past without a second thought.
As well as attracting customers and generating more foot traffic. While it is not possible to buy every article being sold, window shopping keeps a person informed about the latest trends, styles, and tastes in the market. It enhances and widens one's horizon about the products in the market, and one also gets to know about the latest offers and deals. Shopping is now a leisure activity. Stores fight for our loyalty, but people are less inclined to go to a particular store for a particular product since many different retailers offer near-identical merchandise. The experience that the individual is offered by the store is now the most important factor in attracting new and repeat customers.
At exactly 7 a.m. Mr. Tom, Sofia and John, and I went to the church to attend mass then after one and a half hours, we were back home. I thought at first that Joana would not be able to continue to pick me up at home but she was patient and before nine o'clock her car was parked outside the house. She was with King who politely ask permission from Mr. Tom to invite me to go to the mall and because my top honor friends are trustworthy and don't have bad school records, I was quickly allowed to roam around by my boss as long as I will not come late at night because I'll need to take care of Sofia.
John Paolo is currently busy playing PlayStation in his room and doesn't seem to want to be disturbed so he doesn't go out and he doesn't notice me leaving the house.
We went to the mall and wandered through different stores until we were hungry so we went to Greenwich for a while and ate a family-size Hawaiian pizza with matching ice tea and after we were full we went to the department store. We went to the bag section where King and Noah separated from us to look for what they wanted in the men's section.
Trixie and Joana and I looked at different brands of bags and I saw a beige shoulder bag with the Channel brand. I opened the price tag and I was almost overwhelmed by the price. Even if the price were sale and a few percent discounted price it is still very expensive, my monthly tuition is equal to the price of the sandals and even if I want to buy them, I would rather choose to buy what I can eat so I just look around at my dream bags. I caught a glimpse of Trixie and Joana going to the counter with their selected bags and happily handing the cashier the credit cards they were carrying. I no longer wonder if for them the value of the expensive things they want to buy is just coins, Rich people can afford to pamper them as much as they want compared to people like me, I still have to earn my salary and allowance just want to buy what my family needs.
Next, we went to the footwear section, and there I saw very beautiful elegant high heel shoes with different designs, colors, and prices. I have seen Parisian Women's Dafna Slip-ons, Parisian Women's Dafna Flat Sandals, Parisian Women's Dalal Flat Sandals, Wedge Sandals, Crocs Crocband Printed Flip White sandals, Women's Slip-ons and Rubber Sandals that range from five-hundred up to three -thousand pesos. I just held and looked at the sandals carefully, even if I wanted to buy them, I couldn't do it, maybe I just dreamed of staring at them because I have more important things to buy and spend.
I rolled my eyes across the store, it was very clean, airy, well air-conditioned, and really couldn't feel the poverty but when we got out of the mall there was already the reality of life where you could see misery, disasters, dilapidated households, and street children.
As my mind flew back to the emptiness I heard Joana.
"Icay, what are you doing? Have you already chosen the sandals you want?" Joana was looking at me and she seemed to be observed if I had already bought any items.
I came back to consciousness and I suddenly turned to her.
"Ah, I'm getting used to window shopping, the sandals here are beautiful and elegant but it is a bit expensive so it's okay for you to buy the sandals you want." I was a little embarrassed to tell Joana, that even though my friends are rich, I don't abuse their kindness to me even though my classmates tell me hurtful words and they accuse me of being a leech and a social climber.
Joana frowned and seemed confused by what I said.
"What? Window shopping? It's a pity if you can't choose or buy what you want. Oh go ahead, don't worry, I'll just choose you something and I'll pay for you to save your allowance." Joana looked around and looked for a nice pair of sandals.
"Hey, don't buy. I'm okay." I tried to stop her from what she was doing but when I approached Joana she quickly grabbed the beautiful and elegant sandals on a shelf, I was almost stunned at where I was standing and I opened my mouth in shock as I carefully observed the sandals.
Joana chose a wedge stretch Lace-up Espadrilles and silver sandal and if I'm not mistaken the sandal cost over fifty-thousand pesos.
"So, do you like it?" Joana was smiling while asking me as she waved her chosen sandals in front of me.
"Yeah, but the price is so expensive," I said.
"Hmph! I'll have to pay for it. What's the size of your foot? Because it's size 10, I'll find a fitted size for you," Joana asked.
"Size 8," I replied.
A sales lady approached Joana and asked for the size needed to find a fitted size of sandals.
Joana was busy with the saleslady so I decided to stay where I was standing and wait for her until I heard Trixie's voice that seemed to be screaming in the distance.
"AHHH!"
"Icay! Icay!" Trixie shouted in the distance holding her cellphone.
"Oh, why? What's wrong with you? Why are you shouting?" I will ask.
"John Paolo gave you a heart emoji on your Instagram picture." Trixie was thrilled and so happy that John Paolo made a big deal.
"What? Maybe it's a prank. And when did John Paolo ever like my posts on Instagram? Also, he will never notice me because I am ugly and I didn't have a good picture in my posts." Suddenly a memory came to my mind and when I remembered that Trixie and Joana posted a picture of me on Instagram where I put a lot of make-up well and the post had a big caption 'WANTED BOYFRIEND!" And this is how I met Steven.
That idea made me shiver from where I was standing, I picked up Trixie's cellphone and stared at my picture and I was awestruck with my picture. It was only then that I took a good look at my appearance and I changed myself, I looked like a princess because of my wavy long hair and my make-up face, red lipstick, it was so far from my appearance right now, with long straight black hair and lipgloss. It is much different and I looked like the girl next door and the dream girl in my picture.
It was the first time when I was attracted to my look in the picture. Because I didn't expect Trixie and Joana to take a picture, I just went on a trip to make up and put on make-up, I didn't think that they would seriously spread my picture on social media so that my future boyfriend could find me. I scrolled carefully and saw that John Paolo gave a heart-like with the comment 'You look human in your make-up,' he didn't even say I was beautiful.
But despite everything, there was a slight smile on my lips, I felt as if I was being tickled with joy. Finally, John Paolo noticed my beauty even in the picture, my heart was pounding again with excitement and I felt relieved from where I was standing. It didn't last because when I caught a glimpse of a saleslady who was with Joana she was carrying a box and I was sure the box contained new sandals. Trixie and I kept quiet and acted normally because when Joana found out that Trixie and I were equally passionate about giving John Paolo's heart on Instagram, she would be in a bad mood again. She didn't agree with John Paolo especially when he treated me badly. For Joana, John Paolo is an arrogant, stubborn, stone heart and snob so she had the idea to call John Paolo a 'monster' and think that he does not have the heart to pity someone.
I went to the long chair and the saleslady approached us with Joana.
"Miss here are the size 8 wedge sandals. You can fit it," the saleslady said politely as she handed me the box.
I smiled and responded to her.
"Thank you," I picked up the box and opened the box. Size 8 wedge sandals popped up in front of me. I immediately touched and removed the sandals I was wearing first and then I measured the wedge sandals, I felt that it was just exactly the size. I inserted my foot exactly right and the wedge sandals fit me perfectly.