Simply The Best

1

"I'M NEVER going to forgive you if you don't come tonight. I swear, Ember. You and Miko are seriously..."

Banayad na natawa si Ember. Kasalukuyan niyang kausap si Yael sa phone. She was one of her best friends. Ngayong gabi ang engagement party nito.

"Chill ka nga lang. Pauwi na ako. Maliligo at magbibihis nang maganda. Magme-makeup ako. Makikita mo, maganda ako mamaya. Pinaghandaan ko yata 'tong engagement party mo. Ginamit ko 'yong mask na binigay mo sa 'kin kagabi."

"Aling mask?"

"'Yong galing Japan sabi mo."

Napabuntong-hininga si Yael. "Last year pa 'yon."

"Hindi naman ako stupid, ano ka ba? I checked the expiration date. Sa sale mo 'yon nabili, 'no? Kaunti na lang expired na, eh."

"Sometimes, I still can't believe you've become this person."

"And I can't believe you're marrying Martino."

"I know," ani Yael. Nai-imagine ni Ember ang panlalaki ng mga mata nito sa kasalukuyan. "I'm not really sure how we got here."

Natawa na naman si Ember. Hindi talaga inasahan ang lalaking makakatuluyan nito pero alam niya na masaya pa rin ang kaibigan at sigurado ito sa naging desisyon. She was in love with the man she was going to marry.

And Ember was happy for her friend. Yael deserved all the happiness.

"You know how you got here," aniya sa banayad na tinig. "It's kind of amazing how a hook up turned into something else, huh?"

Natawa si Yael. "He was just supposed to be a hook up."

"Life can really surprise you." Who else knew that better than anyone else?

"Yeah."

"In case you feel any doubt or anything that resembles to that, Martino turned out okay."

"More than okay! He's great."

Natawa si Ember. Yael was a goner. "He is." Kailangan niyang sumang-ayon. Martino grew up to be a really great guy. He loved her friend with all of him. Nakita naman niya ang bagay na iyon.

"I don't feel any doubt," ani Yale.

"Good. I'm at my door na. Dederetso na ako sa banyo. I won't be late. I'll be very pretty and I'll be the happiest person in there for you. I'll see you later."

"Okay. Wear the gown I sent you, 'kay?"

"Wear the—what gown?" Pero hindi na siya narinig ng kaibigan dahil bigla nitong pinutol ang koneksyon. Sa palagay ni Ember ay sinadya iyon ni Yael upang hindi siya makatutol.

Pumasok siya sa loob ng townhouse niya. Dumeretso siya sa kanyang silid at nasa kama nga niya ang isang malaking kahon na naglalaman ng gown na gustong ipasuot sa kanya ni Yael. Napansin din niya ang kahon sa ibaba ng kama. Shoes.

Halos wala sa loob na napangiti si Ember. Nilapitan niya ang kanyang kama at binuksan ang kahon. Naroon ang isang itim na silk gown. Sandali niya iyong ininspeksiyon. It was a long gown but it would show a lot of skin. Her back, her boobs and her legs because of the long slit.

It was a beautiful gown. She would look good at it and it had been a while since she really dressed up.

Inilabas niya ang phone at pinadalhan ng text si Yael. Nagpasalamat siya. Aaminin niya na hindi niya gaanong pinaghandaan ang engagement party ng matalik na kaibigan. Hindi naman niya sinasadya. Naging abala lang siya sa trabaho na palaging nawawala a isip niyang bumili ng magandang damit. Nang maalala niya ay huli na rin upang um-order online.