Change of Fate

Chapter 6

Misha:

Come with me to buy our dresses for Ma'am Amelia's wedding. This coming Saturday na 'yon, and we still don't have an outfit.

Me:

Monday na Monday, Misha. Hindi ka man lang nagyaya nung weekend. Parang gago naman 'to.

Misha:

I got busy over the weekend, and don't blame me for it! Dali na, I'll pick you up from your office or you brought your car?

Me:

Leche, sige na. Dala ko yung sasakyan ko. Text mo na lang sa akin kung saan. Mag-early out nalang ako.

Misha texted me details for later before I proceed again on reading the reports about the new medicine we plan to deploy to the public. We researched and developed this for months, and we're so happy that we're at the final stage of its production.

We live in a world where illnesses progress that medicines need to keep up. Ang daming sakit pero ang onti ng mga gamot. Ang daming taong may sakit pero ang onti nang nabibigyan ng lunas.

I spent the day overseeing the deployment of the new drug, asking the employees their progress on each job, and signing documents that need my signature. It's a stressful job but it pays well, and I get the chance to see medicines before the public buys them. It's already gratifying for me.

Nagpaalam na ako sa secretary ko dahil 3 PM na at paniguradong nasa mall na ang misua. Nang makarating ako sa shop kung nasaan si Misha, I saw her looking over the racks of ready-to-wear dresses. She glanced at me upon seeing me entering the shop.

"Pick something to wear on Saturday. Hindi na kaya if papagawa pa tayo ng dress, what a bummer, but I like the dresses here already." Salubong sa akin ni Misha.

I went to another rack to look for a dress. Sabi ni Ma'am Amelia na simpleng kasalan lang pero hindi naman masama kung maganda ang bibilhing dress.

The motif of the wedding is a combination of pink, white, and gold. Ma'am Amelia didn't specify what color we should wear among the three, but I think it's okay to choose from the three, except white for female guests.

One dress caught my attention. It's simple but an eye-catcher. It's a rose coral colored dress that flows until below my knees. The top is a corset type that is embellished with little flowers and small crystals, and the spaghetti strap is embellished with vines and flowers. The skirt is not fitted like the top, so it flows naturally, with little crystals and also small flowers as its embellishment. I stared at the mirror inside the fitting room as I was wearing the dress.

I am 5'8 in height. My skin color is in the middle of being fair and morena. I have a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones and a pair of upturned eyes like one of the famous models. My black hair falls below the clasp of my bra at the back, with natural beach waves. Yes, I have curly hair. My eyebrows trimmed well, my eyelashes long and thick. If hindi ko tinuloy 'tong pagiging engineer ko, baka nasa modelling industry na ako.

I did pageants when I was still in high school, pero hindi na ako gaano sumasali noong nag-college na dahil kailangan magseryoso.

At the age of 27, I still got offers from different agencies and companies to model for them and their products, but I respectfully declined them all. Mas gusto ko kung nasaan ako ngayon.

I stared at the mirror until I'm satisfied. I changed back into my former clothes and returned to the main room of the shop. I saw Misha sitting on one of the sofas. Baka nakapili na 'to ng dress.

I went to the counter to tell them I got the dress I wanted. While I waited as they packed the dress, I sat beside Misha. She looked up to me from her phone.

"Hindi daw makakapunta si Belinda. She asked for Ma'am Amelia's phone number so she could be the one to tell her reason." She informed me.

I sighed. Lagi naman ganyan. "Sanay na ako diyan, ghoster masyado akala mo nasa paraiso na ni St. Peter."

She laughed. "It's okay din, baka busy din talaga siya. Alam mo namang bumabawi naman siya sa atin, right?"

I nodded. "Sasabunutan ko talaga 'yon kapag nagkita na kami ulit."

Misha told me about the dress she will be wearing, and it fits her well. It's a gold off-shoulder long sleeve dress that falls below her knees. It's beaded with little crystals, even the sheer sleeves. It's simple but it screams elegance.

We left the store after getting our dresses and sending our gratitudes. We decided to eat in a Japanese restaurant. Ramen para sa mga shitty men.

The rest of the week went by fast until it's already Friday night. I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline again at hindi na nagulat. Disappointed but not surprised.

A picture of Daniel and a girl beside him. Cindy.

They were surrounded by their friends. Nakaakbay pa nga si Daniel na mukhang inaasar ng mga tropa dahil kitang kita ang pag-bablush ng dalawa sa gitna.

Bullshit set of friends. Alam nilang may girlfriend yung tao, pero inaasar pa nila sa iba.

Thank heavens, I already cut the ties with him and his minions. Magkantutan sila for all I care.

I even messaged his parents that we're already done. Sila na ang nag sorry sa akin. His mom even wants to continually invite me to their family events, but I respectfully declined. Hindi magandang tingnan 'yon sa mga magiging bagong babae ni Daniel. All in all, I cut ties with his world, and slowly, it felt good.

Biglang may lumabas na caller ID sa screen ng phone ko kaya sinagot ko ang tawag.

"My gosh, Crim! Baka ma-late ako tomorrow sa wedding! Something came up, kailangan ko maasikaso agad. Pwede ka naman mauna na sa wedding." Halos umiyak si Misha nung marinig ko ang hinaing niya. Napatayo ako sa bean bag ko. Anong mauuna? Ako lang mag-isa pupunta ng wedding, ganoon?

"Hoy, anong mag-isa? Gusto kong may kasabay sa pagpasok."

"Hindi naman totally na hindi pupunta, I said late lang, diba? Baka kasi sa venue na ako makahabol, hindi na sa ceremony."

"Sabay pa rin tayo, kahit sa venue rin ako makapunta basta may kasama. Wala akong kakilala sa wedding ni Ma'am." I answered. Wala nga ba? Pero naalala ko na nasabi niya na parang invited ang paborito niyang klase. My lips parted at that.

"Okay, fine. We're like kambal tuko." She laughed.

"Oo, ikaw yung tuko." I laughed because she cut the line.

Misha:

You will be the one to drive to the venue. It's an hour away from the metro, but you can do it. See you tomorrow!

Pinikit ko na ang mga mata ko para makatulog para event bukas. Please be a good day.

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