Second Arrangement

CHAPTER 31 - GOWN SHOPPING

ELLIE

"Where's Jackson?" Sophie asked once she stepped out of the car.

"Back to his office, I guess," I shrugged.

Sophie's eyes widened in surprise, "You're going to find your wedding gown, but he goes back to his office?" she asked as if it was the weirdest thing that she's heard.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well," she started. "That guy barely leaves you alone since you two are officially engaged, so him going back to the office when you're going to try on your wedding gown... That sounds weird."

"I told him to leave," I explained. "He's not supposed to see the gown until the wedding day," I repeated like a broken record.

"Seriously? I thought he saw you in your wedding gown the first time," she kindly reminded me and I rolled my eyes at the memory. Jackson indeed saw me in my wedding gown before the ceremony the first time, that was why I didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

"Exactly. That's why I don't want to repeat the same mistake. Superstitious or not, better be safe. What?" I asked when I saw Sophie smiling wistfully.

"Nothing.. I think you'll be fine this time," she looped her arm through mine and dragged me to the store.

"Good morning, how can I help you ladies?" the shop assistant greeted us cheerfully once we walked past the door.

"We're looking for a wedding gown. I believe there's an appointment under the name Wang?" I asked and the shop assistant checked the book and confirmed that we indeed had an appointment. She led us to another room at the back of the shop and let us sit on the couch. "Would you please wait here, and I will call someone to help you. Do you want something to drink while you're waiting?"

"A cup of tea, please," Sophie answered while I just wanted some water. After the shop assistant disappeared from the room, Sophie gushed, "Oh wow, this shop must be something else. How much do you think the gown will cost? If they treat us like queens?" she looked around the shop and for the first time, I noticed that she was right. I thought this was just an ordinary bridal shop, but the way the assistant acted, and even served us some drinks, Sophie was right. This shop must've cost a fortune. I put a mental note in my head to scold Jackson later.

"Good morning," another lady came into the room, she came in bringing a rack full of gowns, with another assistant in tow, "Which one of you is the bride?" she eyed me and Sophie and I lifted my hand in the air. "Ah," she looked at me from top to toe and clapped her hands. "I think there will be something here that will suit you," she waved toward the rack of gowns and nodded her head toward the assistant and she started to pull out the first gown. "This is the first gown that I prepared. I heard you're looking for something simple but still unique, so I gathered up some gowns that suit your needs."

The assistant hung the gown in front of the changing room so I could see it clearly.

"This is a simple A-line gown with boat-neck shape," the first lady spoke, explaining the gown to both of us before signaling me to stand up and try the gown. Both of them pulled the curtain so I could change and told me to give them some signal if I needed help with the zipper or anything else. I quickly changed into the gown and looked at my reflection. The gown was just as described, but it was too simple. I opened the curtain to let Sophie see the gown and she agreed. That wasn't the one.

"It's okay, it's just the first gown," she assured me, "Let's try the second gown, shall we?"

The assistant proceeded to show me the second and we repeated the same process. And we did it again with the third gown and the fourth gown. By the fifth one, the first lady was not as confident as she was before. "This one has a lace bodice with a simple tulle dress at the bottom. It's very simple so it will be more suitable for an intimate wedding rather than a ballroom wedding," she explained but let me try the gown nonetheless. I tried it on and realized that the lace bodice was only at the front, while the back was mostly bare. But the gown fit me perfectly, and with the tulle dress, it looked dreamy. I opened the curtain and Sophie gaped.