"Will you sit down! You're making me dizzy!" Shelby stomped her feet which made me halt from taking another step.
I was pacing around for a while now trying to figure out what to bring and scared on how the birthday party would turn out.
"Sit. Down!" Shelby scoffed and pointed the empty space beside her. We're currently at my house after a day at work.
I followed suit and let myself sink into the plush.
"What's with the panic, though?" She sipped in her wine while watching me do the same.
"What am I gonna wear? What if they won't like me?" I bit the tip of my nails feeling anxious.
Shelby let out a hearty laugh and put down her wine glass to hold my shoulders to keep me still. "Snap out of it, okay? It's not like she's gonna introduce you as her girlfriend, would she?" She looked me straight in the eye with a knowing look.
Just then I realized, yeah, I'm going as a friend. Why am I getting this anxious, right? Whatta joke, self.
I shook my head and absorbed what she said. "But can you at least help me on what to wear? Impression, you know?"
Next thing we know, we were rummaging through my closet looking for an outfit that's something presentable but not overbearing. Just a casual outfit for a sunny weekend.
Actually, I was on the settee sipping wine while Shelby did all the rummaging. She would go to dress after dress and all I would do is nod or nay. Whatever there was that didn't soothe her liking, she would immediately put it down and go to the next one.
She was on the first half of my closet when she found a dress that made her smile haughtily.
"If this dress isn't yay for you, then I don't know what is." I nodded in response. I don't even know that that dress is in my wardrobe and I can't remember when did I bought it. Must've bought it when we went shopping.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
She went through for a little more for what she called "change outfit". I just laughed and let her do her thing since I consider her as my fashion guru.
Being the best friend that she is, the trip will be days from today but she decided to pack my things ahead saying she wouldn't be able to do it on some other time coz she might get busy with work and stuff.
She will be fostering Susu while I'm gone. After our appointment to the vet, I'll be dropping off Susu at her place. That way, I won't be worried sick that Susu will be left alone.
I insisted that Shelby should spend the night coz it's been a while since we did a girls night. Yes, this is my introverted definition of night out. Stay at home, late night talks, wine and whatnot.
We were comfortably lying on the sofa bed just talking about random things at work when suddenly she brought up Kim.
"What's the real score tho?" She perched up taking another sip on her wine.
"Honestly, we're just friends. After what happened, she came to me and apologized for being MIA. There's this glimpse of brokenness in her eyes that she's trying to hide but I can somehow see right through it. There's something deep that she's coming from. She didn't say but I can feel it." I sighed.
Shelby looked at me worriedly, "Iris, it's not your duty to fix what you didn't break. Keep that in mind, would you?"
I know what she means but I'll make it a mission to make her smile and if I can, make her happy.
I hate it when Shelly points out something and ends up right but I still love my best friend at the same time. She's always there looking out for me. There was a time when her boyfriend got so mad jealous at me coz Shelby ditched him just to comfort me on my first heart break. We didn't get along that much and Shelby ended breaking up with him coz he had so much issue about me which was a waving red flag.
"Maybe she needs someone to pull her out of that black hole she got stuck into." Sometimes, we need someone to save us and shed some light to get into the end of the tunnel.
"I get what you're saying. But come to think of it, sometimes, all it takes is for someone to breathe life into you to feel alive again." I stared at the ceiling like Kim's face is on a projector illuminating.
"And if they sucked out all the life in you? I hate to say it but I don't wanna go saying 'I told you so'." Shelby and her pessimism.
"Coz you won't." I whispered as the mirage of Kim slowly fades in my daydream.
I heard her sigh. "Where does your optimism even comes from." Then there was silence. "Wanna know my first impression towards Kim?"
That caught my attention. "Tell me." I'm all ears but she seems to be taking her time and it's making me impatient.
"She's got this mysterious aura that oozes menace that somewhat alluring someone like you who's full of sunshine and optimism. But of course I could be wrong." No matter how I would like to disagree, Shelby is accurate in judging people's character.
"Let's not get too much ahead of things though. You know what, ignorance is a bliss." I hummed trying to ignore what she just said.
It seems like Shelby is sugarcoating what she really wanted to say and couldn't blurt out directly—that her first impression of Kim is that she's a waving red flag.
Well, I guess everyone has their red flag in them. It's just a matter of getting triggered before it really goes up the pole. Besides, red is a lucky color right?
They just need a bit of saving, do they?
___________________________
A/N: hemloooo...
How bout you guys? Pretty sure we're all aware of our own red flags. Ano red flag niyo? Tell meeeeeee lol
