𝘾𝙀𝙊. - 𝘾𝙀𝙊 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍

2.

━━━

"How about this one?"

My eye's lightly lift from the boutique pamphlet handed to me by a worker, setting onto Leila's figure before the boutique mirrors surrounding her in a circular motion. 

All I have been enveloped by, is the light, floral air freshener within the boutique, the soft, cream-light lighting, and unfortunately, the heater that's been on full-blast for the past hour. 

Such overstimulating senses do dwell on me, leaving me a little light-headed, but I attempt to glue my gaze against Leila's figure with as much mustered intent as humanly possible.

And there, she models a gown, a deep, satin, scarlet-toned dress, with a high slit that fits her body like a glove, hugging her to every contour. 

It's a gorgeous dress, off-shoulder, that contrasts the deep, black ink of her raven locks, and I cannot help but catch myself staring a little too intensely. 

A smile lifts my lips, and I nod without hesitation.

"T-that one's really lovely, I-it suits you...!" I assure as I fiddle with the pamphlet within my grasp, watching as she shifts against the dress, posing loosely in different forms upon the mirrors, taking few photos of herself for reference. 

I catch my mind guiding down different paths, following her movements, tracing the smile on her lips and the undeniable confidence she oozes so naturally. 

A part of me adores that, adores seeing a woman in her unapologetic self, loving what she see's and how she looks, but another part of me envies what she radiates. Even so, my mind is ripped from the sky, and brought back to earth by an intruding voice. 

"-Miss L/N, I've picked out a few more dresses I'd like you to try," The boutique worker calls for me, and as I hastily stand to follow her, I feel Leila's eyes watch me with enthusiastic cheer. 

The boutique around me decorated with mannequins dressed in designer gowns, clothing racks filled to the brim with a mixture of bridesmaid dresses, wedding dresses, and formal gowns. Colours and glittery pearls dot and speckle each line of fabric, lace and ribbed corset's, flared mermaid skirts and layered textiles fill  to my view, entertaining and enticing my mind with inspiration.

Dresses wrapped in plastic sit above the clothing racks within the dressing room the worker ushers me towards, and as she closes the door, she fits me in each gown.

Either the colour doesn't suit me, the skirt isn't flattering, or something doesn't fit correctly. Even so, I spend the next hour slipping on different gowns, until I finally settle on one.  

"This one comes in many shades, and the design was not simple," the worker explains as she zips the back of the dress up, hooking the buttons over as it fits perfectly, body-hugging and formal.

As I look at myself in the dressing room mirrors, I take note of each detail this dress has. 

It's a satin dress, lengthy to my ankles and in the complete shade of my favourite colour, with a strapless, straight neckline. The material is robust yet fitted, wrinkled in the perfect ways as it hugs me. In addition, it was decorated with a thick, large bow on the back by a matching, satin belt, in the same shade as the dress. 

It doesn't hold much flare, as it's quite straight and fitted, but I find it to hold a special 'it' factor that'd take me by surprise.

My eyes are wide, as if they are attempting to take in every detail of this fitted gown, how my body is hugged by the thick, satin fabric.