My eyes were closed as the make-up artist and hairstylist both worked their ways on me. Nakaupo ako sa harap ng vanity mirror na nasa loob ng room ko. From here, I could hear the noise from the garden where the party would be held.
Today is my sixteenth birthday. And we were having a party in our mansion's garden.
I know that some guests have already arrived. The maids informed me, and some even wished to greet me. Pero wala akong pinagbigyan sa mga 'yon. I didn't want them to see me nang hindi pa nakaayos. I should look even more beautiful today. I want to be the most beautiful girl, or woman, in their eyes tonight.
"Done."
Unti-unti kong idinilat ang mga mata ko. My long hair was tied in a regal low chignon. May mga ilang strands na sinadyang kumawala ng hairstylist and she curled them to give the hairstyle a softer look to compliment my soft face. There was a silver hair ornament to keep it tied, and it looked really beautiful dahil nangingibabaw iyon sa itim na itim kong buhok. My makeup was also soft. The makeup artist just emphasizes my natural beauty. I really like my look right now.
"We'll help you get dressed."
Tumango ako. They took my gown off the mannequin bust. I was really excited to wear this today. My mother even hired a famous designer for the gown that I would wear today. Nagustuhan ko naman ang gawa n'ya. So, I know that I will really look gorgeous wearing it.
It was a soft pink tube dress with a flowy skirt that reached the floor. There were some rhinestones on the tube top that faded down before they reached the skirt. What I really liked was that I could move freely in this gown. My mom even suggested that I should've made it into a ball gown, but I didn't like taking up too much space kahit malawak naman ang garden namin. It was just that... It was my sixteenth birthday, and I wanted to look sweet and innocent.
Maybe sa eighteenth birthday ko na lang ang ball gown.
I was more than satisfied with my look. Ang ganda-ganda ko. For sure, all the attention will be on me tonight.
Gosh... I wanted this day to be special.
I heard a knock on the door before it opened. I saw Ashton peek inside. Nang makita n'ya akong nakaayos na, I noticed his eyes soften before he walked toward me.
"You look beautiful, Xanthe..."
I smiled widely at him.
"I know." Pinasadahan ko s'ya ng tingin. "You look handsome, Kuya."
He chuckled. My Kuya Ashton looked really good in his three-piece formal attire. His hair was swept backwards kaya mas lalong lumitaw ang kagwapuhan n'ya.
"Thank you, li'l sis." Matagal n'ya akong tinitigan. "But I guess I should stop calling you that. You're all grown up now."
Napalabi ako. I somehow felt warm by the tenderness I saw in his eyes. Parang hindi makapaniwalang malaki na ako.
"I'm only sixteen. I'm still you're little sister."
Napangisi s'ya sa sinabi ko. Then he took something from the inside pocket of his coat.
"Gusto ko lang ibigay sa 'yo ang gift ko bago ka lumabas."
He handed me a long, rectangular box. Kahit hindi ko pa binubuksan ay alam ko na agad kung anong laman noon. But what I wasn't expecting was how beautiful the necklace inside was.
"Oh, my..."
It was a white gold necklace. Manipis iyon but what really caught me was the small pendant. It was a flower.
A primrose made of white gold.
"Ashton, this is so beautiful."
I looked at him. My eyes teared up. The necklace was really beautiful.
