"Mika, come on! Get out of there na! Halos isang oras ka na dyan!" Charleen said from the other side.
"Nakakahiya kasi, ate Cha!" Mika answered.
"Ako lang naman 'to, kaloka," Charleen chuckled.
"You wouldn't know how I feel, ate Cha," Mika huffed in frustration.
"What are you talking about?" Charleen asked.
"Hello? You have a great body kaya! You could go out half naked for all you care and people wouldn't mind one bit!" Mika exclaimed.
Charleen threw her head back in frustration and heard muffled noises coming from inside. The familiar sales assistant of the lingerie store they're in had her hands over her mouth trying to hide her smile.
"Your friend is funny," the lady whispered, "She has a nice body din naman."
Charleen let out a laugh and smile.
"Okay well, I'll leave you girls at it. I'll be at the counter if you need me," the lady said again.
"Alright, thank you," Charleen smiled politely.
She watched as the sales assistant politely excused herself and made her way out of the dressing room.
Once the lady was out of sight, she spun on her heels back to Mika and marched towards the girl. Charleen tore open the curtains and revealed a petrified tall girl.
"ATE CHA, GET OUT!" Mika screamed while scrambling to cover her bare body in from of the older girl.
"Calm down, jeez," Ate Cha said calmly, "Let me see."
She grabbed the half-naked girl's shoulders and scanned the girl head to toe.
"Ate Cha, I feel very uncomfortable. Wagas ka naman makatutok eh," Mika was cringing, her head turned away from Charleen.
She ignored the Mika's protests, "Actually I like the previous one you wore better."
Charleen folded her arms and pointed her chin at the lacy black piece stranded on the floor.
Mika kept her gaze at the tiny pieces of clothing on the floor and sighed, "Hindi ko keri 'to, ate Cha. Too sexy."
"This," Mika motioned at her not-so-covered body, "This is not me."
"Mika, you looked great in every single one of them! You just have to be a little more confident, bes," Charleen said sincerely.
"I..." Mika caught her reflection in the mirror and grimaced.
"No, I can't. I feel so awkward."
Charleen sighed and forced a reassuring smile, "Alright, I won't force you, pero anong susuotin mo?"
Mika's frustration grew by the minute. She looked around the store and ran her fingers through her hair with gritted teeth, "Well, definitely not something from here."
"Okay, umalis na tayo dito, hanap na lang tayo sa iba. Baka may mahanap pa tayong magustuhan mo," Charleen rubbed Mika's shoulder comfortingly.
"Okay, ate Cha," Mika gave a weak smile.
- - -
Mika's POV
We ended up sitting at Starbucks, sweating with cold, sore feet. We literally scavenged the whole mall looking for the perfect outfit to wear on my anniversary night. My patience is running and I'm getting agitated by the minute looking at the time.
I threw my body back on the chair and sighed for the nth time, "This is pointless. We wasted a whole day on nothing. Ayoko na po."
"Not true," Charleen raised her index finger, "I finally got my shaving cream."
