Sing!

A Not So Pleasant Surprise

'Lyka you look so stunning! Good job, Marquee!' Lacey commented when the make up artist had finally finished my make up. I was the last one to be done.
'Come girls. To your room. We need to be finished around 3 pm.' Aunt Mary said as she led the girls out of the guest room, toward theirs, where their gowns were waiting to be worn. I stayed with mom in the guest room. Marquee the make up artist stayed at the entertainment area as instructed by Aunt Mary. She took some bills from her wallet in her room and came back to Marquee to give him the payment for the make-up.
'Thank you so much, Ma'am. If you need more of my service, just feel free to call me.' Marquee said in a sing-song tone.
'That would be lovely. You've done them beautifully. I am sure that they will attract attention with your make up skills!' Aunt Mary said.
'Thanks for the compliments, Ma'am.' I heard him smile in his tone. 'I've to get going. Thanks again.' He said.
'Alright.' Aunt Mary replied. A few seconds later I heard some footsteps at the stairs.

I put on the gown we bought for myself yesterday. And as agreed on, it was a white balloon gown. I take a look at myself at the mirror. I almost did not recognize my own face. I do wear some make up sometimes, but no instance was as close as this that I wore. I have to say thank you to Lacey for complimenting that I looked stunning, because she was right. Not that I am bragging about how I look, I just look a little bit different from my usual looks. The make up wasnt very thick, it was actually light, but the way Marquee modified and accentuated my face features was just stellar. I have to thank him once again when we meet some time.
'You look like a princess, sweet heart.' Mom commented sweetly.
'Awww. Thanks mom. And you're my queen.' I told her with a smile on my face.
'Come, let's wait for the other girls at the entertainment area.'
Upon coming out of the room, three beautiful ladies waited for me. They all looked gorgeous, equally wonderfully made up and dressed as myself. We hugged each other.
'Oh girls, how beautiful we are! I love how we look!' Lacey said, teary-eyed. 'I can't believe I'm doing this with you girls!'
'Oh Lacey, please don't cry. You'll ruin your make up.' Aunt Mary smiled.
We heard a car pull up by the gate of the house.
'That must be Ben,' Geneva said with a little frown in her face. Why would she be fretting over Ben's arrival?
'I'll take a look,' Mom volunteered as she went toward the terrace to take a peek out.
'Hi Ma'am,' I heard Ben say by the gate. 'I'm Ben, Lyka's friend.' I noticed Geneva looking more annoyed.
'Take a look, sweety.' Mom told me as she motioned me to come over. I slowly glided towards her. As I look at the guy standing there, I confirmed it's Ben. Mom came down the stairs to let him in. He was asked to wait at the living room, while us the four girls came downstairs to meet him.
'Hey Geneva,' it was her that Ben had noticed. 'You look beautiful today.' He commented. Geneva smiled a genuine one that reached her eyes.
'And the three of you girls are just equally stunning.' He commented again. I saw little sadness in Geneva's eyes but I can't figure out why she would feel that way.

After a few minutes of chatting, Vio came out from the kitchen. He look very handsome in his barong. He will be escorting Geneva for today. Another guy came out of the kitchen, who was Adam, Aunt Miriam's eldest child and will be escort of Courtney. They're both slim so they look like they could pass as a couple. They both greeted us and complimented on our looks. We all thankfully smiled at them. Suddenly I noticed that Lacey is the only one whose escort didn't show up yet, so I asked her. She politely said that he'll be coming late, then we all left it at that.

The event started with praying, then a ceremony called Flores De Mayo (Flower of May), and then the holy mass all held in the church at the plaza, situated just right in front of my grandparents' house. I don't know why but I have been waiting for Lacey's partner like forever. It felt like my butt wiggles with excitement, just like a puppy who's excited to see his human come home from a military deployment. I waited painstakingly, overly interested about who her escort will be. She must have secretly met someone at the resort and asked him whether he could attend.

Mass was over and the organizer got us all prepped for the procession of the reinas. I hesitantly looped my arm around Ben's but when he smiled at me I finally felt comfortable with his presence. We were the last ones in line, since Reina Elena is the main character in the Santacruzan. Lacey, Geneva and Vio, Courtney and Adam, were six, five, four ladies away respectively, as three more reinas are in between of us, who were Reina de las flores (Queen Of Flowers), Reina de las Virgines, Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven), and Reina de los Propetas. I stuck my head up to see whether Lacey's mysterious escort had finally shown up.

A familiar figure caught my eye. A man who was around 180 cm tall, a slightly chubby frame but a little slimmer than Ben, and whose blue eyes sparkled with a smile when he saw who he was looking for. I was surprised to see him here, coming toward Lacey. She eagerly looped her arm around his, and as if sensing that I was looking, she looked straight at me with apologetic eyes, as if the words came out straight from her eyes: 'Lyka, I'm sorry, but I had to. You need to see each other and reconcile, please. And I can't think of any better way than this to get you to make up with him.'
I felt my eyes water with tears. I wanted to see him, but why does it feel like I don't, now? I lowered my head to its normal position and gripped the crucifix that I was holding. Oh God, help.

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Barong:

Santacruzan: