The Sun, The Moon, and Their Stars

30 : Stranger

March 2005

Kimberly

"Look up," Cherry tells me.

I do as I'm told, and she applies eyeliner under my lids.

We're in front of the full-length mirror right by my bedroom door. I'm sitting on a chair, and she's going around putting make-up on my face.

I asked her not to overdo everything. And she abides by that. The foundation is only light, and the blush is also light. But she insisted on highlighting my eyes, so she made the shadow a bit smoky and the liner a little dark. She said they're going to match with the dress and appropriate for the night.

She does the mascara afterward. Then she chooses a bloody shade of red lipstick and colors my lips with it.

She fixes my hair next. She ties it in a neat ponytail, using some pins to hide the loose strands of the layers.

Then she arranges my bangs with styling gel, so they stay put on the side of my forehead.

I told her not to use hairspray. She was reluctant at first but agreed after I gave her a lengthy monologue of why it's harmful.

My cousin is more invested in this thing than me. She even took the afternoon off from her work to help me get ready. My mother is not here because someone needs to monitor the comings and goings at the farm. But my father is here because he'll drive me to school.

"Done!" Cherry starts arranging the cosmetic products back inside a small bag.

I stand up from the chair, go inside my room, and close the door. Then I take the dress hanging outside of my closet.

**

In early February, the senior student body received the go signal from the school administration to proceed with the Seniors Ball. The admin was apprehensive about it at first, but our batch representatives argued in favor of this rite of passage. They picked the date on the Friday of the week after our final exams. And they gave us a list of dress code pointers.

The moment I told that to my mother, she gave me some money to spend on it. So, one Sunday afternoon, I went with Cherry and our grandmother and bought materials for that dress. Our grandmother used to be a seamstress, so she volunteered to make it for me. We went into the old fabric shop where she knows the people, so we had a bit of a discount. We picked the simple black satin. And as I looked around that place, I came across the pack of silver star-shaped sequins. I showed them to my cousin, and then we had the design idea.

We went to the mall after, and I bought a pair of black low-heeled peep-toed shoes which were, luckily, on sale that day.

Back at their house, Cherry drew a sketch of how the dress should look like. It's sleeveless with a high and round neckline. The skirt's A-line and covered three-fourths of my leg, to give an illusion of extra height, she said. The sequins are concentrated on the waist area and scattered all over the front of the dress.

** 

I put on my crescent moon-shaped faux-silver earrings. I wear the shoes and grab the black purse my cousin lets me borrow.

I open the door, and Cherry helps me with the zipper at the back of the dress. Then she quickly glances at me and makes a few final touches on my face.

"There," she cheerfully says.

She also hands me the lipstick, and I throw it inside the purse, though I doubt I'll use it later.

I go back to my desk and get my glasses. I'm halfway to wearing them when she runs toward me.

"What are you doing?" she asks.