Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[9]

"What about this one, Elisse? This one looks elegant, does it?"

Mommy took me out to fix some stuff for my debut. Malapit na ang debut ko, pero tinatanong niya pa rin ako kung dapat ba naming palitan ang gown ko. Pakiramdam niya kase hindi pa ganon ka-engrande ang napili ko.

She showed me two designs. The first one is an emerald off shoulder princess cut gown with swarovzki details. The second one is simple sleeveless a-line blush pink dress. Both are pretty and fairy like but I think I'm fine with what I decided on. Malapit na, sayang naman kung babaguhin pa.

"I'm okay with the design you showed me before, Mommy. Yun nalang." I smiled and continued typing on my phone.

Sa totoo lang, medyo wala na rin ako sa mood para magdebut. I used to look forward to it before, pero ngayon? I think I'd rather stay at home and sleep. Pero dahil sabi nila, once in my life lang ako mag eighteen, pumayag na ako. I'm the only girl in the Gallego side, so it's highly anticipated that they will throw a party for me.

"Are you sure?" she asked, caressing my hair. "We can still change it, if you like? Baka lang kase gusto mo mas grand, and since you waited so long for this, right?"

I briefly nodded.

"Yeah, I'm sure, Mommy. Let's not change it. Hassle pa if we will. I'm fine with what we decided on." ngumiti ako ng tipid at nakatitig lang sa cellphone ko.

Mommy sighed and smiled.

"Okay, anak. Just tell me if you want to change anything, hmm? We'll do everything for your debut. Anything that makes you happy..."

I sweetly smiled and nodded. Ayoko rin naman na masayang effort nila. We've been planning this for two years, already. Ang mga kasama lang naman sa eighteen candles and roses, and my escort ang hindi finalized.

"Have you picked an escort already, Elisse?" Mommy asked. I shook my head. She gasped. "Malapit na ang invitations, pero wala ka pa rin napipili?!"

"I'm working on it, Mommy..." walang gana kong sabi.

"What about Cairus?" she asked. "You're close, right?"

I sighed. Nung isang araw pa niya ako pinipilit na si Cairus ang piliin. And honestly, he was really my first choice, but then he told me that he'll be in another country at that time. Kaya kailangan kong maghanap ng iba.

"He'll be in Italy. He can't come."

Mommy frowned. She wants Cairus for me. That's what I noticed from the very beginning. Lagi niyang iniinvite ang mga Marchelli sa bahay at bukang bibig tuwing dinner. Minsan naririndi na rin nga ako. Si Kuya naman, mukhang ayos din sa kanya na ipasok ako ni Mommy sa ganoong engagement. He seems supportive of everything that our mother wants for me. Basta hindi si Daddy ang may desisyon, payag talaga siya.

"So it means, wala rin ang mga Marchelli?" she asked. I don't know for what reason does Cairus have to go to Italy, but he told me that it's important and that he'll just send me a gift.

I only picked him as a first choice, because it's what Mommy wants. Not mine.

"Troy's coming," I told my mother. I placed my eyes on my phone, trying to look through my friend list. Baka kase may maisip ako. "That's what he told me."

"Oh! Get him, then! Siya nalang ang gawin mong escort, Elisse!" tuwang-tuwa niyang sabi at pumalakpak pa.

Umiling ako sa kanya. "I don't want him as my escort."

"What about Prince? I heard you like him. Sabi ng kuya mo..."

I gasped and shook my head.

"Hindi totoo 'yan, Mommy! I don't like Prince!"