A week passed by and now’s the day of our senior high prom. With my week containing fights and arguments, I was so exhausted to see my mom standing at the front door of our house just as I got home with a big grin on her face, holding a big carton box that I’m afraid I know what’s inside is.
“Snow!” She called out, singing my name.
“Oh hey, mom!” I sent her a sheepish smile and waved at her. “Bye!” I ran towards the back door of the house and went straight to my bedroom and locked my door shut.
“But you’ll miss this for the rest of your life!” I heard mom yelling from the other side of the door, banging it so loud.
“Don’t care.” I spat, licking candies that I had stored thankfully.
“Please? For me?” Mom begged again.
“Don’t want to!” I shouted.
“Such a pity. I bought you a dress. It’d be a waste to throw it away now…”
“I had warned you, mom!” I said. Silence fell after that. After minutes, mom was not there. I sighed in relief. Finally, It was a hellish week for me, I deserve a break…
I took a nap after that, setting an alarm just in time for my favorite show to stream.
Waking up, I finally decided to go outside just to see mom falling asleep on the floor, with the box hugged in her chest.
Wait, what? So she waited here? I tiptoed my way outside to go and watch television and eat when I spotted the clock… it’s already five in the afternoon.
So I slept for two hours? I glanced at mom and the box… I only have an hour to get ready for the prom.
Never mind that I’m not going anyway. Turning on the tv, I missed the show I wanted to watch.
“Shheehhseh.” I heard mom mumbling. Did she learn some Chinese phrases from her coworker again? Standing up, I went to get a blanket and throw it around her. I wanted to carry her to her room but I can’t… if the only dad is still here he can…
I was about to go to the living room when I heard her mumble again.
“our daughter…. honey…..”
At this, I went back to her to make sure she’s not awake and messing up with me. Using dad as a defense? Nice game, mom.
Glancing at the box, I suddenly felt guilty. It wouldn’t hurt to open it right?
Getting the box, I carefully tried not to wake mom up and opened it. I was surprised to see something inside; a handwritten letter. I read it, my eyebrows furrowing.
Snow, you’re a dad and I planned this long ago when you were still a child. He draws the design and I just got it sewn last month.
He said that you’ll look nice with this;) Rock this outfit for him, please.
Turn the paper and see for yourself.
I can’t help but smile. Is mom playing games on me? Turning the paper, there was a hand-drawn dress, with dad’s signature below. I gasped in shock, tearing up.
I stared at mom sleeping on the floor, so this is why she desperately wanted me to wear it?
I got the blue elegant dress out and compared it to dad’s drawing. It’s amazing how it’s so accurate, with the details and style and everything.
I glanced at the clock, I have forty minutes left? That is enough. A queen is never late.
Putting on the dress, I stared at my reflection. The off-shoulder dress was simple but elegant, just perfectly fit for my body as it hugged my curves to their right places, making my breast look bigger.
The elegant blue color with the slight glitters was sparkling against the night. It’s not that revealing so I felt a bit comfortable wearing it, except for the fact that I have to pair it with the pair of nude heels that mom put in the box.
Well, it’s fine though. I look beautiful in the mirror and it fits me. I don’t have the right to complain anymore right? I’ll just enjoy this night, I guess.
Surprisingly though, mom woke up just in time to steal some pictures and proudly squealed at my state, saying about how I look just like her and such.
I saw Hannah and Emma appearing from the driveway the minute I stepped out of my house.
I gasped at the sight, still standing at the porch, “Emma… Hannah… why are you… I mean-” Stuttering, I just stared at them with wide eyes, clutching my purse in my hand nervously.
“Your mom called us. Hop on! We’re going to be late.” Emma yelled, motioning for me to come over. She was the one driving and Hannah just glanced at me and scoffed.
Blinking at them, I asked again to confirm, “But I thought you are both-”
But Emma just shushed me, “We heard it from Luke already. We knew you finally decided who you chose.”
Hannah glanced at me and said, “I’m still a bit mad…”
Emma just chuckled at Hannah, throwing her arms around her shoulders, “Awe c’mon Hannah, you and I both know you were the one who hurried me over to come here, worried about her?”
At that, Hannah’s cheeks reddened against the moonlight, and approaching their car, I smiled. “It’s really final, right? You’re both welcoming me again right?”
“Yes, Snow. For the millionth time, we forgive you.”Emma rolled her eyes and ordered me to hop in the back seat. Doing what she just ordered me, she then revved the engine of the car, “Now what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
******
There was music I heard just as we entered the school gates. I felt like Cinderella, late to her party.
With Emma and Hannah beside me, we walked towards the event hall with all the stares coming from people around us. Some people gawked at us, and I felt a bit self-conscious about my appearance. Emma just flipped her hair sassily at them, and we chuckled.
“Hey, girls, looking beautiful tonight. Especially you, my Emma.” It was Dax who noticed us first and came to compliment us.
Emma blushed beside me, twirling for her dress, “Thank you, Dax.”
Dax just winked at her, before furrowing his eyebrows at us in confusion, “Oh, are you all fine now?”
“Yes, we finally made up,” Hannah responded.
“Yay, the squad is finally okay now!” Leroy said, “Of course, you’re perfect, my babe,” He said, checking out her girlfriend, and Hannah just hit him lightly in the arm.
“How about you, Snow? Who did you choose?” Dax asked, and Emma interjected, “Let’s not talk about that tonight.” She said, laughing awkwardly.
“I agree.” He replied. Just then, Luke appeared from the crowd and approached me.
“Snow?” Luke called out to me. The squad stared at us in shock, wondering what happened between me and Luke, and looked back at me.
I flashed him a small smile. “Uhm… hi.”
“Guys, we gotta go.” Hannah winked, urging the rest of them to go and give us some alone time to talk.
“But why?” Leroy asked, scratching his head. This made Hannah turn to him with a pointed look on his face, throwing daggers at him.
At this, Leroy gulped and chuckled awkwardly “Oh I remember, I have to do something bye!” He rushed out first, the rest of them following him.
I glared at Hannah to which she returns with a thumbs app, Emma winking at me and mouthing, “You can do it”
As they all went somewhere God knows where they left us alone and we fell in awkward silence. Gosh, way to go. I’m now in an awkward situation. He’s practically… my ex right? It felt like it was just yesterday that I talked with him…
I cleared my throat. One, two, three.
“How are you?”
We both said simultaneously, looking at each other with wide eyes. I stopped, averting my eyes somewhere.
Geez, this is so uncomfortable. It was then I heard something I hadn’t heard for a whole week. Luke laughs. He burst into fits of laughter. I chuckled nervously.
“Go on.” He urged. “Lady’s first.”
I cleared my throat. “Well… uhm… how are you?”
“I’m good.” He shrugged, acting as nothing happened. “You?”
I also shrugged. “Good.”
He nodded his head. “Good.”
“Well… good,” I repeated. What the hell? Are we supposed to say ‘good’ for the rest of the night?
He cleared his throat before continuing, “Well… now that we’re not together… can I say one last goodbye before we part ways?” He asked. “Can I dance with you, Snow? One last time?
Feeling a tear rolling down my cheek, I chuckled at him, nodding, “Yes, Luke. Gladly.”