Chapter 7: Cheap Thrills
|| Carlo
"What? Ate Firenze and Kuya Ryze just got engaged? You're not joking, right?" Adriano asked doubtly whilst driving. I can't blame him, Reign is a big prankster.
"Yes, heck." Reign assured. "I was shocked when they were suddenly talking about a wedding, and Ate Florence is wearing an engagement ring."
"I'm glad that she's going to marry him. They look perfect together." Adriano replied.
We just hopped in Adriano's dark gray Subaru Impreza when Reign spilled this surprising news. Well, we were all astonished about this. Ate Florence and Kuya Ryze have been together for 8 long years, they've been strong through ups and downs and grew together. Who wouldn't want that kind of love? I wasn't expecting Adriano's response though, I thought love was just a chemical imbalance to him, or it was just an assumption of mine?
We were going to Divisoria to buy some spy cameras. Adriano was the driver, I was seated at the passenger's seat, Maryl was seated behind Adriano, Reign was seated behind me and Axis was in the middle seat.
"I didn't know that you like my stupid brother for Ate Florence." Reign told Adriano
"He's such a nice and outgoing guy." he answered "Kuya Ryze would be a great addition to our La Famiglia, to be honest. I was just waiting for the wedding at some point! But it still feels surreal now that it would happen anytime soon." he added.
"Nice?" Reign asked confusingly. "My kuya, nice?!"
"Well, he's your kuya so you know better." he answered.
We drove along BGC, Makati, and Manila. We arrived after 30 minutes. Adriano decided to park his car at Lucky Chinatown Mall for he thinks it's safer there. We all got down and roamed around 999 shopping mall. We came across the gadgets section. We approached the nearest electronics store from our position.
"How much for these spy cameras?" Adriano asked whilst pointing something from the glass, and it surprised the vendors. Or maybe they were surprised by a fact that a man in business casual attire asked them?
"Uhhh sir, that will depend on the style and brand." one of the vendors replied.
"Alright sure. Kindly give me one per each kind." he requested, and the vendor followed.
"Bruh, are you sure you'd only need the cheap ones?" Axis asked Adriano while waiting for the vendor.
Reign crossed her arms and stared at Axis. "Don't you trust Ian?"
"It's not that I don't trust him, but those cameras are of low quality." he answered.
Maryl gave him a glare. "Says the one who wore gray pajamas to Divisoria."
"You don't have the right to talk." Axis mockingly told Maryl. "Meanwhile, you're here wearing denim shorts, a gray t-shirt at black sneakers, as if you're going to a shopping mall."
"Oh guys, we should eat at Jollibee." Reign asked us out.
"Why Jolli--" Axis was about to ask when Maryl interrupted with a warning.
"Don't make her hungry guys."
Axis felt Reign's potential 'hangry' aura, and it seems he doesn't like another round of Batista Bomb. "Alright. After this, let's go straight to the food court." he immediately said.
-----
|| Maryl
I excused myself to the comfort room while some of them are still eating at the food court. I'm a fast eater eh, we all had rice meals and I finished faster than them. I just realized that I didn't eat my breakfast. After relieving myself, I passed one of the cheap gown stores and saw a mannequin displaying a simple midnight blue tulle gown with a plunging v-neckline.
I'm feeling an upcoming engagement party, and this is the perfect gown.
"Excuse me, how much for that gown?" I asked the vendor.
"It's uhhh, 3k ma'am!" the young vendor replied. She was shocked for I spoke in English.
I saw a mannequin displaying a maroon off-shoulder fitted mermaid gown, and another mannequin beside displaying a gray laced 3/4 long sleeve with an asymmetrical skirt.
I pointed those gowns. "How much for those?"
"It also costs 3 thousand pesos, ma'am. No one buys much around this area."
The business is slow here? Hmm... I have to make something about this.
"Along with the tulle gown, I want to check the fitting of those two."
She agreed and took those gowns out of their mannequins.
She handed me the gowns, and took me to the fitting room.
I started with the midnight blue gown. Its color changes from black when in dark, of course. You can't see the blue hue unless you're in a well-lit area. The tulle skirt was detachable and wasn't that puffy, so I could easily wear the gown part. I also noticed the slit on the left side of the gown, I could put a zipper so that I could hide my gun.
It's such an innovative design, why would she sell this for only 3 thousand?
I think it's because no one would pay 25 thousand pesos for this. After all, this is Divisoria.
Oh wait, an idea struck in my mind. I'll make sure to make use of that.
The next thing I wore is the maroon gown. It makes me look mature for I have fair skin. The off-shoulder part can be removed for a strapless look. I would buy this for Reign, I think this would suit her. It may look simple, but it's eye-catching. I noticed the tail part is detachable, so I removed it and wore it on my waist. I also removed the off-shoulder part. Perfect for cocktail parties, I would say.
I attached those pieces in their original places before going to the next one.
Lastly, I wore the gray gown, which actually a jumpsuit in disguise. I would buy this in case of an event that would require this kind of gown, but it looks well on late-night parties as well.
Seriously, I am amused by how high-quality and innovative the designs were.
I wore my casual clothes, hung the gowns on my arm as I walked outside the fitting room. It's not that heavy anyway.
"Who designed these?" I curiously asked the vendor.
She slowly raised her hand and answered coyly. "I designed those, Miss Liu."
I smiled sweetly and tapped her shoulder. "You don't have to be shy. Where do you study?"
She looked at me. "I'm still a senior high school student, who studies at the nearest university from here."
"From what strand or track?"
"Arts and Design track."
Can she accelerate to college? She got some world-class skills!
I took out my business card and 10 thousand pesos from my wallet and gave those to her. "You have potential. I'll take these three. You can keep the remaining change, which is 1 thousand pesos. Feel free to hit me up if you want to enroll at Alexandra University, I'll make sure to grant you a scholarship."
Alexandra University has a system for poor students in order for them to pay less but still get the high-quality education that the university offers, but gifted individuals can be granted scholarships, especially art majors. The guidelines are pretty strict for potential art majors to enter, like the STEM majors.
I saw her eyes gawked with the amount I gave, it seems that her smile is painted on a canvas. "Th-thank you Miss Liu! I'm a fan of yours, and I didn't expect to meet you personally!" and she gave me a hug, and I hugged back.
-----
|| Reign
"You should get the other box later on, the one with a maroon gown." Maryl notified as she entered the car, since I got in first to seat beside the driver's seat, and for Maryl and Carlo to be seated near each other hihi.
"You know I'm not a fan of gowns, why did you bother to buy me one?" I asked.
Maryl closed the car door. "For future use."
Ian looked at the back. "Where is Axis?"
I tapped on his shoulder. "Axis told me he has to buy something, and he might get too long for he left his wallet somewhere. He doesn't want to bother us as well, so yeah."
"Why didn't he text me?" Ian questioned quizzically
"He texted me." and I showed him a staged text on my phone. Staged for I took Axis' phone and used it to text myself. I also deleted the copy of that said text on my phone. I was able to access it easily for this jerk never locks his phone.
"Oh yeah." Ian checked and started instantly so we can get into our homes. Maryl and Carlo were all mute at the back. Oh god, how can I get a godchild with this?!
Maryl will be the one to get out first since she resides at AXU dorm. Before she got down, she was reaching Axis' wallet to Ian, and he took it.
"Axis lost his wallet, right? I saw this here."
"I'll hand this when I--" Ian paused for a second realization. "Will he be able to get home?"
We all looked at each other.
"Should we go back to Divisoria?" Carlo asked us.
"Take me home first guys. I'm feeling so sleepy." I uttered drowsily and was pretending to be sleepy with my eyes and voice
I can feel that Maryl's mind was currently like 'What the heck did you do, Lawreign Ellison?' and just went on the flow. "You guys should take Reign home first before you fetch him. Take care." She got out of the car and took the gowns with her gown, leaving the one she bought for me.
Ian drove me home and he didn't get the chance to say goodbye properly for they had to rush back to Divisoria. Before they did, I took the box that Maryl was referring to. When I entered the mansion, I quickly ran to my room and sat on my bed. I took the two one thousand bills from my pocket, that I took from Axis' wallet. I also took my phone from my pocket and opened the Grab Food app. I immediately ordered 20 milk tea with my two thousand pesos balance in Grab Pay. I was just going to give this away to our maids, butlers, and even to the delivery guy for I'm feeling generous today.
It's pretty easy to grab Axis' wallet from his pockets. I even wonder if he was on his right mind since silk pajamas and Divisoria was such an absurd combination.
And the reason why I took 2 thousand pesos from his pockets? It is a way to lessen his debt since he has a huge debt from me.
After I placed an order, I took Maryl's gown for the fitting...
I noticed that the off-shoulder was detachable so I wore it strapless first. I also wore the off-shoulder to see the whole gown in its beauty.
I turned 360 degrees, posed in front of the mirror, and hair flipped, revealed my legs a bit, and power posed.
"God Lawreign Ellison, you're so gorgeous." I complimented myself and flipped my hair again
It suits me, and I'm glad my best friend has an eye on such things! It looks expensive as well because it was well-sewed, and the materials used are of high quality. Goodness. Kudos to the designer of this gown!
I think I found the perfect gown to wear. I don't have to worry about what to wear in Kuya Ryze and Ate Florence's engagement party, well, if there is.
_____
Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 7: Cheap Thrills • © mxylms
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