CHAPTER 20 (2)

" Too bad I wouldn't get to see her reaction, " I said.

" Yeah. I wanted to see that too. But that was one sexy dress she has. "

" Well, no more now. " She chuckled.

" Yeah, speaking of dresses, have you got one for the party ? " Bryle asked.

God, why was she so excited about the party ?

" Um . . . no . I don't have any, " I said, a hope swelling inside of me.

I could use the dress excuse to back out of the party.

" I knew it. So l am lending you my dress and you will wear it to the party. No questions, no thanks, and no " you're a lifesaver, Bryle " because I know I'm awesome. "

I rolled my eyes at her. Well, there goes my hope.

" I was not exactly invited to the party. I would be crashing it then. And I don't want to do that, " I tried again.

" No no no. I've got that covered. I've told my friend that you'll be coming too and she was fine with it. " I sighed. No matter what, I would have to go.

" Okay. " My eyes opened to reveal the familiar surroundings of my room.

But there was too much light here.

I quickly shut my eyes again, the amount of light unbearable.

I blinked a few times and my eyes adjusted to the light.

I tried to remember what happened and the previous day burst into awareness.

It was Saturday. I rolled over, eager to feel my soft bed on my back, but I was greeted by nothing but air.

" Aah ! " I screamed as I fell down from the bed on my back.

l quickly got dn My back hurt.

My eyes drifted to the clock on my bedside table and my eyes widened in shock.

It was nine in the morning.

What happened to my 5 am wake up policy ?

I had to be at the café before ten !

I quickly grabbed some clothes and a towel and went into the washroom.

I quickly brushed my teeth, getting rid of my morning breath.

I showered quickly and made myself some toast and omelet.

After breakfast, I picked up my bag and locked my apartment.

I walked towards the café.

When i pushed open the door of the café, Mrs. Lee smiled at me pleasantly. Bryle was sipping on her favorite cold coffee and she looked up and smiled at me.

I returned her smile.

" Why are you two young ladies so up and early on such a lazy Saturday morning ? " Mrs. Lee asked us.

She had a magazine in her hands and she looked up at us from behind her big, round spectacles.

" Nothing. We wanted to help you with the work at the café, " Bryle answered way too quickly and Mrs. Lee narrowed her eyes at her. Bryle was never a punctual person,

I was. Me being here early on a lazy Saturday morning was no surprise.

However, Bryle being here early on a lazy Saturday morning was just not normal.

" Spill , " She ordered. Bryle gave her sheepish smile and shook her head.

" It's really nothing, Mrs. Lee. We like to help you. mean, with your old age and all, it's a wonder how you manage this café so well. "

" Okay, " Mrs. Lee rubbed her palms together.

" Enough with the buttering, Now you. " Mrs. Lee pointed a finger at me,

" tell me. Are you going on a date or something ?

Don't be shy. Tell me who he is. " She pinched my cheeks.

" Is he cute like you ? Come on, don't be shy . "

" It's really nothing. Bryle wanted to attend her friend's stupid party and she's dragging me along, " I told her.

" And so you two want to leave early for that. " Mrs. Lee stated, completing the story for me.

" Yep, " I confirmed. Please, Mrs. Lee, don't say yes. Say no

. " Alright. You two can have the evening and Sunday off, " She stated finally.

Nothing happened the way I wish it would. How great.

" I have to go and visit my grandnephew anyway so the café would remain closed. "

" Really ? ! " Bryle squealed and she ran up to her and hugged the life out of poor Mrs. Lee.

" Thank you ! How old is he ? "

" He's two months old. And you two deserve a holiday. You work so hard at the café. Go and have some fun. Live a little,"

Yeah because we were the living dead right now. Zombies.

" You're the best, Mrs. Lee ! Thank you so much ! " Bryle said, visibly excited for the party and I rolled my eyes at her childish excitement.

The rest of the day flew by quickly.

Being the start of the weekend, it was quite a busy day. It would even be more crowded in the evening.

I hoped Mrs. Lee could manage.

I offered her my help again, not to escape the party, but genuinely concerned about her.

She was old and everything, so I hope she would be able to do everything.

Though Nick, another worker under her would be with her. At last, the ancient, slightly rusted clock showed that it was already way past six.

As if on cue, Bryle emerged from behind the counter.

" Come on. We can go now. We have to get ready for the party. " I groaned at the mention of the party but nevertheless we headed out of the café.

I would be getting ready at Bryle's place because she had the dress and make up.

i was going to take a big risk and trust Bryle with my appearance because I was too illiterate in that field.

We entered Bryle's apartment and went straight to her bedroom.

She opened her closet and began rummaging through it to find a dress suitable for me.

She had a big closet. At least bigger than mine.

Not too small, not too big but fairly decent.

" Ah, " she exclaimed as she pulled out a black dress off of the hanger. I stared at the dress.

It was something, and it was beautiful.

" Wear this. It would look really good on you, " She said and handed the dress to me. I nodded, taking it from her and making my way to her bathroom.

I slid into the outfit and walked out of the bathroom. Bryle looked up from whatever she was doing to look at me.

She smiled and nodded her head in approval.

" You look great. See for yourself . "

I turned to look at the mirror. I looked good.

" Thanks for the dress. It's beautiful, " I said to Bryle.

" We're not done here. There's still make up and hair remaining. "

" Okay, " I agreed, knowing that my unskilled hands would probably turn myself into a clown.

I rarely dressed up or put any make up on.

It wasn't that I didn't like doing it, it was just that I didn't know how to no matter how much Bryle taught me.

Bryle made me sit on a chair facing the mirror and started to curl my hair at the ends.

She left my long and straight hair loose on my back and pinned some hair on the front behind my ear and away from my face.

She then started doing the make up.

Apart from the lipstick and mascara, I didn't know what the other things were but I did remember her mentioning something called blush, lip gloss and eye liner.

She was done with my make up in quite some time and then she started with her own.

After half an hour, she walked out of the bathroom looking drop dead gorgeous.

She was wearing a tight red dress with a small slit revealing her thigh and a deep neckline.

" Let's go. We're ready, I guess. "

" Yeah. " Bryle slipped into her red high heels and I wore my three inch black heels that I was probably wearing for the first time.

" It's going to be so much fun. l can already tell. " I nodded at her unenthusiastically.

I just wanted to get this over and done with.

Little did I know that the party I was about to attend was going to change my life forever.

For better or for worse, I could only guess.