Falling In Love with Cinderella's Prince

Chapter 5

     “SEE? NAG CHANGE PLAN ATA SIYA. Siguro na-realize niya na mas magandang ako ang ka-partner niya.” Pa-eksaherada at pabebe siyang tumawa upang makita ang lihim na pagka-inis sa mukha ni Cindy.

     Oh dear angel sister, why don’t you get mad? Pero bilib talaga siya sa imahe ng kapatid niya, hindi na ito nagsalita.

     “I’m happy for you, Eunice. Yan din ang gusto kong mangyari. Na kung gusto ka ni Adrian, mas mainam na sabihin niya ng harapan sayo at mag confess siya sayo para mas magaan ang loob niya. Gusto kong nakikita ko kayong masaya.”

     Oh my god, santa talaga itong si Cindy.

     Kinalaunan, sa hapag kainan, sa malimit na pagkakataon ay kumpleto silang nagkasalo na pamilya. Present ang mommy Selinda niya at daddy Martin na galing lang sa isang meeting conference sa ibang bansa. Her mom has a photoshoot as well sa ibang bansa bilang endorser rin ng sarili nilang kumpanya. Kahit pa man may edad na ay looking young pa rin at beautiful ang mommy nila.

     “Mommy, you and dad, need to send me to a fashion stylist,” excited na bungad ni Eunice. “Im gonna attend the prom with Adrian.”

     “You mean that boy, Janice’s brother?” ngiti ng mommy niya.

     “Indeed,” she giggled. “Mom, I need to wear the best dress. Fashionable but elegant at the same time, I’m thinking something like red? I need to be the prom queen.”

     Napatikhim ang daddy nila, napansing tahimik lamang si Cindy. “How about you, Cindy?”

     “I’m okay dad, I wont attend the prom. I’ll practice for the piano recital maybe, and I have some paintings to finish.”

     “Oh my, Cindy, you have to attend this prom too.”

     “Meron pa naman po next year mommy,” matipid na ngiti ni Cindy.

     “I guess no one asked her,” kibit-balikat ni Eunice. “That’s right, there is next year, and next year, dapat mas maganda ang gown ko.”

     “How about your schooling, Eunice? How is it?” Martin asked Eunice.

     “I think I’m doig fine dad. I’m the highest in the class.”

     “Very good,” tango ni Martin. “I will like it that you would focus more in your studies, it will benefit you.”

     “Oh hon, minsan naman ay kelangang mag-chill ng mga dalaga natin,” aniya ni Selinda na hinaplos ang kamay ni Martin. “They’re growing so fast, look at them.”

     “Speaking of, I might need a new phone,” ani Eunice. “I need to take great selfies for the prom,” nag-pout si Eunice, bilang paglalambing. Nakita niyang tinitigigan siya ni Cindy na na-shock saglit.

     “I guess we just bought new a year ago, sweetie, is it not working anymore?”

     “It is, but it’s really outdated,” ani Eunice.

     “We will think about it,” reply ng papa niya. “These phones, they are just liabilities by the way. How about you Cindy, do you have anything that you requested?”

     Eunice rolled her eyes, bakit pa kelangan tanungin si Cindy?

     “Um, it’s okay dad, kumpleto na ang gamit ko. But maybe like a set of brush only will do, if that will do on my birthday.”

     Her mommy Selinda giggled. “Oh, it’s your birthday soon, anak. Glad that you mentioned.”

     “But no big parties, please mom,” ngiti ni Cindy. “Just being with the family is enough for me. Okay na ako.”

     Eunice then rolled her eyes, nawalan agad siya ng gana sa pagkain. For everything that she asked for, all she received were vague replies, habang si Cindy naman ay pinipilit na tanungin kung anong gusto nito.

     “I’m gonna go upstairs first,” aniya at napatayo.

     “Me and your dad will talk about it, but we will surely want for you to wear a nice dress, sweety. Lalo na at partner mo si Adrian.”

     Her mom briefly kissed her on the cheeks. And she smiled. Halata na gusto ng parents niya si Adrian at magaan ang loob ng mga ito sa binatilyo. Nakabisita na ang pamilya ni Janice sa kanila at magkasundo ang pamilya nila. Even her dad Martin has a particular liking to Adrian and has complimented the boy a lot of times.

     When she is at her room, busy sa pagkuha ng selfie si Eunice. Gusto niyang malaman kung ano ang best makeup para sa kaniya, she also tried waltzing around her room and prying around the jewelries that her mom has gifted her. Talagang excited siya sa magiging prom nila.

     Kinabukasan ay nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula sa mommy niya, sinundo siya sa school at sinamahan siya nito sa isang fashion stylist. They had fun taking a look around the dresses and the textile. Kinuha ang sukat niya at napaluha siya saglit ng malaman na patatahian siya ng prom ball ng mommy niya. Her mom told her that her mom’s prom ball is special dahil kasama nito ang daddy niya noon.

     All those days, habang hinihintay niya ang prom ay busy siya sa beauty care routine niya, may Korean facemask siyang nilalagay bawat gabi at mga mamahaling cream at lip balm para moisturized ang lips niya.

     Hindi naman niya namataan na si Adrian sa hallway o sa campus. Ang sabi naman ni Janice ay okay lang ang kuya niya, may inihanda ring tuxedo ang parents nito at prom dress para kay Janice.

      Until that night, the prom night arrived. Their mansion’s door opened at iniluwa doon si Adrian.

     Adrian who is like a white prince, neat and handsome and charming. Naka white tuxedo ito at red necktie, match sa red sequined prom dress ni Eunice. The prom dress revealed her collar and accentuated her feminine jawline and elegant beauty. She was model-esque and bejeweled.

     For a moment, Eunice thought that Adrian was amazed at her. He curtsied beside his father, asking permission politely. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang mommy niya at halatang kinikilig. And Cindy her angel sister? Probably locked in her room with her boring life.    

     When she alighted from the stairs ay magalang na inabot ni Adrian ang palad niya, leading her out the door. Inabot ng mommy niya ang pouch bag niya na may laman nang hinihingi niyang latest phone. An early advance gift in the coming holidays. She felt loved and felt the universe is conniving to make her dreams come true.

     Nang mapalabas na sila ay iginiya siya ni Adrian sa kotse nito. It was a black Porsche na pinahiram ng parents nito, but soon it will be Adrian’s possession as well, dahil tanging ito ang tagapagmana ng negosyo ng pamilya nito.

     Once they are seated, pinaharurot ni Adrian ang sasakiyan.

     “W-where are we going?” singhap niya ng mapansing hindi naman patungo sa school ang nilalakbayan nila. “And where’s Janice by the way?”

     “I already sent her to the ball. Umuna na siya,” matipid nitong reply. “And for us, for you, let’s say that we will have a ball on our own, Eunice. A prom you will not forget.”