Chapter 19: Shopping Time!
I walked to the right then I noticed Serah wasn't walking. She just lookedat me with confusion.
"Serah?" I asked.
"Um, where are you going?" She asked me. What? More like what she's doing?
"Um, heading to the mall?" I answered then she laughed, putting her hand on her mouth.
"We're not going to the mall, silly! We'll go back to the park!" I didn't know why, but I just went with her.
She's the one who'll help me anyway. When we caught sight of the park, she ran ahead immediately. When I saw where she was, she was stooping down on a car's window, talking to someone. She turned then waved at me. I ran after her, still feeling puzzled.
"Get in!" She went inside then patted the seat beside her.
"Um, this is yours?" I went inside the car and asked her quietly. I thought it was hers because the car's color was light blue. She liked that color.
"Well, yeah. But I still don't know how to drive so my dad hired a driver for me." Woah. I didn't know that she had a car?
"Oh. Thanks for the ride, by the way.. Um, where are we going?" I asked. I couldn't see where we were because of the black screens on the windows.
"We'll go to a gown shop of course! They also do customs there!" She said. Wait, i think I don't have enough money for that! I looked nervous.
"It's alright! It's all on me!" It's like she read my mind.
"R-really? Th-thanks.." As much as I want to, I couldn't refuse because she really wants me to go to the ball.
Soon, the car stopped and Serah got off. I looked around and saw many classy shops around us. I didn't know where we were but the place looks beautiful. I saw Serah walking towards a shop filled with fabulous gowns and dresses. I just followed.
"Good morning! How may I help you ladies?" A saleswoman approached us.
"Umm, we're going to a Royal Ball-themed event." She smiled as she explained, while I just stood there, watching her without knowing anything to do.
"Oh, that's nice! Please, follow me." The woman smiled and escorted us to another room full of grand gowns.
"Oooh! Tabi-chan! Feel free to look and try on something!" She started running around, admiring and picking gowns.
I smiled and looked around. I was amazed by the place. It was so big and peaceful. I started to walk to an area with gowns with shades of green. I always liked the color green because I think it suits my hair. As I walked around, someone approached me.
"May I help you, miss?" She asked.
"Um, yeah. I don't really know what suits me so, could you help me pick something out?" I asked.
"Sure! I assume, you like a gown with the shade of dark green?" She could tell because I was in that area.
"Yes."
"Very well, then.." She walked and let me follow her.
"This would be very nice and elegant! Green velvet cloth, turtle neck, fit long sleeve and puffed on the upper arm, dark green lace ruffles for the bottom and a black corset with a ribbon by the chest. Like this?"
"Um... I think it would be too hot.. And too grand.." I said.
"hm... Not Too hot and not too grand... This! Forest green silk, Closed neck, backless, white ruffles at the center of the top and layered bottom! Please do try it on!" She clapped her hands then some women went to her.
"Let this young woman try this dress out!" She said.
"Um, I don't have to tr-" they pulled my hand to the dressing room and closed the curtains.
Two women helped me try the gown. They were around me, doing some fixes. Later, they opened the curtain and I saw myself on the mirror. I slowly put my hands down then turned around. I smiled. I really liked it. I ran my hands through the bottom part and I felt uneasy on it.
"Um, I like this but I think It would be better if the skirt was simple." I told them.
"You heard her!" the woman said then closed the curtains.
They removed the current dress I was wearing then brought in another one. As they opened the curtain, I saw Serah looking at me with a smile on her face. I heard comments like 'amazing, beautiful, perfect,' stuff like that. I turned my head to the mirror.
"Wow.." I said.
The gown was so pretty. It was a dark green velvet and the top had the same style with the second dress. The neck was closed and backless. But the design was different. Instead of white ruffles all the way down to the hips, it had black ruffles from the neck part like a handkerchief when eating. The center had a corset-like look and the ribbon tied just bellow my chest. The skirt was simple, but I loved it. It was just a flowing long bottom with a slit at my right. Every time I turn, or walk, the skirt would just flow by my movements. This was the dress. But, how much was it again?
"We'll take that for her!" Serah said.
"Good choice miss. This would be ¥120, 000." The saleswoman smiled. O-one hundred... Twenty... Th-thousand... That's too much!
"We'll take it! I'll just have to pick mine then I'll pay!" She smiled like it was nothing.
"S-serah-chan! That's too much! I can't accept that much-"
"No! I want you to look beautiful in that ball! Please accept it! You're late right? Just take it so we're even!" What? That would just mean I owe her more! Man.. This is just too much.. But, alright. It's her decision.
Later, she has decided on her gown. She bought a light blue silky gown. It has long sleeves with ruffles by the end and a bit pleated at The beginning of the skirt. I didn't seeher wearing it though. I just saw it when she was bringing it in her hands. My gown has arm accessories with it. It was like an arm warmer with holes for the fingers but with lace cloth. Serah ran towards the car and put her gown at the back. I just followed. After putting them in, she grabbed my hand and ran off to another shop.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To buy shoes, silly! You can't go to a ball with just school shoes you know?" We stopped by the shop's entrance. I gulped.
"Sh-shoes?" That was my nightmare all about.. High heels..
Serah went inside then went to the stiletto area. I just sat on the chair near her, watching her fit shoes. Those shoes were scary. It looks like it could just break within a step or if you just hit it with a rock or something.
"Go on! Try some shoes!" She said.
"I don't like those kind of shoes..." I said.
"Oh, these? Then you should be around that area! They are high heels too, but it's much safer to wear! The bottom is just like normal shoes. Their flat and still. No need to worry." She pointed.
I smiled at her then slowly walked towards the area where she pointed. When I reached there, a pair of shoes caught my sight. The heels were pale flesh and looks like a native rope design and the decorations were black criss-crosses and had a closing above the ankle. I reached my hands out to the pair of shoes and took it from the rack. I sat down and removed my shoes to try them on. As I locked them on, I stood up. I felt comfortable wearing them. I looked at the mirror and it looks great. I walked around, trying to test if it hurts. After I removed them, I felt relieved because it was different from my dream. Later, Serah went after me holding a shoe box. I think she's picked one already.
"Oh, That's what you like?" She smiled.
"Y-yeah."
"It looks good! Let's take that." She called out someone for help then soon, the sales person came back with a shoe box.
She handed it over to me then we went to the cashier. She took the box and asked me to wait outside. I feel shy and thankful to Serah that she's paying for me. but somehow, I feel embarrassed by it. I was already late, and yet she pays for the expenses. But honestly, I couldn't pay for myself either. She went out then put the boxes at the back of the car, together with the gowns. Again, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to another store. This time it was a jewelry shop.
"I don't actually need jewelry Serah.." I said.
"No! Your look wouldn't be complete without jewelry! Besides, we'll only need earrings. We can't wear anything else like necklaces and bracelets because of our outfits! Don't worry. I'll just pick something for you. Think of this as a friendship gift!" She said.
I just smiled at her. She's given me many gifts already.. i was just standing somewhere near the store entrance as I watched Serah pick earrings. Soon, she went towards me and handed me a small box with a cute ribbon on it. Like a small present.
"Here. Don't open it until you wear it at the ball okay?" She said. Well, I'm really gonna go. Now that she's bought me shoes, an outfit and earrings.
"Okay.. Thanks Serah-chan."