After that talk with my mother, I realized that what I felt for Uno wasn't love at all. I just felt pressured by the thought that he courted me without my permission. He insisted and so, I thought I felt for him. I was blinded by his two faced facade.
Still, she convinced me to come back to Uno and so, I obeyed her.
"Hello, hubby?" I said while looking at my mother with my hands shaking.
[Uno: What do you mean 'hubby'? Baby, are you—thank you so much, baby. I love you!]
"I-I love you more, Uno."
-
Uno started to treat me well like how he did before. I kinda feel suffocated whenever I'm with him. Many days have passed and I'm still here, waiting for the day that I would finally meet his parents, real parents.
[Uno: Ale, I'm going to pick you up at 5pm.]
"Hmm-kay, hubby. I'll wait for you here." I gently said as I felt sleepy. It's just 3pm but I feel so tired.
"Should we start?" Azhlley queried and get her magic wand, the make up brush.
"Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!"
She curled my hair up and made me wear a robe. I closed my eyes as she obliged me to. The gown I will wear flashed in my mind. I looked like a bride, though.
It was so elegant and that's not my type. It was a white ball gown ending on my toes. It has glitters around it. It's a long sleeve t-squared dress. The upper part of the dress was covered with net ruffles.
"Open your eyes, Cinderella." she said.
"Can you see how beautiful you are?" she queried ecstatically.
"It was kinda blurry. Can you give me my eyeglasses?" I said.
"Oh you shouldn't wear eyeglasses on a ball. That's so awful, Zie. Wear this." she mandated.
"Open your eyes and look up."
She helped me to wear the gown that Uno bought for me. I heard knocks from the outside and so I looked at Azhlley.
"You guys are really excited to see my beauty, right?" I kidded.
"Ha. Ha. Funny, Macky." Kyulo shouted.
"You're so rude!" I said and pouted even if they didn't see me.
"Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!" Azhlley sang and rotated around me while holding her makeup brush.
Lastly, she made me wear glass slippers which made my feet ache. As soon as we finished my look, Azhlley walked out of the room. "Attention! Ladies and gentlemen, Princess Cinderella—Mackenzie!" she addressed.
I laughed at that.
Markian, on the other hand, was only looking at me. Why is he like that? Is there any dirt on my face or...pfft. Of course he wouldn't. Stop assuming, Mackenzie. Stop.
I saw my brother poked Markian but he didn't look at my brother.
"You look… gorgeous." he whispered as he walked towards me.
"And you look handsome as always, Markian." I said.
"Hmm-mm!" My mother cleared her throat and I almost burst into laughter.
"Are you sure you wanted to be with Uno? I-I can be your escort." he presume.
"Of course, why wouldn't I? He's my boyfriend, after all." I answered and smirked awkwardly while looking at the ground.
Sorry if I need to lie, Markian. This is what I need to do, as my mother told me.
Markian was about to say something when a car notified me. Uno's outside. "Markian, hide. Uno will come inside." I whispered.
"Wait. What? Why?" he queried but I just pushed him in my room and walked out. He protested as I left him there but as he heard footsteps, he shut his mouth.
"Good evening, madame." he bowed and offered his hand.
"Good evening, monsieur." I greeted him back.
We walked downstairs and I heard his deep breath. Maybe he's already tired. He should've told me.
He remained silent and so I am. He looked away and cursed while driving. I just sat at the back of his car, patiently waiting until we reached the hotel where the ball was going to happen.
I looked at the rear view mirror as I felt someone was staring at me and I caught his eyes, gently looking at me. As soon as he realized, he focused his eyes on the road, again.
"Yulo really chose the greatest suit that would fit on you." Aunt Gian said as soon as I stepped out of the car.
She glanced at her son from head to toe and smiled, "You've never embarrassed me." she said and then, she laid her eyes on us.
"Oh hi, Macky and Dr. Nueva!" she greeted us.
"Hello, Dr. Hermosa." "Good evening, Aunt Gian." we greeted back.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt you but the event will start on…" her secretary said and looked at her watch, "...5 minutes."
"Thank you, Daphne." she said without removing the smile on her face.
"Let's go!" she invited us and so we walked towards the red carpet.
I can hear and see the flashes that were coming out of the camera. Gonzales Medical is one of the leading hospitals in the whole Philippines. Still, I don't see the point of having a media on a Christmas ball.
We sat on the chairs with our name on it. They served us food and beverages but we haven't started eating yet. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, the long wait is over!" the host raised her hand and then moved it down as a sign.
The music started and the ball as well. Uno offered his hand, once again and so I stood up. I bumped on a lady wearing all black clothes. She's not wearing any dress nor gown. Instead, she's wearing a hoodie and pants.
It doesn't add up to the party. Something's wrong here.
Or maybe I'm just overreacting.
I just danced with Uno. He's holding my waist and he's dancing with mellifluously. He's just smiling all the time. I was just thinking how he managed to be like this, knowing that he cheated on me.
I did realize that my mom is actually here but is not wearing a gown. She's aligned with the camera men. She's a doctor too and her part time job is teaching kindergarten students. She said to the hospital that she can't join the party but she did, she said she just felt something wrong. She looked at me seriously as if she wanted to stop me.
"Hey, Mackenzie." I turned my head and saw Ms. Santos, my former therapist.
"Oh hi, Ms. Santos!" I greeted her back, whispering. We just smiled at each other while dancing with our escorts.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the mistress!" a familiar voice announced.