I was busy braiding my hair when I heard a knock on my door. Instead of turning around, I looked at the mirror in front of me and saw Ate Sam peeking at me.

"Are you ready, sis?", she asked and I nodded as I returned my eyeglasses where they belong. I heard her grunt and stomped as she approached me, "use the contact lens. And what's up with the braids? That is so old-school!" She giggled and undid my braids.

"Atee! Hindi ako sanay na walang eyeglasses!" I protested as she gently removed my eyewear from my face. I blinked and she shook her head. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit sa ating dalawa, ikaw ang malabo ang mata." She said and combed my medium long hair. Her eyes travelled to the curler in front of me and immediately used it.

"Ate! Anong plano mo?" I asked in horror as I remembered how we used to play with our hairs when we were kids.

Ate Sam had used Mom's curlers and did mine. She wasn't sure how to use it so my hair got burnt and had some split ends later on.

Luckily, may kilalang hairstylist si Mom and had it treated. After a few cuts here and there and a brazilian treatment, it grew back beautifully.

"Tigilan mo ko, ang tagal na nun. Besides, marunong na ako!" Ate Sam snapped and rolled her eyes at me.

"A-ate..." I feigned my astonishment but deep inside, I am excited.

She's right. She does know what she's doing.

Ate Sam is an epitome of a successful career woman with confidence on her face. She knows what she wants and her judgment is always right.

I have to give it to her. She's always there for me to back me up.

I really am lucky to have her.

"Voila!" She exclaimed as soon as she was finished. I gasped when I saw my face.

Gone was the teenybopper look of mine with the sexy waves I had. She also applied light make up on my face and I am thankful for it.

"Girls. We are leaving in an -" Dad said but his words hung in midair when he got to see us in my room.
"Mga anak ko ba kayo? Oh my goodness! Mga dyosa!"

Ate Sam and me looked at each other and laughed. I stood up from my chair and we both raced to Dad to hug him.

Dad may be strict to both of us but it doesn't change his charming and goofy attitude inside the home. He always finds things in a positive light.

No wonder, the people loves him and convinced him to run again this year as the town's Mayor.

"-ano ba naman yan, anong or-" it was Mom's turn to see us inside laughing at Dad's funny antics.

"Mama! Si Papa oh!" Ate Sam complained as Dad begun to ruffle her hair. "Ang tagal-tagal kong inayos tong buhok ko eh!"

"Dad naman! Male-late na tayo!" Mom stomped her feet as she approached us in a tight group hug.

"Eto namang misis ko. Halika nga, pa-hug muna!" Dad chuckled and soon, we are wrapped in each other's arms.

"Tama na! Tama na! My dress is getting wrinkled!" Mom pouted and we pulled back with smiles on our faces. "Ang wala pa sa sasakyan in 10 minutes, magkocommute papuntang Alta Hotel!" She announced and ran out of the room in her heels.

"Maaa!" Me and Ate Sam both shouted in protest. Thankfully, we are both done with ourselves.

"Wait. Let me snap a photo of us, sis." Ate Sam said and we had our mirror shots, smiley faces and wacky snaps. "Come on, ayoko magcommute ng naka-dress! Besides, coding ako!"

I giggled and grabbed my black clutch before we close my room.

In a matter of twenty minutes, we are on our way to the Town Gala.

The Gala is held every year for businessmen and the town's important people to be acquainted with each other. Also, their offsprings are invited, most especially, the next in-line or successor of their own companies.

I have to commend the organizers of this yearly event. Everything was splendid and fully decorated.

"Okay ka lang ba sa contact lens mo, sis?" Ate Sam asked beside me.

"Ayos lang, Ate. Hindi lang ako siguro sanay." I smiled and blink as I held on to my bag.

"Dala mo naman eyeglasses mo, hindi ba?" She asked and I nodded again. "Gamitin mo na lang pag ilang ka na. Baka mahirapan ka naman pag pinilit mo."

"We're here!" Mom declared and Dad got out of the driver's seat to open Mom's door and escorted her out. "Thanks, Dad." She smiled and I sighed. Those two can be really sweet and romantic whenever they want to.

"Tara na, Sis." Ate Sam said and we went out of the car.

"Good evening, Madame." The ushers greeted us as we entered the posh lobby of the hotel.

Like any other family, we had our photo ops before we entered to the main hall.

And then, I saw him.

I couldn't imagine he would be attending here.

He always told me before that he despises going to formal events like this.

But he's here!

My cheeks warmed up when our eyes met.

Should I say hi?

Or let him make the first move?

Sino ba naman ako para lapitan niya?

I'm just a nerd in eyeglasses in school.

Did he noticed me?