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"Shit," Uncle Bright mumbled, finally breaking Kailey's eye contact with me. As if it's that intense and awkward and long, Preppy mumbled, being her attitude-filled self, but ultimately, it did not make me want to disown her as a voice in my head.

Please do not think that this is creepy, though. She is. . . purely imaginary. And not serious. Seriously.

Out of my thoughts, I almost gasped at the thought that I just heard Uncle Bright say something. I almost forgot the real life within just seconds. Uncle Bright frowned at his table as if he was utterly disappointed with its nature.

"What happened?" Kailey said, partly turning away from me to face her uncle. "Uncle?"

"Wala rito 'yong designs ko for your gowns," Uncle Bright said lowly, loud enough for me to hear. "Hang on, sis; just continue getting the long gown measurements."

Upon hearing the last word from his sentence—actually, second to the last, I saw him half-walking, half-running again out of the wide opening of the office. Well, yes, it does not have a door, just two big glass panes that guard the walls like they actually function. But it's beautiful!

"I actually wanted to go for fashion design," Kailey said, sighing as she looked at me. "If you can't see it right now, I will tell you, I think it's so fun."

"Kaso?" I asked, not really sure why my reply became interrogative.

"Kaso I ended up taking business administration," Kailey said, sitting down on one of the modernly wooden chairs. By the look on her face, I could tell that she was not that happy with what she chose. Or probably I was wrong and just making unguided hypotheses.

"Are you happy with it?"

"No," Kailey mumbled and forced a smile that only showed sadness. A bit.

"Sorry," I said, looking down.

"Bakit ka naman nagso-sorry?" she giggled, awkwardly, and stood up, as if remembering her task for today. But at least she was happy with this—fashion design or whatever this might be called.

"Wala lang," I said, giggling cautiously looking at Kailey as she comes nearer.

"Remove your hands—"

"Ha?" I burst out cackling at what I just heard.

"No, sorry, sorry," Kailey face-palmed. "Sorry, lutang lang."

Grimacing, I pressed my palms against my cheeks to bring my laughter into a halt. Oh, my goodness. Soon enough, it stopped.

"Actually, I was about to say 'Raise your hands and remove your bra for the next measurement'," Kailey chuckled. "Sorry, sorry. Raise both hands. Arms up."

"Ah, kaya pala," I uttered, raising both of my hands above my head as I giggled again over the "Remove your hands" thing.

"Tawa ka nang tawa, ah," Kailey laughed, too. "Pati tuloy ako, natawa."

Kailey then measured my upper chest, writing down the measurements down the paper. She looked back at me and said, "Remove your bra."

"H-ha?"

"Yeah, we will measure bust," Kailey said, looking back on the paper and writing down more things I do not know about. "Isang measurement lang ang kailangan; it will be quick. Don't worry, follow me."

Naglakad si Kailey papunta sa isang gilid ng office ni Uncle Bright, at agad ko siyang sinundan. When Kailey opened a large door, as if of a wardrobe, a dressing room greeted us. It wasn't as big as those that are portrayed usually on TV, but it was just as pretty as Uncle Bright's office.

"Galing, 'no?" Kailey giggled. "This is a separate room; this door is just, like, another entrance to the dressing room. I was so amazed as a kid. Kahit noong 'di pa 'to totally furnished."

"Yeah," I could only smile. So her uncle has been doing it for years or even a decade, I thought, feeling Preppy's abnormal silence.

"Come on," Kailey said, waving her hand to motion me to come inside the dressing room. Nakabukas pa ang maraming ilaw nito. Damn, ang kuryente nito, magkano?

"Dito ka na matatanggal ng brassiere," Kailey said, introducing me to another door, inside the dressing room this time. A bathroom. "Then you can wear it agad if you don't feel comfortable, you know."

"O-okay," I nodded and entered the bathroom, still shocked by how the interior was composed of grayness yet still managed to be so beautiful. Well, gray is beautiful, Preppy smiled.

Just when I was about to close the door, the moment I stepped inside, Kailey had already carefully closed the door for me from the outside. I just locked it quickly.

"Thanks," I said.

"No problem," Kailey said, and I could feel her waiting outside, so I immediately removed my bra and wore my top back. I tried not to be so amazed with the beauty of the place. I might be wasting her time.

I opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom, calling Kailey's attention. It reminded me of X-rays. I hated having coughs.

Kailey stood up straight from slouching on a chair and picked up the pastel-colored tape measure.

"Arms up," Kailey said and then measured the area on my chest.

"Hala, I didn't know you're flat-chested," she jokingly added, making heat run up my face and ears.

Rolling my eyes, I said blankly, "Edi wow."

"Joke lang," Kailey giggled. " 'Di ka naman mabiro."

"Whatever," I laughed. "Totoo naman, e."

I looked down on my chest, and undeniably, it was. . . flat. Then, Kailey wrote down the numbers again as I laughed again. Hays.

"Pero seriously, sorry kung na-offend man kita, you know," Kailey said.

" 'Di, ah," I smiled. "I mean. . . ewan. Wala naman akong paki sa breast size ko."

Kailey just nodded and giggled, and I did think (again) that I could be wasting these people's time. So I entered the bathroom again to wear my bra again.

"Kailey, ano'ng pangarap mo as a child?" I said as I exited the bathroom.

"I don't know," Kailey looked down as we started walking back to her uncle's office. "Uhm. . . fashion designer, just like Uncle Bright."

"Have you. . . tried designing na?" I beamed as Kailey turned around to face me. "W-wala lang, just wanna see."

"Bakit naman?" she chuckled, looking up at the ceiling of the office. "Why do you want to see them?"

"So you have one! Or more than one!" I exclaimed, jumping a little. "Am I right?"

"Why do you want to see them nga?" Kailey crossed her arms.

"Kasi I always admire how you do everything. . ." I, too, crossed my arms, "perfectly."

"Wow," Kailey grinned, quite taken aback as what I could see. Paanong hindi niya napapansin na she's good at everything she does? Kung ako lang ang gano'n, nako, siguro ay ang saya-saya ko na. Opportunities will be limitless. Or at least more.

"Wala na 'yong mga drafts ko, e," Kailey said, frowning. "N-nasunog."

"Hala."

"Don't mind that at all," she awkwardly chuckled. "It doesn't deserve to be remembered."

Kailey wrapped the tape measure around my waist, around my stomach, and around my hips, probably remembering all the three two-digit numbers all at once before she wrote them down. I remained silent as Kailey continued on with the shoulder area and other measurements. Napaisip ako nang malalim habang hinihintay ko na lang dumating si Uncle Bright, to brighten the atmosphere back again. No pun intended.

Maybe I did not really know much about Kailey. But that was acceptable since we were not this close when we were in high school. But I knew I always wished we were.

By the time Kailey placed the tape measure on the table, Uncle Bright came back, as if on purpose by fate, to make the atmosphere become better. Because honestly, I didn't know what to say or how to act around Kailey by then. The topic of something she like or even love being burned by whomever or whatever. . . is bad. It's passion. And ruined.

"Done with the measurement na?" Uncle Bright smiled, and Kailey nodded as I felt everything becoming alright. "Grabe, I never thought na nandoon 'tong mga designs ko sa kotse."

" 'Yan kasi, matanda ka na," Kailey giggled. "You're already forgetting simple things."

Kailey and her uncle motioned me to sit, and I did. It was good that Kailey wasn't sad anymore. I mean. . . it can be a childish thing to say, I thought, smiling as they just conversed normally, but you know, I am just wishing for her happiness, which is normal for friends to do.

"By the way, these are the designs that I have made for the theme," Uncle Bright said, showing me some of his lovely designs.

"This one," Kailey beamed and showed one design to Uncle Bright. "Can Glenn wear this? Please?"

Uncle Bright nodded and said, "Sure, sure. Tell her."

"Patingin," I said in a childish voice. "Please?"

"Ayaw ko," Kailey chuckled. "Can it be a surprise on the day of the ball?"

"O-okay," I said, unconsciously pouting.

"Trust me," Kailey smiled and gave the design back to Uncle Bright. "You will look even more gorgeous in that dress, babe."

Uncle Bright leaned sideways towards me, showing me all the designs except the one Kailey chose for me.

"Okay, Glenn, you choose what Kailey will wear," Uncle Bright laughed. "Para fair, 'di ba?"

"Yes po," I giggled as I laid my eyes upon something that Kailey would probably hate to wear. Probably. But I would like to see her wear that dress.

"Ito po," I giggled, pointing to the dress with a short turtlenecklike feature and long, fitted sleeves. It isn't something that Kailey will probably wear, but let's challenge her. Hindi naman siguro siya magmumukhang manang.

"High-five, Glenn," Uncle Bright said, giggling. "Good choice, good choice."

I gave him a high-five. This is awesome! Even Preppy agreed.

"Kinakabahan naman ako sa pinili mo, Glenn," Kailey laughed. She moved uneasily on her chair.

"Kabahan ka talaga," Uncle Bright cackled. "Hindi kita nakikitang magsuot ng ganitong style. This will be something new for you, Kailey."

"Whatever you want, Glenn," Kailey chuckled, face-palming as her cheeks turned bright red. "I'll pull everything off the way you want, babe."

And Kailey winked.

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