XOXOXO

"He's really doing it. He's stripping," J whispered. Her voice was slightly quavering, as if she's been turned to a mass of nerves ready to spill out all over the floor. It's really tough to be able to hear someone whispering in a room full of squealing women but I heard it, probably because the words mirrored my thoughts to the T at that moment. It's either that or I've suddenly developed auditory superpowers.

Before we move on to the actual scenario itself, I'd like to tell you about the things that have transpired earlier that day, which has led J and I into that particularly uncomfortable moment.

J and I met at Festival in Alabang at around 10:20. M was late, as usual, because she had to take her mother to the parlor. She arrived at the opportune time when J and I were already discussing whether or not we should add another bottle of wine to the five bottles nestled quietly in our yellow shopping cart. We included other necessities and vetoed the additonal wine bottle and deposited everything in the car.

We had a quick lunch at Old Spaghetti House then we went on our way to pick up the cake and the Maki that J prepared for the night's event.

Doesn't the Maki look delicious? We chatted with J for a while. She couldn't tag along because she had to undergo dental surgery the next day. After some time, we took off and headed to Astoria Plaza in Ortigas.

We were so proud of ourselves, and of M, especially, because she was the designated driver that day and we didn't get lost.

Here's B (Bridezilla) on the rampage who, minutes ago, was beside herself with rage because she just found out that the rooms we were going to stay in were not the ones she reserved.

So instead of leaving the hotel, we just decided to make do with the room given to us, which was not bad, really. It had two separate rooms, a small common room, a dining area and kitchen. And all this, we had for the low low price of P7,000!

We settled in and got things ready and fixed ourselves up as well.

The theme was supposed to be all Gossip Girl-y and that was a shame because I didn't know anything about that show because I've never thought of watching it. Thank God the other girls were too broke to shop for outfits or else I would've looked like a set PR.

At around 8pm, our first guest came in, a college friend of B's.

By 815, we were getting worried that no one else would come. It wasn't raining or anything but since most of the guests would be travelling from Laguna, we were wondering if we'd be doomed to entertain just one guest.

Then at around 847, the others came.

On our way to Astoria, I thought up some questions for the test that we asked B to take. I asked S, her betrothed (hahaha that sounded soooo pompous! eyelavit!), to answer them first then we'd just check if B's answers were correct. And she got 8 right out of 13 questions! It was a hoot!:D

It has been said that no bridal shower that's held in the 21st century would be complete without inviting a stipper over. We didn't want to come off as total squares, so we invited one. Actually, I sort of suspected that this sorry party was just an excuse for us to actually see a stripper because we were all raised to be good, polite women, ever-conscientious of her place in society and dammit, we deserved to at least see one grind and gyrate to bad music.

I really expected it to be like, a totally interesting experience but it was just downright funny, and humiliating, and, at times, boring. But the man was gentlemanly enough to apologize to each of us afterwards. No, I will not post the "juicy" details in this page because we did vow that what happened in Astoria would stay in Astoria.

I was so distracted by my dismay that I forgot to take pictures of him. I wonder now if that's even allowed.

But laughing about it afterwards and sharing our different, erm, experiences was worth the ghastly-ness of it.

To B, because your life will never be the same again. The road you will be travelling will not be an easy one and there are times when you will want to rethink things. Remember what I always tell you -- trust yourself.

I hope you and S have a blast. Here's to life; here's to optimism!;D