AS Mia expected, her mother was very happy when she told her about the cotillion and that she and Erik will be partners. Nana Rosita immediately asked her to go to some prom dress shops so she could immediately find something to wear.
"Nana, isn't it too early to look for a prom dress? The prom is still a month from now," Mia said as she and her mother go out of the gate.
That's when she heard her Nana Rosita spoke. "Why not? I do not see any problem with that. In fact, by doing it now, you can have the chance to choose a better dress. I’m sure all the beautiful and affordable will run out if we didn’t do it now," she replied so Mia decided to keep quiet.
They are near Mrs. Ramos’s variety store when Mia saw Erik's mother, Aurora.
Erik's mother is beautiful and has a white complexion as well. But his father looks more like her classmate, especially in his eyes. And those are the eyes that her classmate inherited.
"Ma'am Rose, where are you going?" Aurora asks as soon as they came near her.
That's exactly what happens when she and her mother go out, they are always showered with greetings from people who know Nana Rosita. In fact, all the people there knew her mother because it was in this place where she was born.
"At the dress shop. We need to find something that Mia could wear to their Prom," her mother answered directly.
That's when Erik's mother's eyes flew to him. "Erik did mention to me that he and Mia are going to be partners for the cotilion," she said with admiration in her eyes. "He also mentioned to me that the motif of what you're going to wear is burgundy. That's perfect because I have a dress in that color. And I think it will suit Mia, Ma'am Rose," Aurora said looking back at her mother.
That's when her mother looked at her with a smile. "Really?" Nana Rosita said to Erik's mother.
Aurora nodded consecutively. "Come inside, I'll get it," she said before entering the gate of their house.
It was the first time Mia had entered Erik's house, so it was normal to feel a little lost. They were first asked by Aurora to be seated in the living room and then she prepared something to drink before she left them to go inside the room and get the dress she was talking about.
Mia immediately stopped drinking orange juice when Erik's mother came out of the room with a beautiful dress.
In her entire life, she had only seen such a beautiful dress, and even though she had never worn it or even touched it, she knew that it was made of expensive materials, so she was sure that its price was no joke.
"This dress is perfect for you, Mia. Your beauty and fair complexion will stand out even more," said Aurora while the certainty of what she said was in the tone of her speech. "Come, let’s do some fitting," she said to her.
That's when Mia spontaneously turned to her mother in a way that was as if she was asking for her approval. When Nana Rosita nodded that was the moment when she stood up to fit the dress. And Aurora was right in what she earlier. That dress is so beautiful. And just now she can tell herself that on her wedding day, she wants the wedding dress she will wear to be like this, only the color will be different.
Right after she left the room, a handsome face entered the house that immediately made Mia's heartbeat faster, it was none other than Erik who at that moment was carrying a ball while his face was sweaty. He obviously comes from playing basketball.
"Erik, son, look, doesn't this dress of mine fit Mia perfectly?" Aurora to her son Erik who seems to have just come to his senses because for a few moments he was stunned to see her.
"You're beautiful, Mia," Erik answered instead, causing intense redness to her cheeks.
That's when Mia bowed her head. Not only because she wants to hide her blushing cheeks but also because of the intense shyness and discomfort that she immediately felt.
"Am I right? Do you know that this is the same prom dress I wore? I won Queen of the Night during that time, so I'm sure the same will happen to you. And since it doesn't fit me, I want you to have it. Keep it, okay? I'm sure that apart from me, you are the other person who will suit this dress well," said Erik's mother who gently stroked her long hair afterward.
"Really, Aunt Aurora?" asked Mia in disbelief then smilingly turned to her mother who was just watching her with a smile. Lastly, she glanced at Erik who remained where he was standing earlier.
Erik's mother nodded when Mia turned her eyes to her again. "Of course, keep that for when you have a daughter already you can also make her wear that," Aurora said kindly.
"Thank you very much, I promise I'll keep it," that was true inside Mia.
"Thank you, Aurora that even though this dress has sentimental value to you, you still gave it to Mia," her Nana Rosita said.
"Oh, don’t mention it, Ma'am Rose. Mia is very kind and responsible. Anyone would not think twice to help her," Erik's mother answered.
It was only a few moments before she and her Nana Rosita said their goodbyes. Aurora even walked them to the gate. The young man kept looking and just followed her with his gaze without saying anything.
Mia wants to think that just like what he said earlier. He finds her beautiful. But she doesn't want to nurture such thoughts in her heart because she doesn't want to expect something.
But deep inside, she knows that the wonderful thrill is still there because of the fact that Erik's mother gave her the dress she can wear to the prom. And she can't help but smile when she remembers what he said that apart from that, that dress would fit her well.
She is very happy, but she can't tell her true feelings to anyone. Not even to her mother. Because she believes that when she does that when she opens up to her mother about what she really feels for Erik which has been in her heart since then, it might just be a way for her feelings to deepen even more.
And she doesn't like that.
It's better to keep everything a secret. After all, she is good at keeping secrets. That's what she will do. She prioritizes her studies so her attention and time will be more focused on those.