Chapter 2: BLACK

The party will happen tonight. It's been a week since the two has met and sealed their little business proposal. Serene had already informed her boss in the bakery that she has other plan for the day, and will just work on her day off this Sunday to cover her absent.

She took off her apron and pulled the gloves out of her hands. The flour was all over her pants and shirt even she had securely covered her body with the apron. Serene was not an expert in making bread. She has no other option but to act like a professional baker at the baking space. She was a fast-learner so she never find it difficult to make a perfectly baked bread just after weeks of working there.

“You are leaving early?” Tanya, one of Serene's opposite number asked after she noticed that Serene was packing her stuff now on the locker.

Serene zipped her bag and hanged it on her shoulder. “I have some important matters to do. I'll takeover my day off instead. You know I needed some extra income.” Tanya cannot help but to pity the woman. Serene has been working hard since she met her.

“I hope the best for your uncle,” Tanya sincerely asserted. Serene smiled and gave Tanya a quick embrace.

Serene left the bakery and went straight to her rented apartment which is just a walking distance to the bakery. She left Virginia a few weeks ago because there is so little job opportunity there. She has no other choice but to seek for another job, even she has to spend money for renting a small apartment. She decided to stay in Brooklyn instead. Her uncle was still on the hospital and currently undergoing examination before they proceed to the operation. Sydney had transferred the money shortly after the meeting. The total hospital cost was 500 dollars, and Serene's plan for the excess money is to pay it to her balances, debt and loan so she wouldn't think about duedate and calls from the bank.

She headlong to her small apartment unit, a size of a storage room. She has no new dresses or clothes to wear, all are worn-out and old. Serene closed the creaking wooden closet after taking a white shirt and track pants. All of her jeans are used up, and she has no time to do laundry. In fact, Sydney will provide her everything, so she doesn't need to worry much.

After taking a quick bath on the only bathroom of the apartment building, she headed back to her unit and wear everything she took on the closet. She tucked in the shirt after noticing that she looks like a hip-hop star without styling it. She wear a pair of old tarnished sneaker, and went right off to the white-stained mirror to check her out. Her hair wasn't really curly. She got it from her mom. There were few little curls on it but its wavy in general. She didn't forget to wear her large eye glass. Her eyesight was fine, but normally her eyes get easily irritated with dust, so she used it everytime she work, and it becomes an extension of herself. She just used on wearing one, and felt weird when she doesn't.

She took her shoulder bag with 5 dollars on her purse and began walking down the street. Sydney will fetch her in front of the Souvenir Boutique. The party will start at 7:00 PM sharp, and she have to prepare early because she need 15 minutes for her flight to Vianca Island.

Serene stopped at the meeting place. The weather was perfect today, so there a lot of people strolling around Brooklyn. She expected heavy traffic.

Sydney was at the back seat of her Mercedes. She aren't driving it because she doesn't want to ruin her newly polished nails. She immediately saw her friend waiting in front of the boutique. “Stop!”

She rolled down the window and wave her hand to Serene. “Hop in, Sere.”

Serene had noticed the black mercedes slowing down towards her. When the window was rolled down she immediately saw her blonde friend, asking her to get in.

It's been years since she last rode a luxurious car, but the memories was still fresh. Serene walked to the other side of the car and opened the door of it. She took the seat next to Sydney.

“Did you get some beauty sleep?” Sydney asked while giving her friend a disappointed look. She texted Serene last night, that she has to sleep 10 hours to condition her skin, but looking at the haggard face of Serene, she doubted that.

Serene sighed, and shook her head. “I can't sleep that much because I worked until 10, and has to woke up early.” Her pale skin and eyebags say it all. Sydney just didn't respond on that topic, and open a new one.

“Well then, the make up artist will come at 4:00 PM, so we have two hours for dinner and dress shopping. Don't worry I told our personal designer to bring all her signature designs on our house, so we will just shop at my house. I will make you the most beautiful girl on the party,” Sydney excitedly enunciated.

Serene can feel the excitement of Sydney, but she couldn't feel that hype. The car started to move and went steady to the mansion of Jacobson. It was just a 20 minutes drive from their meeting place. Serene had already visited the Jacobson's house before. It was large like the mansion she used to live in before. When the car stopped in front of the house, the two headed down. Serene couldn't help but to be mesmerized on the design of the house. It was renovated three years ago so the exterior was way more better than the last one she saw.

“Let's go,” Sydney beckoned as she headed first to the house. Serene followed. She was a bit embarrassed to step her dirty sneakers on the tile floor.

It was a palace size. The walls and floor was shining yellow, and the big classical windows shows off their wealth. They climbed to the staircase and stopped at the first door on the left side. She pushed it opened and Serene saw Sydney's room for the 9th time now. It was different from before, maybe because it was included in the renovation. It becomes larger and more spacious. The gowns are already there when they entered the room. There were about 10 racks of gown. The stilettos and heels were organized in a ladder style. Different type of mask were also hanging in a separate rack.

“This is too much,” Serene blurted. It is a brain torture to calculate all the expenses. She couldn't understand why Sydney has to make this effort.

Sydney folded her hand and smiled. "I just wanted to bring the best of you tonight. Do you remember the day when I got robbed?” Serene glanced at her friend who was teary now. “I was so devastated because the culprit took my purse, my phone, my card, car keys, money.. Then you approached me and offer me a Jollibee burger and told me your driver will pick you up, and that you can drive me to our house. Others might just laugh at me that time, so I was embarrassed to ask a help. I was so glad that I met you Serene. This is so little compared to the sincereness you always offered me.”

Serene couldn't help but to be teary as well. She had no other friend in junior high except Vanna and Sydney. Serene came closer to her friend and hugged her tightly. “I'm always thankful that I have you too.”

Serene let go off Sydney who is now wiping the tears on the edge of her eyes. “Uh oh, this is so dramatic.”

Both of them laughed. “Okay let's move on from the drama and let's pick the best dress for you.”

Serene nodded while smiling. The both of them circled the racks of gown. Serene just let Sydney pick a gown for her because she doesn't trust her fashion sense.

Sydney took four of the best gowns on each rack and presented it to Serene. The maroon fitted dress made of soft fabric was a great fit for Serene, but she doesn't like its revealing back. They tried another gown. It's yellow and has shining beads all over the edge of the gown.

“My chest wouldn't match this one,” Serene said while examining it on the mirror.

“Oh, I love this. Try this one,” Sydney excitedly said and show her another dress.

Serene stared at the black dress Sydney showed her. It was simple yet glamorous, and not too much revealing. It's back has cross straps and the slit was in a proper height. The cup of the gown suits her preferences and her skin will match its color.

“I-I preferred this one,” Serene pronounced still mesmerized. She love the dress, and can already imagine how it looks like in her.

Sydney couldn't help her smiles. “Try it now so we can adjust the size if it doesn't fit you.”

Serene nodded and the two of them headed to the dressing room. Sydney owns a dressing room where she fit her dress without bother. Sydney helped Serene on putting the gown on, and they both exclaimed when they saw how it perfectly blend on Serene's body. Serene looks so elegant with the dress, and her skin color was highlighted by the gown.

“You maintained your curbs well,” Sydney complimented.

Serene was still starstrucked with the dress, but she agreed about her curbs. She had a great body, yet she doesn't show off it much.

“Let's eat first before we proceed on choosing your heels and mask,” Sydney said while helping her friend take off the dress.