The New me

When the duration of daylight becomes noticeably shorter and the temperature cools down considerably you'll realize that Autumn has arrived.

One afternoon, Luke visited me home. I was wearing circle lens glasses and put my hair in a bun. My top was big that it hides my shorts. I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it but it has a big colorful polka dots print.

"This…" He froze at the door way seeing me coming down. Even the maid who fetches me has her head lowered in embarrassment.

"Yeah?" I said innocently blinking my eyes. 'At least I'm fully clothe'

"Are you Iris?" He asked bemusedly.

I held myself from rolling my eyes as I told him, "No sir, you've come to a wrong address. Now please leave."I lightly pushed him outside.

He grabbed my hand as he said, "I'm sorry. I won't joke again about your fashion."

Fine then, I won't be petty. "You better not. Come in." I led him inside to the living room.

"So what's the matter?" I asked him as he sat down.

"Here" He put a box on the table. "My mother wanted you to try these cookies, she made it herself." He was smiling as he waits for my verdict.

I took the box and opened it. It was a chocolate chip cookie. I got one and immediately tried it.

"Yum~ so good! Tell her good job." I said stuffing again another one. I was only interested in eating and did not mind him staring.

"Iris." He softly called as I lift one brow.

"They're really good," I repeated.

"You've changed." He said.

This time I paid him attention as I asked, "In what way?"

"In all ways. It's like you were reborn. Now you even like eating sweets when you stay away from it before."

I slowly bit the cookie I was holding while waiting for him to continue.

"And you were an ever so sweet lady that always looks for me. I'm not saying that it's bad. We're still as close as ever, you're still as playful with me as before but now it felt like you're a little lukewarm…"

I still kept quiet as I continued to listen.

"But honestly, I like it more now. Please don't hate me for saying it but you're a little less clingy now, and less delicate. For me personally, I think it's a good thing. At least you won't get hurt easily."

I unconsciously bit hard on my cookie after hearing him say that I was clingy. No wait, he's referring to this body.

"Here," I said extending a cookie.

"What?" He asked dumbfounded with my action.

"Take it. It has chocolate." I said as my hand still hangs on air.

He got the cookie and asked "Yes?"

"Females call it the happy hormones. Brother looked so serious. Eat it to help you lighten your mood." I said justifying my actions.

He chuckled as he said, "This new you is really good, brother is happy."

"By the way, you're coming to the high school reunion right? Last year you did not go. This year, Lily helped arrange for it."

"I'll see to it when I've been sent an invitation card," I said in truth, there was no invitation yet.

"They're just probably late in distribution. I don't even have one myself. Lily just mentioned it with me at the University. And she'll call to inform you I'm sure." He told me.

I stared at him for a moment but decided to let this topic slide. "I'm sure that's true."

"Don't worry, I'll be there" he said reassuringly.

__________________

The reunion is on the 12th of the month and I received the card a day before. Lily also called me that day.

"Riri, you need to come to our reunion. No is not an option, lady." She said from the other side.

"I- I'll see to it," I said timidly.

"Riri, it's just us I promise. I've checked the attendance."

"…"I have no desire to keep this up.

"Please come? Best friends?"She pleaded.

"Sure," I said and the call ended. They only had graduated high school two years ago and they have the brains to go to a reunion a year after? They were just flaunting their wealth.

I checked the time and it was already four in the afternoon. I got up and made preparations for tomorrow. It was regrettable that her diary did not include the things last year and before I came here otherwise I may have known some things.

Well, it's not that hard to take guesses she might've been frightened to recall her school days.

___________

At the place they rented for the reunion, people start to gather at the entrance.

The reunion starts early as they have formal registration of guests. Each graduate can go solo or be with friends or have an outsider as an escort, it goes either way. They have red carpet laid from the moment you step out of your car going to the main door. Beside it, there was a huge wall decorated beautifully for pictorials.

"Ms. He, you've done something wonderful." Greeted by an alumnus.

"Thank you. I've just created something that can help change the mood."Lily said in a sweet soft voice.

"Oh~ so it was personally made. You're really good at it. That's right, I remember during my last year that there was a student recognized by the city government in her early middle school days as gifted in arts. It must've been you." The lady said in an admiring tone as Lily smiled.

But as soon as she turned away, a glint flashed through her eyes. She soon entered the place for the mass and welcoming ceremony.

During this time, I was still at home choosing my dress. As I was concerned about wearing whites; I was choosing between the colored ones.

Knock, knock.

"Yes?" I said to the person at my door.

"Young miss, Sir Luke had been waiting for a while." The maid said through the closed door.

I pursed my lips wanting to say, "So what of it? Let him be." But decided not to because I had called him to pick me.

"Tell him I'll be downstairs in a few minutes," I said and picked the black strapless jumpsuit. It had a tied wrap top with boning and pleated details. Who said I can only wear skirts?