“TRUST is the foundation of strong connections. It’s the unwavering confidence we have in others, the unspoken assurance that we give, without a shadow of doubt.”

 ***

“Finally, I’m home,” Cecilia whispered to herself before heading straight upstairs to check on Senthie. She gently knocked on the door and then entered, calling for her best friend. “Sen?”

Inside the room, she wasn’t surprised to find Senthie asleep, her arms resting on the table and her head nestled on them. She suspected she hadn’t even noticed she’d dozed off, possibly overcome by exhaustion after completing the gown and neglecting to tidy the studio. It was in disarray, with threads, fabric scraps, red fur, and crumpled papers scattered about, even her table was a mess. Yet, Cecilia was awestruck by her best friend. As she approached, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

“She really . . .” Her words trailed off as she fixated on the mannequin adorned in Senthie’s creation. The gown was a striking masterpiece. The top featured a halter turtleneck crafted from red fur, with a see-through red fabric covering above the chest. It sported an off-the-shoulder style, reminiscent of Belle’s dress from Beauty and the Beast, but it was adorned entirely in red fur, dipping low enough to tease a hint of cleavage. The gown flowed elegantly in an A-cut line, maintaining the fur theme throughout.

As Cecilia circled the mannequin to inspect its back, she thought it was exceptionally daring. The back mimicked a backless design, with the see-through fabric extending from the upper back down to just three inches above the tailbone. She pondered how the customer would manage to wear it, considering the absence of a zipper. Curious, she attempted to pull the fabric gently, and to her amazement, it stretched effortlessly.

Her hands instinctively covered her mouth as her admiration shifted from the gown to the peacefully slumbering Senthie. “You’re absolutely incredible,” she whispered.

Rather than disturbing her sleeping friend, Cecilia quietly tidied the studio before gently draping a blanket over Senthie and retreated to her bedroom, calling it a night.

 ~

Cecilia rose early to carefully remove the gown from the mannequin, knowing it was due today.

Before leaving, she left a note on the table for Senthie, who was still sleeping. Her message read, Good morning, Sen! You looked so peaceful asleep that I didn’t want to wake you. Take it easy and trust me on this one. Let me handle it and meet her!

 ~

Cecilia balanced the phone between her tilted head and slightly raised shoulder as she spoke, her voice calm and polite, “Noted, ma’am. Thank you.”

After the customer ended the call, she followed suit and returned to her task. The gown was now neatly folded to fit snugly within the purple box, awaiting its final touch: the lid and a delicate violet ribbon, giving it the appearance of a beautifully wrapped cake. With everything in place, she let out a sigh of relief. “Perfectly done!”

Lifting the box from one corner, she blew out a breath and grinned. “Now, I just have to wait for Sen!”

A few minutes later, a voice echoed through the air. “Cecile!”

Cecilia’s eyes widened, and her attention snapped to her best friend. “Sen, you’re here--”

Her words halted abruptly as she took in Senthie’s disheveled appearance. She was panting, hunched over with her hands on her knees, and she looked far from put together. Her hair was unruly, and she wore the same clothes as the day before: a yellow T-shirt and shorts.

Without hesitation, Cecilia abandoned her spot behind the counter and hurried over to Senthie, who was drawing odd stares from passersby out. She ushered her into the store, effectively shielding her from prying eyes. Once they were inside, Cecilia furrowed her brows at her. “You didn’t change? No shower? Did you come straight here after waking up? Did you even brush your teeth?”

Senthie folded her arms. “That’s not the point here. How are things here? You two didn’t get into another argument? Did you?”

Cecilia blinked, a sly smirk crossing her face. She gently rested a hand on Senthie’s shoulder. “Chill, Sen. Everything is well under control. We didn’t even meet this time; she just called and asked us to deliver the gown to her house.” She pointed at the box. “See? Can’t you find it in yourself to trust me even just a little?”

Senthie let out a sigh. “That’s a relief. I guess I was worrying over nothing.”

Cecilia was well-acquainted with her best friend’s fierce independence. Senthie had always been self-reliant, avoiding burdening anyone with her problems, refusing to seek help, and often handling everything alone. It tugged at Cecilia’s heart to see her this way. She knew that Senthie was determined not to inconvenience anyone, even when she was struggling. Sometimes, Cecilia questioned the depth of their friendship, but she dismissed those thoughts, understanding that Senthie wouldn’t be herself if she acted any differently.

Cecilia playfully rolled her eyes and giggled. “Well, now you can head home and take a much-needed bath, okay?”

With a gentle push, she nudged her best friend toward the exit. Senthie didn’t resist and instead sniffed herself, checking under her T-shirt and even her underarms. “But I’m not smelly.”

Cecilia’s patience waned as she narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth, unable to contain her frustration with her best friend’s obstinacy. “True, you’re not smelly. But you certainly look the part.”

Once Senthie departed to freshen up, and returned to the store, Cecilia wasted no time. She swiftly made her way to the nearest express delivery service with the customer’s gown in hand.

 ~

Kassandra Taylor reclined on a luxurious lounge chair by the poolside, one hand holding a phone, while the other gripped a large cup of strawberry milkshake.

The Taylor’s house resembled a mansion, nearly as grand as the Andersons’. Their family owned the country’s top cosmetic brand, Rebeau Cosmetics.

Savoring a sip of her strawberry milkshake, she casually placed it on the round tray table beside her. On her phone, she scrolled through her Instagram, perusing the likes and comments on her latest post. As usual, her recent photoshoot images had garnered a tremendous amount of attention, boasting over two hundred thousand likes and more than seventy-five thousand comments. Kassandra Taylor wasn’t just a model; she was an international sensation, particularly renowned in Europe, even if she wasn’t as well-known in her home country, the Philippines.

“Excuse me, Señorita, you have a package delivered,” the maid courteously announced, presenting a large box.

Kassandra arched a brow and took a sip from her drink after instructing the maid to open the box. Once the outer box was removed, a purple box adorned with a violet ribbon was revealed. Her gaze drifted over the box, and her curiosity was piqued when she spotted the words Fashion Sen’s written on the side.

“Señorita, it’s another box. Would you like me to open it for you?”

A sly smirk graced Kassandra’s lips as she shook her head. “No, leave it. I’ll open it myself.”

She hadn’t expected that they would manage to complete the gown on time. However, it was that altercation that had prompted her to push for the tight deadline.

Her curiosity about the store had been piqued when she saw it. It was her first encounter with the name Fashion Sen’s, and she found it quite perplexing how an unknown brand had managed to secure a spot in Grand Mall. This struck her as unusual, given her knowledge of how selective and rigorous the Grand Mall Corporation was. GMC typically reserved spots for well-established brands. She knew about this since her family’s Rebeau Cosmetics had to navigate their lease agreement as well. She had been at the Grand Mall opening that day to visit their new branch.

So, Kassandra wondered how had this woman secured a lease contract with GMC. Did she have influential connections? Perhaps, she knew someone with authority at GMC. Or, just maybe, her business had displayed impressive potential. Her intrigue got the best of her, leading to the purchase of a gown for her upcoming 22nd birthday, although it was still a few months away. Originally planning to commission a custom gown from a renowned designer, she decided to postpone that plan and give Fashion Sen’s an opportunity to prove its worthiness of a spot in Grand Mall.

Upon opening the box, Kassandra delicately ran her hand over the gown’s fabric, her fingers slowly gliding until they brushed against the fur. A shiver of excitement coursed through her. She had a deep appreciation for the fur, and Fashion Sen’s choice to craft the gown’s skirt from it seemed like an excellent decision.

She straightened up, drawing the gown close to her body. She didn’t just like the design; she loved it. In her mind’s eye, she could picture herself looking like a seductive princess. A sly smirk formed on her lips as she embraced the gown. She’s a woman of her word, she thought. She managed to create this magnificent gown in just three days, and all I can say is . . . she truly deserves to run her business in Grand Mall.

Kassandra reclined on the lounge chair; the gown still cradled in her arms and the smile on her lips never faded. He really knows how to spot potential in anything.