Isis carefully applied her thick red lipstick, pressing her lips together and admiring her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was perfectly styled in a bun, with not a single strand out of place. She gently pulled out a small section of her hair and let it fall into a soft curl, framing her forehead. "This is perfect," she said, her voice filled with excitement.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. She glanced toward it, curiosity lighting up her face. "Who is it?" she called out, still standing in front of the mirror.
"It's Melanie," came the voice from the other side.
Isis quickly walked over to the door, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She opened it with a wide smile.
Melanie's eyes widened as she took in her appearance. "Oh my God! Who is this beauty standing in front of me?" she exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand in surprise.
Isis blushed slightly, stepping back to let Melanie inside. "I look good, right?" she asked, her voice light with excitement.
Melanie grabbed her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. "You look absolutely gorgeous, my dear friend. Stunning!"
Isis beamed at the compliment. "Thank you, Mel."
Melanie tilted her head thoughtfully. "You know what would make this look even better? The perfect dress."
Isis grinned, "I've got it all planned out for tonight," she said softly, walking toward her wardrobe with a confident sway.
"You need to wear something sexy and hot. I know you too well, Isis. You're probably going to pick one of those dresses that cover everything!" Melanie teased, crossing her arms with a playful smirk.
Isis couldn't hold back her laughter. "That's not true!" she protested.
Mel raised a skeptical eyebrow and grinned. "Okay, fine. Prove me wrong! Let's see what you've got in there." She sat on the bed, folding her arms across her chest, clearly waiting to be impressed.
With a shake of her head and a smile, Isis opened the wardrobe. Her fingers brushed through the neatly hung clothes until she found what she was looking for. She pulled out a long black gown and held it up proudly. "Tada!" she exclaimed, showcasing the dress.
Melanie took one look at the gown and immediately burst into laughter. The dress was good but way too modest. It reached all the way down to the floor with no slits or openings. Though the fabric was adorned with shiny stones that caught the light, the gown covered Isis from neck to toe, leaving no room for any skin to show.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Melanie said through her laughter. "You know, for someone who's a fashion designer, you have a terrible taste in picking your own clothes!"
Isis's smile faded into a slight frown as she glanced at the dress. "What's wrong with it?" she asked, looking confused.
Melanie walked over and gently took the dress from her hands, shaking her head with amusement. "What's wrong with it? Everything! You'll look like you're going to a royal banquet, not a party." She gave her a teasing nudge and added, "Step aside. Let me find you something that will turn heads."
Isis sighed but moved to the side, watching as Melanie dove into the wardrobe. She flipped through the dresses, muttering to herself. After a few moments, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Aha! Now, this is perfect," Melanie said, pulling out a striking red dress. The dress was bold and eye-catching, with a plunging neckline and a high slit that ran up one side, showing just enough skin to be classy yet daring.
"This," Melanie declared proudly, holding up the red dress, "is what you need to wear tonight!"
Isis took the dress, holding it up with both hands, and carefully inspected every detail. Her eyebrows furrowed as she shook her head firmly. "No… I'm not wearing this. It's a no."
Melanie raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Then how did it get into your wardrobe? You brought it with you on this trip, didn't you? If you didn't plan to weight it as an option"
"I don't know how it got there. Maybe I packed it by mistake," Isis said, avoiding Melanie's gaze.
Melanie crossed her arms, clearly not buying the excuse. "Come on, you're going on a date, aren't you? Don't you think you need to wear something hot and eye-catching?" She gave her a playful push toward the bathroom door. "Go on, try it on. Let me see how it looks on you."
Before Isis could protest, Melanie gently nudged her into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. "Take your time," she called out with a smile as she walked back to the bed and sat down.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door creaked open. Isis stepped out slowly, looking uncomfortable as she tugged at the hem of the dress, trying to pull it down. At the same time, she used one hand to adjust the neckline, attempting to cover her cleavage.
Melanie's face lit up the moment she saw her. "Now this is the perfect dress!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together in delight.
"I… I can't wear this," Isis stammered, her voice filled with uncertainty. She continued to fidget with the dress, clearly uneasy. "It's too short."
Melanie shook her head and stood up. "No, it's not. It's perfect." She took her by the hand and gently guided her to stand in front of the mirror.
"Look at yourself," Melanie said softly, standing behind her friend. "Don't you see how gorgeous you look?"
Isis glanced at her reflection, her expression still hesitant. "But… I don't like…"
"Shh," Melanie interrupted, placing a finger on her lips. "This is beautiful, Isis. Trust me. You look absolutely stunning."
Isis stared at her reflection for a few more moments. Slowly, a small smile began to form on her face as she gazed at her reflection.
Slowly, she let her hands fall away from her chest, no longer trying to cover her cleavage. She couldn't deny it — the dress looked stunning on her. It hugged her figure perfectly, accentuating her curves, and the bold red color made her skin glow. It wasn't her usual style, but maybe that was the point. Tonight was special. She was going on a date with Barry, and more importantly, she was going to propose to him. A change wouldn't hurt.
With a small, confident smile, she turned to Melanie. "Okay, fine… you win."
Melanie's face lit up with excitement. "Yes!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
Isis shook her head, laughing at her enthusiasm. "You're really something else."
"I know," Melanie said, grinning. She walked over and adjusted the dress on Isis's shoulders, making sure it sat just right. "So, tell me — where are you and Barry going for this big date?"
"Well," Isis began, tucking a loose curl behind her ear, "I made a reservation at one of the top-notch hotels in town… Lu Casa."
Melanie's eyes widened slightly. "Lu Casa?"
"Yes. Do you know the place?"
Melanie shrugged casually, though a mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "Not really… but I have a date there this evening too."
Isis's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "A date?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Who's the lucky guy?"
Melanie chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. "Didn't I tell you? I said I might land myself a big fish once I got here."
Isis laughed. "You're joking, right?"
Melanie winked. "Don't you worry. We might even run into each other tonight." She said and headed towards the door. As she reached for the handle, she paused and turned back to Isis. "By the way, where's Barry? Why isn't he here?"
Isis rolled her eyes playfully. "Would you really want to meet him here?"
Melanie made a face. "Oh, hell no! That nut job? No, thanks. But seriously, isn't he supposed to be getting ready too?"
"He went to arrange the vehicle that'll take us to the restaurant," Isis replied, smoothing down her dress.
Melanie snorted, shaking her head. "Finally! He's actually doing something useful for you."
Isis pointed toward the door, laughing. "Get out!"
Melanie laughed even harder as she stepped out into the hallway, her laughter echoing down the corridor. "Good luck, girl!" she called back.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Isis turned back to the mirror. She stared at her reflection, taking a deep breath. Her hands trembled slightly as she smoothed down the fabric of her dress once more. Tonight had to go perfectly. Everything she'd planned led to this moment — the date, the proposal, their future together.
"what if he doesn't like the propsal?… What if he thinks I'm rushing him?, What if he thinks it's weird?" she wondered, anxiety creeping in. But she quickly shook her head, banishing the thoughts. "No, stop overthinking," she said to herself, determined to stay positive despite the doubts threatening to cloud her mind.
she whispered to herself, "I just pray this goes well."