Wedding dress

The next morning, Lina was woken up early by her mother to get ready. She was informed that the other women of the family are already on the way to the dress shop. And that there is so much to do and they have to rush since Henry is picking her up at noon.

Groggily, Lina got ready and got into the car with her mother. Thankfully the twins went with the others so the ride to the shop was quiet and peaceful.

They were driven about 30 minutes into a plain white square building. It looks like a white box. You can't see any windows from outside so it looked kind of cold and unwelcoming, like a warehouse. When they went in, she was pleasantly surprised that the inside is very different, its cosy and homey.

As expected, the whole place is empty of other people except for her entourage. Lina being seen just entering this place will start a gossip, what else if she was seen trying on dresses inside.

"Hey there bride to be." Jenny welcomes her. They hug a bit and like before she starts filming anything, Jenny asked her "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I guess I am." She was then whisked inside a dressing room covered by heavy velvet curtain all over with an elevated section in the middle. There's a red velvet curtain separating her from her entourage.

All the women are very happy and buzzing with good energy, even in her place where she cant see them, she can still hear the excitement in their voices. Before entering the changing room she saw that they had all sorts of snack and drinks ready for them. That must be the clinking she's heard. Her mother and stepmother love their sweet wines.

The designer, Shayla, who she has never worked with before as she specializes in wedding dresses was there to welcome her and help style her. She pointed out to the dresses picked by her family for her to try on all hanging in a nearby rack. Its all different from each other. Some lacy, some with sleeves, some are poufy and some downright not her style.

There's a lot to go through. Wheew!

Shayla was also nice enough to let Lina try the dresses Jenny brought in with her made by other designers which she said she can alter herself if needed.

"Let's get started." She tells them and picked the dress closest to her. Maybe she'll like them once it's on.

That didn't happen.

And after the fifth dress, it still didn't happen. She still haven't found a dress she like.

At that point she's wearing the sixth dress with an illusion neckline, mermaid cut, white dress made entirely of lace. It's very pretty but she doesn't like it. Her family tells her it's pretty but even they are not sure about it.

"Let's try another one." Jenny said, as the shop staff pulled the red curtain closed.

Lina took a big deep sigh. Her nerves are starting to rattle her, she can't eat, can only drink a little. The truth that she's going to get married in two days just started to sink in.

"Can you give me a few minutes please?" she asked Jenny, taking deep breaths, when she started picking her a new dress to try.

Understanding her predicament, Jenny agreed, "Sure. Wear this robe first and walk around or something."

Shayla thought that Lina's not happy because of her designs so she of something. Lina followed Shayla out and they entered the next room where she gave her a big look book to see more designs.

"Maybe we'll get an idea which style you prefer from this." She sat down with Jenny and started flipping through the book.

They were half way through when Maria and Grace came in. "The others are going around the shop to look for more dresses. Did you find something you like?" Maria asked her daughter.

Lina gave up when she reached almost near the end of the book. Stood up and shook her head.

Jenny, continued browsing the book. Lina was nonchalantly looking over her shoulder until she saw a dress in the page that Jenny just flipped over. For that picture, it wasn't modeled by a person. Its just a picture of a dress still in the dress form mannequin.

"Wait, I want this" she tells Jenny. She flipped it back to the right picture. The designer and the mothers came closer to look at the dress she liked. It's an alabaster colored, either made of silk or taffeta fabric, princess cut dress. Its an off the shoulder simply designed dress, no bling on it, only some beautiful draping that reminds her of a gentle wave of water hitting the shore. It looks structured but flowy at the same time.

Shayla was taken aback when she saw the dress, it's an old design, maybe a few years back and it wasn't that popular to the Seiliu's rich and famous, who prefer the extravagant designed dresses, so it didn't even go in production except when she first designed it. She hurriedly informed Grace, "Madam, it's an old dress so we don't have it on stock to be tried on."

"I don't have to try it on. I know I like this one." Lina said.

"I'm not sure if we…" Shayla started but was cut off.

"Make it for her." Lina heard being said behind her by a familiar voice. She turned around along with everyone to see Henry standing there.

"It's noon, we have to go." He simply said to Lina.

"Jenny is here to help you with the measurements. It can be done, right, Shayla?" Grace asked Shayla, waiting for the designers confirmation.

"Of course Madam. We'll do our best." Shayla nervously agreed. The Wu's are known to be very well mannered and kind to others unlike other people of the same caliber in whole of Seiliu. She doesn't want to be the first one to know how they react when they get upset. Losing two nights of sleep won't kill her and her staff, she decided. They can all take a holiday once its done because they will all be well compensated.

With that decided, Lina went in to get changed into her clothes and went out to meet Henry standing with her family. She bid everyone goodbye and walked out with Henry. Right outside the door is a luxury SUV 4 wheel drive car.

Henry opened the passenger door for her and went around to get into the driver's seat.

"I guess he is driving." Lina mutters to herself. She initially thought they won't be alone, that they will be with a driver and John or Sam, or even Wang. Now she feels awkward sitting in the car in silence with her soon to be husband.