The Perfect Outfit

After double-checking all the necessary documents, Kayla leaned back on her chair and let out a tired sigh. Just then, her phone vibrated with a notification.

[1 Instagram Notification: Matthew sent you a message]

[Hey, Kayla! I was thinking... Since you're heading back for enrollment, how about we meet up afterward? Maybe grab some coffee or something?]

A smile crept up on her face. The idea of meeting Matthew in person was both thrilling and terrifying. But she had already decided to step out of her comfort zone.

[Sure! I'll let you know once I'm done with enrollment. Looking forward to it.]

With the plan set, Kayla went about the rest of her day feeling a little lighter. She decided to prepare herself a hearty lunch to distract her nerves.

She rummaged through her fridge, pulling out fresh vegetables, chicken breast, and some spices. Deciding to make herself a warm bowl of chicken stir-fry with rice, she meticulously chopped the ingredients and seasoned the chicken just right. The sizzling sound of the pan and the aromatic scent of garlic and soy sauce wafting through her apartment created a comforting ambiance.

She plated her meal and sat down at the small dining table; her phone placed beside her just in case Matthew messaged again. As she ate, her mind wandered to how their first meeting might go. Would he be as charming in person as he was online? What if their conversation fell flat? What if she made a fool of herself?

"Stop overthinking, Kayla. Just enjoy your lunch," she muttered to herself before shoving another spoonful of stir-fry into her mouth.

After lunch, she cleaned up and busied herself with her enrollment documents once more, as if trying to distract herself with the upcoming meet and greet with Matthew. Hours passed by as she double-checked her requirements and arranged her things for a smoother process the next day, even choosing particular pens and new other supplies to use. Satisfied with her progress, she took a deep breath and decided to reward herself with a relaxing evening.

Dinner came around, and Kayla decided to order something special to celebrate. Scrolling through various food delivery apps, she settled on her favourite comfort food: Japanese cuisine. She ordered a steaming bowl of ramen, some sushi, and dessert consisting of her favourite snack shop's signature Takoyaki and some Matcha flavoured cream cheese boba tea. to indulge herself.

When the delivery arrived, Kayla eagerly set her food on the coffee table, turning on the TV to watch her favourite drama series. The rich, savoury broth of the ramen and the sweetness from the boba tea brought her a sense of peace.

"Hmm... This is heaven." She chuckled to herself, wiping her lips with a napkin.

However, even the delicious meal and the captivating drama series couldn't fully erase her nervousness. Her mind kept flashing back to Matthew's message and the upcoming meetup. What if she messed it up? What if he found her boring? What if he found her not so attractive and pretty like the typical girls?

"What now?" Kayla felt herself on the verge of crying as she overthought countless scenarios in her head; each one worse than the last.

She imagined Matthew looking at her with disappointment, his smile fading as he realized she wasn't what he expected. The thought of him leaving her behind, uninterested and frustrated, made her chest tighten painfully. What if all their conversations meant nothing to him once they met in person? What if she simply wasn't good enough?

"Stop it. Just... relax, Kayla." she told herself firmly.

After dinner, she took a warm shower to wash away her worries. She prepared her clothes for the next day, making sure to choose something that looked perfect in her mind.

Kayla stood in front of her closet like a general preparing for battle. Clothes hung neatly, but not for long. She yanked out a white blouse and held it against herself in front of the mirror.

"Too plain." She tossed it onto the growing pile on her bed.

She pulled out a floral dress next, twirling a bit before frowning. "Too grandma."

The cycle continued—shirts, skirts, and dresses flying through the air like confetti. The room slowly transformed into a disaster zone of rejected outfits.

"Why is everything I own so... ugh!" she groaned, holding up a frilly top that she immediately threw over her shoulder.

Kayla was ridiculously picky about her clothes, rejecting outfit after outfit as if she were auditioning for a fashion show.

She tried on outfit after outfit, standing before the mirror with the most intense, judgmental stare she could muster.

A denim jacket over a simple tee? "Too casual."

A long, flowy skirt paired with a fitted top? "Too formal."

A cardigan thrown over a sundress. "Too... kindergarten teacher."

As the minutes ticked by, her frustration only grew. She stomped her foot, her hair already looking like a tornado passed by.

"This is hopeless! I should just wear a garbage bag and call it a fashion statement." She flopped onto her bed, nearly drowning in the sea of fabric. All her clothes weren't up to Kayla's standards now. Her spirits sank as she looked at the pile of rejected clothes.

But then, something caught her eye. A soft, pastel yellow dress she'd completely forgotten about, hanging innocently at the far end of her closet. It had short, fluttery sleeves and a gentle, flowing skirt that ended just above her knees. Its fabric was light and breezy, perfect for a warm day, with tiny white daisies embroidered along the hem and neckline.

It looked... perfect.

She slipped into the dress and glanced in the mirror, her eyes widening. The pastel yellow complimented her skin tone, giving her a gentle, almost ethereal glow. It was simple but charming; effortlessly fresh and demure, just like she wanted.

A shy smile crept onto her face. "Okay. This is the one! The perfect outfit."

Satisfied with her choice, Kayla treated that pastel yellow dress like it was some sort of sacred relic. She carefully laid it out on her bed, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles like a detective dusting for fingerprints.

She even went as far as giving it a mini pep talk, whispering, "You're the one, the chosen one," before triple-checking for any invisible stains.

Just to be sure, she hung it up like a trophy, making sure it wouldn't get a single speck of dust before the big day. If anyone saw her, they'd think she was preparing for a royal coronation rather than just a casual meet-up.

After the long battle over what to wear, Kayla felt extremely tired from the whole ordeal but was very satisfied with the outcome; she then took a quick bath since she was soaked in sweat after all the chaos, hurriedly applied her night skincare routine with her clumsy hands, and finally tucked herself into bed, her hair still slightly damp, but she was too exhausted to care as she buried herself under the blankets with a satisfied, albeit weary, smile on her face.

As night fell, Kayla found herself lying in bed, staring at the ceiling with a mixture of excitement and anxiety swirling in her chest. What would she say to him? How would he react upon seeing her in person? How should she act? Should she be coy? Or be like Laura? Fierce? Or should she use the gentle approach?

Despite the thoughts racing through her mind, her eyes slowly grew heavy. Kayla eventually drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the day ahead and the possibilities it held.