BFF 2nd To The Throne

I woke up very early that beautiful day in early fall. It's probably the first ever in a very long time. I haven't done it since the boy went to college. I had to fix breakfast and pack lunch early for the mister and I, plus the ensemble of the day isn't a pair of old jorts, vintage shirts, and sneakers anymore. I had to fix my face and hair, and dress up in office clothes.

You see, it was my first day on a new job. I just got hired as a new marketing manager for a luxury Italian fashion brand with its US HQ near Rockville.

I was scared and on top of that, I am also nervous. I had a hard time swallowing my coffee earlier. It's been over 20 years since I worked in the corporate world. From the time we moved from the Philippines two decades ago, I've never been employed and just concentrated on parenting my two children. They're adults now and are out of the house.

I wore my new midnight blue velvet double breasted blazer and matching tapered trousers over a thrifted pink Gucci pussy bow button down top. I also wore, for the first time, a pair of diamond stud earrings that the mister gifted me a day after I got offered for the job.

That suit? It was love at first sight when I saw it at an online boutique. The mister told me to buy it. Afterall, this will be my first suit after how many decades. I told him I don't want to spend that kind of money, but he secretly bought it while I was asleep. I was so surprised when it arrived the other week.

I also chose a vintage burgundy eel skin large open tote. I was so happy to find a burgundy suede T-strap kitten heels too at DSW, a shoe store at the mall the other Saturday.

Gee, I was dressed to the nines that day. I scoured all my favorite online shops, consignment shops, and thrift stores in our town for weeks for this new choice of wardrobe.

I walked towards the subway. By the way, I had one ear bud on and was listening to Encyclopedia Botanica's podcast from last year about gardening. It was about fall vegetables and when to plant them.

Didn't really mind the other early commuters until someone called, "TITA!"

For my non-Filipino readers, Tita is Auntie in English but also used to call someone older close to you, like the mother of your friend or friends of your parents. It's disrespect in Filipino culture to call someone older by their first names.

I kept walking.

"TITA LILI!"

I looked around and saw Vince with his girlfriend. She's carrying a baby, maybe about 8 to 10 months old.

Vince is Yna's BFF second to the throne. Sammy, her best friend from elementary school is the first. It's been probably 3 years since we last saw each other but I've never met his girlfriend. She didn't look happy when she saw me. But she willingly handed me the baby when I reached both of my hands out signaling her if I could carry him.

The baby wore a two piece off white Velour baby track suit. It matched with the color of Vince's knitted crewneck long sleeves.

"Where's your mommy?"

The baby pointed to Vince's girlfriend.

"Where's your daddy?"

...and the baby just ignored what I said. So I asked for the second time where's his mommy. Again, he'd point to his mommy. But when I'd asked about his daddy, he would ignore my question again. Vince and I would just laugh so hard when he'd do it.

He was teasing his father.

Our meeting was quick because I feared missing my train. I didn't want to be late for my first day of work.

Vince didn't introduce me to his girlfriend, and even forgot to tell me if his baby was a boy or a girl. I only noticed that the baby looked exactly like him. I presumed it was a boy. I also remember his girlfriend never cracked a smile the whole time.

I walked faster as I could. I heard the train coming, and I still have to run down a long flight of stairs.

Oh sh*t!

I tripped just as I was about to step down on the last two steps of the concrete stairs.

Then I opened my eyes and felt the mister pulling my big toe. He had his hair fixed already, and he wore his denim button down JCrew long sleeves that I freshly ironed the night before. He was ready to go down in the kitchen for our morning latte.

It's the last Thursday of September. It's almost 10 a.m.

I was so chic in my dream. Wished I could keep the clothes I wore that day, including the blinding huge diamond stud earrings.

By the way, I don't have a new job, but I have been employed part-time for four times since we moved to America 20 years ago. I have been planning to listen to Enclopedia Botanica's podcasts, but have not done it yet.There is no subway in Rockville. But Vince is a real person, and it's true that he's the young lady's best male friend, but not her BFF second to the throne. Hehehehe. It's also true that he has a girlfriend that I heard about from the young lady. I've never met him but only from across the street when he dropped the young lady at home one time. We follow each other though on Instagram. I've never met his girlfriend too, they don't have a baby, and he doesn't call me 'Tita.'

What a crazy dream!