the whole thing wasn't as horrendous as i expected. i slimmed down pretty fine for the event FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK! bouts of backing out (from the negativity around me, e.g. dad rejecting it TOTALLY and my expenses, and the goddamn gown) did not dissaude me to attend peach's debut... well, it's the first time i took part in one anyway, and i don't want to disappoint one of my closest friends. in rewind, i went to peach's house to practice the cotillion number... we did fine, except that we had to do one thing a lot of times and so we stayed quite late. on saturday morning, i fitted my gown (which was ugh, ill-fitting last monday) and thank goodness my semi-starvation (and occasional sit-ups) paid off, though it was still a little tight on the hips. i had to carpool because dad didn't want to drive (thanx bern for saving the day! =D). there were the three of us in the car (plus bern's bro), and i was real happy to meet my closest friends (seatmates too!) after such a long time. we crashed in the scene about a half-hour after the appointed time but nothing was happening yet... it seemed that there were some minor tensions and stuff, but everything cleared up as our regal debutante entered the room (an hour later... *burp*) ...it was great to see her on her night, and though there weren't a hundred people who showed up (due to the late notice), we still had ways to make the night memorable.

minutes later, nervousness arose when the cotillion was called to do the dancing... and fuck -- i hate crowds, and fuck -- i don't remember the steps anymore! (there was no more refresher dance as it was supposed to before the program.. too bad!) and so we made a fool of ourselves before the spectators with the wrong phasing, wrong counts and wrong turns... it was a big fiasco! we managed anyhow with the remaining bit of insanity to make it look all dandy... as we did the 'exit' we were all goofing around... my partner (we almost 'coincidentally' have the same name, hem hem!) told me to "let it all out!", and when he waltzed me off to the exit, i couldn't drag my feet that fast (i'm stuck in my icky gown, duh) and so i was HOPPING sideways! imagine a jumping waltz! it was too funny (i wonder how i looked like!) and everyone was just laughing at our "klutz waltz". so much for that.

the next anxiety came when the emcee called out the "18 candles". since i was the last (it was alphabetical), i coolly hanged around (without a care in the world!), BUT BECAUSE I WAS LAST, people EXPECTED much of what i had to say. all i had in my mind was "happy birthday! may you be successful!" or something to that effect... i wracked my nerves when my name was called (don't fuck up! don't fuck up!) ... and so i said what i felt was good to say... "happy birthday anniline! from the years we've known each other, there was never a time where you weren't generous and caring to me... thank you for the friendship and the love... may you attain all that aspire to be... a woman of style, grace & substance..." (cliché ending!) ... and when i thought my piece was over, peach requested, "sing two lines of norah jones' "don't know why"... for me..." well...ok. i put on my most norah-esque jazziness right on the spot. at least i did fine. =p

when the night was over and we had the function room to ourselves (most left already), the monstrosity came and siib, some 15 of us were having a CAKE FIGHT! the poor cake was salvaged by savages and started rubbing off the sticky sweet icing on unsuspecting victims' bare skin (me!) it was dirty but outrageous! everyone was taking a shot at someone across the room. attacking the hair, arms, coats, gowns, aargh! we had a hard time washing off the mess at the girl's cr, now UNISEX CR, since the boys were also washing the ditzies off (water flowed more in the ladies' loo)... damn, a night of celebrating womanhood was still decked with so much childishness! we departed at 1:20 am, and rich suggested that we take a sip at starbucks... though i wasn't keen at the idea, i had to come with them... who's gonna take me home? gladly enough, i had dough to spend on a caffé mocha. surrounded by a good atmosphere and seven friends, i was amazed that a lot of people was still all over the joints. (hey, it's the weekend baby!) 2 a.m. and the place was still buzzing as if it's only the break of night. we had a fun time, telling stories and jokes and sipping warm coffee (which made me a little awake). then the thought occurred to me that "HECK, I SHOULD WORK HERE!" to beat my boredom! anyways... it was around 2:40 when we finished, and i had to take another carpool home since bern's car was full already. (thanks arvin!) it was the late-est night out i ever had. arriving home at 3, my parents were still awake (as i expected), though the latter incidents of my sneaking-out was unsuspected. whew! i spent two hours talking to my mom about the night, and my dream summer job, which is on tuesday's post...

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