The Glow-Up Gamble
1115 Words
"Then what are you doing? Sightseeing while perched on the railing?" the man asked sarcastically.
"My veil was blown away by the wind. Because of you, I couldn't retrieve it. My boyfriend left me on our wedding day. Even my veil has abandoned me," said the girl as she walked towards the seat where she left her belongings. The young man watched her and noticed the items she had with her.
"Let me guess. You were also kicked out of your cabin. Did your boyfriend replace you with someone else?" the young man said as he approached the girl. The girl looked up at him.
"They are using my cabin. The cabin I paid for. They are honeymooning there now. Ironic, isn't it? My money, but others benefit from it. Do you know I spent all my savings on this day? I thought this cruise wedding would fulfill my dreams. Instead, it's where everything fell apart," the girl said, wiping away her tears.
"Why am I even telling you this? It's not like you can do anything about it," the girl said, standing up and attempting to take her suitcase, but the young man suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Just like that? You're leaving, accepting your defeat?" the young man asked.
"I'm sorry to say this, but do you even see me?" the girl said. The young man looked at Abigail. "You've been guessing what happened to me. Why don't you guess the reason why the guy I like replaced me with a girl he just met today?" Abigail continued. The young man then looked at her face and slowly took his hand to her face, removing Abigail's glasses.
"What are you doing?!" the girl exclaimed in shock as the young man suddenly broke her glasses.
"You don't need these," said the young man.
"What do you mean I don't need these? I can't see properly without my glasses," the girl retorted.
"Stop complaining and follow me," the young man commanded, grabbing his suitcase and starting to walk ahead.
"Wait," the girl called out, chasing after the strange young man. But because it was dark, and she was without her glasses, she stumbled and fell.
The young man quickly turned back to look at her.
"You are a piece of work, you know that?" he said, returning to the girl, helping her to stand, and placing her hand on his arm.
"Who do you think is the reason I can't see properly?" the girl asked.
"You are taking too much. Let's go," the young man said, and then led the girl away. Abigail was astonished when the young man took her inside a luxurious cabin that seemed three times larger than her own.
"You have other clothes besides your wedding dress, right? Go change," he said, pointing to the bathroom.
"Why did you bring me here?" the girl asked.
"It's my cabin. Do you seek revenge?" the young man inquired.
"Revenge?" Abigail repeated, confused.
"Just change your clothes. I'm in the mood to give your boyfriend a lesson," the young man declared. Abigail looked at him, bewildered. Why would he offer his help? Was it because of the story she shared earlier? Who was he to show her such kindness? Was she about to be deceived again?
"Don't look at me as if you're doubting my intentions. You're probably wondering why I'm doing this. I have no particular reason, but I can't just sit around and do nothing while someone like you is crying on the sidelines," he explained.
"Let's just say this is my charity work, and you're my chosen beneficiary," he said, his voice tinged with enthusiasm.
"You're too kind-hearted. Thank you." the young woman said.
"You're being sarcastic," the young man said, laughing. The woman didn't respond; instead, she took some clothes from her suitcase and headed to the bathroom. The bathroom's interior seemed out of place on a cruise ship, which made her question who this man was and why his cabin was so opulent.
"What are you wearing?" the young man asked in surprise when he saw the woman's outfit as she emerged from the bathroom. She wore a simple blouse and skirt, which made her look quite ordinary.
"These are clothes, the only ones I brought with me. Is that bad?" the woman replied. It was one of her more decent outfits, but the young man seemed unimpressed.
"You think your boyfriend will take you back in that outfit?" he remarked.
"What can I do? That is all I have—" Her words were cut off when the young man suddenly pulled her out of the cabin.
Her astonishment was profound when he escorted her to a salon on the cruise ship. Unbeknownst to her, such a facility existed onboard, complete with an array of dresses. It seemed as though they had stepped into a fashion boutique, or so she thought.
"I have a very challenging task for you," said the young man to the staff who approached them, drawing their gaze.
"It seems this isn't the place you were meant to visit," remarked one staff member, causing Abigail to frown at the comment.
"I've heard you're excellent. Prove it to me, and if you can make her the most beautiful woman tonight, I might become a regular," said the young man.
"We'll take care of it," they assured, escorting the young woman away. Meanwhile, the young man offered a simple smile, strolled to the sofa, sat down, and started flipping through a magazine, awaiting the completion of the young woman's makeover.
The young man couldn't help but be amazed as he looked at the woman before him. She looked completely different from the girl he was with earlier. Her hair was neatly styled, and she had replaced her broken glasses with contact lenses. The pink gown she wore suited her perfectly, adorned with beads on its off-shoulder design.
"What do you think, sir?" asked one of the staff members. "She has a natural beauty; she just doesn't know how to showcase it," they remarked.
"I like it," the young man said, approaching the lady. "You are beautiful," he expressed, unable to hide his admiration for her beauty.
"Why am I dressed like this? Where are we going?" the lady inquired.
"There's an auction at the casino. I'm sure your boyfriend will be there. Wouldn't you like to see his reaction when he sees you dressed like this?" the young man suggested.
"How do you know he'll be there?" she questioned.
"I just know it. Now, don't ask any more questions; let's get going," he said, placing her hand on his arm and leading her out of the boutique.
- Writer
