Love's Tempo

Transformation

Friday, the day I had been waiting for.  I went straight to the salon after work so I won’t have to go home too late. The treatment will last for about 3 to 4 hours so I will probably be home by 9pm.  The hairdresser came, put the solution on my hair. Then waiting time begins. Then they put the curling stuff on my head, then waiting time again.  All those time, I was just looking at myself in the mirror asking what am I doing in this salon and what was I thinking getting a perm.  The stylist then told me I will look Korean when we are done.  I know Korean girls are pretty so that kind of eased my mind.  Then I started thinking about that woman on Kung Fu Hustle with the rollers on her hair and a cigar on her mouth and started getting scared again. Then I realized, she is Chinese and not Korean. I tried to remember the Korean actresses from the KDramas I watched on TV. Hmmm… will I look like Song Hye Kyo?  Or at least, have the same her as she had on Full House.  I am also petite and fair skinned so that might work.  Then the waiting time is over, they started removing the curlers from my hair, washed it then started setting it.  I wanted to close my eyes but oh well, it turned out okay.  That is one big change and I survived.  I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled at the outcome.  I look different, in a good way. I wonder if it is now time to buy new clothes to match my Korean look.  That would be awesome.  

Next step to transformation – buy new clothes. This midlife crisis is turning out to be a savings draining initiative but I am loving it.  The following week, I got my credit card ready to have my fill of new outfit.  I searched online so I know what look I am going for.  At first, I was thinking of purchasing with cash but decided to just use my card so I can earn points that I can use for more shopping. Oh, I’m smart, I know.  I am all for this transformation but I sure will not make this new me project make me broke. That will probably be worse than being bored or having a midlife crisis.  So the shopping journey goes. I ended up buying 5 new pairs of pants, 5 shirts with the same style in white and gray, 2 blazers, 3 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes – 1 pair of white sneakers and 1 mid-heeled pumps.  A lot of the items are on sale so that even works better for me. Can’t wait to wear them in the office.  I wonder what my colleagues will say.  Last week, it was all about my new hair. This week, I don’t think there will be much fuss about my new outfit but they might give a comment every now and then.  It is probably expected when you work in a small company with only 10 employees who had been with you for at least 3 years.  My workmates are almost like family to me.  We spent long hours together and are probably the only friends I have. Most of my college friends either have their own family or are living abroad so it is really just the people at work that I get to hang out with.  We were there when Paul got married. We were also there when Shirmel got her heart broken when she caught her boyfriend for 5 years cheating on her.  It was supposedly a fun event. We were able to complete our 3D design projects for our biggest clients ahead of schedule so our boss decided to treat us for dinner and drinks at the new restaurant in Bonifacio High Street. The place is a bit far from our office which is in Eastwood but we decided to go there… well, for a change in environment.  So Shirmel’s boyfriend probably did not expect us to be there when we saw him with another girl.  He was sitting next to her, they were holding hands and looking at each other in a rather intimate way so there is no denying that he and that other girl are dating.  No one will ever believe those looks were meant for someone he is just doing business with.  So instead of having dinner at that place, we ended up partying at the Valkyrie to join Shirmel in her “I want to forget about it” moment.  Name, it baptisms, death in the family, break ups, reunions, new love, we have shared it with each other like brothers and sisters or bestfriends will do.

In spite the 5 years I have spent working as an architect in this firm, and the seemingly midlife crisis I am going through, I never really considered leaving the company.  They say one sign of midlife crisis is the desire to change career or job, well, one sign that I do not foresee myself having anytime in the future – near or far.  Though I might be needing more than a new wardrobe and new hairstyle.  Probably, I need a new outlet apart from drawing and designing houses. I have always wanted to play the drums when I was a kid but we couldn’t afford it at that time so I ended up learning to play the guitar since that is all we can afford. I even tried betting on the lottery and if I win, I was planning to buy a band set complete with keyboards, drums, electric guitar and bass guitar.  Well, I never won the lottery but since it is almost my birthday, I think I will gift myself with a drum set.