Opposites Attract Love

Unexpected Gift

It was already past midnight when Sarah finally closed the door of her office. The only source of light now was the street lamps illuminating the empty road ahead. The chilly breeze made her shiver, so she hugged herself tightly and tucked her hair behind her ear. She started to walk towards the bus stop, her steps echoing on the quiet street.

When she arrived home, she saw her parents still wide awake, waiting for her. Sarah felt a bit confused since she had already told them that she would be coming home late because of work. Nonetheless, she was greeted with warm smiles and her mother’s invitation to sit down for dinner.

“Take a seat and I’ll prepare your dinner.”

Sarah's stomach grumbled as she caught the whiff of the savory chicken soup. Her mother placed the hot bowl on the table, steam rising from its surface. Her father, however, interrupted her from taking the first bite as he brought up an event.

"By the way Sarah, has the Arellano informed you already about the events for tomorrow?" he asked, his tone hinting at something important.

Sarah raised her eyebrows, her spoon hovering over the bowl. "What event?" she asked, confused.

"Oh... they haven't told you yet," her father continued, his expression cryptic.

Sarah's mind raced with possible scenarios. Was it a work-related event or something personal? She couldn't tell. As her mother interrupted, Sarah let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the momentary distraction.

"Let her eat first," her mother interjected, a smile on her face.

Sarah's father gave her a nod, allowing her to enjoy her meal without further interruption. She eagerly dug into the chicken soup, savoring each bite, but her mind was still preoccupied with what her father had mentioned earlier. What was this mysterious event, and why hadn't the Arellanos informed her about it yet?

Sarah finished her meal, feeling full and content. Her mother then went into their room and came back with a paper bag and a box. Curiosity piqued, Sarah asked what they were for.

“Open it,” her mother said with a smile.

As Sarah unwrapped the white see-through cloth from the blue dress, her eyes widened with admiration at the sight of the dress. The fabric was a soft, delicate shade of blue, and it had tiny white flowers embellished on it that added a touch of elegance to the dress. The flowers were so small, they almost looked like white dots on the blue fabric.

The dress had a simple, yet elegant design. It was a sleeveless dress that had a fitted bodice that cinched at the waist, and then flowed down into a loose, flared skirt that fell just above her knees. The fabric of the dress was light and airy, making it perfect for a summer evening event.

“Wow, it’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.

“Did you buy this?”

“No, honey. It’s from Arellano.” Her mom answered.

As Sarah heard her mother's reply, confusion and suspicion clouded her mind. She couldn't understand why the Arellano family would give her a dress. She was well aware that her parents couldn't afford such an expensive garment.

She narrowed her eyes and asked her mother,

"What? From them? Why?" Her tone was laced with suspicion, wondering what the Arellanos' ulterior motives could be for giving her the dress.

“Tomorrow will be your engagement with Melvin Arellano and the Arellano wanted you to be beautiful on that day since there will be a lot of press.” Her father said.

“What?” Tomorrow?

I knew that this is gonna happen, but I'd never thought that it’s gonna be sooner, dad.

“They’re a family of businessmen Sarah, everything should be done quickly. The sooner the better, since both of you agreed already, right?” He father continued.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just worried about what my co-workers might say about this," Sarah said, her voice tinged with concern. "You know, I've worked so hard for my job, and I've given my all. I don't want them to misunderstand me."

"You've already said it, Sarah," her father replied with a reassuring smile. "You've worked hard because you love to give your best in everything, not just because you might become an Arellano someday. You've been like that since you were young, and I know that your co-workers will see that."

The words of her father were full of assurance and cleared all the worries she had in mind as he looked at her and patted her head.

"Okay, go ahead and check what's in the box," he continued.

As she opened the box, she saw two pairs of light blue shoes embellished with sparkling Swarovski stones that reflected the light beautifully.

She couldn't believe it. She had only seen these on TV and never thought they were real. Then, she noticed a small box on top of the shoes. She opened it, and inside was a pair of blue topaz earrings which matched perfectly with the dress.

"Oh my God, I can't believe it! These shoes are gorgeous, and the earrings are perfect," she exclaimed, staring at them in disbelief. She had never owned anything like this before.

She remembered watching a show on TV where celebrities wore shoes with sparkling Swarovski stones and thought they were just for the elite. But now, she was holding a pair of her own.

She tried on the shoes and they fit perfectly, making her feel like a princess. As she put on the earrings, she couldn't help but admire how they matched the dress so beautifully.