The first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, painting the room in a warm, golden hue. A smile stretched across her face as she slowly opened her eyes, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips. She then stretched, the anticipation of the day bubbling inside her like a freshly opened bottle of champagne. I am going to have the best birthday ever today! She exclaimed, her arms in the air as she leaped out of bed, the excitement propelling her forward.
A knock on the door broke through her thoughts, and Rene frowned, then a smile bloomed when she heard Eliana's voice. She rushed to open the door, and Eliana pounced on her with a hug, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a fit of giggles. "Girl, what are you doing here so early?" Rene asked as they sat up. Eliana shrugged, "Um, because it's my best mate's birthday, duh!" Rene's eyes drifted to her purse. "You saw Mimi?" She asked, and Eliana nodded, handing over the pouch. "I did. And she's bummed she can't spend the day with you." Eliana replied. "I know, she's an angel, but not her mother!" Rene exclaimed, pulling her phone out of the pouch. The screen lit up, revealing twelve missed calls from Henry. She frowned. "Twelve missed calls from Henry? Why?" "What do you mean, why? The man's in love. Call him back." Eliana said, leaning against Rene's bed, but Rene shook her head. "Not today, today's not for boys... because my home girl and I have plans, don't we?" She asked, throwing her arms in the air as Eliana screamed, "We're painting the town red today!" Their shouts ceased as Eunice entered the room. "No noise, ladies. If you want to make noise, you might as well go out. Oh, hi Eliana, how are your parents doing?" She asked. Eliana's face soured, but before she could respond, Rene pinched her softly, reminding her of the day. Eliana took a deep breath and nodded, "They're doing well, Mrs. Dubois." "Miss... it's miss, not Mrs." Eunice corrected. Eliana nodded, "Got it." "We'll be quiet, Mom. We promise," Rene added, Eunice nodded and left the room.
As soon as she was gone, Eliana sprang up and slammed the door, locking it. "Eliana!" Rene called out, but Eliana ignored her, heading straight for Rene's desk. She opened the first drawer, and as she pulled out her blue Bluetooth speaker, Rene stood up. "No, Eliana!" She said nervously. Ignoring her, Eliana grabbed her phone, turned on her Bluetooth, and paired the device. "I'm the only one allowed to wreck your mood today!" She declared before tapping on "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston. Rene smiled, tossing her phone onto the bed, and jumped up and down, moving her hips to the beat as her arms went up, singing along with her best friend without a care in the world.
They got dressed in their Novia Maxi dresses from the famous Aurelia brand, perfect for their spa date followed by brunch. Renata wore a small wine and baby pink dress, while Eliana wore a medium mauve and baby pink dress, fitting her slightly larger frame. They helped each other with the bows, jewelry, and hair, then slipped on their Dior slippers, twirling in the mirror. "I knew this dress would be perfect for today!" Rene exclaimed, smiling. "Yes! I can't wait to wear all the other colors we got from their collection!" Eliana said, twirling. As they stared at their reflection quietly Rene hugged Eliana from behind, saying softly, "Thank you, my forever girl. You make me so happy." Eliana smiled, grabbing her arm, and just as she was about to reply, their song, "Between Us" by Little Mix, began to play, and they shared a look before singing the lyrics to each other.
They quickly grabbed their bags and started heading for the door. "Let's go, you can come back to make the bed after the day is over!" Eliana exclaimed, pulling Rene along with her as she looked at her unmade bed with a slight discomfort. On their way, they passed by Mimi's room, but she wasn't around, so they decided to head downstairs. Upon seeing both of them, Mimi immediately washed her hands and ran to embrace them. "You girls look so good in this pair," Mimi commented. "Right? I should get one for you. You've seen their colors, haven't you? What color would you prefer?" Eliana asked, and Mimi screamed, "The shade of yellow!" And they all burst into laughter. However, their laughter was cut short when Eunice spoke up, "You girls be careful out there. Mimi, come back, I don't want the dough to get hard," She said without even looking up from what she was doing. Then Rene walked over to her, "Mother, happy birthday to me!" She softly exclaimed as Eliana screamed, effectively cornering Eunice, who evidently felt ashamed after her earlier unnecessary actions towards Rene the entire morning. Rene gave Mimi a hug and then walked back to Eliana. "Don't wait up!" She yelled as they dashed out of the house.
With hands waving out the windows, rapping along to Nicki Minaj, they cruised towards "The Secret Haven," A world-renowned spa offering everything from beauty treatments to comprehensive healthcare. As Eliana steered into the compound, Rene, practically bouncing with excitement, exclaimed, "You're kidding me! You said we were going for brunch!" "Have you checked the time? It's too early for that, let's get pampered first," Eliana replied, the car slowing to a stop. Rene turned, a touch of concern in her voice, "But this is too much, Eliana. Their prices are insane, I know because I've checked myself before." Eliana laughed, "This isn't my doing, so I cannot take responsibility. I saw it in your search history, and I mentioned it to my parents... they funded it."
Rene's jaw dropped. "Tate and Oakley did this? Oh Eliana, please help me thank them. You know what, let me call them myself!" As she reached for her phone, Eliana snatched it and unlocked the car. "Nope, not now. You can do that later. Get out!" She exclaimed, hopping out of the car, followed by Rene. Smiling, Eliana locked arms with Rene, laughter bubbling from her. "Come on, you're not going to get glammed up outside," She said, pulling Rene towards the parlor's sliding door.
As they stepped inside, Rene's jaw dropped in amazement. The atmosphere buzzed with a calm energy, a mix of essential oils and soft whispers. This wasn't just a beauty parlor; it was a true sanctuary.
The entrance opened into a bright, airy space. To the left, a row of plush, velvet chairs awaited, each station equipped for manicures and pedicures. Sunlight streamed through large windows, illuminating a rainbow of nail polish colors and the delicate hands of technicians meticulously crafting designs. Across the room, a hair salon buzzed with activity. Stylists, armed with scissors and curling irons, transformed clients with expert cuts, vibrant colors, and elegant updos.
"Alright, first the hair, then the nails, and after that, pure bliss!" Eliana, a woman in a casual outfit, approached. "How about we indulge in a day of pure pampering?" Rene, with a dramatic flourish, threw her arms wide and shouted, "Take me away!" Prompting a wave of laughter from those nearby. They settled into the extra chairs, beginning with their hair, then moving to nail treatments, followed by the spa, and finally, makeup.
After admiring their hair transformations in the mirror, Rene beamed, "Eliana, I've never looked this good, and I'm not even wearing makeup!" Tears welled up in her eyes, but Eliana quickly intervened, "No waterworks allowed! Hold it in!"
"You both look absolutely stunning!" A woman complimented them as they turned, a smile gracing their faces. Eliana, in a dramatic mock curtsy, said, "Thank you, kind madam. Now, could you be kind enough to direct us to the spa?" The woman laughed, gesturing to the right, "That gentleman will guide you." With a nod, "Rene thanked them once more as they set off towards their next adventure.
They both smiled sheepishly, hands locked as they walked into the hidden oasis: the spa. A dimly lit corridor led to treatment rooms, each designed for specific experiences. One room offered deep-tissue massages, the scent of eucalyptus filling the air as skilled therapists worked to ease tension. Another room, dedicated to facials, featured state-of-the-art equipment and a menu of specialized treatments designed to rejuvenate and revitalize the skin. Further along, a hydrotherapy room offered a luxurious escape with bubbling Jacuzzis and aromatic bath salts. Not forgetting the Sauna room.
The "Serene Haven" was more than just a place to get pampered; it was a holistic experience.