Hope woke up tired after pushing her body, helping her mother with house chores, despite being tired after fixing her beautiful, radiant white dress. It is a fantastic dress, despite Hope not wanting to go to prom herself.
Muffled sounds of raindrops can be heard, the water is murky, and the roads are slippery. As Hope looked outside, she could see several garbage floating. She is used to it after living near the slums for 13 years, but really, now? A typhoon strong enough to cause a flood on the day she was supposed to go to prom. The Gods must also be against her going to that boring event.
Hope fixed her bed and looked for her mother to ask if she could skip and not go to the farewell prom. But no matter where she looks in their small apartment, her mother is nowhere to be found. Suddenly, Hope felt an ominous feeling coming from her chest. Did her mother really go outside despite the harsh weather? Then a knocking sound came from the door, the rhythm is fast. Hope went to get the door.
The person knocking on the apartment's door is her one and only mother.
"Thank you for opening the door, Hope. I didn't expect the weather to escalate that fast. I went outside to get us breakfast, but the rain caught up to me faster than I could go home."
Hope sighs in relief that her mother is safe, who knows what could happen if the rain is stronger than it is right now?
"I brought us bread, a cheese packet as a spread, and two instant coffees." Her mother followed up.
"Mom, you should take a shower first. I will prepare some hot water."
Hope's mother nodded, went to the bathroom to shower, and Hope went to the kitchen to boil two cups of water.
...
Hope and her mother sit down together to enjoy the humble breakfast. As they are enjoying the blessing of food under the thunderous weather, Hope brings up the topic she wished to ask her mother once again.
"Mom, can't I just not go to that prom? The weather looks really bad, and it looks like it is not stopping anytime soon, and my dress is pure white."
Hope's mother sighs, knowing her daughter is using the bad weather as an excuse to not go.
"Hope, let's make a deal. If the weather worsens, I promise that you can stay at home. But if the weather gets better, you won't ask this question again, and you will go to prom willingly."
Hope paused for a second to think about it and agreed to her mother's condition. What could she lose? In fact, she is confident that the weather will not get any better anytime soon.
A few hours pass, and Hope's smug face earlier vanished. Replaced with despair. The Gods must really hate her. Why would the typhoon just pass their area just like that! It's not fair, but she had a deal with her mother. Forced to comply, she wore her bright white dress and prepared to go to that stupid gathering.
She said goodbye to her mother and went outside. The sun is blazing on the streets, and the only evidence that a storm happened is the scattered trash outside. From an outside perspective, hope looks like an angel blessing its presence on a wasteland.
Walking and walking... until Hope reached the far destination. Why would they put the event venue far?! Can't they just hold it in the school?
Hope quickly dismissed these thoughts as she could practically smell the expensive perfume of her peers from the streets. Then a burst of rain suddenly dropped, which quickly turned into a strong storm. How unlucky can she be?! She can see the entrance, but not fast enough to avoid such fate.
Hope arrived at the venue but got soaked. Her radiant dress turned into a sloppy mess. Mud is visible on the hem. Her effort to make the dress as white as possible is wasted just like that. And you know what is worse? Everyone is staring at her with pitiful eyes. Of course, Hope knew they were laughing inside, but they had a reputation to hold. Disgusting people, showing you pity just to backstab you later.