The store smelled faintly of vanilla and money. Dresses hung like clouds, silk, chiffon, satin, all the fabrics she could never justify touching. The sales clerk smiled politely. "Looking for something special?"
Mina nodded, pretending confidence. "Ah yes! There's this… company event, sort of gala thing, and I need to look... presentable?"
"Of course." The clerk began showing her options, each price tag more terrifying than the last. Mina laughed nervously, trying not to flinch when one of them read more than her monthly rent.
After trying on a few, one too sparkly, one too tight, one that made her look like she was about to give a musical performance, she sat on the bench, deflated. The clerk smiled sympathetically. "We also have a rental section upstairs, miss."
"Rental?" Mina's eyes lit up. "Like people actually do that?"
"Many professionals do. It's very common."
