MY SHOPAHOLIC CONFESSION

Hi, my name is Denis and I’m a shopaholic!

Well, not entirely but I had few moments of splurging and rewarding my hard-working self a little too much by buying new stuff like clothes, home ware, books and sometimes, gadgets. Now, let me share this one interesting story when I had the shopaholic piece of me. It started with a hold-up.

Yes, this is a little traumatic but it did start with two guys watching over me as I speak to a friend over the phone because we had plans for the day. I already felt they don’t aim any good so I walked passed them until I reach a corner and lost sight of them. To my surprise a knife is pointing at my neck and the two guys I thought I ditched are staring at me with no positive stance. “Just give us your cash and phone, and you’ll be set free without a scratch.” (They were speaking in vernacular of course.) Thinking that they could really execute their blabbers, I held out my wallet and phone. The first guy opened the phone then threw my SIM on the floor (Thanks Lordy) then the other one examined my wallet. He got my 2000 cash but did not touch two ATMs inside. It was really jolting but I felt okay knowing that my ATMs are secured, it was one day past the pay day and three counting days will lapse and it’s Christmas. After they got what they wanted, they left me with my things scattered on the floor.

I have to leave fast, but I reported the incident first. The lady guard told me it happens all the time. So, if you happen to plan to step in this mall by Recto area, think twice (or a gazillion more)- This is where I met those two guys. Without any cash or coin in my pocket I decided to ride the jeepney without pay. I have to withdraw all my money in the ATM somewhere far from this mall. I stepped down the jeep uneasy because it’s my first time not to pay for a public ride. Upon my entrance to the mall, I immediately punched my ATM in the machine. 8,000 bucks- I have to spend this all today or I might just lose them. And so I did. It’s near Christmas so I bought gifts for friends and family-Designer shirts for my mom and sisters, and high-end colognes for my brother and brother-in-law. I bought books for friends and officemates and I bought myself a not so expensive phone. I can’t believe it myself but I got robbed, shopped and was broke - all in one day. Funny, but I thought it was money well-spent. Buying stuff for people dear to me somehow relieved the bad memories and stimulus of the hold-up which took place hours before I transformed into a shopaholic.

When I arrived home carrying all of these stuff, my mom immediately noticed my new phone. I told her about the hold-up and she just said “really?”

I read the book and I’m excited to see Rebecca Bloomwood come to life in the big screen. Catch "Confessions of a Shopaholic" in Cinemas on February 18, 2009!