Chapter 34
I was about to step on the stairs. I should have used the elevator instead of using this stair.
Breathless.
Oh, wait.
I stopped stepping. I heard Leighden's voice. I'm sure, she's here on the second floor. She even made it harder for me to find her.
I took another step. Only three steps are missing.
Leighden's voice grew louder and louder. She might get closer and go down to the first floor.
Finally, I'm on the second floor.
I saw her. She was walking with a man. I noticed her wide smile even though she wasn’t looking at me. She bent down laughing a little weakly.
Maybe they were talking about the man with her. That's why I can't find her, she has someone with her.
I walked closer. They haven't noticed me yet because their attention is both out of the way.
I paused for a moment as I watched them both. I was thinking, is he the man for her? Is he the one meant for Leighden?
I am wondering those things.
I just smiled while looking at them. Hearing her laughed makes me feel alive, makes me happy.
I just heard her laugh like that. Mostly, strange laughed and laughed in annoyance is all I hear. Once again, laughed of happiness. But it's different now, a different kind of laughter. It seems there is something in her. That man making her happy.
Who is he?
They kept walking until they could look at me. Leighden stopped laughing and stared at me. I just smiled. I am happy to see her and hear her laugh, the way she laughed today.
I love it!
"Pershey," she cheerfully calls to me. She looked at the man first before approaching me.
Oh, I know him. He's Draek. I can't imagine that Draek is her partner at the Mascaraed Party. I noticed that Draek liked her.
I let her run over to me.
"Finally, I found you, Leighden," I happily told her.
"Huh?" she asked.
"I've been looking for you and waiting for you," I replied.
"Ahhh. Draek and I just talked."
"You said, you're just going to get something from your locker."
She even laughed at me and pulled me away. I noticed she even turned to Draek.
I also turned to Draek who was still smiling. I stared him in the eye. I pointed my two fingers at my two eyes and pointed at him as well. A sign 'I'm watching you'
Leighden and I have already walked. She doesn’t speak but I know the butterfly was left in her stomach. Even if she didn't say a word, even if she didn't laugh, I knew she was feeling a thrill. A butterfly in her stomach, flying everywhere even in her intestines.
I used to feel that butterflies flying in my stomach before. Unlike now, only knife moving, stabbing me, buried in my heart.
We went down to the first floor. Still the same. She was still hugging me. She's smiling, I noticed that.
We went to the GYM. There were some women. Sure, contestants.
Oh! Time to rehearse. I need to take a practice.
We stopped when we were in the middle of the GYM.
"Goodluck, Pershey, you're great ah," she said before she left but before she left, she winked at me. She sat on the bleachers. Many sat in bleachers. Lots of people hanging out.
I looked at those contestants in front of me. I can't find Sansa or Aliha.
I went up on stage and went to the back stage to swap. Iries earlier gave me a dress to wear. I don’t know why she thought of bringing me a dress. She's really prepared. She even really prepared what I was going to wear. She was really complacent that I would join the Pageant. Not only that, she even signed my name.
Why would she want me to join the Pageant?
I lowered the bag slung over my shoulder. I sat for a moment. I sat for a few minutes.
I slightly opened the paper bag to see what kind of clothes were inside.
Black and red, colors I saw.
I stood up and reattached the shoulder bag to my shoulder.
I go straight to the vacant cubicle. I locked the door to secure my safeness. Maybe someone was confused to open the door so I had to close it properly.
I picked up the dress that was in the paper bag. I raised it so I could see better.
Is this proper outfit? It's like I'm racing.
Black leather pants, black tube and red belt.
Nice, it's a good case for me to participate in the race in the outfit that Iries gave me.
Okay, last thing to do, my hair. I also saw a hair comb (black) inside the paper bag.
I combed my hair up with the comb I saw in the paper bag.
Wait! There's more!
I took it. A necklace with pendant (platinum stone). I wore it even though I was still a little skeptical.
Okay, last, as in last. I haven't taken off my boots since they match the outfit I'm wearing.
I put my uniform in the paper bag. I exited and stopped outside cubicle for a moment to look in the mirror.
I smiled as I looked in the mirror.
Here I am now, new Pershey. I'm not wearing old classic eyeglass anymore. No more holding books now. No more long skirts and dollshoes. No longer snuggled up obviously not yet combed.
I am new. I felt like I was reborn. I felt unique than Pershey before. I am a Señorita of Adejar family. I am Pershey, no one else.
"I told you to quit," someone said. I turned to look at her.
Unlucky day, Sansa again and again. She is on the other side, reflecting, applying lipstick.
"And who are you?" I asked while staring at her. She's just the owner's daughter, Neil's only sister. She was not the dictator of what I should do. I am not a submissive person and even more so I am not weak.
She stopped putting on lipstick then looked at me. She even put it inside the bag.
"Sansa Samson, Pershey," she said. Yes, I know her name. Tss, that's good, it's weak in perception.
I laughed strangely. "Too slow," I said weakly.
"Don't try me, Pershey. You won't like it when I'm your opponent, when I'm your opponent. You know that, Pershey."
I just smiled to annoy her. Crazy, crazy Sansa. Too desperate.
"You don't know me yet, Sansa," I said. I turned my gaze back to the mirror. I put lipstick slowly. "You won't like to hear my sweetest words," I added then slowly turned to her.
"Well, let's see if you win. Goodluck at the rehearsal. Don't think you're lucky, hell, you're not," she said before she left. I just shrugged at what she said.
I just finished putting on my lipstick, I came out too.
I was given the number of our trainer. I am number 18 out of 50 contestants.
I will still learn how to properly walk or ramp on stage. I also need to train myself to walk on heels, 6-8 inches. This is really challenging. I have no experience with this yet so I have to study carefully.
What about the prize? What do I do with the prize? I have money, too much. 500k, that's a big prize. I will think about where I will use the money when I win. I'm sure, I'll win. I believe in myself that I can, I will win.
From where I stand, I can see Leighden. She was holding the camera. I also heard her scream. 'Go, Pershey!' Like that.
Now, it's my turn to walk. I need a cross walk, lava walk just like Cathriona Gray.
We walked/ walked on stage at the same time. I walked slowly, very slow motion. X formed of walks, yeah, like that. Chest up, focus and confidence.
I'm not sure but #19 is Sansa. She was next to me, behind me.
I just hope she doesn't come back to do anything. Sansa is very angry with me. I don’t even know where she took and drew her anger, eh.
We stopped. I made a nice posture. Leighden captured me. I hope she do it properly. I want to have a remembrance today. I hope I have a good shots.
I smiled as I focused my gaze on them. Just look straight ahead and have to smile. I need some unique posture.
We rammed a few times before we were given a break to rest.
I immediately went down to the stage and met Leighden.
"Wow, nice outfit, Pershey. You caught my eyes," she said while marveling at what I was wearing. If I say that Iries gave it, she might take back that amazement. "You bought it?" she asked. I shook my head at her. If Iries hadn’t given it up, I might have worn nothing to practice. Iries' always prepared. "You stole?"
"Of course not!" I answered aloud. She just laughed at my reaction. Her question was surprising. Of course, I will be shocked and this is exactly how I will react.
"Just kidding," she said while still laughing a bit while patting my shoulder.
I forgot, I'm not used to wearing this but I have to get used to this. I'm wearing tube. Let's say, amm ... it's a bit long. There is a little more space above the navel, still, still tube.
"You're really amazing, Pershey. I feel like I can fall in love with you, eh," she joked. I laughed. "Seriously, you're beautiful," she looked at me and smiled. I smiled, I couldn't help it. "... you look better, seriously," she added. I don’t know if I will laugh or be pleased with what she said, when she praised me.
What she said felt so good. Losing bait, even a little. It's a beautiful day. It's so much fun to listen to especially when sincere.
"Can't you see yourself?" she asked. I did not speak. "You are beautiful the way you are," she added. The smile never left my lips. "... you're so beautiful," she continued.
I can't speak. I just kept smiling at what she said. It's so good to hear, I swear.
"Nice outfit, it suits you. Oh, sexy body," she praised again. I laughed softly.