The Last Dance

Chapter 7 - My Jealous Heart

The result of Marco's CT Scan was out the day after he had undergone it. There is no serious damage in his head, no internal bleeding and any complication. It's his heart that is his problem right at the moment. After what happened three days ago, he never showed up in school again.

Everytime he breaks his heart for that woman, he tends to distance himself from us because he knows that no one is going to take his side. He can just flirt with any woman, but why does it have to be Camille? I don't like her.

The last three days were kind of busy for me because I have to finalize my practice. The final rehearsal for the competition will be held this afternoon, and mom's team of trainers are already at the dressing room to prepare for the things I will use.

I prepared so hard for this event, and I showed mom that I was really serious in winning. Any title will be good enough for me. Although I know that mom has a big expectation to me, I learned to move at my own pace. Being pressured will not gain me anything good. I know my capability, so I will fight with that.

The thought that I will bump with Camille Rivero during the final rehearsal somehow put me in a bad mood. There are already so many people in the Lescante Stadium. There are three stadiums in the Stallion University, and for the previous years, this competition has been held in this stadium. The newest, most modern and largest stadium in the school. It can cater about 10,000 people at most.

"Alisha!!" I heard Faye's voice from behind. My right brow raised to ask where she's coming from.

"I bought us some banana sundae. We can eat in your dressing room while you prepare. For sure, it's gonna take so long again." She rolled her eyes, and handed Bleian a cup of shake. She's holding another paperbag of fastfood that smells fries. This is their way of supporting their friend who is on diet.

"What about me?" I tried to look as cute as puppy, but that just won't have an effect to them.

"You can have the fries. Marco paid for everything because I don't have cash." She stopped as if she remembers something ludicrous.

"He asks how your practice is going. Damn, girl! Your childhood sweetheart got a haircut, and he's darn hot in that." He's always hot in my eyes, but I won't tell them that because they will end up teasing me and slapping me with the truth that I don't stand a chance.

I looked at the restaurant name of the paper bag that Bleian is holding, so that's where Marco is hanging around. I wonder if he's with another girl right now. I can't even ask Faye about that.

"Did you ask what happened to him? Does he have no any plan of enjoying his last school fest as a senior?" He can always go back in this university whenever he wants, but this is the last time that he will have the luxury of time to enjoy his youth. When he starts working, he will just like his father and siblings. I wonder if he will also turn out to be a ruthless and hot businessman like his father.

"He's hanging out with his friends, and from what I saw, I think they have no plans on supporting Leysam in the final rehearsal. You know that they are the typical kids, Alisha. They would rather be wandering around the most expensive clubs in town than enjoy the booths and stalls here." I agree. They won't enjoy something like this. I shook my head and continue to walk to the backstage.

It is just my bad luck to have my table assigned beside Camille. Her coaches and make up artists are busy with her while she's just on her phone. I looked at her from head to toe, and I can't give any bad comments to her figure. She will pass as a model for international pageants, but beauty is not everything. She plays men on her hand, and that's something distasteful about her.

"Look who's here." I heard Bleian sarcastically uttered. There are four contestants sharing in this big room, and the place is well-ventilated. That made Camille turn her head to us. I can't see her friends here now.

She displayed her sarcastic smile again.

"Hello, fellas. Why are you here?" He scanned me from head to toe before her brows raised and she let out a laugh.

"Oh, wait. Don't tell me..." She stopped and she even showed disbelief as she resumed with what she was saying. "Don't tell me you're going to participate in this pageant?" I didn't break our eye contact to show her that I don't get affected by such disgusting despotic act.

"Yes, I am. Why does that seem to have so much effect on you? Don't tell me you are intimidated---" She didn't let me finish my sentence.

"That is not the right term, Alish. Rather than intimidated, can we use the irritated instead? I didn't even expect you to win any runner up title for the representative of your college, but here you are now. Congrats! You are a Villaflor afterall." I smiled at her, and did not utter a single word as a reply. You can say whatever you want for all I care.

When she looked at her reflection in the mirror, I saw the corner of her lips raising up for a smirk.

"Let's see who Marco will support in the end. You don't have to try so hard, Alisha because you personally know who it's going to be." My heartbeat was racing in anger of what she said. I never asked for Marco's support because I don't want to pressure him. He can support me if he wants to, but I won't take it to heart too if he chooses Camille. Someday, he'll wake up and regret investing feelings for her.

I took a sit in the chair for me. One of the make up artists gave me bottled water and murmured something I did not understand. They started doing my hair, but I am still convulsing inside.

Hensy was doing my eye-shadow when a group of girls went inside the dressing room. I heard familiar voices. By that time, I knew it's going to be a toxic afternoon. They are Camille's friends. Through the mirror in front of me, I gave a look to my friends to warn them not to start a scene here.

"How's our Ms. Stallion University 2019?" Felize confidently asked. They are already claiming the title for her. There's nothing wrong with that, but I solely hate their attitude.

"Hi, girls. Still gorgeous and confident. Where are sitting?" They surrounded her and one of them gave her something to drink.

"In front. Beside Nitro." I smirked when I heard her boyfriend's name. I hope that reminds her how greedy she is to claim some guy's support despite having a supportive boyfriend.

"Are you smirking?" I know that question is for me. I slowly turned to her and gave her a big smile.

"What smirk are you talking about?" I am pulling myself good from slapping her right at that moment.

I didn't expect her to stand and go to my direction. My coaches went to block her way, but she looked tamed. I swear, I am not going to hold myself once she touches me. There are also some people inside that dressing room who are watching us. She's the one who came aggravated to me. Never did I think she was this sensitive.

"Are you jealous because I have so many guys supporting me?" I will never wish to be her.

I stood so our eyes are in the same level. I hate looking up to her.

"I have so many guys supporting me too, Camille. But I make sure that none of them hit each other and cause a scene for me. Don't drag me to your level wherein you have to seduce another guy to have power. You look pitiful for always begging for Marco's help!" I can be honest to her if she wants it.

Her forehead was furrowed and his brows were in one line. Truth must have hurt so bad.

"Pitiful? That's for you, Alisha. You keep clinging to him although you already knew that he doesn't want you as a woman. How does it feel to be his friend and nothing more for the longest time? You spent all your life with him, but he doesn't feel any attraction for you." I smirked.

"It's because I am unlike any girl he has dated and I am not like you who force herself to him." Camille's assistant held Camille's arm to take her away from me, but she insisted on answering that. My friends stood beside me and I know that they are just holding themselves from saying anything.

"He's the one forcing himself to me. You can ask him, and he will give you an honest answer, Alisha! So butt off! You are nothing but a little child to him." I glared at her, and saw how her fist clenched.

"No one among his friends like you for him. Do you still not know? Oops. Sorry for unboxing the sad reality, Camille. But we all think you are out of Marco's league." I took a sit again. I gracefully closed my eyes, so the make up artist can resume with what he was doing.

"I don't need other people's approval, Alisha. Marco would do anything just so I won't leave him. Let's see what he meant by that." She laughed sardonically, and all I can do is cursed her in my head. Is she that desperate for titles? He'll use Marco's feelings to get what she wants?

My fist clenched when I had a bad thought in my head. He won't bribe the judges to let Camille win, right? He won't because I am part of this event, right? My heart is torn by the idea that he's willing to hurt me just to keep her.

The final rehearsal starts. Camille's sarcasm everytime we would bump in the backstage is still on. Every time she opens her mouth, I felt like she's raising hell between the two of us. If Marco can only see how much this woman is giving me a hard time because of him!

We were given a detailed orientation of the things that we need to do in the actual event. There will be marks on the stage where we need to stop and pose. I felt butterfly in my stomach when my eyes saw Yuri Valencia in the crowd. If he's here then Marco and Troy must be here.

Marco's serious eyes were directed to someone in the right section of the stage. I felt like my heart is slowly falling into trampoline. Despite seeing him so in love with someone else, I still can't stop admiring him secretly. He can always take me high with a single smile even that smile is not for me. Faye was right. He looks too handsome in his new cut. My jealous heart does not know what to do when he mouthed something for Camille then he smiled.