The Last Dance

Chapter 8 - Never crossing the line

Days passed by fast. The day for the competition of Mr. and Ms. Stallion University has come. It also signals the closing of School Festival 2019. Before I slept yesterday, I composed myself by reassuring that I will be contented regardless of the result. Dad arrived in the Philippines at night, but I was not able to talk to him because I was already asleep.

Mom woke me up the next day with a big smile on her face. She's more excited than anyone for this day. My friends were waiting downstairs to have breakfast with me. Dad joined us in breakfast, and the first thing I did was hug him. I missed him. How many weeks had it been?

"How are you feeling, baby?" He asked as he glanced at me after mom iterated her reminders.

"I'm feeling great, dad. You and mom's support is enough to get me through this first time experience."

"Good. No pressure, hija, but your mom was the queen of Stallion back in our times." She was one of the greatest, and she's still living by that title until today. She is aging gracefully while embracing elegance in every way. Her ash blonde hair made her intimidating. Despite her age, there are still men who try to sway her. Knowing dad, he won't allow any man to get closer to mom more than friends. At his age, he's still... obsessive.

"I know that, dad. But I don't want to live the way she did. I'm doing this as favor to mom. You know well that this is not what I want." Mom sighed and shook her head when I stated the obvious. Even I don't want this, I still worked hard to qualify for this pageant.

"Where do you want to eat after the competition? I will make a reservation in any restaurant that you want." That lighted something in my heart. I can finally eat everything I want after this! Somehow, it motivated me to finish with flying colors! More than these bruises I got for my intense workout and falls while practicing my walk are the days I felt pity for myself for not being able to eat ice cream, burger and everything.

I have been on diet for the longest time, and I think I am getting used to the small amount of food that I'm taking every meal. Let's see. What do I want to eat right after the competition? We should go to a buffet, so there's plenty of options.

"What about Jade Plates?" I asked with my wide eyes. He nodded with a smile.

"Okay then. Do well, my beautiful unica hija. We got your back." That's the best motivation.

At around three in the afternoon, we are already in the dressing room. I requested mom to not go with me because I will feel more pressure when she is around. She agreed, but little did I know that she's calling my coaches from time to time to check up on me. As a mother, she can never failed.

I closed my eyes while they are preparing the clothes I will wear. I put my wireless airpods and played a classic love songs to relax. My make up will be done minutes from now as they are still discussing about the color that will match the new night gown that mom chose for me. Until yesterday, she was fine with the blue gown, but we were all astounded by her sudden decision to change it to red. Even I think that is too much for a night gown, she still insisted that it will make me standout among the rest. Her words always prevail, so all we can do is adjust to what she wants.

My legs quivered when someone removed the airpod from my right ear. I immediately opened my eyes and I saw Marco's reflection in the mirror. His head is so near to me, and his eyes were watching me fondly.

"Hi." I said awkwardly before I stood to face him. My heart was racing especially when I smelled his manly perfume. How long has he been staring at me?

He put the airpods on him and sat on the sofa near us. I looked around to look for the woman he's visiting in this dressing room, but I can't see Camille anywhere yet. Her team is not yet here. Anyway, it is still early.

"Why are you here?" He can't look to my eyes when I asked that question. I looked in the mirror again to make sure there is no dirt in my face at that moment.

"To wish you luck." He said casually. I was paying so much attention to his reaction, but I got distracted when he bite his lower lip while he's taking out his phone from the pocket of his shorts. He is the biggest violator in school! How can he get in and walk around the campus wearing khaki shorts?

As soon as he took out his phone, he stood up and in three steps he's already beside me. He wrapped his right arm around my shoulder and he put his phone up to take a picture of us. I smiled in the third picture, and he rolled his eyes. Even at that picture, he looks so hot.

I stole his phone from him to check the pictures. It turned out alright, but I was looking at him in the first two pictures. I was about to delete that when he spoke in an imposing voice.

"Don't dare delete any of the pictures in my gallery." He is giving me that tiger look. I rolled my eyes and threw his phone to him. He caught it, but I saw how shock he was with that.

"I don't care about your gallery, Marco. Who knows, it could be full of porn." He laughed in an instant. That is not even a joke.

"Then you should have scrolled more to see the contents of my gallery." He said trying to sound sensual. Eew! Did he just pertain to the women he bedded? That made me want to delete our picture right away. But on the second thought, he is not the type to post pictures of his women in social media. Only his travel photographs can be seen in his i********: account.

"You are so disgusting." I emphasized every word.

He was smiling wide as he shook his head.

"Do you honestly think it's cool to keep pictures of your ex?"

"I don't keep pictures of my ex. My gallery is full of pictures of my woman." My jaw dropped. His eyes were sleepy as he said that. He looks dumb when he talks about Camille. Is he perhaps under her spell?

"Your woman..." The people who went inside the dressing room caught the attention of busy make up artists inside. Speaking of the devil, Camille was shouting to someone as they entered in the room. She's blaming that girl for being late.

"Are you that proud to call that b***h your woman?" He looked at me pissed. He stood up and went to Camille. My heart was fussing when I saw him trying to make her calm. He even escorted her to sit in the space reserved for them.

In attempt to shut the noise in that room, I put the music volume of my phone to the highest. Marco did not return my another piece of airpod that's why I can still hear some noises around. When he approached me again, I didn't even bother to open my eyes.

"I'll go back to the audience. Dad will be cheering for you, so please just relax, Alisha. You are great even when you don't do anything. You will surely slay later." I tried so hard to pretend like I didn't hear what he said.

I felt his hand trying to put the airpod he got from me a while ago back to my right ear. I harshly got it from his hand and put it in the table in front of me.

"Stop being mad. You look like a child when you pout like that while your forehead is.." I took up and was about to walk away when he blocked my way. The make up artists looked at me as if wondering where I was going. I smiled at Hensy.

"I'm just going to the bathroom."

"Why are you mad?" I tried to smile at Marco too, but that became a smirk. His brows went up.

"I don't want to explain because you won't understand. Enjoy the show, Marco. Excuse me." He held my arm, and I have no choice but to face him again.

"No matter what the outcome will be, you did great, Alisha. I am always so proud of you as your brother." I rolled my eyes. As a brother. Okay.

I nodded and removed his hand in my arm. I walked to the comfort room to pull myself together. This is not the time to measure my worth to Marco. I should not compare myself to Camille. This is for mom and dad, and for everyone who supported me up to this moment.

There was the feeling of butterfly in the stomach again when I heard the opening remarks of Mr. Kid Fontanilla, the current chairman of Stallion University. He's assigned to be in that position for the mean time while his father is on vacation in Macau. He is Marco's cousin.

When I looked beside me, I saw other candidates with their chins held up, and the smile they have been wearing since we lined up in the backstage has become drooping. What I am feeling right now is normal. Everyone feels nervous, and we are all trying to sugarcoat it with sweet smile. There are 10 colleges in Stallion, and each college sent 1 representative for Mr. Stallion and 1 representative for Ms. Stallion University.

A lot of people from the crowd were cheering for me, and I used that to walk with all confidence. The lights are all focused in my way making me unable to see the crowd. I managed to smile, walk slow as if I own the stage and I have all the time in the world to walk on it. This is also for the man who never showed attraction towards me for the past eighteen years of our lives. I hope he finds me beautiful now.

I did not expect to be one of the crowd's favorite. It was an overwhelming feeling to be liked by these students. I am still a junior business student who has not given any achievement to my school or even college, but their support was totally better-than-expected.

The crowd was totally insane when the Sports wear started. Leysam Montealto and me are wearing a complete archery gear. He's holding the bow, and I went to his back to get the arrow. People were making a loud noise as if they found that romantic. I have to say that Leysam is such a wholesome guy. He never made a move to me, but he never failed to treat me special too. Every time we end up late in the practice, he always urges to take me home. And if I answer him that my driver is going to pick me up, he ensures that I get home safe. If I did not meet Marco first, I would have fallen deep with this guy.

He gave me a mischievous look as he whispered something.

"Marco is going to kill me, but can I wrap my arms and get closer to you as we pose?" I smiled and nodded. He let me hold the arrow and bow and he position himself at my back and held my hands as a support. The flashes of camera almost made me blind, but I still tried to hold on to that position until the music changes.

Camille slays. From the moment she steps on the stage, we were all charmed. Her figures are no joke. She shows everyone the real beauty of experienced model like her. Her angelic face conceals her attitude. No one would expect that a woman like her can play two men at the same time.

In spite of my best effort to search for mom and dad, I can't see anything from the stage. Before the elimination, the special awards are given. I bragged the Most Photogenic and Best in Sports Wear awards. Camille received one special award, but the most desirable one. She is the Crowd's favorite. The last award is the most beautiful face of the night. The crowd was cheering for Camille, and somehow I accepted that she is really the most beautiful here. Her experiences and passion earned her this much respect from the people.

"The most beautiful face is..." I smiled as I looked at the other side of stage where she was standing.

"Ms. Alisha Villaflor!" It was totally jaw dropping. Did I hear that right? Was I being greedy, and misheard that?

The girl beside me from the College of Architecture told me to come in front. I did not expect that. Despite confirming that my name was really called, I tried to hide how overwhelmed I am as respect to Camille. There are tons of sponsors for me that were mentioned while I am receiving the award, but none of them sinks in to my mind. This is how winning feels.

When I turned around to go back to my position, I saw Camille giving her disgusted look at me. If she was called, I would have clapped for her, but I guess she underestimates me. She won't be proud of me for personal reasons. Well, that's where we differ. I respect her talent despite my resentment towards her.