Raging Love

Kapitulo 4

Kapitulo 4

When we get to the venue, I knew that this is the night that I would be stan for my town. I have to put all of my effort into it, even though he wouldn't watch tonight. He hasn't called me since I got here in the Philippines. I knew he was still annoyed that I would pursue this dream instead of the goddamn position he offered; I knew he would go to any length to entice me back to him, but I needed to solidify this aspiration.

Cyrex look at me in the rear view mirror. I look on the side as our sight met. He is grinning in the mirror while Ghad dozed off. He simply wink at me. That made me fume in frustration.

"Baba na kayo, may kakausapin lang muna ako," he says and I nod, brushing Ghadmer's hand with my slim hand.

"Shall we?" I invite him, and he bobs his head in agreement.

I scurry to the dressing room while Ghad head into the audience seat. Gosh, I am still worried about Sheram. I know he's still not okay—that stubborn man.

"Yes, Ma'am. Nandito na po silang lahat." The organizer said as he clung to his headset and started talking to someone else on the line. "Nire-ready na rin po namin ang para sa production number nila."

I overheard some blathering but I just didn't mind them. I have no time to depend on words for me. I have to focus and give my best later, but somehow I know that it's still not my time to shine right now. I shook my head. You have to focus and don't give a shaky performance later, or else your father will degrade you more.

"Fereine," someone called me, and as I turned my head, I saw Miss Pangasinan with her sincere smile. "You look so gorgeous tonight. Anyway, I have seen you with a man. Do you mind if I ask you something?"

My eyebrow arced, and I smiled. "Sure."

What's going on, Ghadmer? Why is this woman in front of me right now inquiring about you? What is something about you that anyone has not?

"Um, is he your boyfriend?" she asked as politely as she could, and clipped her lips. "By the way, you can refuse to tell me. I'm off the line. I'm sorry. "

I shook my head. "He's not my boyfriend."

She looks perplexed. "Then what is your connection with him?"

I breathed, smiling. "He's my cousin. Why? Do you like him?"

She flushed. Okay, that's too frank for a gal like her. She put her sight on the ground and then back on me.

"I-I... we..." She was about to finish her sentence when someone interrupted her.

"Fereine."

I closed my eyes in annoyance and looked at her. "I'll be right back."

I walked into his direction. He was carrying a paper bag with a smirk on his face. I grabbed my stilletos as I stopped in front of him, barely glancing at his dark aura.

"Wala man lang bang thank you riyan?" he said in a sweet seductive way.

I pursed my lips. "Thank you."

When I was going to turn around, he seized my arm. "Wait, I have a gift for you."

I sighed. "If you're just here to annoy me, then you better go. You're not helping me."

He eyed me. "I will stay here whenever I want. This is my place. I own this place," he said, as if it was the final word, and I looked at him. "Shock? Hindi mo inakalang pagmamay-ari ko ang gusaling ito?"

I avoid his sight. "I don't care if you owned this stadium. The organization put up the cost for the staging, so this is ours this time. "

He shook his head, flicking his tongue in his mouth. "Fereine, Fereine, Fereine. I don't know what I should do to you to make you afraid of me."

I gave him a look.

"Excuse me, Sir," a tall girl interrupted him, and he gave her a look. "This room is intented for girls only. We would like to ask you for your exit."

Cyrex glanced at me for the last time, and bobbed his head as if he was undressing me in his brain. I really hate that guy. I went back to Miss Pangasinan and the staff closed the door for us.

"Ladies, maghanda na kayo. And we will be showing them our stance," she said and flick of her wavy almond-hued hair. "Ipakita natin sa kanila that we are spotless in everyone's eyes. We are beautiful on puporse. "

I listened to her while Miss Pangasinan was still shocked by the news I gave her. She couldn't even look at me because she was shy about someone. Ghadmer.

The instructor said, "Two lines per group," and we obeyed.

Three ladies came before me after Miss Pangasinan. We were queuing, as he told us. As the host came in, we were in a panic because we only had a couple of minutes to show them.

"Three, two... one. Go ladies!" the man told us and we beat up with the music.

"If you wanna run away with me, I know a galaxy. And I can take you for a ride."

I was in the right posture when the music was muffled, and we did our part to stand at the edge of the stage. When my city called, I walked down to the hall with my gestured walk and saw Ghad smiling at me. I glanced at him and into the crowd.

The fans were screaming at me and they had a banner that made me stronger. I turned round, went back to the area where I had been standing lately, and smiled at them, waiting for the ladies to be called.

When they all called, the music started with the chorus, and I put both of my hands on my hair, as we were told. I swayed my hips as passionately as I could until my sight stopped at the man sitting in front of me. My eyes bulge for a few seconds, and I manage to act as if I did not see him.

"You, moonlight, you're my starlight (you're the moonlight). I need you all night. Come on, dance with me. I'm levitating."

Then I covered my face with my hand, index finger erected, as the girls did another pose. I can't still expect the fact that he was one of the judges that will be interviewing us later.

"Damn it," I cussed as the round brush stumbled down the floor.

"Are you okay?" Miss Albay helped me get the brush, and hand it back to me. "Are you nervous?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm okay. Thanks, by the way. "

She gave me a smile and went back to her place. We have ten minutes to prepare and the elimination round for the spot in the top twenty will be soon. I am not hoping that I will be selected for one of them, but I know that I did my best, so whatever comes, I don't care. I have already given my all.

A few minutes left, the organizer ran through us. "Retouch the ladies, we still have five minutes, but kailangan nando'n na sila before the time frame."

After the retouching, we head back to the stage while the host is simply glancing at me, that Cyrex jaw clenched watching the man's irrational gesture. The host waited for the envelop while I couldn't get away from his sight. And when he had the envelop in his hand, he put the microphone close to his mouth so he could pronounce the name of the city well.

"From fifty ladies, we will be heading to twenty," he said while grasping the envelop. "To all who voted in the poll, this will help you find your candidate spot. While the rest is rest assured of the basis of the interview and the committee's decision."

Gosh, why can't he just take his gaze off of me? I can even look at him more clearly now. His hair was combed upward and the trace of the comb was evident in his hair. God, why am I even defining his hairstyle? I looked away, smiling at the people even though I knew he's staring at me seriously.

"The first lady who will take the spot is..." he paused and peek at the card. "Pangasinan."

And I frowned, but I didn't make it too easy for them to notice. And he continues.

I draw a breath.

"Cagayan de Oro City."

I was still avoiding his sight even though he was still watching me. His sight never left me, and he didn't even smile, not even a little. That made me confused.

"Cebu City."

I lick my lips.

"Tagaytay."

I look at her. She was happy to be part of the top twenty.

"Baguio City."

She had a lot of supporters though. They made her a chant. So unusual.

"Palawan."

"Miss Palawan is a medical technology student, and she ventured herself into marketing. Her hobby is basketball and tennis."

She's pretty though. She has a slim kind of a body, but she's not as slim as expected.

"Manila. "

I followed my gaze at her. Her dress was good; her glam would be so happy to see her on this stage.

"Bulacan."

"Miss Bulacan is a law student at the San Beda School of Law. At age twenty-two, she chose to work in customer service."

She's independent. I know that. She's that kind of a woman that would do everything for her family and her future.

I still never hear my name. Maybe this was not for me tonight. At least I have done things all right.

"Bacolod City."

She was wearing a downturned dress with glittering effects on the frontage of the fabric. She's the one who ridiculed me earlier, but I know she's not worth thinking about.

"Bohol."

"Miss Bohol is currently working for a law firm, and she became the representative for their batch on legal tournament."

I think they were all studying law. When I was a kid, I wanted to become a prosecutor, but I changed my mind when I was growing up. My decision changes with a leisure response to my equilibrium that I somehow understand.

"Davao City."

I took a few glances at the host. He was wearing business attire that somehow made him look neat. Cyrex was wearing a suit, too. And he looks neat.

"Quezon City."

"Miss Quezon City is a former martial artist. She grew up with a family that embodies the craft of martial arts."

Martial Arts? I don't know what to do with that thing. I have learned to do the Arnis, but I am still not into mastering the skill.

"Zamboanga City."

Her hair was curled by a machine. She was sweet in a way that I could not get away from.

"Mandaluyong."

"Miss Mandaluyong may be the type of person you would want to be with. At the age of twenty, she worked as a clerk in her place. "

The lady walked into the girls that were standing next to each other.

Before he spoke, he glanced at the paper and pushed through the mic. "We have five spots left. The five remaining ladies have a chance to be part of the top twenty."

I breathed. Whatever comes in, you have already done your best. Being on here is a constant pleasure that I'll carry in my life.

He pushed the mic against his mouth. "The next lady who will be part of the top twenty is..."

I glanced at Cyrex. Now, he smiled at me widely. What the heck happened to this man? He scratched his nose watching me.

"Ilo-Ilo city."

The crowd was screaming at her name. I was shaking. I don't know if this was because of the background music they played. Or the man who looked at me, moving his head to one side when our sight met.

"Butuan City."

"Miss Butuan is a social economic ambasador that helps the environment stay clean and green."

The host heaved a sigh. "The next spot who will have the chance to make it to the semi-finals is..."

I twinkled my eyes. Cyrex, on the other hand, was sipping on his juice while looking at me intently. Is this what he wanted? To make me this nervous, if it sounds good to his ear.

"Cotabato City. "

Okay, maybe this will end tonight. I'm not upset nor mad at myself. I was afraid of the man who was beyond lapping on my neck in his brain. Ah! I hate this feeling.

"Makati City."

W-what did he just say? I looked around and Miss Pangasinan even looked at me, grinning. I walked into the spotlight and did my pose and stopped next to the ladies who had already been selected.

"For those ladies who haven't called, your Miss Universe dream ends tonight." He took a breath and looked at the card. "The last spot who will have the chance to win the Miss Universe Philppines crown is..."

I kept smiling at the crowd while my supporters yelled my name. Even though they were just a few, I knew that they were loyal and they would never leave me.

"Have your way, General Santos City."

I know her feelings. Like me, she was confused if the host said it right, and then we gestured for her to come up here with us. Damn, I've made it into the top twenty. I can't still believe it.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Your top twenty," he said and walked off the stage.

Cyex smiled at me, barely. He took the pencil in his hand and gave me a horror look. I looked to the side and kept smiling, even though I knew he was watching me, with his hand in his jaw and his lips quirking sideways. Ridiculous.