Just a Pretender (Midnight Class Series 1)

The Pageantry Expert

"Who's your bet?" the host asked the audience.

Every student inside the covered court shouted their bet. Their voices almost covered the whole court, may nagchecheer, nagtotorotot and even making sounds of percussion instruments.

"This is the moment we have waiting for, our Ms. United Nations 2020 is..." sabi ng host, grabe yung kaba ko but I still stood up with head high. I also noticed that my co-candidates felt nervous too.

"Our Ms. United Nations for this year is...Philippines, Ms. Deanna Mendrez." sigaw nung host.

Halos nagsigawan na ang midnight class even some students when they heard my name. After they called me, I started walking, the reigning queen passed her crown to me then the presenter gave me the sash and a bunch of flowers specifically a bunch of tulips and roses.

After I finally wore the sash I started waving my hand as if I won a Miss Universe Crown. Some teachers and students whispered to congratulate me.

"Good as always Ms. Mendrez I am so proud of you." sir Noel greeted me when I walked down the stage.

Si Sir Noel ang nagapproach sa akin na sumali. From the very first place he is the source of my confidence. He make me compete anywhere as the representative of Midnight Class and I'm glad na may nakakaappreciate ng ganda ko.

"Whoaaaaa, ang galing mo talaga Deanna." the whole midnight class shouted, the clumsiest section our school and bad thing the section includes as the pinakalower section in our grade.

I gave them my prettiest smile to express my gratitude to them, I am so genuinely happy.

"Buti na lang madali yung tanong na napapunta sayo kung hindi nasa runner up ka lang sana." sabi ni Iyah habang nililigpit namin mga gamit ko sa dressing room. Inilalagay niya sa mga bag yung sinuot kong national costume na napakalaki at napakabigat.

"At pasalamat tayo dahil tama grammar mo, next time don't take risks, magtagalog ka na lang pag Q&A" Aubrey adviced but still wearing her smile. They looked so very proud, so lucky to have this amazing girlbes

"Excuse me, I'm good kaya in answering english I'm just having a hard time to understamd the question somehow kay Roja napatapat yung hardest question so when I heard that it was given to her, hindi na ako kinabahan because that is the only one that I am nervous about." I sighed heavily.

"And look, naiyak si Roja dahil first runner up lang siya" Iyah suddenly chuckled and pointed Roja out of the room.

I admit magaling si Roja but she needs a little bit practice on modeling, even though she was in the pilot class of Grade 9 I still won against her.

I posted some pictures of me during the pageant on my ** and f******k Account when I got home. I received so much positive praises and comments from my classmates and some teachers.

As usual, hindi ako mawawalan ng bashers dahil may nagcocomment pa rin na hindi sila makapaniwala na mangangaling sa lowest section ang mananalo ng title. Our section used to receive bad reviews and comments even to some of my classmates and adviser. Wala eh nabubuhay tayo sa mundong maraming taong perfect.

We had a small celebration with my class before I got home. My mom prapared a special dinner as a treat for my victory.

"I'm so lucky to have you Deanna, I already put the crown on our collections you can take look at it." she gave me a hug and sit on the chair.

"Sayang wala si papa, I'm expecting pa naman that he can join us tonight." nagtatarabaho si papa sa isang kompanya somewhere in Cavite as an engineer. Once a week lang siya nakakauwi sa bahay.

Before I go upstairs I helped my mom to clean our leftovers, I took a shower and my skin care routine.

"Nakita mo tweet ni Roja?" Iyah asked me when I answered the phone call.

"Not yet, what about it?"

"Tsamba lang daw yung pagkapanalo mo dapat siya daw yung nanalo."

"She looked so desperate to win the crown, why just she can't accept that she lose." I rolled my eyes while checking her tweet.

"Her mom is a veteran when it comes to pageantry, maybe she got scolded for not meeting her expectations, poor Roja." I heard a laugh from her on the other line.

"Shut up, I felt gulity because I defeated my future sister-in-law."

"Tsk, as if namang papatulan ka ni Rocco."

"Who knows Iyah" I suddenly glanced to my hand, I just noticed that my nail polish ruined maybe it is because I wash the dishes.

I am so insane waiting for her answer when I saw that she already dropped the call. What a friend, siya itong tumawag sakin tapos ako bababaan niya ng tawag.

I slept early so I had 7 hours of rest, from my everyday training in the pageant last week, ito na lang ulit yung araw na nakatulog ako ng kompleto. I went inside my bathroom and took a bath, I wore my uniform, tied my ribbon of my blouse, put my things inside my bag before leaving my room. My mom already left, she have to go early beacause she is a teacher.

Sabay kaming pumasok ni Aubrey, I felt uncomfortable beacuse a lot of students staring at me, hindi ko alam kung nagagandahan ba sila sakin or naiinsecure sila from my recent victory. They're staring at me from head to toe like they are observing my body, I hate the way they looked at me.

When I arrived inside my room, I was welcomed by a loud noise from my class I wonder kung hindi pa sila nakakaget over sa pagkapanalo ko or what.

"Mamaya after our Science Class, selected pilot students will come to our room to to teach the yell for our Intamurals." Andeng announced it in the front of the class, our class president.

"Hmmmm, sana mga lalake magturo satin mamaya, I heard a lot of handsome boys are in the pilot class." Iyah give me a smirk like she will gladly entertain the pilot students later. Ang pinakamalandi sa aming tatlo.

Agad kaming bumalik sa upuan namin nang mapansin naming papunta na si Sir Noel.

"Good morning class." Sir Noel greeted.

"Good morning Sir" parang echo yung bati namin dahil hindi kami sabay-sabay.

"Before I get go further, let's congratulate again Deanna for successfully representing our section."

As what Sir said, the class did it, yung iba sumigaw pa tapos may ibang nagsasayaw pa like they were dancing the budots dance. Hell I care I just flip some strand of my hair and whispering 'Ako lang 'to guys'

5 down 3 to go. Natapos agad morning class namin and as usual wala kaming naitindihan sa mga lessons na itinuro sa amin kanina. Bored na bored kami nina Iyah or excited lang kami dahil tuturuan kami ng mga nasa pilot class. Nakaschedule ang Science class namin mamayang 1:35, so last period pa sila pupunta dito.

Nag-enjoy kami sa subjects namin ngayong afternoon, we have some games, role playing and more. Tamad na tamad talaga kami if lecture lang mas gusto namin yung teacher na approachable at hindi halatang tinatamad magturo samin like Sir Noel. He never felt tired even he is our adviser hindi ko alam kung paano niya kami natitiis.

Recess before the last period, we decided na magrecess sa likod, likod ang tawag namin sa kanya beacuse from the world itself it was located at the back of our building. Tambayan ito ng mga nagcucutting na students, madalas kami dito and halos kilala ko na rin napunta dito, most of the regular sections are taking their recess here, minsan nagugulat kapag may pilot students na nakain dito.

"Alam mo ba yung proper disposal of waste?" sita ni Aubrey don sa isang studyante na basta na lang nagtapon ng basura. Aubrey was part of student council and that was one of her duty to make the students well-disciplined at all aspects.

Dirediretsong lumakad yung studyante na parang wala siyang narinig so pinulot na lang ni Aubrey at itinapon sa basurahan. Well the model student among us, she deserves a clamour.

Bumili kami ng Flying Egg at saka Yogurt. Dumiretso na agad kami sa room after we ate. Pansin namin na yung ibang G10 room tahimik so I wonder na baka nandoon na yung mga pilot students. When we went inside our room wala pang napunta so we waited until a female student came along. Magulo room namin and wala kaming balak ayusin 'yon dahil last period na naman, we never feel ashamed about this kapag naguguluhan sila edi sila mag-ayos, it is not because they are in the pilot class we should respect them and they should expect something good to us. Of course no! We are the worst section ever and nothing can change that.

Kumuha yung babae ng chalk then she started writing something on the board.

"G10 YELL" bulong namin habang sinusulat niya iyon.

Matangkad yung babae, nakabrade, maputi and she looks like a smart student though mukha siyang mataray. What the heck, what did I even say that, lahat nga pala ng nasa pilot matalino and that proves na bobo talaga ako. Chos

"Hoy sinong kinakausap mo diyan?" tanong sakin ni Iyah.

"Wala" I whispered and teased her, nahopia siya kasi babae yung magtuturo samin. She rolled her eyes and gave me a smirk, she looked outside like she was telling me to look out there too.

My mouth automatically forms an 'o' when I saw Rocco's face with his friends walking towards our building like what the...we are so lucky if they are the one who will teach us.

My brows furrow and Iyah does too when they proceed on the room next to us. Sinadya ba nilang maglakad papunta sa room namin tas biglang liliko. Napasapo na lang ako sa noo ko sa inis.

"Poor you" Aubrey teased us while pointing at me and Iyah.

We heard some whispers of girls at the back so our heads automatically turned and give them a sign to shut up, mga haliparot!

My dumb face formed when I check the men near at the door. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, Rocco and his friends are already there.

"Oh Rocco bakit kayo nandito akala ko ba sina Jayson kasama ko?" the girl suddenly glanced at their direction when she felt their presence.

"Naunahan na kami nina Jayson sa kabila kasi andoon sina Clarisse kaya nakipagpalit siya sa amin, bakit Sophie ayaw mo ba kaming kasama?" Rocco's friend said in a monotone.

"Of course not, come in" yaya nung Sohpie na akala niya room nila 'to para magpapasok ng iba but kung ganon ba naman kaggwapo ng bisita alangan namang hindi namin papasukin.

My eyes got widened when he walked frontwards on our row. His friend remained and leaned his back at the door. On the other hand Rocco is starting to observe our room. I can't believe this...that he is actually inside our room.

He's mestizo, taller than me a bit I guess? also has a very masculine feature and that is pretty seductive geez. He had this well built body I think because he is a basketball player so he used to go at the gym.

"Miss...miss? I don't want how you stare at me it looks like you're seducting me in your imagination." he said while snapping in front of my face.

I heard a loud laugh at the back and when I tilted my head I saw Khaila who is grinning from ear to ear like she was taking advantage to my dumb face.

"Hey miss" Rocco suddenly shouted to get my attention. No not only my attention but the whole class.

Hindi naman ako bingi para sigawan niya, "What! Masama bang titigan ka, natutunaw ka ba 'pag tinititigan diba hindi?Bakit ka naiilang sa tingin ko." I stood up and faced him.

I noticed that some of our classmates and even his classmate whispered 'whoa' they looked like they are surprised to what I said.

"Hindi ako naiilang, the way you look it's so intimidating. Now look, do you have crush on me?" he walked closer to me.

I shouldn't admit that he is my crush it's so embarassing if I tell it in front of the class. Meanwhile, the way he stares at me I feel I am already melting with his hot damn eyes.

"No way, hindi ako katulad ng ibang babae diyan na makukuha sa mga titigan mo and you're not even my type." I denied and looked back at Khaila para patamaan siya.

"Talaga ba?" I accidentally put my bare hands on his broad shoulders when he suddenly grabbed my waist to push me closer to him.

Narinig ko ang kantyawan ng mga kaklase ko and some are saying 'PDA' ew.

"Bilis tol ah, narito tayo para magturo paalala ko lang sayo." his friend warned him.

"What is the meaning of this Ms. Mendrez and Mr. Lozano?!"

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