Separate Ways

Chapter 14

Franchesca

Sumapit ang intramural, tinalaga ako ng Professor ko bilang representative ng course namin sa gaganaping beauty pageant. Noong una ay ayoko dahil hindi naman ako sumasali sa mga ganyan pero ng ang mga kaibigan ko ay isa isa nang nagpahayag ng pagtulong at suporta kaya naman sa huli ay pumayag na rin ako na maging representative. Si Chester naman ay hindi na sumali, abala ito sa kanilang Badminton game. Isa rin siya sa player kaya mas pinili na lang niyang mag focus dito.

Nang magsimula ang Talent Portion, I showcase my talent in singing and playing guitar. I play a song Marry's Song by Taylor Swift. As i was strumming my guitar and singing this beautiful song, all i think was Kevin, it's just for him

I was sixteen when suddenly

I wasn't that little girl you used to see

But your eyes still shined like pretty lights

And our daddies used to joke about the two of us

They never believed we'd really fall in love

And our mamas smiled and rolled their eyes

And said, "Oh my, my, my"

Take me back to the creek beds we turned up

2 a.m. riding in your truck and all I need is you next to me

Take me back to the time we had our very first fight

The slamming of doors instead of kissing goodnight

You stayed outside till the morning light

Oh my, my, my, my

I close my eyes while singing this song until i open it and scan the crowd. They where all quiet and smiling. I even saw Raven who is handling her smart phone na nakatutok sa akin ang screen, when i clearly saw who's on the screen, it's Kevin. I smile, widely. I mouthed him 'its for you' i dont know if he noticed but i know my smile says it. Until i found Chesters eyes. He look so dumb and . . . what's wrong with him? Para bang may sakit akong nakikita sa mga mata niya. He's not smiling. Poker face lang itong nakatingin sa akin. I think of talking to him later, baka may problema siya.

Nang matapos ako sa talent ko, lahat ng kaibigan ko ay sumalubong sa akin. Saying na nabigla sila, i have this hidden talent pala. They where all surprised specially on my voice. I thanked them and smile. Binigay ni Raven ang smartphone niya, nandun pa rin si Kevin.

Kevin: "Ang galing galing mo talaga Boo, I wish i was there to support you boo."

Me: "Thanks Boo, did you like it? It's for you." I answered him and smile.

Kevin: "Anong like? I love it, thank you boo i love you."

Me: "I love you too." Nagulat na lang ako ng biglang sumulpot si Joy sa screen.

Joy: "Hi Chesca, Congratulations." Sabi nito habang nag flying kiss pa. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Jenny, alam niya kung ano ang nasa isip ko.

Me: Hi Joy, magkasama pala kayo ni Kevin.

Kevin: Yeah boo, nag invite lang si Joy na manood ng cheering competition nila mamaya.

Until i saw there background, nasa isang open crowd sila, marami naman ang tao dito but still the thought hit me, they were close now.

Me: "Ah sige. I have to go boo, casual wear na kasunod eh. Kailangan ko na mag prepare." ngunit sa totoo lang, i still have a lot of time pa naman. It's just that i am kind of upset, he never mention it before. Madalas naman kaming magkausap but he never mention about how Joy and him are now.

Kevin: "Ok boo, goodluck. Alam kong kaya mo yan. Love you." He gave me a virtual kiss, i just smiled at him. But this thought distracted me. Jelous? Maybe but there is something in Joy's action, I should know. Women's Instinct.

Nagpatuloy ang pageant. Inabot na kami ng gabi dahil sa dami rin ng participants. Nasama ako sa top 10. Sampu na lang kaming natitira and we land into final round. Dito na malalaman kung sino ang mananalo. We take a break for retouch. Nagpunta kami lahat sa backstage. Kumpleto rin ang mga kaibigan ko up to now.

Habang inaayusan ako, i saw in my peripheral view an image of a man. Nang lingunin ko ito, its Chester. He was just looking at me with a smile on his face. He whisper and say "You're so beautiful". Lumapit ito sa akin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. I just keep on staring at him and watching his moves. He knelt in front of me then kissed my hand and smile.

I just look at him. We both look at each other.

"Chesca your next" an organizer caught our attention. And then my friend approached me, giving me a goodluck hug. Inalalayan din ako ni Chester papunta sa backstage kung saan papasok ang mga susunod na kandidata. He hold me on my hand, he supports me walking in my 5 inch high hills sandals. For me it's just a natural gesture of being a gentleman kaya naman wala ako nakikitang masama dito, isa pa ay kaibigan na rin namin ito.

"Buhatin na lang kaya kita?" he sees me having difficulty walking kaya naman napa ismid pa ito.

"Dapat kasi hindi ka na sumali eh" he continued to growl. As if may kinaiinisan ito.

"Bakit? pangit ba ako kaya hindi ako bagay sumali dito?"

"Ofcourse not, for me your the most beautiful women in this world. Nakakainis lang na marami na silang nakakakita noon. Gusto ko ako lang" pagpapatuloy pa nito. Tinignan ko ito ng matagal, as if i am questioning him through my stares. Hindi naman niya ako matignan ng diretso, para bang naiilang pa itong tumingin.

"Ano sabi mo?" Tanong ko naman dito.

"Gusto ko ako lang nakakakita kung gaano ka kaganda, inside and out" and then i glare at him and asking him through my own eyes kung ano ang mga sinasabi niya. He look at me, seriously. He hold my hands and say "Gusto kita"