You Got Me Pregnant

Chapter 7

After that day, I tried to process and accept everything at nagfocus nalang sa mga magandang bagay na nangyayari sa buhay ko, at lalo na para manalo sa pageant.

"Bes, kinakabahan ako.", sabi ko sa best friend ko.

Sa sobrang bilis ng araw, hindi ko napansin na ngayon na pala ang pageant competition, and I can feel that my heart is in race and my knees are wobbling.

“Kaya mo ‘yan! Tandaan mo lang ‘yung mga natutunan mo, at wag kalilimutang mag-enjoy. The floor is yours my dear. It’s now or never. Fighting!”, pampalakas ng loob niyang sabi.

"Fighting!", sabay na sigaw naming tsaka ko siya niyakap. Dagdag kaba ko pa ang katotohanang, my parents and cousins are here na galing pang ibang bansa at probinsya para lang suportahan ako.

I heard the disc jockey playing loud music indicating that the program will start soon. I immediately went backstage to prepare myself for the opening number. I breathed in and out. As soon as the floor director signals us to move forward, I danced and walked with confidence. I can hear loud screams from the audience, clapping and cheering for their bets.

“Good evening. I am Yamiesha R. Ville, 21 years old, from Makati!”

“Go, number 7!”

“Pinsan naming ‘yan!”

“Seven! Seven! Seven!”

It warmed my heart when I heard my family and other supporters cheering for me. They were smiling while holding balloons, pompoms, horns, and banners with my name on it.

“Miesha, ang galing-galing mo!”, salubong sa akin ni Tita Beth. Kasunod naman nito si Mikee na pumapalakpak.

I looked at the mirror in front of me. I am wearing a red serpentine which hugged my curves and exposed my bare shoulders. This is for the evening gown, followed by the question-and-answer portion. I am hoping that my name will be called in the top 5. All candidates were prepared and deserving to hold the crown.

At first, other contenders and event pageant organizers did not expect that I am the only daughter of the former beauty queen. Natatawa nalang ako dahil sabi ni daddy, anak daw ako ng nanay ko. Dahil totoo naman, anak niya ako at para pa kaming pinagbiyak na bunga.

I am slowly walking while swaying my hips. They were smiling at me. I looked at the judges, having eye contact, making them feel my presence, and telling them that I am the one they are looking for.

“There you have it. Look partner, our Binibining Pilipinas candidates wearing their evening gowns! We can clearly see that every candidate deserves to be crowned, but only five candidates will have the crown tonight.”

“Yes, that’s a true partner. So, once your name is called, please step forward and you are already qualified for the question-and-answer portion”.

“Congratulations, candidate number three! You are qualified for the next round”, I heard the crowd cheering for their bets to be in the top five.

“Please move forward, number 27!”

“Congratulations, candidate number 18!”

Kinakabahan ako dahil dalawa nalang ang tatawagin, pero wala pa ding nababanggit na pangalan ko. “You’re still part of the competition, candidate number 24!” Mas lalong lumakas ang sigawan ng mga tao sa stadium, looking forward the makapasok ang pambato nila, “and our last candidate to be in the top five, you can now breathe candidate number 7!”

Humugot ang ng malalim na hininga, at ngumiti ng mas malapad. “Once again, candidates’ number 3, 27, 18, 21, and 7, please stay for a while. Thank you so much to all our candidates who joined this competition. You are all beautiful.”, the emcee said.

“Congratulations, lovely ladies.”

The crowd are still cheering for their bets. Some supporters were having a chant. Natatawa na din ang mga emcees sa lakas ng sigawan ng bawat kampo, “You know partner, I love how the audience is supporting their bets”.

“You’re right partner, at para magkaalaman na. Candidate number three, please move forward.”

“Your question will be from Mr. Neil Perez.”

“Hi, candidate number three.”

“Hi, too, Mr. Perez.”

“How are you feeling right now?”

"I’m a bit nervous, sir.”, natawa naman ang judge sa sagot niya. “That is okay, candidate number three besides, it is normal. So, here is your question, why red is the color of the ketchup?”

I was shocked by the question given by Mr. International. Tita Beth mentioned the judges asking anything from the smallest issue to the technical one that could cultivate the inner you, and I as a candidate should think outside of the box.

“Thank you for that logical question, sir. Well, as a food technologist, I understand how ketchup is made. It is made from a fresh tomato. It is bright red in color, and that color comes from a molecule called lycopene which is part of tomatoes, and is what makes them red. Also, the exposure of oxygen should be limited to prevent color loss and from turning the ketchup brown. Thank you.” The crowd cheered for her, and I was amazed at how she managed to answer the question calmly. The other candidates also did the same, they were commendable.

Huminga ako ng malalamin dahil ako ng ang susunod na tatanungin. 

“Candidate number seven, your question is, do you agree with pre-marital s*x? Why?”, that question is from a Miss Universe 1978 Ellen Marquez.

“First of all, thank you Miss Universe Ellen Marquez for that wonderful question. It is hard to talk about s*x because it has changed significantly in the past few decades and what used to be implied and not shown, and only spoken about behind closed doors, is now out in the open including on the shows we watch. But for me, no, I do not agree with pre-marital s*x. I would like to encourage everyone to save s*x for marriage because of religious beliefs, self-preservation, and health reasons. A lot of campaigns and advocacies were launched by the government and private groups about saving s*x for marriage to help lessen the spear of sexually transmitted diseases. This campaign not only addresses the overpopulation but also the sustainable development goal 3 which pertains to good health and well-being. That would be all, thank you!” Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti ng sobra ng marinig ko ang hiyawan ng mga tagapanood. Hindi man ako manalo ngayon at least, I made them proud.