Someone Like You

Chapter Thirty-four

My mouth goes dry but I manage to smile. "Our society has set a high level of standards for the ideal beauty. One has to be sexy, pretty, and fair to be considered beautiful. It's sad how twisted society has become, but at the same time, I can't say that someone is at fault for this. After all, beauty is a fantasy. We all want to be appreciated – to be loved. That's why we always do our best to look beautiful. I can't blame anyone for this because humans are aesthetic beings – we are born to appreciate what's beautiful. But at the end of the day, beauty still depends on the person looking at it. Thank you."

The crowd bursts in a louder cheer making me feel proud about my answer.

"Very well said Miss AU. Now let's have Miss LTU."

I walk away with gracefully with a smile. I take my leave off the stage and goes to the backstage where Dominic and his crew are waiting. They immediately assist me – wipe away my seat, give me water, retouch my hair and make-up.

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaim. "How did that go? Was my answer okay?" I ask Dominic.

He smiles widely. "Yeah. You did great!"

I let out a loud sigh and sit on the chair given to me.

The backstage is very crowded. The number of people gathered in a small place is crazily annoying. There are forty contestants representing different colleges and universities all over the country and each contestant have two to five persons assisting them. Everyone in the backstage is moving like ants, busily doing something. It's impossible to walk inside without bumping into anyone.

"Okay. Calm yourself down, Melissa. We're almost at the end." Dominic says with a wary face holding my hand in his hands. "You made your way to the top five. No one can stop you from getting the crown, you get that?"

"Calm yourself down, Dominic. I'm going to win this. We're going to win this, you get that?" I say confidently.

Dominic lightly chuckles and nods his head.

"Miss AU, you need to get back on stage. It's time for the awarding." The pageant staff says as she stand next to me.

"Okay." I smile at Dominic and his crew before following the staff.

I line up with the rest of the remaining candidates and watch as they enter the stage one by one.

"Miss AU is on standby." The staff reports through her walkie-talkie. "Miss AU will be out in 5..."

I took a deep breath.

"4..."

I can do this!

"3..."

Lord God, help me!

"2..."

I smile.

"1..."

I'll win this!

I enter the stage and the crowd bursts in a loud cheer. I slowly cat walk on the stage in an expensive, sexy, red evening gown. I feel like this is a dream. To be able to walk on the stage as a beauty pageant candidate has never ever been part of my wildest dream. I could not believe it either but it is happening!

I stand next to a candidate.

"Now is the moment of truth." The host says in an exciting voice. "After everything that had happened we all come down to this point. At this very moment, I'll announce who will be this year's Miss University! Without further ado, the fourth runner up is ... Miss DGU!"

I let out a soft sigh as I hide my nervousness with a smile. This killing me!

The host announce the winners individually and I utter a silent prayer every time the name of my university is not called. I am almost crying when we got to the point that there are only two candidates left and I am one of it.

The remaining candidate faces me and holds my hand. She smiles at me and me to her. Her hands are cold and wet just like mine. I look at her face. She is undeniably beautiful by all means but nervousness is painted all over her face. I don't blame her though. I bow my head slightly and close my eyes.

"We only have two candidates left. The name I am going to announce will be declared Miss University and the name that would not be called will immediately be the first runner up." The host explains. I try to understand what he was saying but none of the words he says makes sense to me. "This year's Miss University is ..." the drum roll starts rolling and the crowd shouts the candidate they want to win. I could hear my heart beating. It's beating like crazing. It's exploding! "Miss AU, Melissa Santiago!"

The crowd goes wild and all I could hear is the shouts and screams of victory.

I cover my mouth with my hand and have no idea on what to do.

"Congratulations." The other girl says and hugs me. She is smiling at me but it has not reached her eyes.

I slowly walk to the center of the stage. I don't know what to do. I don't know what the name of my emotion right now is. Everything is just overwhelming.

A beautiful woman approaches me and put a sash on me and places the crown in my head. Another woman gives me a bouquet of flowers and everyone is congratulating me. I was just nodding to everyone could not even say a simple thank to any of them.

I feel crazy. I feel so high. Now that I could feel the weight of the crown in my head, I feel so different. I can't process what's happening. I don't even know if I want to laugh or to cry.

I touch the crown in my head. It is there. I have been crowned. I won!