I WAS still holding the necklace my Mom gave to me, it eases my nervousness especially when I hear her voice in my head. So comforting.
Goodluck, my dear.
Everyone inside the room are busy like bees. Make-up artists and hairstylists are busy doing their jobs on students and a few teachers from other schools. Everything was like sped up in two times.
I see a few staffs who are in charge of the studio and the cameraman being frustrated. If I were in their shoes, I would probably relate.
"Natalia, here comes your stylists!" My adviser fastly tapped my shoulder as she saw them, I could see them rushing to me as I look on the vanity mirror.
"Ano ba naman yan, ang tagal niyo!" Aniya ng adviser kong galit na.
"Hala mamshie sorry," pinatong niya yung make-up supplies sa vanity table sa harap ko, the guy apologetically smiled as he looked at me. "Sabi kasi ni Kire, bago mag nine kailangan nandito, kaya eight-fifteen na kami umalis."
"Hay nako baks, kaninang eight pa kita tinatawagan ayaw mo sumagot!" Asik nung babae na katabi niya. "Jumebs ka pa kamo eh late ka nga nagising, natraffic pa!"
"Eh sensya na ateng, may hangover ako kagabi, edi ikaw na responsible, duh." He just rolled his eyes at the girl beside him, it was very amusing.
"Instead na magsisihan kayo, start putting make-up on my student and style her! Halos lahat ng estudyante sa room na ito nakaayos na!" My adviser told them, sumunod naman na sila agad at nagsimula na.
"So girl, wala ka bang chika diyan?" Tanong saakin nung bakla habang nilalagyan ako ng foundation.
"Po?" I looked at him in the mirror. "Wala po hehe." Hindi ko din naman alam kung ano ikukwento ko kasi wala naman.
The hairstylist started curling the bottom of my hair.
I noticed how great the make-up artist is doing because I looked flawless and my skin looked naturally bright.
"Ang ganda," I said admiring myself in front of the mirror.
"Ko? Alam ko naman yun girl," Mahina niya akong hinampas sa braso. "Ano ka ba, small thing lang yorns hihi." He chuckled lightly and inattempt niya hawiin ang maikli niyang buhok.
"H-ha? Hehe, sabi ko po maganda yung make-up." I awkwardly smiled.
"HAHAHAHAHA ayan kasi! Wag assuming bakla, masasaktan ka lang HAHAHAH!" Pinagtawanan nung babaeng hairstylist yung make-up artist.
Natatawa ako sa kanilang dalawa so I just pursed my lips to stifle a laugh.
"Alam ko 'yon beh, choz lang." Nag peace sign siya saakin sa salamin, nginitian ko nalang, he continued doing my make-up right after.
After a few strokes and dabs on my face, he was finally done.
"Oh girl!" He then put his brushes inside the make-up bag. "Ang ganda mo, bagay sayo! Medyo kamukha mo na si Liza Soberano pag nakatalikod!" Pabiro niyang sabi. "Choz, promise ang ganda mo, lalo na siguro kung sinuot mo na yung dress na dinala namin."
"Dress po?" I confusingly looked at them.
"Yes bibi, tara hatid kita sa dressing room." The hairstylist then took a black cloth bag where the dress was securely wrapped and was hanging on the cloth rack.
Nakarating na kami sa dressing room, it was quite a hassle because there were only a few stalls and a lot of students were changing.
"Nandito lang ako sa labas, in case you need help." She offered. She handed me the bag, I took it and went inside.
Binuksan ko yung laman nang bag, pagkakita ko palang ang ganda na. It is a semi-formal burgundy haltered neck dress that ends below my knee. Humarap ako sa salamin at hinarap ko yung dress sa katawan ko para makita kung gaano kaganda ang bestida.
"Natalia?" The hairstylist called out from outside. "Eto rin po yung red doll shoes, para bumagay sa outfit niyo." She slid a box under the door. (DA DOOR!, Joke lang)
"Ah sige, thank you po."
I wore the dress and it fits my body perfectly, bagay na bagay saakin, I also wore the red doll shoes to complete the look.
Ang ganda ko ngayon.
I was mesmerized of what I am seeing, I did a few turns to check how pretty the dress is. It made me look taller I guess, my height currently is 5'6 and buti nalang hindi ako nag heels. My hairstyle made it look more cuter because it was an infinity knot and my curled hair ended below my shoulders, a few strands of hair was hanging in front of my face. It was simple but, elegant.
I looked at myself one last time, then I decided to go out. Medyo nahihiya ako.
Nakatalikod yung hairstylist so I called her, "Ate, okay po ba?"
She turned around and was shocked.
"OH MY GOD!" A few people was shocked with the sudden scream of my hairstylist, kaya nagtinginan din sila sa gawi namin. "ANG GANDA!" She said frantically waving her hands while squealing.
Nakita ko paparating din yung adviser ko, Mrs. Castro was clearly irritated and my make-up artist was trying his best to calm her down while walking towards us, they stopped as they were astounded when they saw me.
"OH MY GOD BEH, KAMUKHA MO NA NGA SI LIZA SOBERANO!" He placed both of his hands sa magkabilang mukha niya. "OMG! I cannot accept the fact, dapat ako lang huhu." He fake cried as he was wiping imaginary tears from his eyes.
"Maganda nga Ms. Montenegro," Mrs. Castro complimented with a smile, "Tara na, the competition is about to start."
**
"Good day everyone! This year an educational debate will be held and watched globally, competitors from different schools and universities will be competing one another, may we call on our judges to introduce themselves as well as the rules and criteria." The host greeted everyone.
Umakyat na yung mga judges at nag explain ng rules and criteria about sa debate.
"Since this is an international debate," Aniya ng isang judge. "We will only accept the English language. This year it will be a one on one debate, which means it will be a debate not on teams"
Everything stated out was fine for me, napaghandaan namin ito ni coach so it's a great help.
"And for the criteria," Another judge spoke as he read a card, "Organization thirty percent, clarity 30 percent, use of argument thirty percent, delivery thirty percent. Which makes it, one hundred percent!"
"And the debate starts, now!" The host enthusiastically said.
Kinakabahan ako, malamig pa naman dito sa auditorium, I lightly tapped my chest to calm my self, nakapa ko yung necklace na binigay ni Mom, I held the pendant. I breathed in and breathe out.
You're gonna be okay. Goodluck self, kaya mo 'to.
A few schools and universities have competed, and I must say, they professionally did really well. I was practicing a few topics in my head when my school was called out.
"Let's welcome, Southville International School where Natalia Shay Montenegro is the representative and Westfield International School where John Liam Benjamin is the representative. Give them a round of applause!"
The audiences clapped, and the host walked away from the center of the stage. Me and my competitor took the given mics by the stage staff. I looked in front and saw cameras flashing, a bunch of network reporters were talking to the camera and T.V crews doing their jobs capturing us on live. The whole auditorium was full of people. Anxiety started to hit me.
"You will be given twenty minutes to debate, each participant will be given the chance to speak for a time of five minutes which means you will have two chances to speak out in twenty minutes." A judge reminded.
"Your topic is, 'All people should have the right to own guns.' Time starts now." Then the judge pressed the timer.
Five minutes yung given na time so nagisip ako ng mabuting sasabihin.
"Not all people should have the right to own guns, in view of the fact that it could be used wrongly by the owner, it could cause harm to other citizens as well as the rodents living peacefully." I strongly stated.
I pressed the bell as a signal I'm done. Nagisip ng ilang minuto ang kalaban ko bago siya nagsalita.
"I approve that all people should have the right to own weapons as protection, there are certain countries owning weapons and are used wisely." He calmly stated.
Napakadali naman ng katwiran niya, sabi ko sa isip ko.
"You do have a point but in my case, sometimes the weapons that they owned are used to threaten a few citizens in their place. For example, a robber in attempt to rob a bank, that robber is using a gun to protect itself and it is also used to threaten one's life to get what it wants."
Nawala narin kaba ko, I feel confident to speak out what I have on my mind. John Liam, who's my opponent, went into a buffering mode, he was losing time, he has one minute left.
"About that..." He looked up as if he was trying to look for answers. "I strongly disagree with your-"
"TIME'S UP!" The judges said.
"That was a fantastic and interesting topic you got there judges! I was amazed by the two contestants for sharing their thoughts on the given topic." The host told the audiences, I see a few of them agreeing. "Especially this beautiful young lady right here." The host then looked at me.
"All right! We will wait for the judges to compute the given criteria for each competitor, for now let's welcome our last year's winner in Vocal Singing, Angel Juarez!"
We then went back to our seats, a camera flashed just behind from where I'm sitting, I looked behind and saw no one, that's weird. Nagsimula narin kumanta yung babae sa stage.
Sana manalo ako, I thought. I just clasped both of my hands and hoped to win, I remembered it could help us financially.
"Uy, you did well kanina." Sabi sakin ng isang Lasallian tapos ngumiti siya.
"Thank you, you did well too!" I told him back.
"Jackson." He introduced himself as he led out his hand, I took it and introduced myself as well, "Natalia." Then I just smiled.
May staff ata na nakabunggo habang dumadaan sa likod ni Jackson the reason why he groaned.
"Sorry." The member of the staff said.
"Next time, tumingin ka sa dinadaanan mo." Jackson irritatingly said.
"We will be now announcing the winners!" The host excitingly said.
I crossed my fingers waiting for the host to announce the winners.
"Third Runner up, from De La Salle University Manila, Jackson Sanchez!"
We and the audience clapped as he went up and received the medal.
"A reminder, the grand champion will also receive a cash worth of a thousand U.S Dollars." A judge reminded.
Diyos ko, sana grand champion ako. Natawag na yung second runner up, first runner up nalang tapos grand champion.
"First Runner up, from Southville International School, Natalia Shay Montenegro!"
Hala...
I didn't know what to react, should I be happy or not?
I got up from my seat and walked towards the students who won, I saw some audiences talking to one another, I heard one audience saying 'she deserves the grand champion'.
The Grand Champion was called out and it was unexpected.
"JOHN LIAM BENJAMIN OUR GRAND CHAMPION FROM WESTFIELD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL! CONGRATULATIONS!"
The audience went silent, a few seconds later they got furious.
"How did that happen?!"
"I paid for the best seat and this is what I got?!"
"What kind of competition is this?!"
The host and the judges were astonished of what they're seeing. The audience being chaotic. I am confused as well.
"I am sorry my dear people." The host went back at the center of the stage and sincerely apologized.
I guess there's no hope.
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P.S.
Reminder this is a work of fiction, places and names are not related nor affiliated in the living world. Thank you.