The competition

Day of competition

Thea's P. O. V.

Gradgie woke me up early in the morning so I can prepare since today, there will be no classes, instead all seniors will go at night to celebrate last day of school before Christmas vacation.

"Good morning, Gradgie!!"

I greeted and purred like a cat.

"Good morning, sunshine! So are we ready to rock tonight?"

She asked. I smiled at her and said. 

"I was born ready, Gradgie,"

She smiled too and said

"Of course you are, I taught you how to be brave, independent-"

"strong, and powerful woman, I know." I finished her sentence, knowing thats what she'll be saying. Its true after all, I mean, Gradgie taught me how to fight, literally, I learned Tai Chi and other fighting techniques.

"Gradgie? Why are you teaching me this?" I asked

"Its for your safety purposes in the future honeybee," She said. 

At the age of 8 Gradgie is teaching me how to fight, be mentally strong, to know whether a person is an enemy or an ally by looking to its eye. 

Gradgie saw me struggling in Aikido, and sat with me and said. 

"You see, the future is dangerous for us Thea, thats why I'm teaching you this, there will be a time in the future, that you will, need this, that's why,"

I smiled, Gradgie has always sparked a smile in my face without no reason "Okay Gradgie," I stated without hesitation this time. 

"Lets do it again?" She asked.

"Lets go,"

Eli's P. O. V. 

France and I planned to look for the missing duchess tomorrow, since there are only 100 of houses in the village, we can check all of those tomorrow, but for now, my first check, is to go to school. The duchess' granddaughter is there, a part of a competition, I need their infos, each and every candidate.

Be prepared Hermosa1 , Alexander Elliot is coming to get you. 

I went downstairs to check on France and I was curious of what he's cooking.

"Hey France, what is that? in that plastic cup?"

I don't know what that is really. 

"It's called instant noodles, Eli"

What??

"Instant noodles? is that even safe?"

I took the cup and look at its cover, 'put hot water? let it sit on for three minutes? then I'll enjoy the noodles? 

Is this even legit? 

"Here, Eli, try it,"

I took the cup of noodles from France's hand and take a spoonful of noodles and wow, I'm impressed, it is instant noodles, plus it is freakin' delicious. 

Then I got my eyes on the packets on the cupboard

"Hey France, what are those?" I asked and pinpointed at the blue packets with a photo of a coffee. 

"Those? Those are coffee powder, You  just need hot water, and that, then, voila! You have your coffee!"

Filipinos really are something. 

"Make me one, France." I said

"In a minutes," he answered, and true to his words, in almost a minute he presented me the coffee. 

It smells good

It taste good too

I wonder why we don't have these things in the castle, I mean, I'll save time, plus its delicious. 

"How about those France? What and why do we have these cans." I asked

"Those are canned sardines, oh and by the way, all of the things you asked me, are very cheap, literally cheap,"I looked at France

"Are we, short?"

"No, I just want you to experience, the life of usual Filipino, its a package by your very own butler."

"I give you an A+ then," 

He chuckled and we had our breakfast, Filipino breakfast I'll say. 

Thea's P. O. V.

Its time. 

I'm ready. 

The emcee started calling each and every candidate for introducing themselves and I'm candidate no. 3

"Let us call on candidate no. 3!"

I walk on the stage wearing an off-shoulder black mini dress with flowy sleeves, owned the stage like Gradgie told me, before I spoke I look at my best friend whose holding a freaking tarpaulin of my photo.

"Good evening folks! I'm Anthea Lyn Czeisler Espiritu, candidate no. 3, in the belief that, you can't spell hero without  "HER", Thank you!"

okay that is bad. 

I smiled and left the stage. 

As each candidate finish introducing, each of us changed our clothes and I have Cath as my assistant, next up sports wear, and I'm wearing, horseback riding clothe, whatever this is. 

Every candidate in this portion will be given ten seconds to own the stage and then will be ask the same question.

Walking to the stage, I got my eye on a guy, wearing a tuxedo, he looks like a student, maybe he is, but why is he wearing a tuxedo?

nevermind. 

"Candidate no. 3, are you ready for your question?" She asked. 

"I was born ready," I answered

"Well then, here's the question. Why did you choose this sportwear you're wearing tonight?" She said

"Thank you for that question, I chose this outfit to, show equality, that we women, are strong and should not be underestimated, to be taken easily, I wore this outfit to simply say that we women, are also capable of things men can do, I would even say much more capable, many woman can't articulate this for we are taken lightly by some people, so that is why, I chose this outfit, that would be all, thank you!"

Now that is something. 

I smiled and left the stage. 

In the back stage, I found Cath filled with joy

"That was brilliant, Thea! I told you, you can do this! "

Thea chuckled, 

"Tell me that later, let's change, talent portion is up next. " I stated

Now lets rock people. 

For talent portion I prepared a poem, that will be continued by Taylor Swift's song "Ours", wish me luck

As I wait for my turn, I watched the first two candidates and they prepared a dance, and a duet, with their boyfriends. 

Nah I don't have time for those. 

Its my turn,

oooh the nervousness. 

I walk on the stage wearing a turtle neck with sweater, mini skirt, pointed block heels. 

"The stage is yours candidate number three,"

I smiled as a reply. 

"Hey folks! so for this portion I prepared a poem, let me hear your scream!!"

Then everybody cheered for me making me smile and chuckle. 

Cuatro Estaciones. [Four Seasons] 

Will you love me at the end of fall, 

or do you want we to win against a brawl. 

Should you hug me in the coldest night? 

Could you take away my biggest fright? 

Can we go at beach when school's over in summer, 

or I'll just tell myself this stupidity is over? 

I kept waiting for you, 

when you said you'll love me too. 

Kept waiting till spring, 

hopefully my phone would ring. 

Holding on to our favorite swing, 

tears are falling, and wings are weakening. 

It's already winter, 

I guess its already over. 

For now, I'll just put these bars, 

Then, seek beautiful stars. 

After I read the poem, I sang, "Ours", by Taylor Swift. 

I finished my performance raising my hand, with a smile in my face. 

This is fun!

I still have one more portion to finish. 

This time I'll be wearing a blue sheer long gown

I'm ready!

As I walk to the stage, I kept the smile lingering in my face, I feel so happy, and I hear some people saying that I'm beautiful.

"Candidate number three, everybody likes you, your beauty and all, there's no surprise if you win this pageant," She stated

"I'll take that as a compliment." I replied

"It is, so in this last question, you will pick one, randomly, in this bowl, lies ten(10) questions, the luck is in your hands."

I put my hands inside and picked one

"Here's your question"

"let's say, you are given a chance to change something or correct one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?"

that's easy. 

"My answer would be, nothing, I will not change anything from my past, because, if I change my past, or something in my past, doesn't result as me anymore, you see, there are reasons why things happen to us, both good and bad, and that is what life is and if I change something on my past, your candidate number three, would be a very different person, and I don't want that to happen, so, again, my answer is nothing, clearly nothing, that would be all, thank you."

When I finished my answer, I found everybody yelling my name, cheering for me.

"And now, let us call on the two candidates who will be fighting for tonight's crown, candidate number three, and candidate number eight."

"Candidates, I will ask you to hold hands please"

Then we did hold hands.

"And the winner, for tonight's pageant is! Drum roll please!"

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"Candidate, number eight!"

What is this feeling I have inside? This is new

The emcee got shock.

"Oh I'm sorry! Wrong card, my apologies, our winner is candidate number three, Anthea Lyn Czeisler Espiritu!!!"

Wahhh!!! I wanna jump but can't. 

I saw Catherine jumping, being some crazy, idunno, she's freakin happy and even raised the tarpaulin freaking high!

They placed the crown on my head and the guy, the guy with his brown eyes, that lip, that face, the guy on the tuxedo is approaching me, holding a bouquet of tulips. 

"Congratulations, hermosa," he said and handed me the bouquet. 

Why is my heart beating so fast? Damn you, tuxedo guy. 

When I came home, Cath and Gradgie were a ball of energy, so happy, I laughed seeing their faces

"Our plan worked perfectly, tita Gradgie!" Cath shouted

"Let's pig out tomorrow, the three of us!" Gradgie said

We yelled 'Yeah' in unison

Eli's P. O. V.

Today is the day, France and I ask every house, now we are heading to the 65th house, hopefully here it is

*knock knock knock

"Coming," a voice of a girl said

I stood up straight, and when the door open, it spit, the woman, who made me fall, I don't know why, but thank God, I wanna see her so bad and here it is

"Hermosa," I said in a low baritone voice. 

"You," she said.