IBARRA’s POV(CONTINUATION OF THE PAST)“What are you doing here?” I asked Marciella as soon as I got close to her.She smirked. “You do know that your ‘Chu’ just tripped, right?”My eyes slightly glanced where I knew Rebecca and the others were standing but never really looked back. “I know.”Her smirk turned into a wide mocking grin. “And yet you chose to walk towards me?” She looked undeniably delighted as she patted my head.Instinctively, I moved away, and her expression immediately changed.“What? Am I not allowed to touch you here?” Her tone sounded as if my action was against the law.I let out a frustrated sigh. “If you want to become the school target, then be my guest.”She scoffed, then mockingly laughed while her eyes were gleaming with amusement. “Oh yeah, I forgot that you are the ultimate campus crush here. Okay, I’ll abide to that.” She even nodded. “Especially… I’ll be studying here starting tomorrow.”I was stunned and looked at her completely baffled. When I finally
REBECCA’s POV(CONTINUATION OF THE PAST)“Rebecca!” Hera and Mira swiftly ran towards me and helped me to get back on my feet – but my body just couldn’t.Aside from the humiliation I faced when the girls in the audience laughed at me, I was able to witness how Ibarra was immediately magnetized by her presence. He stared at her as if she was the only woman that mattered at that time.That cursed, cat-eyed Marciella.“Hey, does your feet hurt?” Heiji’s worried voice made me glance at him. He gently checked my feet and even massaged them carefully.That was also the only time when I notice that the whole gang was already beside me. My breathing started to get uneven – I guess the feeling of being overwhelmed and pressured just started kicking in. Tears suddenly rolled my eyes no matter how much I tried stopping them.“What Rebecca? Speak! Are you hurt somewhere?” He looked frantic. Now the girls were also anxious. They were already surrounding me as they waited for me to answer.I preten
REBECCA’ S POV(THE PAST – MANGGAHAN HIGH)My hands were sweating, heart pounding, and my legs were wobbly from utter nervousness. Today, we were designated to practice on the stage. No costumes yet or anything, just how we will present ourselves in the crowd and execute our iconic walk.Yes, just me and Ibarra. No other contestants involved.But the students? Oh, they are free to watch us. What’s mortifying was the fact that we got the lunch schedule. So right now, a lot of students were gathered in front of the stage while eating and gossiping, eyes expressing excitement and high expectation. Not to mention, everyone was waiting for the prince himself.My God!I could literally feel my body tremble. I even came up with a plan to feign a faint so I could escape this moment. Yes, I know that it will be a temporary fix, but I’m still not that confident of how I walk, how I portray myself and how I speak in front of many.Still…I remembered what the gang told me…***** Flashback *****
IBARRA’s POV(THE PAST – BALLROOM)“Hello again, dearie!” Judiel’s mom pulled Rebecca by the wrist – leaving her completely baffled. “Now… Time for you to change.”“W-What? Wait! Now?” Rebecca looked like she was suddenly called upon for a battle, slightly panicking.I raised my brow as she they walked towards the portable dressing room. She pushed her in and reached for the dress that the maid was handing.“Here. Try this.” Mrs. Fernandez gave it to Rebecca and slide the curtain shut.“W-What just happened?” Ginny looked at Judiel, demanding for answer.Hera crossed her arms. “Is this the dress up thing you and Rebecca were talking about earlier?”Judiel sighed. Paused for a moment to massage his temple and continued. “Rebecca has been mom’s personal ‘barbie doll’ since we were young. At first, she enjoyed it. Who wouldn’t want to wear pretty dresses right? But mom has been forcing her to do this for a long time.”“Poor bestie. But I’d say this is still a win.” Mira crossed stood up f
REBECCA’s POV(THE NEXT DAY)I SLOWLY WALKED as we entered Judiel’s house. It looks the same after all these years. The garden after their tall gate is still beautiful like how I remembered it. Their furniture became modernized, but the elegance was still unchanged.“Oh my God! Rebecca?”My foot froze mid-air as I was about to take another step. My eyes immediately glanced at her – Judiel’s mom. Standing tall, hair sophisticatedly made, outfit screaming with great fashion and yet, her eyes still sparkle the same for me.“T-Tita.” I shyly greeted.“Oh my God! Look at you!” She walked around me like she was studying a new fashion style. “I love what they did to your hair.” She tilted my head while she held my chin. “Pretty eyes as always. That’s what I love about you.”Judiel groaned and pulled her hand away.Nice save!“Mom, I know you missed Rebecca, but we’re also with our classmates.”She finally looked at the others and particularly smiled at my best friend. “Oh, hello there my dear
REBECCA’s POV(THE PAST)“No, no, no!” Ginny squished my cheeks with one hand and looked at me dismayed. “Rebecca? How hard is it for you to smile naturally?”I grunted before pouting. “I’m trying! The thought of me, smiling to hundreds of students is making me hurl.”Hera rested her hand on her waist and raised her brow. “Girl, the moment you show that awkward smile of yours, we’ll lose the battle. Wanna waste our effort?”My back straightened and immediately shook my head. “No, ma’am!”“Then do as we say and we’ll ace this pageant.”I sighed. “You know I hate spotlight. I hate it when people look at me, specifically on stage.”“You can look at me, Love.” Judiel appeared out of nowhere with a beam on his lips.My eyes squinted.“Then, what if you see Mira in front of you?” Hera pulled Mira close, and she looked at me with confused stare.“What game is this?” She asked.I burst out laughing. “Please… not my best friend.”Hera tilted her head. “Hmmm… Jeremy?”My brows furrowed like aski