Her Stormy Seasons (Vitality Series #1) | ✓

05

They often said, beauty comes from within but it's funny how people discriminate those who had dark skin tone—colorism. I wonder, do people hate me for having a tanned skin? How about my voice? Do they get irritated everytime they hear me?

I laughed at my own thoughts. I don't care about what others may think of me. Ano naman kung hindi maganda sa pandinig ang boses ko? So what, if I'm not mestiza just like the others? I'm not born to satisfy anyone. Honestly, sometimes I just wish that I have never been born in this kind of society—toxic society.

"Kanta? Bakit, maganda ba boses mo?" I heard a woman talking to a child. I'm not sure if she's her daughter or niece.

It's not my intention to eavesdrops on their conversation. It just happened that they were so close to me.

"I'll do my best po!" Her eyes were already teary.

"You're best is just the least thing others can do."

It's funny how others disgrace us on doing what we love to do. Maybe for that girl, singing is one of her necessity in life. So what, if they aren't satisfied on her voice? Who must've care? I sighed. Somehow, I felt bad for that kid. I don't want to see others slowly loosing their confidence because of the toxicity other people may naturally have.

"Hoy!" I got back into my senses when Demiel tapped my shoulders. "Para po." Narito na pala kami.

He's already wearing his sports attire since maaga at sila ang unang sasabak sa first game ngayong araw.

Agad na akong pumunta sa room namin, hindi ko na pinansin ang mga kwento ni Demiel. Puro kayabangan lang naman. Agad niyang pinagyayabang ang mga babaeng nakakausap niya, kahit hindi pa naman niya girlfriend.

"Why do you want to win this pageant?" I stared at her for a while. I didn't even insisted to join this competition. By the way, it was Idy who asked me.

"Oo 'yon! Feeling ko itatanong nila 'yon. Isip ka na ng magandang sagot do'n." Rio, our class president, said.

They were practicing me to answer some questions, na pwedeng itanong this coming Mr. and Ms. Intramurals.

Nag-isip ako ng pwedeng mga isagot sa mga tanong na naiisip nila. Grabe sila mag-effort for this, kaya dapat ayusin ko rin. Sayang ang lahat ng pagod nila, if ever na hindi man lang ako manalo kahit 3rd runner up lang.

We immediately went to the gym when they called a meeting.  We then moved to the covered court for practice.  I left my classmates sewing, the others were already preparing the one I would wear for the head dress. Mabuti na lang talaga at walang swim wear attire, hindi ko kakayanin 'yon kung sakali.

We practiced the intermission dance, pati na rin ang pagkakapwesto namin sa backstage at kung papaano kami rarampa sa stage. Nakailang ulit din kami dahil nahuli ang ibang participants, so bawat may dadating, uulit kami mula sa simula.

"How's my muse?" he playfully asked. I just smiled at him. How's my freaking escort? Of course, I didn't told him that. Sayang ang laway mo sa lalaking 'to. Masyadong magaling sa mga arguments, talong-talo ako.

We went down to the stage, at may pinag usapan pa sila. I didn't listen to what was being said because I couldn't focus. I was hungry and I felt tired too. Wala akong ibang gustong gawin ngayon kung hindi matulog.

"Water?" He handed me a bottled water. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at nagpasalamat sa kaniya. "I know that you're already tired. Balik na tayo sa room para makatulog ka saglit." I just nodded and followed him back into the room.

Ganoon nga ang nangyari, natulog ako pagkabalik ng room. Ginising na lang ako ni Idy noong uwian na. Dalawang oras din siguro akong nakatulog. I wear my bag and I was about to leave the room when I suddenly saw David coming back.  He even brought a burger and a smoothie.