"Ibyang! Nakakalat na naman yung bag mo, parang kinalkal ng asong gala!"
"Saglit lang, Billie. Sorry naman po haggard lang", hingal na hingal ko sinabi. I was running back and forth my bedroom, the sala, kitchen and the bathroom sorting out my things but for some reason, I couldn't get the drift of packing things in a suitcase.
Billie, a part of my court and MUPh's fourth runner up, walked into my bedroom, hands on her hips, head tilted sideways while looking at me rummage my suitcase, "Alam mo Ibyang, para sa napaka-talino na tao, di ko maintindihan bakit hindi mo alam kung ano dadalhin mo sa bag—nagbaon ka na ba ng panty? Bakit naman panay biscuit yung napack mo?"
I looked down at my blue suitcase, contents unruly - packs of pacencia cookies (walang kokontra—i love it so much), shingaling, random skirts, lounge pants and tops were scattered on it. I did try my best to fold it properly, but I'm failing here. In my defense, I don't travel much so I'm just really starting out on this—Or maybe I should've just made a list before I started packing. Gusto ko na umiyak. I looked at Billie with a sad face, lips pouting and almost tearing up, "Te, patulong naman ano ba kasi dapat unang ilagay. Sana kasi yung parang duffle bag nalang yung dala ko."
Billie bursted into laughter, "Ibyang, ang cute-cute mo! Fine! I'll help you. Halika nga dito,"
I approached Billie and she gave me a tight hug, "kung hindi ka lang namin love bunso e, pinabayaan ka na namin" she laughed.
"Wala pa ako napack nga na panty, te" I pouted and scratched my head.
Billie looked at me with a concerned look on her face, "Ibyang, if you want to go commando sa Bohol, wala naman problema, pero as our Miss Universe Philippines kailangan mo muna iprotect yang dangal mo kahit saan ka pumunta. Napakahirap na kapag mahangin, baka kabagan ka pa" she bursted into a laughing fit— again.
There was a knock on my door so we went out of my room to the front door to let the person in, "Helloooo pizza is here gir—-what the—what happened here?!"
"May mga ligaw na asong ulol sumugod dito sa unit, pinagkakalkal gamit ni Ibyang akala basura", Billie mocked.
Bella was now looking at the two of us incredulously, three boxes of Steveston pizza in hand, ang bango nagugutom na ako amoy pepperoni.
"Ui, hindi ah. Kasi naman Bella, I'm just having a hard time packing. I don't know what to pack first," I told my first runner up in frustration.
"Aw, baby" she placed all of the pizza boxes on the oak-colored coffee table and went near to hug me, "I'm here now and I'll help you pack your bags, okay?" Bella was brushing my disheveled black hair with her hands.
I hugged her back in gratitude. Bella has been helping me cope with pressure and stress especially after Neil and I broke up. We've been talking and hanging out together and talking about life, expectations and anything under the sun really. She's been great giving me a third-party point of view when it comes to my preparations and emotional management.
It was the day before our flight to Bohol so we decided that we will have lunch at my place instead. Fortunately for them, they know how to pack easily unlike poor me who's struggling how to fit the things I need into the blue rectangular trolley box. Nakakafrustrate pero mamamaster ko rin ito by hook or crook—sana.
"Ibyang, let's set all of these aside first," Bella pointed at the things scattered in my suitcase. "we have to start with the essentials — medicines you need, underwear, then your clothes per day, a few toiletries like toothbrush if you don't like the hotel toothbrush of course, and then the rest. Don't pack a lot of clothes din because we have sponsors who will lend us dresses for shoots naman eh" Bella insisted. "Pack light and bring what you need lang for a week."

BINABASA MO ANG
The Queen & I (WLW)
FanfictionTwo Women. One Pageant. And a Wild Adventure Fit for a Queen 👑 Rabiya Mateo, a simple Filipina with big dreams, has got her eyes set on winning the 5th crown for her country at the 69th Miss Universe pageant in hopes of bringing a better future for...