Seasons

Phantasm

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Ten years later, she was still fixing her hair.

"Why are you staring?" Anntonia adjusted her Louis Vuitton blanket, which she used to warm herself.

"I'm not. I'm looking at us in the camera," I said, withdrawing from resting my head on her shoulder. I played the video, giggling at how Antonia kept stroking her hair to fix it.

"What's so funny?" She was about to flick my forehead, but I quickly caught her hand, typing on my phone with the other.

"Nothing. Seems like this Barbie is too anxious about her hair."

"I didn't do it well," she frowned at me. I placed my phone in my Fendi bag.

"It looks perfect to me."

"Maybe because I'm too good for any hairstyle." She playfully said to me to express how confident she is.

"Well, yeah, hey!" I called Miss Nicaragua, who was walking with her coat. "Anntonia is too good for anyone."

Anntonia was shocked and pulled me to cover my mouth, waving and shaking her head at Miss Nicaragua. "Don't mind her, please. I'm sorry."

Miss Nicaragua laughed and waved before proceeding on her way.

"Why did I even agree to come with you today? You're so full of energy"

"I'm not complaining if you're the one who's energetic."

"Yes, but you do embarrassing things, and I don't."

I shrugged and rubbed my hands to warm them. The arena is too cold, not suitable for people sensitive to cold temperatures.

"Dee."

"Hmm?"

"What do you think about Miss India?"

I looked at Anntonia before glancing at Miss India, sitting with Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Lebanon. "Well, she's a sweetheart. She can easily make friends with anyone."

"Like you?"

"Uh, yeah? You can say that." I responded, nodding in agreement.

"What else?"

"She looks like Pia Wurtzbach sometimes. I mean, there are features of the two that have a huge resemblance."

"I can also see that. Anything to add?"

"Hmm. Nothing."

"Alright," she said and turned her attention somewhere.

What was that? Did she bring it up randomly because it crossed her mind?

"Why is that? Do you want to be friends with her? I noticed that the two of you rarely talk and interact with each other."

She instantly shook her head and once again stroked her hair. "No. I just... Nothing."

She wasn't looking at me. I could sense that she was forcing herself not to look at my direction because she was trying to pay attention to the stage, even though she had mentioned multiple times earlier that she was blinded by the lights.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked. I was about to reach for her hand, but she suddenly pretended like she was going to wear her blazer. "Anntonia."

"What?" A hint of irritation could be obviously heard in her tone.

"Are you alright? Why are you suddenly not in the mood?"

Anntonia did not answer, but I saw how she squinted her eyes as she looked away from the stage.

"I have a situational question."

I excitedly nodded because she was talking to me again. I was just about to conclude that I did something to upset her.

"For example, this girl has someone that she likes secretly, and she can't stop thinking that this other girl likes that person too. Am I making sense? Are you getting what I am trying to say?" Anntonia seriously said, adding hand gestures like she was trying to make herself clear.

"No. I don't understand." I emphasized. I know where this is heading.

"Well I me--"

"Why not put it like this? It's you, me, and Miss India as the portrayals of the characters in the story you are trying to share with me," I cut her off and seriously gazed at her.

I saw how surprised she was. Her eyes were panicking, and her mouth was trembling.

I don't want to put her in this kind of situation, but if not now, then when?

"I... I can't," Anntonia managed to say.

"I am not stupid, Anntonia." I paused. "There are a lot that we must talk about."

"Dee, this is... No, take it back."

"Why? Do you really want the two of us to be stuck at where we are?"

"That won't go well, I am telling you."

"We have to stop hiding from one another, Anntonia. I refuse to not deal with this properly."

"Stop."

I can feel that she's about to sob. It crumbles my heart knowing that I am giving her reasons to be in pain.

I looked around us and checked if anyone is looking. When I saw that everyone was preoccupied with what they were doing personally, I held her nape and pulled her closer so that I could take a moment to plant a kiss on her forehead.

This is the second time around.

"I felt them for years even before you fully accepted it. I hope this is enough to assure you that it won't be as scary as you are thinking." I paused. "I felt them before you did."

I held her face so gently before I stood up and left Anntonia there, without looking back.

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A/N:
This might be Michelle's POV, but it is not mentioned in the beginning part. 🤔

Makahula kung bakit, may kiss kay Fab. 🥰