Seasons

Period

(Note: This is just a work of fiction and the comments that can be possibly seen in the comment boxes are not directed towards the actual person. It's just a character so please ready your patience first.)
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Michelle's POV:

"That's just unfair," I stressed out, trying to lower my pride so that I won't make her angrier. I am trying to be the bigger person here.

"I am going easy on you, Deedee. You just can't seem to give up, ano?" She said, pointing at my chest.

I do not know what happened, but four members of the staff wearing the same shirts with the Miss Universe logo came to me earlier and said that I was ordered to go to the function hall because the executives wanted me to shoot a promotional video.

I never believed it. The staff that approached me doesn't have any valid ID that they must be wearing if they are actually part of the organization, at least legally. But I have no choice. Despite being completely suspicious of what's happening, I did follow what they want.

Because how could I say no if there are another two people each, a total of six people surrounding my friends, like this is all planned.

"Why are you stooping this low? Are you seriously threatening me?" I asked.

"If I have to, then I will! Cute mo, eh. You know that I hate not having what I want, and you keep blocking it. Paepal ka masyado."

I wanted to burst. I wanted to tell her that she's the one being completely unreasonable. I wanted to fight back, but this feels like my last warning. That if I do something that is not favorable for Max, she could literally not just do something to ruin me, but also Anntonia.

"Ano? You can't answer? Kasi you know what you're doing behind my back?"

"I am not doing anything for you to be this mad." I calmly said.

"Wow!" Max said in exaggeration. "You're forcing yourself to Ann, and you are not admitting it?"

"I am not forcing mys---"

"You are! She likes me, and you keep entering the frame."

"Max, she's over you!"

"That's bullshit! That's impossible. Who are my replacement, then? You?" Max said and started laughing.

"What did I do to you to treat me like trash?" I asked. This whole scene makes my heart crumble. I treasure my friends a lot, and the way Max talks to me leaves a serious cut on me.

"You existed in Anntonia's life and everything between us became so unstable."

"It wasn't my fault. You introduced her to us at the party, I accompanied her when she was alone, she got comfortable with our circle and that's excluding you because you're so focused on your great Pancho."

"Stop bringing up my boyfriend here!"

"See? You just opened another issue of yours that I have to point out. You're in a relationship, and you're being so possessive of Anntonia! You're doing this because you caught him making out with other girls again, right? So when you grow tired of him, you'll go running after Anntonia, and then you'll drop her again with just one text from Pancho."

"You don't have to point it out because Anntonia loves me. She should be just there, loving me when I need someone!"

"You're out of your mind, Max! What's not yours is not yours! You can't have someone only when it's convenient for you! She's not an option when you're being dumped, and she's not a toy!" I started to raise my voice. I sounded like I want to make her realize what I am saying so bad.

"I don't give a shit," Max coldly said. I shut my eyes as I try to calm myself. She really isn't open to listening to what I am saying. "You will fucking distance yourself, or else I will do something that will waste your years of preparation. I don't think the Filipino pageant fans will like that."

"Max, that's not right. That's too much."

"You don't tell me what's too much. I am just giving you a taste test of what I could possibly do."

"What has gotten into your mind for you to treat me like I am the worst person you ever met?" I had to ask. I immediately wiped the tear that escaped my eye and tried not to shed any more tears after that. I can't show her what's my weakness.

She's not the friend I used to have. My vulnerability is not safe with the Max that's in front of me right now.

"You don't care, and I have nothing to explain to you. I despise you, Michelle. Mark that on your silly terrible brain."

"You don't know what you are doing anymore, Max. You need help." I emphasized.

"So you're saying I am ill?"

"You're obsessed. You're greedy. You're becoming ruthless. Isn't it enough for you to realize it on your own?"

"Well, okay. Call me crazy, and I'll show you how crazy I can get."

"You seriously need to realize that this is not you. The Max I used to know would never be this desperate."

"So now I am desperate? What about you, who consistently meet her behind my back? What should I call you? Traitor? Whore?"

"You have her the entire day! It's the only time that I could be by her side to at least make her feel safe after the whole day of suffering to deal with you."

"Oh, Dee. You're missing out. She does enjoy my company. She surely sees my presence as the most perfect attention she could receive."

I wanted to tell her that it's just her delusions. If Anntonia is happy, then why is she always communicating with me through her eyes that she wants to be back in my arms instead?

My heart is too fragile for this. To hear Max say these things makes me wonder what more is running in her mind. It's scaring me.

"You can't be sneaky anymore, Dee. I have their eyes fixated on you. One more silliness, my boo. One more silliness." She threatens.

She smiled devilishly and tapped my shoulder. She leaned forward to whisper, "Go away from the two of us, hmm? If you don't want me to put Annt--"

"You will not do anything with Anntonia." I threatened back. I do feel like her power is too strong because she has her back supported by the executives, but that won't stop me from reminding her to never laid her dirty hands on Anntonia if she's planning something.

"Chill. Chill. I'll grant that wish. But who knows?"

"Max, I beg you. Don't put her in the worst situations. She's too tired of everything." I worriedly pleaded. Anntonia struggles with a lot of baggage and pressure she has to face, not to add that her health concern might worsen in these stressing times.

Max just ignored me and left me there, alone and dumbfounded.

Why do we have to go through all this?

We started being so completely okay here in El Salvador. We did the activities with all our passion to show how authentic we are. It just happened that we found a deeper connection more than the friendship that this competition has to offer. It just happened that we found love while we're in the middle of showing our efforts to win the crown.

I can't force myself to not care enough with Anntonia because I already admitted what I feel, and if I admitted it, it means I mean it, and I do feel it genuinely and strongly.

I do love that woman so much. I can't just ignore her and act like nothing happened just because I received these threats from Max.

God, I don't know what to do. We're just so okay in the past few days. We're handling it really well.

Is the universe giving signs that it is too complicated, and they can't let us be together because it's too much for me to wish?

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A/N:
Umatake ulit si i'm afraid i'll ruin your life hihi