Invisible

Chapter 14

After singing the final line of the song: STORY OF MY LIFE, I went out of the stage after waving good bye to the, should I call them fans?

I smiled at myself as I met Darren backstage with JK beside him. "Wow, you're so amazing, Nicole!" JK praised as he embraced me loosely. I can feel Darren's snake eyes bore through JK's head and into me.

"Thanks," I mumbled at him after hugging back and pulling away. "I believe that it's your turn to sing outside." I told him when I heard his name being called from the outsides of the backstage. "Go rock, JK." I said and he smiled to me.

"What was that all about?" Darren asked right after JK got on stage. "I mean, the you're so amazing, Nicole! And the hugging and the go rock, JK?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "What?" I asked. "Was it wrong to hug my friend?" I asked him. "I mean, I hug you, you even kissed me back there!" I reminded him with a smirk.

"Only because I said that it was a lucky charm!" he defended although his face was tomato red and I found it amusing. "Ugh, whatever." He groaned but it only took him a little while to compose himself back. "Anyway, yeah, you were so amazing back there. The only thing is; why did you pick One Direction again?"

-

After some couple of hours, the competition was over and it was already time for the announcements. Honest here, I would say that I am a little nervous about winning this thing. I know that I am good, but the other contestants were astonishing too. I would say that I am most worried about Athena. I mean, I just sang a SOML by 1D and Athena sang Problem by ArianaGrande. Granted, that song was a torture in the voice box but she managed to make it sound amazing.

All of the contestants were lined up on stage. A smirk played on my lips as the audience just made a ship name for Darren and I. It was called DaNi. Although it was short, I loved it. Dani. And because of the Dani thing, I could see that Athena was scowling more than ever. Ha, ain't life a bitch?

"If I call your name, please step forward." The announcer/host said. He was holding a paper in hand and his microphone on the other one. Although I was holding Darren's hand in the left and JK's on the right, I managed to make up crossed fingers and prayed silently, wishing that my name is written on that paper since it would be the winners.

"DarrenEspanto," okay, I knew it. There was no doubt on that one. Talent + Looks + Audience Impact = Sure win.

I can imagine how wide Athena's teasing smirk is right now. I know that there is a big chance that her name is on that paper while there's a teeny weeny chance for my name to be written on that smooth white paper. There was a part of me saying that I should have just agreed with her plan of setting her up with Darren and she would let me win. But there was a bigger part of me telling that I don't need her god damn dropped voice to make me win this thing.

"JuanKarlosLabajo," the announcer said after a long pause. I can see how happy and shocked JK was. JK stepped forward and beside Darren. Despite the fact that Darren kind of despises JK, he still clapped JK's back when JK stepped beside him. I smiled at the sight that my best friend is making friends besides me and Parry.

This is it. The last name that would be called by the announcer would be another part to win the contest. My heart was pounding loudly it already feels like it wants to rip out of my chest and pound of my body. Athena adjusted as she went beside me and held my hand. Though I don't know if it was a friendly gesture, I despised to hold her hand back.

"Nervous?" she asked and I absentmindedly nodded. Athena looked so confident that it didn't make me any favour to ease up my nervous feeling. She smirked. "You should have just taken the offer I was telling you earlier."

With that, I found a slight piece of confidence in me. "I told you," I said, "I don't need you to do that just to get me winning."

Just after I told her that, the announcer placed his microphone close to his mouth and smiled at our direction. I sighed in exasperation, I'm sure he was looking towards Athena. Athena, on the other hand, was so confident that she took a step forward and started to wave to the crowd with a huge smile on her face and simultaneously says Thank You to everyone.

"NicoleAguilar," the announcer said. My eyes were wide when my head bolted up. I can see the wide smile of Darren and JK. "Please join MrEspanto and MrLabajo in here." He says. "Let us all give our winners a warm applause!" he says to the audience. I chuckled partially at myself and at Athena before walking and stepping between Darren and JK. Ha, that's what you get for being too desperate and too boastful.

I looked at the audience and saw that most of them were still laughing over Athena's ridiculous waves and thank you's to them. To be honest, I was also still laughing between my two boy best friends because of the show Athena have provided.

"Okay," the announcer spoke again, a smile in his face. "In behalf of the other staff in this contest, I would like to thank all of the competitors who showed their incredible talents to the people around us right now." he said. "Right, so now... for the spots of the winners..." he says with a smile as he winks at the trio of us.

"Third place," he mentioned. "The third place goes to..." there was a drum before he mentions the name of the third placer. "KarlosLabajo, congratulations." There was a lady who went up the stage with the tiny trophy and the cash prize for JK.

The announcements go on and guess what? Darren was the second placer and I was the first. I just can't believe it! I thought I was going to be the second one since I knew in myself that Darren sang amazingly up here earlier and he got a lot of supporters already. But heck, I still won despite the other good attributes that Darren possessed when he performed. I never felt so blessed in my life until this!

Getting down from the stage, the other contestants from earlier crowded around me and kept telling me congratulations and all. Brian went up to me and congratulated me too. But what made me laugh was when he bent down to my height (damn this small height that I have) and whispered. "Good job lady, you whipped Athena's ass hard."

When the other contestants decided to ease off, Darren went up to me and hugged me. "Congratulations, Nic!" he said as he hugged the living crap out of me. "Oh, and by the way, what did Brian wanted from you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't get jealous, Ren. Besides, he just said congratulations and..." I tip toed to reach his ear. "... he's gay. There's nothing to be worried about." I laughed lightly as I whispered the tiny information I noticed about Brian and was soon joined by Darren, his amusement just as levelled as mine.

JK came up to us with a smile on his face. "Wow," he said, hugging me too. But the embrace that we were sharing soon got off when Darren cleared his throat loudly. What is really wrong with him? "Uh," JK stammered since Darren was watching.

"Oh, don't mind him. He won't bite." I joked.

He laughed. "Right, so since your best friend is throwing daggers and grenades at me with his eyes I would make this quick." He teased and I could see Darren scoff lightly with my peripherals. "Anyway, there's nothing much to say. I just wanted to congratulate you, is all." He smiled.

I smiled back at him. "Thanks," I said as I shook his hand. "It was an amazing experience to sing in here. This would be the most memorable contest for me." I told him. After some few chats with JK and few frequent scoffs or scowls from Darren.

I faced Darren. "See? There was no harm talking with other boys around the place, Darren." I teased. He just rolled his eyes playfully. "So?" I asked him, remembering his offer about this contest. "Shall we go somewhere for your precious secret telling with me?"

His mood shifted lightly but it only took him a little while before he got the chance to compose himself again. He smiled at me slightly, his dimples poking his cheeks, "Right," he mumbled as he took in a sharp inhale. "I think we should go to the garden and start talking about this secret of mine."