I'm In Love with my Childhood Friend

Chapter 24: Mixed Emotions

(Marcus POV)

I bitterly smile when I heard her answer. I know I was the one she was pertaining awhile ago. I'm the person who left them, Who left her. I know I had hurt her for leaving beside her but I need to, because It's the only way for us to keep our lives moving on and accept reality

I stoop down because I feel guilty for what I have done. I'm happy for her and at the same time lonely because I'm missing her presence. I miss her naughtiness, her loud voice, her being innocent. I f*cking miss all about her. She's the only person that can make my whole system into chaos.

I wish someday she will understand and forgive me because I'm doing this for our own sake.

(Steph's POV)

My hands and my knees were shaking because of nervous. We are still here at the stage waiting for the result of the winners. I'm not expecting to be one of the top four winners because I know that this is not my passion and I don't know anything about this.

Everyone is in silence when the host is walking towards at the center of the stage while holding a paper with a result.

"Ok. So I have the result now. Are you all excited!" He shouted at the top of his lungs and excitement is written on his face.

All of them are yelling at hindi mapakali sa kanilang kinauupuan. Halos hindi ko na marinig ang hiyawan ng mga tao dahil sa kaba ko at sa sobrang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko na parang gusto ng kumawala. My hands were  sweating and I feel I would pastout.

"The decision of the judges will based on the overall score, so hindi purkit partners kayo ay pareho kayong panalo. Nakadepende ang lahat sa score nyo so goodluck to all of you."

"The third placer are... Congratulations to number 11 Hazel Gonzua of Yellow Tigers and number 4 John Lee of Black Whales!" The host said with a big smile on his face while clapping his hands.

The crowd gets wild. The judges went on the stage and gave them a sash, bouquet of flowers and a trophy. They took a picture after that.

I smile at them but I'm still nervous. I can't wait anymore but I need to.

"Hayy! Pati ako kinakabahan kung sino ang mga mananalo. Ok, so our second runner up is..." Bitin pang sabi ng host and then the drum rolls.

Napapikit ako ng madiin at hinihintay na mabanggit ang pangalan ko na kahit papaano ay umaasa paring matatawag.

"Congratulations to... Number 19 Carmi Madriaga of Blue High Eagles and number 10 Stewart Montenegro of team Pink Flamangos!"

Bigla nalang bumagsak ang mga balikat ko dahil umaasa lang ako sa wala. Para lang akong tanga bakit ba hinihintay ko pang banggitin nila ang pangalan ko eh wala naman talaga akong pag asang manalo dito. Saka bakit ba masyado akong affected eh kung si marcus nga hanggang ngayon dipa din natatawag. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at ngumiti ng pilit.

Tinignan ko sila cath at alam kong umaasa din sila at halata sa mga muka nila na hindi na makapaghintay. Bahagya pa akong natawa ng mapansin kong naiirita si cath pero binabawalan lang ito ni aj. Masaya narin ako dahil alam kong andyan ang mga kaibigan at pamilya ko na sinusuportahan ako ngayon. Feeling ko panalo narin ako kahit hindi ako manalo ngayon. I'm so blessed to have them in my life.

"So the first runner up...Wooh! hindi ko na kaya to." Pasakalye pang saad ng host at tila ba hindi mapakali at nagpupunas ng pawis sa noo. "Ang hirap palang mag host.Ganito pala ang feeling na nandito sa harap ng maraming tao, yung tipong babanggitin mo lang naman yung pangalan ng mga winners pero pati ikaw kinakabahan at parang sasakit ang tyan hahaha!" Dagdag pa nito at nagtawanan naman ang mga manonood. Halatang pinapagaan nya ang mood ng mga tao dahil masyado nang tahimik na akala mong may mangyayareng kakaiba dahil masyado silang tutok sa stage.

"So the first runner up is no other than contestant number 1 Alina Romual of  Black Whales and number 14 Louie Saavedra of Yellow Tigers!"

I just keep smiling para maipakita na okay lang ako, na okay lang lahat ng ito. Napatulala nalang ako habang nakahawak parin ang dalawa kong kamay sa aking bewang. Parang wala na akong naririnig sa aking paligid at feeling ko magisa nalang ako ngayon dito sa stage at para bang walang pake sa mga naka paligid sa akin basta hinahayaan ko nalang ang lahat.

"This is it everyone! So the lucky representatives who will win in this Mr. and Ms. Intrams will receive a sash, trophy, bouquet of flowers and cash na mapupunta sa buong team nila at kung sakali man na magkaiba ang team na mananalo, the cash will be divided into two." Paliwanag pa nito pero wala na akong pake bahala sila dyan.

"Wooh I'm so excited. I know I would be the one who will win in this pageant." Saad ng isang babaeng maarte na malapit sa amin. Medyo napabalik ako sa katinuan ng marinig ko iyon at napatingin sa gawi nya. Nagpigil naman ako ng tawa ng mapagsino ito. Kahit kelan talaga ang lakas ng bilib ni gale sa sarili nya. Kulang siguro sa aruga yung babaeng yun kaya masyadong papansin.

"At ikaw naman ang magiging partner ko diba marcus." Jeez she's so disgusting. Halos mapasuka na ako ng makitang nagpapa cute sya kay marc na sobra din ang ngiti nito. Tss talaga bang nananadya sila.

Iniwas ko nalang ang tingin ko at hinayaang tangayin nanaman ako ng aking pagkatulala sa kawalan. Wala nanaman akong pake at parang ni isang salita wala akong naririnig sa paligid ko.

"Congratulations to number 17 Stephany Ramirez of Red Dragon Warriors and number 18 Marcus Garcia of Red Dragon Warriors!"

Wala parin akong pake at tulala parin pero napansin kong nagkakagulo na sa baba ng stage at nakitang may mga sumisigaw, may mga umiiyak, may mga nakangiti at para bang hindi mapakali sa kinauupuan. Hanggang sa nagulat nalang ako at napabalik sa reyalidad nang hawakan ni marcus ang kamay ko at napatingin ako dito. Nakangiti ito habang titig na titig sa akin.

Nabaling ulit ang tingin ko sa paligid at napansing nagkakagulo ang mga kaklase namin pati na ang mga kaibigan ko na sila cath ay hindi mapakali at winawagayway pa ang banner ko.

"Stephany and Marcus please join us here." Saad ng host kasama ang ibang judges and that time nang banggitin ang pangalan namin doon lang tuluyang nag sink in sa utak ko ang lahat.

Napahawak ako sa bibig ko and my tears streaming down my face because I still can't believe this is really happening and I'm so happy.

The judges gave me a sash, bouquet of flowers and a trophy. I look at marcus and I saw how happy he is. Napatingin din sya sa akin at ngintian ako pero napaiwas nalang ako at itinuon sa parents ko. Nakita ko sa kanila kung gaano sila ka proud sa akin.

The host smile at us and gave us a microphone. "Do you want to say something?"

"I...I ahm I really can't believe that this is happening because, first of all I am not a fan of pageants. I really don't like joining this kind of stuff but my classmates push me to do this even though I'm not comfortable. I joined here because they are important to me so I grant their wish and I'm also challenged to do what's new to me. And I'm so lucky that there would be possible even if it is impossible. I just want to say thank you to all of my classmates, my adviser. To my friends and most especially to my parents who's always there for me and believe that I can do better. This is for all of you." After what I've said the crowd gets wild again and I heard also some drum rolling. They start cheering again and I'm glad to see how happy they are.