One of The Barbies

PROLOGUE

[JUNIOR PROM: THE MEDIEVAL MASQUERADE]

"May I have this dance?" Tumingin pataas si Kriesha. She stared at the masked man right in front of her. Ang mapulang labi at matangos na ilong lang niya ang hindi natatakpan ng maskara.

She didn't need affirmations, kilala na niya ang lalaki sa likod ng maskara. "Pax?"

"Hindi ako si Paxton." He tried to lie, pero hindi ito gumana kay Kriesha.

"Stop lying, alam kong ikaw 'yan," Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng lalaki. "Even just judging by your hands."

Inilagay ni Paxton ang kanyang kanang kamay sa baywang ni Kriesha and held her right hand. "Edi ikaw na may alam." Aniya habang inilapat ng babae ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ng lalaki.

Her waist fit right into his hands as if she was made for him. It's as if time stopped when they started dancing. Their eyes and hands were locked. Their bodies moved as one. Hindi nila pinapansin ang kahit sinong nasa paligid nila. It was their moment.

"Akala ko hindi ka na darating. Alam ba ni Tita at Tito na nandito ka?" Kriesha gazed into his eyes.

"Si Mom lang may alam and um," Ngumiti siya. "I sort of used you as an excuse..."

Ngumuso si Kriesha. "Anong sinabi mo?"

"Na ayokong mag-isa ka sa unang prom mo." Sagot ni Paxton.

Kriesha's pouting face turned into a bright smile nang marinig niya ang sagot ng lalaki. "That's kind of sweet. Buti naman pumayag... kahit si Tita lang."

"Syempre pumayag siya. Mukhang nagpaplano na nga agad ng kasal, eh."

She scoffed bago mas lumapit kay Paxton at inilagay ang ulo niya sa dibdib ng lalaki. "Are you sure you wanna marry me?"

"Of course."

"Kahit ibang-iba ako sa'yo?"

"That doesn't matter. Ang importante, masaya tayo sa isa't isa."

Hindi na uli sumagot si Kriesha. She was too into moment.

Sobrang saya niya. She didn't want anything to ruin the moment... ngunit biglang tumunog ang mic. It made a loud ringing sound bago may nagsalita.

"Good evening North Horizon University. I want everyone's attention to be on me, please. On the stage!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Kriesha sa nakita niyang nasa entablado; Elizabeth.

Mabilis niyang nakuha ang atensyon ng lahat ng estudyante. Most of them were annoyed.

"Okay, now that you're all paying attention to me; the future prom queen," She giggled. "May ipapakita ako sa inyong lahat."

Ibinaling niya ang tingin niya kay Kriesha at ngumisi. "I'm going to be exposing The Barbies. Tama ang narinig niyo. Malalaman niyo ang totoong personalidad ng mga feeling inosenteng mga plastik na 'yon."

Biglang may nag-play na video sa projector na nakatapat sa pader sa may entablado.

The video showed Veronica pushing Elizabeth out of a bathroom stall habang nakabuntot sa kanya ang mga kaibigan niyang sina Kriesha, Clara, at Ashley. Nagsabunutan si Veronica at Elizabeth habang sumisigaw si Kriesha.

"You're such a b*tch, Elizabeth! Tama na kasi!" Pinipigilan niya ang dalawang babaeng nag-aaway.

"Bakit ba kasi hindi mo ma-accept that I'm better than you?! You're nothing but a wannabe! You will never be likes us!" Sunod ni Veronica bago tinulak si Elizabeth. Nadapa ang babae sa sahig.

Before the video could continue, biglang may tumaas sa entablado at sinabunutan si Elizabeth. It was Veronica.

They tackled each other on stage. Malakas na naghiyawan ang mga estudyante.

Tumakbo papataas sina Kriesha, Clara at Ashley.

Elizabeth's friend, Annabelle couldn't help but try to save Elizabeth from the chaos that was happening on stage.

Ang anim na babae ay nag-sabunutan, sampalan, sipaan at suntukan except for Kriesha.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang muntikan na siyang makipag-away dahil lang sa iisang video na halos walang kuwenta.

Nakatitig lang siya dahil that moment was when she realized how much she had changed just because of The Barbies.