006

THAT stayed my mind for the whole morning. Breaktime came and I'm still I tried to focus on the lessons my teachers is discussing. I mean, I kind of want to hear it from him but when he did, I'm shocked.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am. Why?"

"You're looking at nowhere. Our teachers for this morning called you and and you seem to be not so focused today. Is it your mom?"

"Somehow?" I unsurely said.

"Let's go for the first half. What happened?"

"Well, my mom wants me to participate in Mr. and Ms. Foundation Day in our Intramurals. Yey!" I sarcastically said.

"As if Jenna will let you" she slightly laugh and tapped my shoulder. We have our so-called queen bee in our school. As cliché as it may sound but she's making everyone's living like hell once she knew that you'll compete in any pageant she's in, especially if you're in the class as hers. Of course, no one will have courage to tell about what she's doing to the disciplinary office or even teachers. It'll just get worse.

I just shrugged. Yes, I am afraid of Jenna but I am more terrified of my mother. So, I'll still push this.

"What's the other half?"

"Well, what will you do if someone called you beautiful?"

"Eros called you beautiful?" the she plastered her teasing smile.

"No. A... friend of mine was called beautiful. She asked for my advice and I don't know what to tell her" I even nodded my head.

"Did she thank the guy who called her beautiful?"

"No"

"She should have! I think your friend is thinking what happened too much unless, she like the guy" she smirked.

"No, I don't!" Joanna smiled and I took back what I said. "She don't like the guy"

"You wouldn't ask someone an advice if that's nothing to you, Guia"

"But that's the first time someone finds me beautiful"

"You are! I've told you that how many times but you're not this bothered about it"

"Someone that isn't you. He is a guy and that's a first. I'm really feeling down before I got here in school and he cheered me up through saying that"

"Alright. I get it now. But, Guia, you don't need someone to tell you that --even me because you are. You are beautiful. Don't just trust others but also yourself." then she smiled. She always know what to say.

"Let's eat?"

She nodded and we went to the school's food stalls. We chose what we should eat and went back to our classroom. I focused on what our teacher will be discussing.

"Foundation day is approaching. It'll be in 3 months. Do you have a representative?"

"Yes, Miss" all of my classmates said.

"Who's your representative?"

"Jenna, Miss" a boy from our class answered. Oh! I think I forgot the part where Jenna is our classmates. Unfortunately

"Ms. Jenna again? Are there any more candidates that is willing to participate?"

I looked at Jenna who's in the back. She seemed displease to what our professor said. She noticed that I was staring at her and then she looked back. I immediately looked away and pretended to write something.

I was shocked when our teacher called Joanna. "Yes, Miss Joanna?"

"Guia would like to participate too, Miss" she said while smiling and pointing at me.

"Do you want to enlist your name, Ms. Guia?"

When I nodded my head, whispers were heard around the room.

Our teacher silenced them and wrote something on her mini notebook. "Great. See you all tomorrow. Enjoy your lunch everyone"

Our classmates flock around me as soon as she left.

"Whoa. Guia Claire wants to go against Genna"

"Didn't expect you had it in you"

"Are you sure though?"

"It looks like it. She knows what will happen yet she continued"

"I'll just pray for your soul"

Then they all left. I expected that she'll come to me but not this early.

"Guess, I'm wrong about you. I thought that you're someone who wouldn't go to my territory. Thought you wouldn't want anything to disturb your little place. Now that you crossed the line, I expect you to be as brave as the one who nod her pathetic head a while ago" she rolled her eyes and left with her friends.

That's when I let out the breath I've been holding.

"Thanks for your help, Joanna" I sarcastically said.

"You're welcome. Don't let that get into your head. Believe in yourself" I nodded my head and went to have lunch with her.

We searched on the food stalls and ate at the tables and chairs provided.

I know that Joanna said not to worry about Jenna just said but I can't help it. Am I a fool to actually agree and enlist myself? Am I going myself to a lion's den?

"You're still worrying about Jenna?"

"Who wouldn't?"

"I understand but it's your mind. The pageant is for your mom, right?" I nodded. "Then you should stop worrying about anything. Your performance, your dress and in what way you would make your mom come here to support you"

"Mom said she'll be here for that day" I said while smiling.

"Oh! The more you should be motivated to go for it!"

"I know, I'm scared to what will Jenna do to secure the crown"

"Jenna and her obsessiveness about crowns. She's been competing all her life. Maybe it's time that someone will dethrone her or something?" then she laughed.

Dismissal came. I was putting my thing in my backpack when someone accidentally bumped my shoulder causing for it to fell on the ground. I got shock for a second that I'm looking at my things with my mouth slightly open. I even saw feet stepping on it, I looked up to see that it was Jenna.

She smiled and said, "sorry not sorry" she even rolled her eyes then left.

I picked up my things while I hear Joanna mumbling about how rude Jenna is and things that is related to her. When I finished I told Joanna that we should go.

"It's just starting. There'll be more and more severe than that. Be ready" Joanna warned and got in to their car.

I nodded at her and also got in ours as we bid our goodbyes to each other. There, I found Eros smiling.

"Good evening, Miss"