CHAPTER 53

Selena Gomez: Look at her now

~Do not think of life during success, rather, use life to chase success;

Who knows when death might choose to hang out?~

~Mina.

SERAPHINA'S POV

From the dressing room, the cheering of the crowd could be heard as the models walk down the runway in their designer clothes. I wanted to go backstage and cheer them, but Peyton insisted I root my ass on the chair, as she has some final words of advice.

While waiting for her, I decided to test the Prada heels I'll be walking on. My right foot was seconds away from slipping inside when a voice that had been haunting my nightmares lately, ceased my movements.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you." Zara emerged through the curtain separating the dressing room and backstage.

"It's none of your business." I snapped, about to slip my foot in until a peal of evil laughter erupted from her chest.

I dropped the object and stood to my full height.

"What do you want, Zara? haven't you done enough?" I bit back in a hushed tone. I don't need the securities on my ass.

"Enough? bitch, shit hasn't even started and you're already tripping." She snorted, sitting on Peyton's chair.

"What will you gain from all this drama?"

"Fun, okuuuurrrt. You look stunning by the way. Trusting you to rock flower girl's role on my wedding day with Ty-ty. Not in that uh, church wear though." She shamelessly eyed me from head to toe, clearly making a mockery out of my dress.

I clenched and unclenched my fist, fighting back the anger bubbling inside me.

Think about your mother and Peyton, Phina. The challenges they faced to get you to this level.

I reminded myself, so I don't end up falling into the witch's dungeon. She's trying to get a chaotic reaction out of me. One sure to reap havoc and possibly taint my image.

"Why so quiet? Cat got your tongue?" She smirked.

"Try harder, bitch. This stunt you're pulling won't work on me. If you so much as think you'll be the one to ruin my life, then you've got something coming." I sharply jabbed my finger on her forehead.

My action must've riled her, because the next thing you know, she got up close to my face. So close that our foreheads almost touched.

"Don't you ever dare lay a finger on me again."

"Oh please, like I'll want my precious fingers on sewage." A satisfactory feeling washed over me when her face hardened.

"No wonder Tyler dumped you." She snarled. Fury on speaker.

"Yeah, heard he finds it, hard handling newbies. He's more into the used and trashed."  I love the way her face kept on morphing into a tight scowl with my comebacks.

"What the fuck did you just say?"

"Relax, Chica. Nobody said anything. This is your game I thought? or has the table took an unexpected turn?" I imitated her evil laughter.

"You whore." She aimed for my left cheek, but I held her wrist mid-air.

"You're hurting me." She whimpered, struggling to free her wrist, which I had in a death grip, cutting off all circulation.

"Sera, it's y...what is going on here?" Peyton walked in.

On hearing Peyton's voice, Zara's face made a 360° turn to an award-winning fake smile.

"Oh my God Sera, I'm so happy for you. I knew you could do it. Good luck." She pulled me into an intentional bone-crushing hug. I was so astounded that I couldn't react on time.

Clueless Peyton on the other hand spotted a sincere, heartwarming smile. If only you knew better sis.

"May your trip on that runway and hopefully fall to your death."  She hissed in my ear and gave me one final look, one I couldn't decipher for the life of me, before leaving.

Peace at last.

"You've got such caring friends. C'mon let's go, you're up in two minutes."

"Okay, hold on let me wear my shoes."

I slipped on the red pradas and stood up but then something seemed off. The first pair of shoes I saw didn't have back straps?

Why was this different?

"Sera, hurry up. You're up in a minute." Peyton rushed.

"My shoes, Peyton. These aren't my shoes." I hyperventilated.

It didn't take me a second to realise I'd been fooled. That bitch tricked me. She lured me into the lion's den and left me to fend for myself. She tricked me into falling for her petty drama and used the opportunity to replace my shoes.

"Seraphina, thirty seconds! Put on the damned shoes! Don't do this, please!" Peyton was almost on the brink of tears.

Not having an alternative, I hopelessly slipped on the shoes and followed a furious Peyton backstage. This is the most I've seen her anger, and it hurts, knowing I was responsible for it.

"She's up. Hurry, hurry." The stagehand pulled my arm, ushering me forward until my toe collided with the base of the stage, but physical pain was the least of my worries.

Please God, help me. I know it's unnecessary praying as this was a lost cause. I just hope that everything goes as planned. If I mess up, I'll never forgive myself.

I patiently waited until Nesthma stepped off the stage, before slowly ascending the mini-stairs.

"Woah, she looks stunning." A voice marvelled, but I couldn't make out whom it belonged to, due to the blinding lights.

"Count to three before turning back." Were Peyton's last words.

I took a deep breath and mentally counted to five before taking off down the renowned runway.

Cheers and applause broke out from the crowd as I walked past each row. This fluctuated my confidence to a whole different level. Never have I ever felt so proud, loved and confident before. Weird, but suddenly, I don't want this runway to end.

I reached the stage front, did multiple poses for the camera and counted to three as Peyton advised, before walking back.

The cheers increased and being overwhelmed with emotions, I couldn't help but blew the crowd a kiss. I know mom and Peyton will kill me, but they should know there's no Sera without mess up.

"I'm so proud of you." Peyton sobbed, pulling me into a motherly hug when I stepped down.

I felt other hands joined in, and I slightly turned my head to see my goofballs of friends all crashing on us.

Peyton pulled away and sniffed, wiping my tears with her thumb.

"Ma'am will be so proud of you. You're the first model to successfully walk down the runway in Pradas without tripping or falling." She proudly stated.

Aurelia joined us moments later and it was the same celebration screams here and there. I was even surprised we didn't get kicked out.

I went to the dressing room with my friends and removed them killer heels. Speaking of which, I bet Maleficent must be fuming that her plans fell through.

I thought I was going to trip and fall, no doubt. However, the thought that those heels would provide me with an easier walking pace never crossed my mind. Surprising enough, they were more comfortable than all the heels I've ever walked on.

I couldn't conclude anything from this miraculous encounter, but one thing I'm certain of is the fact that God is for everyone.

"You owned the night, girl." Severina cheered, pulling me into a hug.

They were all present in the changing room, and I honestly couldn't ask for a better way to end the night.

"Good one, babe." Enrique pulled me by the waist and placed a light Peck on my lips, making everyone coo.

"You have no idea how proud ma'am is." Peyton smiled.

"Tell me about it. She literally cried." Aurelia added.

"It was the facial expression for me. She looked so confident and flawless with that " this is my game"  look on." Lalia drawled.

"Not to mention you transformed that nun's gown from God-awful to show-stopping." Maya filled in.

"Oh my. You guys please stop." I hid my redder-than-a-cherry face in Enrique's chest.

Peyton and Aurelia left sometime during the chattering, saying something about a grownup's after-party. Those two will never graduate from exchanging men like undergarments.

"You looked amazing, Phina." Bia complimented.

"Graçias, Bellissima," I responded with a bright smile.

"Since when do you speak Italian?" Kabia scrutinized.

"Our grandfather is Italian, you dumbegg." Severina smacked him upside the head.

"No wonder you're my favourite sibling."

"What?" Asher gasped, feigning hurt.

"I meant sister." I winked, giving him a toothed grin.

"So, how far with the tracing?"

I haven't been actively engaging in the group's activities to trace the mysterious, serial killer. Blame it on the endless preparations for the fashion show.

"All thanks to Aisha, we're progressing," Maya responded. Speaking of the Gambian brownie, I noticed Aisha was absent.

"Why is she?"

"That's the good news these fools made me enclosed my lips around." Kabia chirped, almost bouncing on his toes.

"Hippo-mouthed," Caleb mumbled.

"Rat's boobs, Caleb. Anyway, Aisha may have known the gender of the killer." Kabia cheered. Was that it?

"Okay?" I drawled, not knowing whether to expect more information or to simply remain silent.

"Okay? Is that it? Just okay? Girl, do you know how enthusiastic we were about revealing this to you?" Lalia frowned.

"My bad, sorry to burst your bubble then." I asserted in a bored tone, not sounding apologetic

In any way.

It's not like knowing the gender will spew the answers we want in an open book.

Yes, call me ungrateful but I hate disappointments.

"And what did she say is the gender?" Hopefully, another additional piece may help lift my mood.

"She didn't mention yet. Said until there's concrete evidence." Ace chuckled.

"So with all the hype it was a fifty-fifty shit after all." I snorted, adjusting myself on Enrique's lap.

"You're rude." He lightly chuckled.

"Zara came here you know." I blurted.

"What?"

"What did she say?"

"When?"

Different questions were thrown my way at once and this didn't help my annoyance at all.

"Chill out. She was just being the usual bitch."

I explained everything except the shoe part. That, I exempted because knowing my friends, they wouldn't hesitate to haunt her down. Believe me, I'll love nothing more than to give Zara a taste of her own medicine, but everything is time.

I never exercised patience, but for Zara, I'm willing to go the extra mile on anything.

Series of beeps simultaneously sounded from each of our phones, making us share weird stares.

Maya was the first to check her phone, and the way her face drained off colour didn't go unnoticed.

"It's Aisha." Ace mumbled, spotting a similar, horrific facial expression.

"Say something already, damn it!" I snapped.

"Well, she sent a text in the group chat." Maya uncomfortably cleared her throat.

These fuc...

"Maya Dominic, what does it say?" Asher impatiently demanded, interrupting my jumbled thoughts.

"It's a she."