"Very well said." The MC said with a wide smile on his face while also clapping his hands.
The judges looked satisfied with her answer, just as Victoria feels proud of herself. She looked at the handsome judge. Though he was not smiling, he does not look sad or disappointed and that is more than enough for Victoria.
The MC even escorted Victoria halfway backstage, then called for the next contestant.
There was a nice and catchy song playing in the background. "Style" by Taylor Swift. That made Hayley's entrance so trendy and very much like a princess. She's wearing a pale pink lace and silk Seule fille gown that came from the same latest collection as Victoria's. It was an off-shoulder, fitted gown, with a side slit that starts at her mid-thigh and has a mermaid tail made of lace embroidery with shiny, colorful thread. It looks like a mermaid's tail. On her feet is the limited edition Stephanie Choi 8-inch bejeweled platform in a trans[arent glass-type shoe. She's already tall (thanks to her model genes) she's already 5'9 at 15 years old. Her long hair is in wavy curls and she has a simple glow makeup and she looks pure and fresh.
When she walked up to the front of the stage and beside the MC, it looks like her whole being was magnified 200 times, making the MC look gloomy and a total backdrop even though he was standing side to side with Hayley. Such an aura she's igniting.
"How are you, Hayley?" The MC asked her politely.
"I'm doing great. This kind of contest is somehow entertaining." She said with a serious face that makes the MC have a hard time taking her seriously.
"You're the last to come up the stage. Tell me, have you felt pressured? You are the one who challenged the reigning Lady of St. Claire?" The MC asked though he was only stating the fact. Hayley can’t help but question the credibility of the MC and she's sure that this kind of questioning would not be accepted in a beauty pageant if it were. He was rude. How does the host make it to their school contest, then? Being on the same stage with him was indeed an eye-opener.
But Hayley just looked at him, you can't just take everything seriously when he’s looking like a clown…" What can I say, everyone was here and enjoying the show, so, it was not a bad choice challenging our reigning queen, she's a magnanimous person." She said.
Somewhere there was faint laughter on the back. Most male audiences laugh they were able to catch the underlying message there. The MC tried to stay composed. He was smiling, but it was stiff. Hayley can see how biased this MC could get. Hayley wonders how much influence Victoria had on the people of St. Claire.
"Oh, I'm just wondering, you are also wearing a Seule fille dress tonight, just like Victoria. Is it your preference, or do you know Victoria will wear one tonight?"
Hayley likes how stupid this MC can be. He would try to put a wedge between the two contestants the whole time. How long is he going to do this?
She just smiles, "it is pretty isn't it? It is tailor-made, and you know how much time to make it, right?"
With that sentence, the whole audience was suddenly silent…
Finally, the MC cleared his throat and straightened his suit. He realized he could never outwit this girl. "So, tell me all about your preparation for this day?"
"Hmmm….. None." Hayley said a bit nonchalantly.
The crowd laughed.
The MC was speechless….
"Okay, moving on, you know our judges, earlier they draw lots, and since you were the last contestant, our honorable guest for tonight will deliver your question now…."
Hayley looked at the judges. She knew beforehand who were the judges it's just that she noticed that there was an addition to them, then she remembered the girls backstage mentioned this judge being young and handsome. Yes, he is the great-great-grandson of the only woman she looked up to, the woman who changed the world of fashion. That woman was only 15 when she started the company. She was young but was the most stubborn person she ever knew. She's the only girl who bravely questioned a renowned fashion designer on the international scene and therefore started her brand, which is now the most popular classic brand to date. She promised herself that when she gets to the same age, she will do the same thing… However, because of some unexpected event, she forgot all about her dreams… She blanked at that moment, she was in her world, on her thoughts and woes.
"Hayley, are you still with us?" The MC tried to catch her attention.
Hayley broke out of her reverie. "Yes, still here. I was just wondering what my question will be..."
"Well, fret not, yours won't be that difficult. Just listen carefully." The MC said teasingly.
Hayley wanted to roll her eyes.
"Tonight, Mr. Moretti was here with us, such an important day for St. Claire academy. He is very generous with his time, so without further ado, please, sir." The MC cordially introduced the guest of honor.
He leaned just a little to the table with lips almost touching the mike, his deep brown eyes looking at Hayley. " Good afternoon, everyone, I feel honored to be a part of this long-time tradition of St. Claire academy, my great-great-grandmother once told me that while beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, it would be great if it comes with a sound mind that can judge fairly. So, here's my question for our last contestant, if you could change one thing- anything, in this school, what could it be and why?"
Hayley looked at the judge, and they stared at each other, Hayley has seen a lot of handsome guys, and he is the most handsome by far, truth be told, she has seen handsome faces, but never one with an intelligent eye just like his, it was a rich color of brown, deep and mysterious. Now she knew why the girls backstage were about to faint each time they return backstage- Victoria included. Three words to describe him: brown eyes, black hair, and a manly aura. He looked so noble. Maybe it was because he had Italian blood on him.
Hayley was now holding the mike. She was silent for quite a while. People were predicting what she will say, most has an idea of what a rich brat could ever wish to change in this school. She looks like the rebel type. Maybe she would wish to make the school lawless where students can do anything they want. Well, that was all rich children wanted to do. All parties and no homework.
"It has been 60 years since the founder of St. Claire Academy once believed that a girl is strongest in her most confident moment, not being the woman who is delicate, defenseless, and dependent on men. She is a feminist and not afraid of admitting it. Her goal is to break the cycle of the stereotype of women who only know how to be decorative accessories beside their wealthy husbands during a party. She strongly believes that a woman should not worry about how she will get her money to spend endlessly, when is she going to be the only one in her husband's eyes, or that her children will have competition with the outside family when it comes to inheritance. She wanted to ignite every woman's passion that a woman can not be defined by how she chooses her husband or just by her looks, but by how she carried herself confidently. The privileges that the school has now, does not provide the independence that the founder dreamed of when she built this academy. And as what I can see now, it just fed the girl's arrogance. Each passing year, the core and values that the academy is originally trying to uphold are now slowly deteriorating." She said,
The whole place was now covered with people's voices actively debating her speech. Be it negative or positive, Hayley could hear the word HYPOCRITE.
"And what do you propose we do about the farce happening in St. Claire now?" The handsome judge suddenly asked her.
Hayley looked at him squarely. "To revive St. Claire academy, to uphold its true visions just like how Ms. Clara De Los Santos wanted it to be for a thousand years to come. It needs to go back to normal. St. Claire does not need to change, it needs to grow more,"
When the judge heard his old great grandmother's name on her small pink mouth, his eyes flashed. He was still looking at Hayley. Hayley looked at him full of confidence, stubbornness, and regal. A true definition of a queen. Then slowly the side of his thin lips arches upward, very satisfied with her answer. Truth be told, it was the first time he ever showed some reactions that day. "Thank you for your time." That was all he said.
And at that moment, Hayley felt a burst of wind that hit straight across her face, and it made her breathless. She finally remembers that long-forgotten dream, that unstoppable force, the drive that made her ambitious since young. It needs to happen, from now on….
There was a short break after the Q&A portion, the school festival was about to end. Most of the classrooms were already closed and doing inventory and looking at their earnings. Most of the corridors were quiet. The big and spacious director's office was full of tension. The school director was sitting anxiously on the long sofa. He stared at where the handsome judge was sitting.
"Mr. Moretti, the girls loved those special privileges that St. Claire offers. It was the main reason a high percentage of girls enrolled here in the past years. Let's just talk about the expansion of the school. Now that you will stay here for good, you will see how many girls dreamed of going here. We can also discuss the scholarship system for girls who can't afford to come and study here."
"Mr. Sandoval, I was only 15 when I left this country, but I am fully aware of what is happening here in this academy. I just let you and your posse do whatever you want after all this is business, rich families love to brag, and it is that St. Claire is not just your average all-girl school, they pay for the school's reputation and in return, they spend a hefty price for their daughter's reputation. It is good to earn money. Who doesn't want it, right, Director Sandoval?"
The middle-aged man was now sweating under the cold temperature of AC. "Business is business..." That was all he can say.
"But, suddenly, it just hit me, I may have never met my old great grandmother but just by listening to that lady's speech… It was not just because she wanted to be righteous, something was going on that I keep on ignoring; it was my fault. I didn't pay close attention to this matter. And then when I called my secretary about it he told me, you even thought about this special program…. A greenhouse for elite students, advanced holidays, grade ranking, some even created a mini-government dynasty here. How splendid. The girls who were granted scholarships decreased year by year, and oh, some suspicious cases of 'bullying'. And most of the victims were young ladies that have been admitted through the scholarship program. How do they resolve it? is it because of money?"
The director was getting scared little by little. The handsome man's voice was getting deeper and deeper. It had this cold and cruel aura around him that made the older man think not to mess with the devil.
That night, Hayley was crowned as the new Lady of St. Claire.
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