The backstage was not the same loud place as before. Each contestant looked gloomy, but not Victoria.
The previous queen was sitting silently in front of her vanity table, just silently taking off her heavy makeup. She looked indifferent, a contrast to those girls who voiced their dissatisfaction while they surrounded her. Her assistant, who is busy packing away her gown and shoes, was trying to make herself invisible as much as possible. One look and anyone can tell that she knows her master's attitude and moods. However, an accident happens; no matter how careful one can get.
They heard a loud and crisp tear coming from Victoria's side. Victoria suddenly stopped whatever she was doing and turned from her back. There she saw a pale-faced middle-aged woman holding her expensive and beautiful gown.
"Miss, I'm sorry, it just-" the assistant was in full panic mode. She knew that Victoria loves to wear expensive and tailored dresses.
Victoria was deadpanned. "I honestly don't know how you even get hired." She only said that under her breath, she still cares about her image. But Angel heard it. She was just two steps away from her.
Raeven was also there since she was finished with her job that day. Then she found Angel and Hayley backstage. She was kinda irritated staying inside with all the jealous girls glaring daggers at Hayley. Meanwhile, the receiver of all the girls’ hatred does not even care at all. She is the new queen, but it seemed like no one is willing to go in front and congratulate her.
"Let them be. I'm just thankful that this farce was finally over," Hayley said while removing her makeup. She is the only girl there that does not require a nanny to help her throughout the day.
"Hey,"
They both heard a male voice from behind as they both turned around. Raeven just raised her eyebrows. What the hell is he doing here?!
Bryce complimented her for being an announcer for that day. He is impressed, and he said she’s done a great job. But she was only looking at him, wondering why they need to compliment her when he should be at Victoria's side right now. She especially doesn't like the way the girls' dagger-like glare shifted from Hayley to hers.
Bryce was still trying to make her talk when Victoria called him, annoyed and feeling possessive of him. Bryce has no choice but to say goodbye to Raeven. She just let him go.
"Oh, look at you, the love interest had a thing for you. Sadly, he was now with the other girl…"
"Shut up," Raeven said uninterestedly, then rolls her eyes.
"Oh, sorry. it's because of my unfiltered mouth," Hayley said with a teasing smirk on her beautiful face.
Raeven looked at the handsome man talking with Victoria. She doesn't know why this guy was giving her mixed signals. The guy has a girlfriend, for heaven’s sake! So why does he need to linger on her still? Being a guy who's ready for the queen's every whim is a turnoff. But she can't help but be attracted to him. Is she sick in the head?!
Meanwhile, some girls were now leaving to get ready for the after-party. One of them is Ashley.
Ashley was not nice and nudged Angel's shoulder when she was on her way out. Angel almost ended up sitting on the cold floor, if not for a hand that helped her stand steadily on her feet...
"Are you okay?"
Angel looked at the guy behind her. "Yes, thank you," that's all she said.
"I'm sorry about that. She was just upset. She didn't win." Christian looked apologetic and helpless.
Angel was trying to keep smiling. She doesn't know, but it was disheartening to see them together, to see him making excuses for her.
After that, they heard Ashley calling for him to hurry up. Her voice sounded like a spoiled brat.
Raeven and Angel suddenly heard Hayley click her tongue out of disappointment, then spoke." Why are the two of you such a wimp magnet? Boys who make excuses are not worth it. The same goes for men who make excuses for the other girls were worthless."
Raeven can't count the times she rolled her eyes that night. Angel just laughed at Hayley's sarcastic remark.
Hayley's body has gone stiff when suddenly, she was inside a warm embrace.
"Sweetheart, you did great. I'm so proud of you!"
The voice came from a beautiful, tall, and elegant woman who looked a little like Hayley.
"Thanks." She just said, then make her way out of her mother's embrace and busied herself on the vanity table, and tidied up her things.
Angel and Raeven saw how fast Hayley switched from being laid back a second ago into a rigid, indifferent girl in front of them for the next second.
Hayley's mom knows how fast her daughter’s behavior changes. But It was still a little awkward when it happens. Then she saw two ladies beside her. "Are you Hayley's friends?" She asked with a big smile on her face.
"Yes, ma am. My name's Raeven Amano."
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Guevarra. My name is Angel Samonte."
Hayley's mom felt more appreciative of them. Suddenly, her phone rang. "Yes, that's great then. Good job. Wait for me outside. I need to talk to my daughter." Her mom said, her voice carrying an indifferent tone, that moment Raeven and Angel knew where Hayley got her queenly aura.
Hayley can hear what they were talking about and knew that her mom dealt with that rude MC. "Mom, you need not do that, it's not worth it." She said nonchalantly.
"Whether it is worth it or not, let people know that you're not that easy to be dealt with. People can be as stupid as that one. Just let them know how far your arms can reach and how far your influence can go. They will behave like a baby the next time they see you."
Hayley just rolled her eyes. “Fine. You're the mother, do whatever you think is right...”
“Hey, congratulations.”
Raeven and Angel saw Yuri before Hayley. They can’t help but feel confused. Yuri’s action was unpredictable compared to her action this morning.
Hayley looked at her. “Thanks.” She said.
Raeven and Angel were looking at Yuri like she was some kind of enigma that they were trying to decipher, it only made Yuri uncomfortable, so instead of adding more to what she already said a moment ago, she just left awkwardly after waving her hand goodbye to them.
At the After party…
Yuri changed into a fancy cocktail dress that night. It was a light yellow, glittery knee-length skirt. The top has an off-shoulder top that shows off her white and soft skin. She is a big fan of Petite femme. On her small feet, she's wearing a cute wood and velvet wedge from Altadonna. Her silky black hair was tied up high with a glittery butterfly clip. Her face has subtle makeup emphasizing her cute little face, making her dimples look more prominent. She looked young, fresh, and free-spirited.
The after-party was held in another elegant hall, spacious enough to hold several thousands of people, in the high ceiling, hundreds of thousands of small lights were lively flashing down to the crowd, they were like small crystal balls that looked mesmerizing when sometimes flickers into different colors that sync into the beat of the music. It looked like they were in a club, minus alcoholic drinks. Beautiful and handsome servers circulate the guests with big silver trays in their hands filled with colorful drinks and beautiful-looking snacks.
The big spacious hall was soon filled with a lively and loud young crowd. But Yuri never felt so lonely in her life. She was standing at a high round table all by herself, feeling like an outcast. A while later, there was a loud cheer from the crowd. Three beautiful ladies entered the lively atmosphere, filling it with a beautiful aura that makes the male guests look at them with admiration. One of the three beauties mentioned is the new queen, Hayley Guevarra. She was wearing a trendy party dress made by a young designer from France. It is very eye-catching and youthful; it makes her body more attractive; she was wearing subtle makeup emphasizing her red lips as the highlight of her look that night.
It must be great if I were Hayley tonight… That was all Yuri can think of at that moment. Hayley was the meanest girl she's ever met, but she's still friends with the ice beauty, and the god girl, they look so genuine with each other. How did they do it? Their personality clashes with one another, One being the kindest person Yuri has ever met, one, a quiet and haughty beauty, and last but not least a mean and sarcastic queen, so... how?!
While she was alone, and all by herself. Yesterday she was happy laughing together with her friends, drinking tea, and eating cookies she especially baked for them. She even welcomed them inside her house! And all she received from them was a cold and distant glare a while ago… Just because she congratulated Hayley?!
While she was wondering about all the impossible things, the three ladies goes to an empty table and sat on the long sofa and ordered their drinks and some snacks, talking softly at each other, Angel was laughing softly, while Raeven was looking at her quietly but with tenderness on her eyes, Hayley had her signature lovely smirk, she was saying something- maybe a joke, but probably she was dissing someone's fashion or maybe talking ill of their student council president, Victoria.
One by one, she was surrounded by other girls. They were loudly talking ill of Hayley, and each one of them has a bad thing to say about her. Victoria didn't win, so they needed something to vent their anger, too.
"That girl was so talented, she even dared to change the school's rule!"
"As if she didn't benefit from the privileges our school offers, such hypocrisy..."
The three girls smirk at each other as they agreed with one another. Then they changed the topic and just talked about the upcoming fall holiday. Then, the girl at Yuri's side nudged her not so gently, "Hey, what's wrong with you? You're so quiet..."
"I'm just tired," was all Yuri said
Yuri tried to explain, however, a popular song played, and it was enough to carry all their attention to the dance floor. The girls held hands and go to the center and danced while giggling. They left Yuri behind, just like that.
Yuri sighed. She was not sure why she felt relieved when the girls left her alone. She was ready to go home when a cute tall guy walked up to her and said hello to her.
Yuri stared at him for a while. She was mesmerized by his smile. He sure looks cute. They talked for a while and that's when she realized he was holding two glasses of drinks he placed on their table. "I brought this for you." He smiled shyly at her.
Yuri saw the embarrassed expression on the cute guy's face. It looked like he was genuine and he looked innocent. Also, if they were in school, there's no way someone will be brave enough to carry drugs with them. She smiled at him, her pretty dimples showing on her adorable face. "Thank you." Then she held the glass up to clink with the other glass he was holding.
Before Yuri took a sip of her drink, it was suddenly snatched by someone behind her. She was startled that she could not react; she heard the cute guy yell angrily at her back.
"I'm sorry, not to interrupt you guys, but.." a girl's smooth and indifferent voice can be heard behind Yuri's back.
Yuri turned around and saw Hayley., still holding her drink. "What are you doing?" Yuri asked softly.
"Aren't you the innocent rabbit at the party? Is this the first time someone gives you a drink? You don't have a nerve to at least suspect it a bit?" Hayley asked her.
"Excuse me, we are not doing anything wrong here. We are just talking. Please don't create unnecessary drama here." The guy said. A while ago, he was mesmerized by Hayley's beauty, but he goes back to his senses immediately.
Hayley then smashed the glass full of blue liquid on the floor. It caught some nearby people's attention, but they just looked at them like spectators. Hayley just smiled at him.
The guy was stumped at that moment. She was smiling, but it felt like she was intimidating at the same time.
Hayley took the towel that suddenly popped out of nowhere. A waiter cleaned the spilled liquid on the floor and picked up the glass shards scattered on Hayley's feet.
Yuri looked at her, still confused. "Why are you doing this? You're being mean."
"Hayley brought her white slender hands in front and opened her hands. On her palm lies a small vial container Yuri just looked at it for a while then something flashed in her mind. Is Hayley helping her?!"
"It's okay to flirt with cute girls. You look good yourself. Why the need to use this method to trap an innocent girl?" Hayley said, her voice laced with a hint of a dangerous tone.
"You're spouting nonsense. I'm begging you, please, leave us alone. We don't need unnecessary attention from the crowd. Can’t you see? They’re looking at us." The guy looked like a gentleman. Like he was full of righteous air around him.
Hayley snorted. Suddenly, two girls came near and took their place beside her. "You won't confess without forcing you, right? Do you need evidence?"
The guy still has a confident face and looked innocent.
Hayley fiddled with her phone for a second, then stretched her arm and placed the phone forward for him to see. "Is this evidence enough?"
The guy has his eyes widened suddenly and his complexion looked pale. "N-no…. I'm just- look, it was not what you think it was." The guy tried to explain his side, though he knew he was screwed. "But it was not a drug! I promise!" He said he was now in a panic.
"Now we're talking," Hayley said while playing on her phone.
Two guards escorted the pitiful cute guy out while still trying to explain his side.
Yuri was a little embarrassed, not knowing what might have happened to her if Hayley did not intervene. Such a shame being ignorant. She asked Hayley the reason why she was helping her. Hayley told Yuri that she didn't show some guilt, she would be in a tight situation. It was right to pay for what she owed.
Yuri was baffled, confused, thankful, and embarrassed by so many feelings she felt at that moment.
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