Chapter Three: The Road To Queendom
1011 Words
03Revenge
Mariana noticed that Mary Beth is looking pale, and her face is white as a ghost. She knows that she is starting to get more nervous and overwhelmed, as she is relatively new to the world of pageantry.
She quickly gets something from inside her pocket and pulls a piece of candy.
"Here, take this Mary Beth. You've been looking pale for a while, that's why you need sugar intake to give you energy." she handed the candy to her new friend.
"Wait, Mary Beth might gain weight! We're going to be weighed today..." Charlotte reminded them.
"Don't worry, this is sugar free with zero calories. I've tried this myself, too." Charlotte smilingly reassures them.
Mary Beth immediately accepted the candy and quickly put it in her mouth.
"Thank you very much, Mariana." Mary Beth smilingly thanks her.
"Just like we said, you don't have to worry... Charlotte and I will help you in any way we can." Mariana reassures Mary Beth once more.
"Mariana is right. We'll take care of you, Mary Beth." Charlotte added.
Their conversation was interrupted when the staff gave them instructions again.
"---Number One up to Number Ten, please move forward and take your seats in front of the staff. We will now begin the initial interview." the "robotic-looking" woman called them, and she's now using a microphone.
Mariana took a deep breath before standing up. She carefully sat in front of the staff. She decided to let out a small smile. She doesn't want to look confident, and she also doesn't want to look scared and nervous. She has to remain calm and relaxed.
"Good morning. Here's my application form, and my portfolio." she greeted the staff.
"Thank you." the staff shortly responded.
The staff checked all of her documents, then afterwards, she started talking again.
"---Your requirements are all complete. Now, please state your name, age, work or academic background." the staff gave her another set of instructions.
"I'm Mariana Clemente, 25 years old, graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in grade school education. I'm a kindergarten teacher and a beauty queen. I won as Miss Walnut Creek back in our hometown six months ago." she tried her best to speak as clearly as possible.
The woman looked satisfied because she nodded and smiled at her a little.
"Very well. Please stand up and go to the right side so that they can have your body measurements." she ordered Mariana.
"Thank you." when Mariana stood up, she immediately glanced at Charlotte and Mary Beth's direction.
She lets out a smile when she realized that the girls are doing well on their own.
Meanwhile, one of the female staff immediately took her body measurements, and she luckily passed the test. Charlotte and Mary Beth also passed the test, and now the three of them are back in their seats...
"Girls, look at Amanda Santander. I'm pretty sure that she is already included in the Top 40 finalists..." Charlotte suddenly whispered at Mariana and Mary Beth.
Mariana observes Amanda Santander's every move. She is confident, but not too cocky. The woman seems to be sure of her every move and they can't deny the fact that she has unlimited potential to win the crown and the title.
It looks like this girl will be their toughest competitor for the entire duration of the Miss Supernational competition.
"We all have a chance to win, Charlotte and Mary Beth. We just need to do our best and we don't have to feel afraid." Mariana firmly stated, but deep inside, she's feeling unsure of herself.
He didn't want Charlotte and Mary Beth to know what she is thinking. She doesn't want to let them down and discourage them...
But the truth is, she was also intimidated by the presence of Amanda Santander, but she is trying her best to fight this kind of feeling...
Three hours have passed, and they were able to complete and finish the screening process...
"Thank you very much for your time, effort and patience. We will select the 40 official candidates and you'll know the results after 5 days. You all have to come back here on that day. Please wear a cocktail dress for the official selection announcement . Same time and same place." the organizers gave out a final announcement.
Mariana, Charlotte, and Mary Beth found themselves at the end of a grueling day of auditions and screenings. As the screening came to an end, they heaved a collective sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off their shoulders.
Now, it was time to unwind and relax after a day filled with nerves and anticipation.
Deciding to treat themselves to a well-deserved dinner, the trio found a cozy restaurant nearby. They settled into a booth, the atmosphere buzzing with laughter and chatter, and ordered their favorite dishes to indulge in.
As they sipped on wine and shared stories from their day, the tension slowly melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and friendship. Mariana, Charlotte, and Mary Beth laughed and joked, reminiscing about the highs and lows of the auditions, and the moments that had brought them closer together.
"It feels so good to just relax and unwind. I couldn't have made it through today without you two by my side."
Charlotte nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.
"We make a great team, don't we? I knew we were destined to be friends from the moment we met."
Mary Beth, usually the quietest of the three, spoke up with a soft smile.
"I'm so grateful for your support and friendship. Today was tough, but being with you both makes it all worth it."
The three of them raised their drinks in the air, and they all clinked their glasses.
As the evening wore on, the three women savored their meal, basking in the warmth of each other's company. They knew that no matter what the outcome of the auditions would be, they had found something priceless in each other - a bond that transcended the stage and the spotlight.
- Writer
