Missing Chances

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

"LET'S welcome our Candidate number four! Miss Darshana Sandejas!" I heard the warm round of applause as I stepped on the platform.

I walked slowly and elegantly to the center where the host was, the lights from the stage followed my soft and graceful moves. Marahang hinawi ko ang kulot ng buhok, mula sa balikat ay bumaba ang kamay ko sa baywang, emphasizing my curves.

The black gown hugged my body gracefully, habang naglalakad ay rinig na rinig ko ang sipol at palakpakan sa crowd.

Tinabihan ko ang host na umawang pa ang labi at pumalakpak.

"What a graceful walk, Miss Sandejas! Elegant!" he praised. I flashed a small, soft smile.

Kitang-kita ko ang pamilya ko sa crowd, my eyes met my Dad who was smiling widely and proudly. Si Mommy ay itinaas pa ang kamay.

"Fighting!" She screamed.

Kuya Marcus is smirking, humalukipkip pa siya at nakanguso sa akin kaya ngumisi ako.

Dad is lifting his camera to take snaps of me, ang mga pinsan na free at walang klase ngayon ay nanunuod din at halos mabingi na ako sa sigaw.

Natawa ako nang makita si Zire at Scira na may banner pa, lumalabas na ang ngala-ngala kakasigaw kaya natawa na ako at maliit na kumaway.

"How's your day, candidate number four? Nervous?" the host asked. I smiled and shrugged a bit.

"A bit?" I answered jokingly.

That earned laughs and claps from the crowd, kita ko pa ang judges na nangingiti sa akin at ngumiti ako ng malambing pabalik. I even caught the snob one's eyes and I smiled even more but he only looked at me coldly.

Sungit.

"Please take one from the lucky fishbowl, Miss Sandejas." The man offered me the bowl and I took a single small paper and handed him.

"Thank you." He smiled and opened it. "Your question for tonight will be from one of our handsome judges, Mr. Chance Ford Salcedo."

My breath hitched, I was kinda nervous but I shouldn't. This isn't my first time in pageants like this so no worries, I know I got this.

I should be...

I saw how he licked his lip, his dimple deepened a bit when his lips quivered. He took a peek at his paper, his clean cut hair suited his serious look more and I am more thrilled.

He's really handsome, isnabero nga lang. Ilang beses ko ng nakakasalubong sa hallway, nakangiti naman palagi pero kapag ako na, wala na ang ngiti! Kinakausap ko pero todo iwas!

"Good evening, Miss." His baritone voice made my heart race, medyo nawala ako sa poise pero ngumiti akong lalo para pagtakpan iyon.

"Good evening," I said.

"Your question is..." He moved his gaze from the paper back to me. "Do you believe in second chances?"

"Yes," I immediately answered and smiled at him.

Seryoso pa rin ang kanyang mukha, it was as if my smile didn't even faze him. Mas naging seryoso lang at mas tumitig sa akin.

He's wearing a white dress shirt and slacks, he looks so formal and handsome, amazing, perhaps. With his clean cut hair, sexy dimples and dark eyes. Unang kita ko pa lang sa kanya ay nagustuhan ko siya kaagad pero kasi, nakakahiyang kausapin.

"Why?" he asked.

"It depends on the situation but for the purpose of your question, yes, I believe every person deserves second chances," I said. "However, for someone to give a chance to another again, we should know that it takes time, it takes hundreds and thousands of doubts and questions first before it will be given again so we should never waste it. It was easy to give yet hard to offer again once missed.