“Sorry to interrupt, everyone.” Bungad ni Ms. Elisse.
Maya-maya pa ay lumapit na si Ms Bumrit sa lounge nina Karina para kamustahin ang mga ito.
“Ms. Bumrit!” anilang tatlo.
“Su-Wei, Karina, prepare please. Your scores were tied. Ms. Elisse needs to break it by judging the two of you again and I think, the reason why she went up on the stage is to announce it.”
Shock na napatingin sina Su-Wei at Karina sa isa’t isa. Parehas silang kabado, at parehas pa sila ng score! Nanlamig lalo ang kamay ni Karina na napahawak sa kamay ni Su-Wei.
“I am proud of you, Su-Wei. No matter what the results will be, we are one.” Ani Karina.
“I would like to call on these two ladies from Kaohsiung University who garnered the same average on their work shop. As told awhile ago, if ever there are tied scores, I will be the one to break it and choose one.” Anunsyo nito.
“Come on, girls. Stand up and go on the stage. You can do it.”
“I support you, guys! Congrats!” Cheer ni Shu-Ching. Masaya pa rin siya na kahit hindi siya napili.
Wala sa sariling tinahak ni Karina ang daan paakyat ng entablado kasama si Su-Wei kung saan nakatayo si Ms. Elisse. Hindi siya makapaniwala. Para siyang lumulutang sa hangin habang papalapit sila dito.
Nakaitingin at nakasunod sa kanila ang mga mata ng mga taong present sa hapon na iyon.
Agad na napangiti si Ms. Elisse nang makita ang dalawa na paakyat ng stage. ‘Wow! I see why these two young ladies tied a score! It is really hard to choose one among them! Both gorgeous!” Papuri ni Ms. Elisse.
Saglit na na-flatter si Karina pero agad rin naman itong napalitan ng kaba sa dibdib.
Nang maka-akyat na sila ng stage, pinaupo sila ni Elisse sa isang high stool. Karina tried her best to be confident and to look confident kahit na ang totoo? Mababaliw na yata siya sa kaba. The stares of people are intimidating. Para itong kakain ng buhay. Para silang pipili kung sino ang bubuhayin nila o hindi kaya naman ay papatayin.
After a couple of minutes ay nakapag-decide na rin si Elisse kaya at mas lalong napakapit si Karina sa kinauupuan niya.
“You know, I really find it hard to let go one, but we need to choose. All of you are witness of this historic event, so please eyes on me. I chose this participant because I can see how she will excell not only in their university and country, but also around the world. I can see how she can be flexible and versatile. So, please step forward . . .”
Pinigil ni Karina ang paghinga niya. Ito na yata ang pinakanatatakot na announcement sa lahat.
“Ms. Karina de Joseph,” kalmado nitong sabi.
Nabingi si Karina at hindi agad nakakibo. She jus tstared in space blankly, tulala at hindi makapaniwala. Did I really hear my name? Was it really me?
“S-Su-Wei, is this real?” nauutal na tanong nito, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya kumukurap.
“Yes, Karina! This is real! You are not dreaming because you really made it!”
Napatakip si Karina ng kanyang bibig hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala. Lalo na nag lumapit pa sa kanya si Ms. Elisse at bumulong. “You have a potential.”
Iyon na yata ang pinakanakakakilig na narinig niya sa tanang buhay niya.
Bumaba na si Su-Wei sa entablado, samantalang tinawag na ni Ms. Elisse ang labing apat pang mga kalahok na napili para makasama ni Karina sa ibabaw ng stage. All of them will have the chance to be the first ever youngest make-up artist of Elisse and Company. All of them has the equal chance to win.
At dahil contest proper na, seryoso na ang buong events lounge na masaksihan ang paglalaban-laban ng bawat studyante mula sa iba’t ibang mga unibersidad sa buong mundo. Sa labing limang mga kalahok, isa lang talaga ang mapalad na mapipili
Habang kinakabahan ay rinig pa ni Karina ang bulungan ng ibang mga contestants. Wow, buti pa sila ay close na sa isa’t isa? Aniya sa isipan.
“I heard, one of Elisse and Company’s make-up artist has a daughter here! Do you think, her daughter is really good enough, or she was just included for the contest proper because of her mom who is a make-up artist of Elisse and Co?” bulong ng isa sa kasama niya sa may bandang likoran. Nakahilera lang kasi ang mga vanity area nila into rows and columns kaya magkakarinigan lang din naman.
“Really? I never heard about that! If ever that happens and that daughter of hers become the winner, that would be unjust!Why don’t they just give chance to others?” sagot naman ng isa.
Napailing-iling na lang si Karina dahil sa mga pinag-uusapan ng mga ito. Bakit naman sila gano’n mag-isip? Kung magaling ang nanay, malaki ang possibility na syempre, magaling din ang anak. Hindi nila dapat hinuhusgahan ang isang tao ng gano’n lang.
Napalingon si Karina sa babae sa kanyang kaliwa na nakayuko. “Hey, are you okay?” tanong ni Karina. The girl seems distant and cold. Ang mga mata nito ay napakalamig na parang yelo.
“Why did you join here?’ walang gana nitong sagot.
Payak na napangiti si Karina. Kakaiba rin itong isang ito, napakadiretsa niyang magsalita. Hindi man lang tinanong ang pangalan ko.
“Well, I am originally from the Philippines. I just entered Kaohsiung University in Taiawan because of a scholarship that was given to me. I grew up nothing. My parents died in a car accident, my Aunt then thought of me as a burden that she needs to raise by herself. I was betrayed by the one I love, he is now engaged to the girl who always make my life miserable. My whole life was filled with misery. One day, I said to myself that I will prove to everyone who belittled me that I am capable, that I can be successful. And I will do my best to win here, if this is really for me.”
The girl smirked. “Your life is sadder than I thought.” Komento nito saka umiwas ng tingin.
Ngiti na lang ang naiganti ni Karina before the bell rings again. Ibig sabihin, hudyat na. Hudyat na ng kompetisyon.
The clock started ticking at hindi pa rin naigagalaw ni Karina ang kamay niya. Bigla na lang siyang sinitsitan ng babae na katabi at kausap niya kanina kaya napaayos siya ng upo. “Hmm?” sagot niya.
“You want to win, right?”
“Yes, who wouldn’t want to win?”
“I will make you win.”
‘Eh?”
“Just do your best, and I will help you with the rest.”
Napanganga si Karina sa sinabi nito. Nasa matino pa bang pag-iisip ang babaeng ‘to? How can she make me win? Hay! Siguro mas kabado ito kaysa sa akin kaya kung anu-ano na ang pinagsasabi. Hindi bale, gagalingan ko na lang.