Valentina's Point of View
I turned off my Ducati as I entered the gates of our house and parked it in the garage. My forehead creased, "Something is weird in here," I whispered to myself, walked towards the door, and turned the doorknob. A cake greets me, "Surprise!" they shouted in unison.
My eyes start observing people inside our house. My parents are holding a banner, 'Another pageant to come! Godbless, our baby Valentina!' I just want to run to my room and sleep and think that this was a dream. It's not that I don't appreciate the efforts and the things they do for me; I do, of course. But, a simple greet will do for me, and a simple 'good luck makes me confident enough. But what can I do, right? My parents want what is best for us.
My brother, Eros, holds the cake which greeted my face, and a girl is hiding behind her. I gave him a sly smile and blew the candle. I recognized some looks that I never thought I would be seeing now. The helpers in our house are lined up, the drivers and Aunt Agapi, which made my eyes widen. I thought she was in Madrid for her modeling shoot. Lola Beau, of course, the beauty queen of Amore. The Jonas Brothers, and I know they are screaming silently, as what I can look on their faces. They are twins— but they didn't know that and don't want to know that they are alike, and most of the pageants that I joined are the ones handling me. Ms. Anais smiled at me, and I pouted. I really missed her; she's the one making my outfits extravagant. And of course, the Great Sire Mozart, my academic coach who polishes and teaches me how to handle preliminary interviews or platforms for pageants.
"You don't have to go this far, Mom, Dad. But thank you. I appreciate it," I said as I walked toward both of them and gave them a kiss on the cheeks. My mother pouted and looked my dad in the eyes and was about to cry. My dad immediately hugged her, which made me chuckle.
"But we want to celebrate that you are finally joining another pageant! After 2 years, honey," my mom had watery eyes as she pulled out of dad's hug. I smiled at them, "It's okay, mom. It will be fine. That's all in the past. Yes, I'm kinda scared," I admitted as I looked at the people inside the house one by one. "But having you all here to be my support system makes me want to be the University Queen," my mom cried in my dad's arms, and they all shouted in unison to celebrate.
When my mom finally stopped crying, they directed the guests to our dining table. The cooks and maids reveal the dishes they made, and my heart flutters when they cook some of my favorites, especially Kare-Kare. Waves of laughter filled the dining room, a story we hadn't heard before to cope with each other's lives for a couple of years.
"Really, Ms.?" The attention was towards her when she told us that she's been engaged for five months and wished me to be one of her bridesmaids. She laughed, "Yes, Val. You asked thrice already," the Jonas Brothers squealed and teased Ms. Anais.
"Oh, God! I know Valentina won't stop talking about this engagement. Can we move to the 'real business' here?" she looked at me, wiggling her eyebrows which made me roll my eyes. My mom and dad laughed at my reaction and nodded. The maids started giving us the desserts, and it was a slice of chocolate cake, my favorite. Eros handed out the papers he photocopied since I told him to do so before we ate. He glared at me, yet I only stuck out my tongue and mouthed a 'thanks, brother.'
"So currently, you have seven outfits to wear. For the introduction number, jeans and a university college shirt. You have a talent portion, sports attire, and swimsuit attire. Also, career attire and two evening gowns for a preliminary interview and the question and answer portion," Ms. Anais nodded as she read it out loud for the part she knew she was assigned. Sire Mozart looked at me, "While your career attire is ongoing, a platform will be flashed on the screen, so we need to work on that video. For the preliminary interview, they're gonna give the questions ahead of time, around 5 days before the pageant. Can you familiarize all of those, Valentina?" he looked at me, but before I could answer his question, "Of course, you can do it. You're a Valentin. Right, Madam Beau?" she looked at my grandmother, that gave him a smile.
"How about the question and answer, Mr. Mozart? Do you have any idea about what is it?" I looked at him, and he fixed his gaze on me. His eyes are pinned on me, " Of course not. But we'll grab every way we could find," he explained, and I nodded. The Jonas Brothers stood up and clapped their hands, "Okay, everyone! It's our time to shine," we laughed at their entrance; I can't deny it. I really missed my pageant life. They both looked at me and pointed, "You! Yes, you, Valentina! You're gonna win this one. Is that right, brother?" Kevin looked at his brother, that folded his arms and nodded continuously.
"Of course, Valentina. Win this one, and we're gonna help you with it. It will be a piece of cake," Nick muttered and started flapping her eyelashes. The crowd inside the dining room cheered, and that made me smile. I really miss pageantry; I mean, the pageant is my life. And that one trauma made my life a mess. And here I am, entering the University Queen pageant. No guts, no glory. I smiled and took a bite of my chocolate cake.
An hour later, the 'team Valentin,' the name my mom made up for my pageant team, starts to bid goodbye one by one. It's pretty embarrassing, yet I saw how my eyes sparkled when she named our crew. They told me they would be back tomorrow to polish the plan and start the preparations. I smiled and uttered my thanks to the team for my upcoming pageant.
"Valentina, come here, my dear," I looked at Aunt Agapi, beside Lola Beau, and walked off in their direction. A smile flashed on her lips, and she reached for my ears, "Valentina. I know that there will be a preliminary shoot in that pageant. I just sense it when I read the guidelines," my eyes widened, and I felt worried about it. I sighed and looked at Aunt Agapi, "Auntie. I'm scared. I thought there was no such thing as that. I want to hide my identity until the pageant," I whispered at her. She looked at me, "Oh. But it's not in the guidelines, right? The preliminary shoot?" I nodded.
"I think it will be flashed during the pageant itself. I was once a judge of Ms. Universe in Spain, and they had it that way. They give the audiences or the live viewers a chance to vote for Ms. Popularity. So that there are no auto likes or bribing money. Your University wants it clean, but it's just a hunch," she shrugged and tapped my shoulders. I pouted, "But what will I do with that one, Auntie?" she looked at me like I was offending her. I covered my mouth using my palm, "Oh, sorry. I just realized you have a crew for commercials, Auntie," she chuckled.
"Of course, my Valentina. I am an Amore, Valentina," she concluded. Aunt Agapi is my father's sister. They are the kids of Lola Beau. "And before I forget, I'm gonna get my whole crew tomorrow and include them in the planning," she looked at me. "But isn't that too extravagant?" I asked her, doubting her decisions.
Aunt Agapi shakes her head, "Silly you. Of course, it will be EXTRAVAGANT. Your University is one of the most prestigious globally, and do you think a mere iPhone 11 will do better? Can it let you win?" I sighed and asked for defeat. She kissed my cheek and winked at me. She then bid goodbye, since I think she's gonna meet her crew too.
I was utterly drained and walked back to the sofa. Lola Beau, Dad, and Mom are talking about the matters Storge Company— it is a company for our chains of hotels, restaurants, and luxury shops that my parents owned. I sighed and looked at my brother, smiling, talking to a woman. I raised my eyebrow and interrupted their conversation.
I poked my brother's shoulders and looked at him, pointing at her, "Who is she?" I looked at my brother; he tapped my hand. Eros glared at me, "Don't point at her. That's rude, Freya," I looked at the girl, and her cheeks blushed— I don't know if she was embarrassed or not, "It's okay, Eros. I'm Psyche, Miss Valentina," she stood up in front of me and offered her hand. Eros watched my movements. I stood up, looking at her hand, "And?" I asked nonchalantly. I looked up, and she smiled, "Eros's girlfriend, Miss." I covered my mouth and looked at Eros.
"You have a girlfriend? Oh my God, Eros! You're just a 16-year old boy and the cold-blooded prince of the house, Amore. And how come did you have an astonishing girlfriend? Tell me, Psyche. Did you drink a love potion, or did he blackmail you?" I looked at Psyche, who was still in shock at my reaction. Eros stood up and went beside Psyche. "I am a man, Freya. And yes, she is my girlfriend. She's the one who first moved, not me," my eyes widened, and I looked at Psyche, who jokingly slapped Eros' arm.
"What a big talker, baby boy Eros," I laughed and stuck out my tongue. Eros glared at me and was about to flick my forehead when Psyche went in the middle, "It's fine, Eros. You're my baby, right? I looked at Eros, and he instantly nodded, making me laugh. "Mom! Dad! Freya is pissing me off. Can you scold her, please? I'm here with my girlfriend, and it is embarrassing," he screamed for help, made my dad laugh his balls out, and was scolded by my mom instead.