Elena Sergio.
The triennial beauty pageants that took place at Belford Springs weren't something new. Not in the least bit. It had been on and on for years now. For the past three decades, the town was founded.
One of dad's best friends, Wilson Carter happened to be the grandson of one of the founders of the town, therefore it went without saying that he was one of the organizers of the pageant. And not just that, he was very enthusiastic about having us, Karen, and I contest for it.
I had never contested in the beauty pageant though. Anytime I remembered the caliber of girls that contested the previous year and recalled how beautiful they had looked in the pristine makeup and their intricate dresses that suited dainty figures perfectly, I always thought otherwise. I was more comfortable being a spectator, better off as a matter of fact.
I didn't hate myself or how I looked. No, it wasn't that. It wasn't even close to that. I love how my brown hair fell in straight hunches down my back and rarely had split ends. As much as my skin burned if I went out into the sun without using sunscreen, I loved it anyway. I loved how it was zit free and perfectly smooth. And my stature, I wasn't exactly what would make a person stare if I stepped out in a bodycon dress, but I was just as okay the way I was. At least I knew enough to know it was okay the way it was with my wide hips and slim waist.
But the thing was, I wasn't confident. I was far from being confident in myself. One minute I was all hyped and ready to do something, all optimistic, believing I take on anything headfirst, and the next minute I was having doubts like they came in twos. And it was eating me up inside, my lack of self-confidence. If I was confident enough I might have signed up as a contestant in this year's beauty pageant, but yet again, even at eighteen, I wasn't going to, no matter what anyone told me.
The pageant was today. As usual, I'd be in the background ready to cheer whoever I was rooting for, but this time it wasn't just a random person. This time I would be cheering for my sister, Karen. Two things made this year's pageant differently, and pleasantly so to speak. One, Karen was performing in the pageant this time around and for the first time, and two, KJ would be at it too, not just as a spectator, but because of me. Because I invited him as my plus one.
Karen hadn't wanted to attend the pageant. It had been nowhere near her mind. All she planned on doing was to spend the three-week summer break at home before she headed back to school, but somehow, she had managed to fill me in on the dos and don'ts about boys and attend the pageant as well. All thanks to Mr. Wilson by the way. He had dropped by the house to see dad and then he commented that Karen would be a fit candidate for the pageant and the next thing everybody knew, that was all Karen wanted to do with her remaining one week at home, contest beauty pageant.
Her male half was going to be a close friend from high school who was also back for the holidays. If you asked me, I thought they were the perfect match, but of course, no one else could see what was so obvious. Caleb had been the quiet mysterious basketball point guard back in high school and Karen the busty lacrosse player. They were the perfect couple if only they could see, but oh well.
As I stood in front of the full-length mirror in Karen's room, holding my reflection before me in scrutiny, I wondered what KJ would think when he eventually saw me.
My brown hair was pinned in a neat chignon style and my makeup had been so perfectly done by Karen's friend, Sandy, it seemed like I had none on but still looked more beautiful than I normally did.
My dress was a blue velvet dress without sleeves and a white waistband that stopped an inch just above my knees. Coupled with silver heels that enhanced my long legs, I looked for once as a proper lady and I was both awed by the look and happy with it.
Who knew I could be this pretty? Oh, if Matthew could see me right now, he'd so drool. I was even willing to put a bet on the fact that he would. Sadly, he wasn't here. He and his family had to make a journey to the hospice where his ninety-year-old grandma was being taken care of.
Well, at least I had KJ. He'd get to see how pretty I looked and that was all that mattered at the moment.
I stepped away from the mirror and turned around, heading downstairs to join mom and Karen as they got into the SUV. Dad was already in the front seat waiting.
"Took you long enough, Elena," mom eyed me as I got into the car.
I shut the door behind me as I got into the car. Moments later dad turned it on and began driving towards the town hall where the pageant was to be held.
"You look really beautiful," I said to Karen who was beside me, looking at herself in the mirror.
She breathed. "I mean I know, thank you. But I'm nervous, other girls would look beautiful too, Ellie, what if I don't win?"
"It's too early to be pessimistic, honey," dad commented, glancing at Karen and me through the rearview mirror.
"I know, I know," she sighed, looking out the window.
I took her hand then and gave it a mold squeeze, my gaze fixed on her. "You'll do great, Karen, trust me. You're the prettiest girl I know, put that on everything I love."
At my words, she smiled. "Thanks, Ellie, I needed that."
****
The pageant had kicked off. Although the events that highlighted it hadn't yet taken place at least everyone was present, from contestants to parents and families and even to mere spectators.
I was getting worried. KJ wasn't here yet. I knew I had told him the exact time to come—two in the afternoon. And I'd also given him the location, so why wasn't he here yet?
Sighing, I turned on my phone and entered the password. It unlocked the last message I had sent to KJ on Instagram. I had sent it by noon.
It read, Hey! Are you still coming? :))
And he was yet to reply to it, although he'd come online just recently. His last seen showed he was active about ten minutes ago.
Why did KJ always have to be this way? First, the kiss, who gives a damn if it was just a game, and now this? He was going to stand me up?
Starting to get upset, frown lines forming on my face, I slumped back into my chair and blew a raspberry, thinking of how much I missed Matthew. If he were here now I wouldn't be left feeling so lonely. He always had one snarky or funny comment which I was everly ready to laugh at.
Even if he didn't say something funny, hearing his voice alone would've been able to lighten my mood. Chase away for the meantime the thoughts of KJ.
And now I was thinking about calling KJ. Finding out what was wrong. Crap. The pageant was about to start in full swing and he was still yet to arrive. But then I also didn't like the idea of calling him that much, thinking it might make me seem like I was coming on too strong when we weren't even in a relationship.
Although today was supposed to be a date.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my hand. I had intentionally reduced my ringtone to the lowest, in case something like this happened.
My heart leaped, thinking it was KJ, but when I flipped my phone and saw it wasn't him, I sighed. It was Matthew. I was happy anyway. Now I had someone I enjoyed talking with.
"Hey, Matt," I said, putting the phone up to my ear.
"What's up, Lee? The pageant started yet?" He asked.
"Nope. Although pretty much everyone's here now. We're just waiting for the main thing to start..what about you?"
"Ah, you know, the usual. Grandma's doing good, funny she remembers you," he chuckled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I feigned a hurt voice.
"It means you're able to leave a lasting impression on anyone, Elena. On grandma, my parents, me. It means you're special," he said.
Matthew never held back when it came to compliments, but today's own was different, special like he said I was. There just was this sincerity to the way he said his words.
"Did grandma tell you to tell me all these?" I asked with a smile, deciding to be a little tease.
"I'm serious," he laughed. "I mean every word I just said."
"If so," I breathed in. "Thank you, Matthew. I think you're amazing and special too."
"Of course, I know that," he said. "I mean it's Matthew Kingsley after all."
"Try for once to not be so cocky, Matt." I rolled my eyes.
By half-past two, the main beauty pageant began. First, all the females and their pairs were to come together and then stand opposite each other. After that, they took a bow before they began dancing the beforehand practiced dance.
I watched the beautiful smile on Karen's lips as she looked into the eyes of an equally handsome Caleb who had one of his hands on her waist and the other entangled in hers. They looked so good as a couple, Karen in her long silver dress and Caleb in his black tuxedo, you'd be surprised to know they weren't even together.
Eventually, the dance came to an end and everyone went about their business at the pageant, either looking for food or betting on who the judges would decide as to the winner.
For one to emerge as a winner, it had to be a collective effort. I saw many couples that didn't seem in sync either with what they wore or how they danced. Out of the fifteen couples present, I could bet were major flops to the judges. And I could bet too that Karen and Caleb weren't one of them.
During the break before it was time for the judges to announce the winner, I got up to get myself something to eat. Again, I checked my phone. KJ still hadn't replied to my message although he hadn't yet come online either.
Why did I even bother? Letting out a tired sigh, I switched off my phone and dropped it into my purse before walking over to the buffet and getting myself something to eat.
By the time I was done eating, the results of the winner of the beauty pageant were ready and in about ten minutes the entire area fell silent ao the judges could read out their verdict.
The third place wasn't Karen, no. It was a girl named Dolly Orton. I saw Karen's face on hearing that Dolly was the third. Caleb placed his hand over hers gently.
The second wasn't Karen either. It was another pretty girl, Lana Fredrick. She and her pair walked up to the stage with a wild smile, as if they'd won the lottery.
It was time for the first position. I could see the sad look on Karen's face. She was probably wondering how she could be first if she couldn't be second or third.
And the name was called.
"The winner of this year's beauty pageant is, drum rolls please, Karen Sergio!"
The crowd erupted in a frenzy at the mention of Karen's name and for the first time today, I forgot completely about KJ. Or that he even existed the only thing on my being was that my sister was so beautiful she was worthy of winning the beauty pageant.