Chapter 13

"Let me take care of your make up, mami, okay?"

"Do you know how?"

Of course! I don't have my own cosmetics company for nothing, Nariza.

"Just a bit," I smiled as I instructed her to close her eyes as I pat her face dry. Nariza's mask is exactly what the novel had said: the kind that covers her eyes. "So because of the dark orange Venetian mask that you got, we'll put brown eye shadows with hints of gold. Then I'll put black eyeliner too to bring out your eyes more."

"Will that be okay?"

"Of course! It's good because unlike me, you don't wear glasses. Anyway, for your lips, we will tint it with red-orange lipstick that is a bit silky instead of matte."

"I'll leave it to you." She closed her eyes. "And you? What's your plan with your face?"

"Hmm, well, because my mask covers the majority of my face, I won't be needing any make up. Maybe just a bit of lip tint, so mine will be easy."

"Oh that's right, your mask almost cover up your nose, haha! Can you still breathe through it?"

"Slight, hehe."

"So, what's the plan for later? Are we going to walk or should I call Dad to drop us off?"

Nariza and Mielle would get ready at Mielle's house, and supposedly walk together to the school. That's why Mielle would see how everyone's eyes would be on Nariza, and those who wanted to say 'Hi' to her would push her aside.

Then a bit later, Jace would come and spend the rest of the ball night with her.


"What if we go separate ways, mami?"

She opened her eyes and frowned. "What did you just say?"

"We'll go there together of course, but when we go in, either you or I go first then we will look for each other."

"Hahaha! You really want to play at the ball? Oh well! I like it!"

"But of course, when we really need to see each other or like, if there's an emergency, we should have a designated meeting place."

"Hmm, what about the back of the stage?"

"Can be! Or what about the classroom?"

"Oh, nice idea! Because there are probably some props or stuffs behind the stage since the music would be playing on it. Sure, let's make the classroom our meeting place!"

"Okidoki! By the way mami.." I'm already smirking in my mind as I tackle something the Nariza in the novel didn't know about.

"What is it?"

A grin formed in my lips. "Do you want to see dadi?"

The shock in her face was just priceless. "W-What do you mean? Don't tell me your 'feelings' are tingling again? Your radar?"

"Hehe, I know that in your heart, there is already some sort of dictation that tells you who or what Jace looks like. But that mind of yours is saying otherwise because you cannot see him, or else you'll lose him due to his grandpa. Correct?"

Of course I'm right. The novel's tragic ending was because of that. When Jace finally revealed his face to Nariza, the chapter right after that was when Jace's grandpa ordered someone to shoot Nariza and Mielle jumped in to cover her best friend, which ended her life. It was also the beginning of Nariza's insanity.

She nodded reluctantly.

Good. "This is my advice to you for tonight: follow what your heart is telling you. Even just for this night, believe in it."

"What if I'm wrong?" Her voice sounded sad and doubting.

I held her hands. "Trust me on this, Nariza. Tonight is the night that you had been waiting for: a night to spend with Jace."

She gasped. "He's coming? Did he tell you? Is he finally going to show himself to me? Or maybe, he'll just be around?"

"Just a feeling that he'll be there. Besides, with all the guys who would be asking and wanting to dance you and be with you later, I'm sure one of them will be the reason why your heart will skip a beat. It's like you'd feel nervous and your cheeks would feel hot. Ha! I mean, really? Him? You really think he'll let you go with someone else? Psh."

"Oh my gosh! Really? You're acting like you could see my future again, kiddo!"

"Haha. Anyhow, trust what your heart will tell you later. You may not see his whole face because mask can't be taken off and the staffs will know by who knows how, then you'll get kicked out, but you will feel that he is the one."

"And how can you be so sure? Hm?"

I beamed at her. "Because you two have met and seen each other."

"W-What?"

"You've seen him. Had a conversation with him. Oh! And even got to touch him!"





@~@





"Kiddo before we separate our ways, I want to tell you again that you look so sexy. And even though you got half of your face covered, I know for sure that you look pretty tonight too! Your workouts and diets are very effective. "

"So only for tonight that I'm pretty? I wasn't before?"

"Yup. Just take my compliment okay? It doesn't happen often! HAHA!"

I just shook my head on her. "So what now? Let's go inside one at a time??" In the end, Grandma Kimmy was so proud and excited for us that she paid someone to drop us off, which was actually really nice and better than walking.

"Yes, yes! So, it's not required for us to look for each other, right? What required is to have fun and party!"

"Whoop whoop! And if you like, we can even pretend that we don't know each other so they won't know or hear that we're Mielle and Nariza."

"Oooh I like that idea! Yes, yes, I'm in for that!"

We laughed at each other before holding hands. "Okay! Are you ready? You go in first. I'll hide on that dark corner right there then wait a few minutes before going second."

Nariza exhaled. "Phew, yes! Let's go!"

I quickly went to the dark corner as Nariza entered the school's gate. According to the novel, every time someone enters, a spotlight would welcome the student/s. That's why it would gather the attention of those who are standing or hanging around near the gate.

And soon enough, I could already hear the OOHs and the AAHs of those who saw Nariza.

Haha. Isn't she breathtaking?

I really did a good job making her the prettiest tonight.

As to the little games I suggested, there are reasons as to why I did it. It is to not only save Mielle from getting pushed by those students who ended up admiring Nariza, but also to not make them known that I am Mielle. I don't want her to be bullied again just because she got a nice, curvy body, with big boobs and booty now.

Just in case everything goes back to normal and you, Mielle, will have your body back.

As much as possible, if no one knows that I am Mielle tonight, they will just think that I'm just another student that has a nice figure. And that Mielle still has that chubby body. Thankfully, the transformation I went through with hard work and the mask help cover Mielle's identity.

I looked up and the night sky feels comforting. It's really been a great experience living as a character of one of my favorites novel. I truly appreciate being you, Mielle.

My eyes closed as I try to get back my focus when all of a sudden, I felt that familiar tingling sensation.

Jace is here.

"Your feeling is really out-of-this-world-detector, Mielle." I smirked to myself as I watched a car coming to my direction because where I'm hiding at is the way to the parking lot. The expensive black car finally passed in front of me. "Time for us to go in."





@~@





Gaah! Freaking spotlight!

Gee, that light is blinding! I was momentarily blinded and trying to regain my sight when all I could hear was just the music.

Did everyone stopped talking?

Soon enough, I could finally see and what I saw was something unexpected. Everyone is looking at me.

Calm down, Aice. Fix your posture, chin up, and glide. I smirked. No one knows who you are, so you walk confidently and sway those hips!

Thanks to my previous life, I know how to walk in heels. But Mielle's heels tonight are not that high so, of course, it is much easier to walk. I could feel their eyes on me and despite being used to it back then, Mielle is not.

My hands start to become cold as seconds passed by with these people's watching eyes.

Don't worry, Mielle, I got you. A lady like me is really used in balls ever since I became a businesswoman, so relax.

I know it seems crazy but Mielle's body calms down after that, making me sigh.

You really are there, Mielle. Thank you.

The gate opened again and, quickly, the spotlight and everyone's attention went to it, giving me a chance to run towards the food table.

"Man, I'm starving!" I stuffed my mouth with the brownie I got and oh, my God! It is so good! The water cup is right next to me as I hold a brownie on the left and a donut on the right. "No diet tonight for us Mielle. We need all the sugar we can get to stay up and watch the live drama later."

Another set of students came in and the spotlight got them, but I chose to ignore them and tried to find Nariza. I found her as I had my fourth brownie and third donut.

She's being chatted with three guys and two girls.

Yup. Definitely not Jace. They're not as tall as him.

Nariza finally looked on my way and spotted me. I ate my fifth brownie while wiggling my fingers to her. She radiated a big smile and gathered more guys' attention.

Good. Let's see how your 'husband' will get to you.

I took a table napkin real quick, opened it and filled it with more brownies and pigs-in-the-blanket. Then I held my water cup with the other hand and quietly made my way to the hallway.

This hallway is on the same floor of the quadrangle, but its an open one. The height of the hollow blocks wall is a little bit up to my chest, so its a perfect place for me to eat and watch things unfold. Also, even if I stand over there facing the people, my back side will be facing empty classrooms, so I won't be a hinder to anyone's view.

Another thing is it's really dark in this side because the dim lights are all focused on the quad.

I placed my foods and drink on the top of the hollow blocks wall and leaned over it.

Sorry, but not sorry, Jace, you gotta make your way pass the Nariza's fans first before getting to her.

A lot of students, girls and boys, are surrounding her now. And I bet, they're complimenting her, asking if she's alone and such.

I was going to eat my third pig-in-the-blanket when a hand touched my shoulder -- making me glared at the person. And yes, it didn't really scare me as much as the moth did.

"What are you doing here, little one?"

"Oh, ma'am, hehe, just eating. That way I have energy for later's party, hehe."

I think she's Ma'am Avelya, based on her voice, one of the teachers. "Is that so? Okay, okay, finish what your snacking on but after that, go to the side of the stage."

"Eh? W-Why?" My gut tells me something out of the novel is going to happen again.

She adjusted her mask before laughing a bit evilly. "Because you looked like you're lonely and there was an equipment that is not working, therefore, you will play for us for now."

"M-Ma'am?" Do you have a violin? That I can play. Or a piano? No right? So what the --

"Don't worry, they won't put a spotlight on stage since the focus are the students. Maybe just one or two dimmed little lights -- like Christmas lights -- at the bottom, that way you won't trip on your way."

"Ma'am Avelya, I don't know how to play any --"

"Oh! Hahaha! You're not going to play any instrument."

"Then what? Also, why me? There are so many other students here Ma'am."

"Because this is your punishment."

"Punishment?" When did this ball get a punishment for whatever the reason is? This is not in the novel.

She's nodding her head. "This ball is for you students to get along, to socialize, but you? You're just here in the dark, eating. Therefore, as a punishment, you're going to help us teachers for just one time. Or else, I will find a partner for you to be with you the entire not, so that you won't be lonely."

I quickly gulped down the water on my cup. Thank goodness I used a waterproof lipstick!

"Okay Ma'am. Lead the way." I am not going to let myself be assigned to some dude! No!

"Very good, let's go."

"Ma'am? You haven't told me what it is I'm going to do? If I'm not going to play any instrument, then what would I be doing?"

"Voice. That will be your instrument. In other words, while we're fixing the system, you're going to be singing."

Chapter end