Chapter 60: Roar
Third Person's Point of View
"It's fine," Lavalee said and Jace removed his hand from holding the gun and stood behind Lavalee.
Lavalee brushed off the nervousness and began shooting the targets in the game, after a few games, Jace hugged Lavalee from behind.
"It's 5:30," Jace said and released Lavalee
"Okay, let's go," Lavalee said and took the tickets.
She placed the tickets inside the paper bag with the book and followed Jace outside the Mall.
Jace drove back to the village after making sure that they have everything and they didn't lose anything.
When they arrived inside the villa, Lavalee headed to their room while Jace changed went to their room to take a bath and change his clothes.
He changed into a blue shirt, a leather jacket, and a pair of denim pants. He wore his black and red shoes and then went out.
He brought a bag with a bottle of water and the paper bag Lavalee bought earlier.
"You ready?" Jace asked Lavalee and the latter nodded
"Let's go," Lavalee said and Jace drove to the venue. A staff led them backstage where Mrs. Conchia, Jess, Irene, Chelsea, Jaxith, Hendrix, and Icarus are currently waiting for them.
Jace's comrades; Ethan, Elijah, and Caspian are currently waiting among the audience, they reserved the seats for, Jace, Irene, Chelsea, and Icarus because Jess would be staying backstage to retouch and help Lavalee prepare while Hendrix will help Jaxith.
"Where have you been?" Mrs. Conchia asked Lavalee
"I forgot the time, Mrs. Conchia," Lavalee said and Jess pulled her inside one of the dressing rooms.
Jace went to where Ethan, Elijah, and Caspian are. He sat beside them and looked in front.
Meanwhile, Jess pulled Lavalee inside and gave her the first gown she'll wear for the modeling portion.
"Stomach in, chin up, don't be too stiff, Lav." Jess reminded Lavalee while the latter is changing into her gown
After dressing up, Jess pulled Lavalee to sit while Irene began elegantly tying Lavalee's hair, of course, Irene knew how to do it, she's still a girl after all.
"Do you know how you will answer, Lav?" Chelsea asked Lavalee while sitting on the vanity table
"Answer from the heart," Lavalee answered
"Close your eyes, Lav," Jess said and applied the eyeshadow and eyeliner to Lavalee's eyes.
After putting on make-up, Jess checked the hairstyle that Irene did and pulled a few strands to make it look more stunning.
"There," Jess said and Lavalee went out of the dressing room.
Of course, Lavalee was a head turner with her elegant long gown, bun with small crystal clips, and make-up that made her look quite innocent. Her 5 inches silver strapped heels made her look taller.
"Nice." Jaxith complimented when he saw Lavalee
Both of them are wearing red and white theme clothes. Jaxith looked like a prince in his red and white tuxedo.
"Oh, maybe this will make Jace jealous of me." Jaxith kidded and went to his line after hugging Lavalee.
"Good luck." Irene and Chelsea said before exiting backstage.
"Hi!" another candidate approached Lavalee
"Hello," Lavalee said mellowly with a beaming smile
One by one, candidates began approaching Lavalee
"What school are you from?" the first one asked
"I'm from Red Fire Academy," Lavalee replied confidently
"Red Fire Academy? You mean the School for the Rebels?" the other one asked in shock
"No, it's not a school for the Rebels, it's a school for Warriors, as what the founder has said," Lavalee said keeping her cool
"You look so beautiful to belong there." The other one commented while looking at Lavalee from head to toe
"Thank you, there are many beautiful ladies in RFA as well. I think I look pretty ordinary." Lavalee said humbly
"Line up!" the facilitator said and they lined up, Lavalee's the thirteenth candidate so she has to wait until it's her turn.
While they're waiting her co-candidates can't help but ask Lavalee about RFA and how come Lavalee is studying there. When the facilitator signaled Lavalee to climb up the stage, Lavalee smiled her million-dollar smile and went up the stage.
She didn't participate in the practice that morning but this isn't her first time in a pageant. She walked like she's on a catwalk and met with Jaxith in the middle, they walked in front of the stage and stopped when the emcees gave them microphones.
"Hello, I'm Bryan Jaxith Imperial, 19 years old. 4th-year Business Management Student of Red Fire Academy. I believe that everyone is worth it, we don't have to prove it, because the right one can see it. Thank you!" Jaxith said and flashed his killer smile
Hendrix shook his head backstage thinking how the heck his sister, Alisha, fell for someone like Jaxith then he realized what Jaxith had said.
'I thought he was just being silly, who knows he knows how to be serious.' Icarus thought while watching Jaxith from the audience seat.
"Hello, I'm Valerie Kan, turning eighteen, 3rd-year Business Management student of Red Fire Academy. What I am doesn't define who I am. And I thank you" Lavalee said and waved her hand elegantly
"Judges, can we hear your questions please?" the emcee asked and one of the judges took the microphone on the table
"Tell us about yourselves." She said and Jaxith cleared his throat
"I'm the secretary of the RFA's Student Council, I'm courting the peacekeeper of Frostwood Academy, I am an only child and I grew up in New Jadecry. I'm known to others as the joker and the one who always lifts their moods." Jaxith said and looked at Lavalee
"I'm Valerie, to those who know the real me, I am the personification of fire which on contrary brings back my nightmares of the past. I'm an orphan the second eldest child and the eldest daughter. I'm willing to sacrifice for the sake of my siblings because I value them more than I value my own life. Thank you" Lavalee said with a smile on her face and after returning the microphone they did some posing before lining up with the other candidates. After they were complete, they were told to stay for the announcing of the top 30.
"Candidates! After hearing your answers the judge has decided on the top 30 pairs." The emcee said and opened the envelope with the numbers written on it.
"Candidates #17, #10, #3, #6, #4, #47, #39, #27, #18, #21, #23, #50, #43, #45, #35, #12, #29, #20, #33, and #15, I'm sorry but you are now out of the competition, the rest, congratulations!" the emcee said and the mentioned candidates went down the stage
They were told to prepare for the sportswear so they decided to just wear their taekwondo uniforms. Jess fixed Lavalee's hair and tied it up. She sighed when she saw that the scars are no longer visible
"You had your surgery?" Jess asked Lavalee and the latter nodded
"You're ready," Jess said and Lavalee went out.
She met up with the Jaxith who was also wearing a taekwondo uniform. They both have black belts since they are both black belters in taekwondo.
"Hi!" Another candidate approached them along with her partner
"Hello." Lavalee greeted back
"Oh! Are you both taekwondo professionals?" she asked and that took the attention of the other remaining candidates
"Uh yes. Since we're 8." Jaxith said while scratching the back of his head
"Really? Then you must be childhood sweethearts." Another candidate butted in
"We're not," Lavalee denied it and smiled
"Val and I are great friends, along with Icarus, Tal, Ire, Je, Rave, and Lyan," Jaxith said
"So, you're like a gang?" Another one asked and Lavalee caught the hint of malice in her voice
"A gang is like a group of friends, right? I guess you could say that." Lavalee said avoiding the topic of gangs.
The facilitators told them to line up with their partners and when it was Lavalee and Jaxith's turn, they did some high kicks as a pose with them behind each other's backs.
After several different poses, they were told to go back backstage and prepare for the swimwear. Lavalee combed her hair while Jess removed her make-up and applied a little foundation and light pink lipstick. She gave Lavalee a see-through shirt which she wore above her black string-tied top, her cotton black short shorts.
Lavalee had the curves in the right places and her fair complexion complimented the dark-colored fabric and her auburn hair made her look like a living fire. When they went out to the stage everyone was jaw dropped at how simple Lavalee looked but she kept on looking attractive.
After several poses and stopping they were instructed to line up again for the top 20.
"Contestants #19, #13, #1, #40, #46, #41, #36, #44, #16, #28, #30, #49, #7, #5, #11, #22, #34, #8, #24, #37 you may continue, and the rest, I'm sorry but your journey ends here." The emcee said and they held an intermission number while the candidates prepared for their talent portion.
"What are you going to present?" Mrs. Conchia asked while Jaxith and Lavalee are in front of her
"We can sing and dance," Jaxith suggested
"But you didn't practice." Jess pointed out and Jaxith scratched the back of his head
"You can perform separately, right?" Hendrix asked and Mrs. Conchia nodded
"Jaxith could sing and play the guitar," Lavalee said while looking at Jaxith
"So that's what you'll do?" Mrs. Conchia asked
"Yes, Ms. I can also use some pads while strumming the guitar to have the piano music," Jaxith said
The' pads' that Jaxith is referring to is the piano mat.
"What would you do then, Valerie?" Mrs. Conchia asked Lavalee
"I'll just – " Lavalee didn't finish what she was saying when a little tiger jumped into her arms
"Mnemosyne!" Jace said and went near them
"I got an idea," Lavalee said while petting Mnemosyne
"We can ask for help from others right?" Lavalee asked the facilitator who had passed by
"Yes, of course, but you'll need someone good at the help you need." The facilitator answered and Lavalee thanked her before borrowing Jace's phone and dialing Chelsea's Number
"I'll need your help with the controls," Lavalee said and smirked
[On it. What song?]Chelsea replied
"Roar," Lavalee replied
[Ask Jace to put Mnemosyne in the right spot.] Chelsea said and Lavalee gave Jace's phone back
"Dreice, can you put Mnemosyne in the area that Chelsea will tell you?" Lavalee asked Jace and Jace nodded.
Jaxith went up the stage and began strumming his guitar, while Jess made Lavalee wear clothes fit for her performance.
When Lavalee was about to go up the stage she saw the lights blinking on and off, then a white huge paper screen was placed to block the background lights and all the lights suddenly turned off.
"Be careful," Jace told Lavalee before she walked up
Lavalee heaved a sigh and sat on the rock-like prop that they did hastily.
The lights stopped at Lavalee as she sings. Lavalee was smiling as she sang the lyrics, she was walking as if she's telling a story while singing and she's having fun exploring.
When Lavalee stopped and face the audience, the lights began to change colors from green to red to orange, and the moment Lavalee said the word 'roar', the lights behind the white screen opened and they heard a roar.
Lavalee continued walking and singing after that roar echoed, then she turned her back from the audience, and started walking as if she were on a runway. Her hair falls behind her back and sways as she moves her body as if they are flames following her every movement. Lavalee's already dancing to the beat of the song she's singing and her friends backstage can see that she's enjoying her performance.
"'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar." Lavalee sang and another roar was heard, the audience is starting to doubt if it's just a sound effect because every time Lavalee would mention the word 'roar' the loud roaring sound would be heard, and it differs
Lavalee continued singing as she walked near the white screen then she went behind the white screen, the audience anticipated what she was doing and when they saw her shadow, they were surprised. On the screen, they could see her shadow petting a tiger's shadow, although the tiger seems small, it still looks so real.
Lavalee's shadow stood up from petting the tiger's shadow, and the roar erupted again as she sang the lines; 'you're gonna hear me roar', but this time the tiger roared before Lavalee said 'roar'.
Lavalee appeared again and as she slowly walked near the edge of the stage, and as she was singing the last part, Mnemosyne steered away from running back to Jace to jump into Lavalee's arms, which surprised the audience and the judges.
Lavalee wasn't the last performer so after her performance, she went down the stage while carrying Mnemosyne. Jace gave her a bottle of water the moment she went down backstage.
"Steady, Mnemosyne," Jace said and tapped Mnemosyne's head
"You're not allowed to change your clothes until the top 10 is announced," Jess said and Lavalee checked the time.
It's already 8:17 PM, it's been two hours since the Mr. and Ms. Intramurals began.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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