I'm Guilty, My Beauty[COMPLETED]

A big banner was flying atop the Cebu Convention Center.

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Culinary Regional Trials,

July 19, 20XX

Sponsored by Culinary Organization of the Philippines

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Three days more, and the competition would begin. She had been traveling with Clarence while learning from different cooks in the places they went to. It was a worthwhile experience. However, the chefs were too polite to her as she was regarded as the boss' girlfriend, which was frustrating for her. She wished they would be honest with her in every way. Good thing, the lover boy was always there, guiding and teaching her about what he saw needed improvement.

She knew she was still far from Clarence's caliber. Her only plus was being a good and fast learner. Her quick thinking was also an instinct built out of self-learning. Somehow, things one could call the basics—she was not sure if she got them all right: like how to skin and cut fish while keeping it from being mushy and lose its freshness, the proper way to hold a knife to get perfectly equal slices, etc.

Without a personal mentor to guide her, she learned from what she could find online. With three days left, she tried to practice and studied these basics in case it would come handy.

The opening day came. In the convention hall, three big function rooms were occupied by kitchens for the competition, complete with all necessary equipment. There were three kitchen fittings in every room. As she went into the hall, she saw people from all walks of life registered as participants for the event.

There were a lot of culinary students participating. Some were just simple cooks in cafeterias or pizza parlors. There were even married men and women with their partners accompanying them. Factory workers—still wearing their uniforms—were also present, giving this competition a shot. Who knows? They might be the next Master Chef Gordon Ramsey.

There were more than 500 registrants. She was one of the early birds who registered, and so she would have her turn during the first week. There was a short program which was totally like an announcement before the trials started. By 1:00 in the afternoon, contestants were allocated based on their corresponding numbers. Three contestants take turns in every hall. No one outside the hall knew what happened inside while the judging went on.

Thirty minutes to an hour lapsed, and participants started to come out. Some cried, some jumped for joy, and some remained silent before leaving. Only two people came out holding an apron. They were warned not to tell what transpired inside. All those who saw these reactions were nervous.

While waiting, Beauty saw Cathy approaching her. She was with other culinary students from a prestigious school. Without hesitation, Beauty deliberately faced the other head-on.

"Oh, look who's here? The shameful bumpkin who bewitched Clarence," said Cathy as she flaunted her appeal by posing like a cover girl.

"Oh you mean this girl was the one who was shamelessly pursued the famous Clarence Peres, who won twice the junior master chef awards of Broad Ridge School of Arts and from the Culinary Organization of the Philippines?" A girl chimed in with excitement, studying Beauty's image and comparing it to Cathy in secret—or not.

Beauty was a bit upset as she heard what was said. She was the girlfriend, but she didn't know any of it. She thought this boyfriend of hers was just really famous. Who would've thought he won such prestigious awards?

"Who is the shameful bumpkin you're talking about?" Beauty said with a quizzical face.

"You, of course," crisply replied Cathy. She turned up her chin, trying to intimidate the other girl.

"I didn't know that ... in this case, you're also a shameless bumpkin since we're typically born on the same island." Beauty said calmly as she checked her trial schedule date written on her registration paper.

"What? You!" Cathy stomped her foot lowly and balled her fists, greatly infuriated by being called a shameless bumpkin. Her face, however, kept her twitching smile as if she didn't lose her cool.

"What about me? I was born here as well. So definitely, we're both seriously island bumpkins. Nice meeting you, provincial cousin. Bye." The girl put on a sarcastic smile before bidding goodbye.

After settling her case, Beauty left them to their feigned smug faces.

"I will win and take him away from you!" Cathy hollered with a broken voice, making the rest in the lobby turned their heads to them.

Destiny somehow made things worse for Beauty. Sheila, who was there as well, saw the whole incident. She absolutely knew who the shouting girl was. This girl had been running after Clarence for who knows how long. Conceited and complacent as always, that was the Cathy she knew.

"Hi, Cathy," Sheila stood beside the girl and her group. She took the initiative to go near them to get any info about the other girl. If the 'him' Cathy was referring to was Clarence, then that girl could be his girlfriend.

"Sheila, you're here? When did you come back?" Cathy dropped her anger and turned to the perhaps superior girl.

"Just days ago. Why are you shouting?" Sheila chuckled. "Be careful, the organizers and judges might disqualify you from being a nuisance."

"I'm not. That witch girl is the nuisance." Cathy was caught in Sheila's trap. She almost spat words referring to the girlfriend. "She bewitched Clarence."

"Oh? What's her name?"

"She is called Beauty, but I couldn't see anything beautiful about her." Her eyes rolled in disgust. "She's not as sexy as me. Her chests were not as nice-looking as mine." The girls with her laughed at what she said.

Sheila just remained silent while listening to her conceitedness.

"How about you, Sheila? Where's your man?" Cathy suddenly remembered upon realizing Sheila arrived alone.

"What man? No idea what you mean." She shrugged as if she didn't know what the other meant. "Just be careful not to cause any ruckus here. By the way, I'm already part of the Philippine Culinary Dream Team. Try your best, bye." Sheila left in a hurry, leaving Cathy unsatisfied with what she heard.

"So her name is Beauty. Interesting." Sheila smiled knowingly. "Let's see how good you are for Clarence to look your way and choose you without waiting for me."

Beauty was unaware of the meeting of the two girls. She left the place and head straight home. Her mind was planning on what to cook and present to the judges to win this regional trial and be one of the representatives for the nationals.

"Clarence, wait for me. I'll be seeing you in the nationals as a co-competitor." She decided with all her heart to stand on the same stage as him. Her desire was to declare to the world that she was not a lowly country bumpkin without abilities—a girl who was just trying to ride on Clarence's fame and fortune. She had the same worth as he did.