Chapter 6
I cried out, but no sound came. Then, I heard someone say, “Nice. The color is bright red.”
Javier finally looked satisfied, like he got a satisfactory answer.
When the judges were done “evaluating” me, I was a mess-handprints everywhere, and something sticky smeared on the “stamen.”
Of course, I scored high in that category.
The other contestants didn’t take it well. One of them even spat in my face.
“What’s wrong with her? Is she into being humiliated or something?”
“She even seduced the judges just to win!”
When I endured the insults, the competition moved on to its final stage.
The host got all hyped.
“For the last part, we let nature decide! The one who attracts the most bees will be crowned the true rose champion!”
Pollination season meant real roses usually brought in bees, but I wasn’t a flower. Even if I had roses on my body, they were already dead. How could I attract bees?
Javier glanced at Clara. She gave him a confident smile.
“No worries, Mr. Gomez. I already handled it.”
That seemed to ease him. He turned back to the stage just as bees started ignoring the flowerpots and buzzing toward
Someone in the crowd sniffed and asked, “Who poured honey?”
A second later, a swarm of bees rushed me, stinging me over and over. I dropped to my knees, overwhelmed by the burning pain. My skin broke out in red welts and puffed up fast.
It didn’t look fake. Javier stepped forward like he was going to say something, but then a voice from the crowd said, “Wow, she attracted all those bees? Looks like the Gomez family just won again.”
Clara quickly leaned in. “Don’t worry, Mr. Gomez. It just looks scary. She’ll be fine.
“Michelle will be thrilled if you pull off another win.”
Then, out of nowhere, a giant hornet came flying right at me.
Its stinger looked deadly. Javier looked torn, like he wanted to stop it. But just then, a familiar voice called out.
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Chapter 6
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“Javier!”
I forced my head up and saw the “dead” Michelle standing beside Javier.
“Michelle? You’re… alive? How?”
Thinking he was imagining things, Javier slapped himself.
Michelle cupped his face, tears welling in her eyes.
“It’s me. I came back. I tried to end my life at your wedding, but the doctors saved me.
“I messed up your wedding, and I was scared Skylar would be upset with me. I’ve been too embarrassed to face you again. I’m sorry…”
Meanwhile, the competition kept going. Some people in the crowd yelled toward the referee.
“If this is pollination, shouldn’t the bee go inside the stamen? It’s not complete if it doesn’t finish the job!”
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