Maria POV
Maria walked through the hallways of Fabulous High School, clutching her books tight against her chest. The chatter of students, the clicking of heels on polished floors, and the distant laughter made her stomach twist. No matter how many expensive clothes or gadgets she had, nothing could hide her from the whispers, the stares, or the cruel comments.
"Look at her!" Mimi whispered to Freda, snickering. "Does she even know what a mirror is?"
"Rich too," Freda added. "And she still looks like that. How embarrassing."
Rachel, standing nearby with her usual smug smile, added, "Some people just can't escape reality, no matter how much their parents pay."
Maria's cheeks burned, and she forced herself not to respond. She had learned long ago that defending herself only made it worse. Everyone saw her size, her face, her body—and that was enough for them to mock her. Even her wealth couldn't protect her.
"Hey," a soft voice said. Maria looked up to see Becky, her best friend, leaning against the locker. "Don't let them get to you. Come on, let's get out of here before Rachel ruins your day completely."
Becky's presence was comforting, a small shield in the storm of high school cruelty. "Thanks, Becky… I just…" Maria's voice faltered. "I hate how they make me ⁸feel."
"You're not invisible," Becky whispered, squeezing her hand. "You're strong… stronger than they'll ever be."
Maria nodded silently. She wanted to believe her, but deep down, she felt the weight of shame pressing on her chest.
As they walked toward the cafeteria, Maria's gaze drifted to Bryan, the most handsome boy in school. He walked with effortless charm, his laughter carrying across the hall, drawing attention wherever he went. Her chest tightened as she watched him. She had admired him from afar for months, but she knew he could never notice her—not with her size, her "ugly" face, her awkwardness.
Rachel noticed Maria staring. "Keep your eyes on him, girls," she said to Mimi and Freda. "Don't let… her distract us."
Maria felt a sharp sting in her chest. The words weren't loud, but they hit like arrows. Wealth meant nothing here; no one would see past her appearance.
Becky leaned closer. "Ignore them. You're better than their cruelty."
Maria took a deep breath, trying to focus on her lunch. But every glance from Rachel, every whisper, every laugh from the popular crowd reminded her of what she wasn't: slim, beautiful, admired. It was exhausting, humiliating, and she couldn't escape it.
After a long, tense lunch, Maria and Becky found a quiet corner in the library. The smell of old books and polished wood felt like a small relief. Maria poked at her food, her mind spinning with the constant reminders of her inadequacy.
"I hate this school sometimes," Maria murmured. "It doesn't matter how rich I am… I'm still… like this." She gestured to herself, the weight of frustration heavy in her movement.
Becky shook her head. "You're not 'like this.' You're amazing, Maria. Don't let them fool you into believing otherwise."
Maria forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Becky's words were comforting, but the truth of her daily life at Fabulous High was harsh. Every glance, every whisper, every snicker reminded her that she was never enough.
By the time classes ended, Maria felt drained. Walking home with Becky, she replayed the day's humiliations over and over. Every step, every stare, reminded her that high school wasn't fair. And as much as she wished it were different, she knew that until something changed, she would continue to feel invisible, mocked, and underestimated.
Maria finally got home, dropping her bag on the floor as a heavy sigh escaped her lips. Her body felt exhausted, but her heart ached even more. Every laugh, every whisper, every glance from school replayed in her mind, twisting like a knife. She hated herself in that moment—not for who she was, but for not being pretty enough to belong, to be noticed, to be admired.
She sank onto her bed and picked up her phone, hoping to distract herself. Scrolling through the internet, she stumbled upon a new post that made her chest tighten. There he was—Bryan—her dream guy, laughing effortlessly, sitting next to Rachel. They looked so natural together, smiling for the camera in what seemed like the perfect, carefree moment. The picture captured them in a funny pose, and even though Maria knew it was innocent, seeing them together made her stomach churn.
Tears pricked her eyes, but she couldn't look away. Her fingers shook as she scrolled through more pictures—Bryan laughing, Rachel brushing her hair back, the kind of effortless beauty Maria had never had. A lump formed in her throat as sobs began to escape.
"Why can't I have him?" Maria whispered to herself, her voice breaking. "He's… he's perfect. He's my dream guy… I love him. Why can't he love me back?"
She pressed her forehead to the screen, staring at the image as the tears fell freely. The jealousy, the longing, the pain of being overlooked—it all bubbled up inside her. It wasn't fair. Why did Bryan have to notice someone like Rachel, someone who seemed so flawless, while Maria, rich as she was, could only watch from the sidelines?
Her body shook with quiet sobs, and she clutched her pillow tightly. She didn't want anyone to see her like this—weak, heartbroken, longing for something that seemed impossible—but she couldn't stop. Not when every part of her ached for a life she wasn't allowed, for attention and love she didn't have.
Maria stayed like that for what felt like hours, staring at the photos, imagining what it would be like if it were her sitting next to Bryan, laughing, smiling, being admired. The thought made her heart ache even more.
She wiped at her tears, her fingers trembling. "Why am I like this? Why can't I be pretty? Why can't I… be enough?"
The room felt empty around her, the walls closing in as her heart ached with longing. She didn't even notice how late it had gotten, or that the sun had started to dip, casting long shadows across her room. All she could feel was the pain of being ignored, overlooked, invisible… and the desperate, aching desire to be someone else.
As Maria sat on her bed, clutching her pillow and staring at Bryan and Rachel's pictures, a small notification popped up on her phone.
"You want to lose weight? Click and watch how to lose weight and exercise."
Her heart skipped a beat. Could this be… a start? She hesitated for a moment, then curiosity and hope glimmered in her chest. She clicked the link, and soon, her screen was filled with videos of exercises, routines, and success stories. Each one seemed more inspiring than the last.
Maria watched carefully, her eyes scanning every movement, every tip. She paused at a few that seemed practical yet challenging, then finally picked four exercises she felt she could commit to. She stared at them, her fingers trembling slightly with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.
"I… I can do this," she whispered to herself, a spark lighting inside her chest. "I'm going to do this every single day. I have to. Before I even think about… becoming beautiful… I need to do this."
The thought made her smile—a small, tentative smile at first, but a smile nonetheless. For the first time in a long time, she felt a tiny flicker of control, a sense that she could actually take steps toward changing her life, toward being noticed for something other than her size.
Without wasting another second, she jumped off the bed and hurried downstairs. Her family was busy in the kitchen, and she grabbed a quick meal, eating with determination. She didn't want to linger; she wanted to start her new routine as soon as possible.
She put on some music, letting the beats lift her spirits, and began planning her new schedule in her head. Each exercise, each repetition, each small achievement would be a step closer to the version of herself she wanted to become.
For the first time in weeks, Maria's heart felt lighter. The pain of rejection and mockery was still there, but it was tempered by something new: hope, determination, and a plan.
As the sun set outside and the room was bathed in the soft glow of evening, Maria moved through her exercises in front of the mirror, imagining the day she could face the world and maybe—just maybe—catch Bryan's attention.
The music played, her movements flowed, and slowly, a sense of purpose replaced the ache in her heart. She paused, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and smiled at her reflection. This was only the beginning.
The light faded outside, casting shadows across her room, but inside, Maria's resolve burned brighter than ever.