Chapter 2: RejectedThey Mocked The Wrong Girl

The next day came, and a courier knocked on my dorm's door. "Ms. Emilia? Your package."

I signed off on the package and took the lightweight gift box into my room. The moment I opened it, I froze.

Inside was an XL neon-pink tutu dress. Across the front was an enormous cartoon pig.

My phone buzzed. Wendy's cloying voice came through, as if she wanted to be praised for this. "Did you get the dress? I went through three malls in the city center before I finally found the size that can fit you. Pink's great with the skin. You'll look adorable in that."

I checked the brand. This was an XL piece specifically made for gag videos.

Claire sent me more snapshots of the group chat. Ten minutes earlier, Wendy had posted a photograph of the dress. "Her armor has been sent."

Guy A texted, "Bruh, that looks like what a pig would wear for its own wedding."

Girl B texted, "Well, guess we'll see Princess Pink Elephant make her shocking debut tonight."

Wendy replied, "Guys, be nice. It's already a miracle I got her something that fits."

Wendy sent me another voice message. "I spent most of my allowance this month on that dress. You have to wear this for the meeting, or you'll be insulting my effort! If you don't wear it, I won't talk to you again!"

Over the last three years, she had used that same tactic to coerce me into eating desserts meant for two people and wearing clothes that made me look fat.

I stuffed the dress back into the box and covered it without hesitation, then I tapped return to sender on the app. After that, I called my mother. "Morning, Mom."

My mother asked warmly, "It's the orientation tonight. Nervous, sweetheart?"

"No." I approached the window and looked at the freshmen underneath.

A momentary pause later, my mother spoke with an unusually soft tone. "I saw the photo on the forum." She did not bring up Wendy, but I knew she saw everything. "We can go home if you don't want to go."

I could feel that she felt for me.

"Doesn't matter if you're 200 or 100 pounds, you're still my daughter, and I'm proud of you. You don't have to prove your worth to anyone, nor do you have to play along with their malice."

My eyes stung, and I took a deep breath. "I'm not playing along, Mom."

I looked at my reflection in the window, my jawline, and my squared shoulders. I got all of that from the gym. "I'm ending things."

I hung up and changed into the white tee and jeans I picked last night, then I tied my hair into a high ponytail and slipped the love letter into my canvas bag.

…

Wendy got the package back at ten. She called, but I refused to take it, and the texts flooded my phone.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I bought you this dress out of the kindness of my heart, and you send it back to me?"

"Are you chickening out? The whole school knows you're giving him that love letter."

"If you chicken out, you'll be the laughingstock of Oceaton U forever!"

I did not reply to her messages. Claire sent me more snapshots. Wendy was ranting in her group. "She sent the dress back. Bet she's chickening out and won't wear it."

Guy A agreed. "I bet. She'll look like a wrecking ball no matter what she wears."

Wendy replied, "Doesn't matter what her fashion statement is. We'll gather at Bamboo Park at five thirty today."

"She can dress like a wrecking ball for all I care. I just need her standing in front of Jonathan, even if she has to roll all the way there!"

I turned silent mode on and tossed my phone away, then I took a sip of some ice-cold water. They could keep laughing for a little while longer. I was in no hurry to stop them.