Chapter 3:

Gwen's Imperfect Life

Gwyneth Mae's POV:

It's the weekend. Our group's hangout went well even though Francis needed to leave earlier than everyone else. I even asked Jewel and Chloe to hang out today and they agreed!

It's exciting. I don't have friends that I could actually hang out with. I'm just not comfortable with anyone but I feel fine with them.

I heard my mom talking to her secretary on the phone. Dad already left early in the morning so I didn't get to say goodbye. He'll be in Singapore for a few days.

I went out of my room ready to leave the house but holding my exam results to show my mom.

"I told you to fix that report yesterday and you still haven't done it yet?! How incompetent, Sarah. I've expected more from you! I'll be there in an hour so, fix it by then!" Mom yelled as she ended her call.

"Hi mom." I greeted.

She's staring at her laptop like a mad person. "Hi sweetheart, do you need anything?" She asked sounding very insincere.

"My test results are out. I got 96%, it's the 2nd highest in the whole 2nd year." I said and showed her the result.

She stopped typing on her laptop and faced me. Here it comes... "2nd? Are you contented about being the 2nd best? Gwyneth, if you're not the best, you're just nothing. I'm paying such expensive tutors for you and you'll get 96%? Next time I want 100% and the first in the entire year. Understood?" She nagged.

"Yes mom." I sighed.

"Are you going anywhere sweetie? I told you to stop wearing denims and shorts. You look so cheap. What would other people say? That we're not taking care of you properly? Change into something else. Something more appropriate for the name Espinosa." My mom said as she closed her laptop.

I should have just left already. Now, she's going to check every single detail of my appearance.

I went back inside my room to change into a dress. I should look sophisticated and like a princess all the time or else I'll embarrass them. Sometimes, I feel like some royalty from England with all the rules and dress codes.

I wore a yellow v-neck floral sundress with short puffy sleeves. I took my small crossbody bag and put it on. I take a look at myself in the mirror and saw the princess they wanted me to be.

"A little more gloss, Gwen." I said to myself and applied more gloss on my lips.

This is also probably one of the reasons why I don't have friends, they think that I doll myself too much or that I'm too full of myself. It's not like I have a choice...

I walked out of our house and saw my mom getting inside her car.

"Is this enough now?" I asked her spitefully.

"Hon, are those sneakers? I didn't bought tons of sandals and shoes just for you to wear sport shoes outside! I need to go so be sure to change that sneakers. Oh and sweetie, a little more powder. You look too oily." Mom said before she closed the car door. Her driver started the car and they left.

I'll just never be perfect in my mom's eyes. I sighed and disregarded everything she just said. I went to the cafe where we're supposed to meet without changing my shoes and saw the girls there already waiting.

It's giving me anxiety. What if they're talking behind my back? What if they don't really want to be friends with me? It happened before, what if it would just repeat itself?

No. I trust Jewel and Chloe, they're nothing like those fake friends before.

"Hey!" I greeted cheerfully as I run to them.

"Wow. You always look so pretty." Chloe said while staring at me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to doll up too much. It's just that my mom have this rules and standards that I just-" I was blabbering and making up excuses when Jewel cut me off.

"Hey, it's okay. You look great, what are you sorry for?" Jewel smiled at me and tapped the seat beside her.

"I just had bad friendships before so..." I hesitated.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Jewel asked trying to make me feel better.

See? I just arrived yet she's so comfortable to talk to already. But I don't want to ruin the mood.

I've never had a friend like her. She's so easy to talk to.

"Let's just eat first. I don't want to ruin the mood just yet." I giggled.

"It's fine tho..." Chloe said.

"Yeah. You'll implode if you keep it to yourself." Jewel said. "But I'm quite hungry. Let's talk while we eat okay?" She smiled at me.

I nodded. She makes things feel so light.

We ordered cakes, pastas, and drinks. While eating I told them what I've been going through; the pressure of reaching my mom's standards, how much I hate myself for hating my mom, and even the petty things like how much I hate wearing heels and skirts.

"I never thought you had this side of you. I always saw you as the perfect girl. I was actually kind of jealous of you. It seems like you have everything; brains, money, pretty face, and even an outgoing yet sophisticated personality." Chloe admitted. "Not to mention, you're really popular." She added.

"But that popularity comes with bad rumors too. Like how I'm dating an older guy or I'm a two-faced bitch?" I laughed.

"People will always try to find your flaw. It's their way of making themselves feel better. I think your mom knows that. That's why she wanted you to be as flawless as possible. So, other people won't find anything to nitpick on you and you won't get hurt." Jewel explained.

I sighed. "I never thought of it that way..." She's right. My mom just wanted the best for me.

"But you should know that you can't please everyone. Just be yourself and those who matter won't mind. If they start minding you being yourself, they don't matter." Jewel added. "I think that you're really more than just a pretty face."

I bit my lower lip trying to keep the tears to myself. She's so nice...

"No. Stop. Don't make that face." Jewel laughed.

"Gwen, don't cry. If you cry, I might cry too!" Chloe said with her eyes starting to form tears too.

"Oh my gosh, this is embarrassing. Why are you girls crying?" Jewel said still laughing at us.

She both gave us tissues to wipe our tears right away even before they roll down.

"I've never talked about this to anyone so, I'm quite overwhelmed by how you both listened to me." I cried again. This time, with tears falling from my eyes.

"We're friends now. I didn't even know, I'll ever had friends." Chloe cried too.

"We're out of tissues, can you please calm down now? Get yourself together." Jewel said as she pats my back.

Suddenly, the waiter put shaved ice on our table and a ton of tissue.

"We didn't order-" Jewel said but she stopped halfway.

I look up to see the waiter.

"It's embarrassing. Stop crying already." Francis whispered and left.

"Was he here the whole time?" I asked while sniffing.

"I think so." Jewel replied. "But don't worry. Francis doesn't look like it but he cares about other people."

"He pretends to hate hanging out with us but he's our friend too, right?" Chloe asked.

"Of course, he is." I replied.

We finished eating the shaved ice Francis bought for us and we decided to just walk around town. We passed by a convenience store and saw Francis eating cup noodles.

"Wanna tease him a bit?" Jewel smirked.

"He won't get mad, will he?" Chloe asked worriedly.

"He's always mad anyway. Plus, we have Jewel. He doesn't get mad at her." I chuckled.

We entered the store and sat beside Francis. We just stared at him while he's eating.

"Stop that." He complained.

"What? Are you getting shy?" Jewel teased and laughed.

I couldn't believe my eyes but Francis blushed for a second and his ears are burning red!

"I hate it when people stare at me while eating." Francis said.

"Okay fine. But, hang out with us!" I grinned.

"Where are you getting that courage to talk to me like that, Gwen?" He glared at me.

"You called me Gwen. We're friends." I smiled.

"Stop pretending to hate hanging out with us. Let's just go." Jewel said to him.

"I'm not pretending. I hate hanging out with people. Leave me alone." He hissed.

"Mean." Jewel said and hit Francis behind his head.

Francis kinda froze but Jewel left the store looking upset so we just followed her.

"They're scary together." Chloe whispered.

"Well, Jewel's fearless so..." I chuckled.