My brother had always been obsessed with gaming, so choosing the perfect gift for his eighteenth birthday wasn't difficult—a brand-new PlayStation. I smiled as I imagined his face lighting up when he opened it. After picking up the gift and my dress, I collected my mom and her staff, and we headed back to the hostel.
Once inside, I placed the shopping bags on my bed, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and dread. This wasn't just another day. For the first time in my life, I was about to attend a formal event with people outside my small circle. A part of me felt thrilled at the prospect, but another part—a much louder part—wanted to crawl under the covers and cancel.
I stared at myself in the mirror, hands on my hips. My hairstyle felt all wrong. My expression looked unsure. Nothing about me seemed to fit the occasion. The invitation's elegant calligraphy replayed in my mind: Dress Code: White Elegance. The words seemed to mock me now.
The first thing I decided? No glasses tonight.
My brother's voice echoed in my head as I hesitated. He'd always teased me about my glasses. "Take them off," he'd say. "You look way prettier than those TV stars without them. But with them, you're like a cute little warthog."
His words stung back then, but maybe he was right about one thing: I needed a change. This wasn't the time to fade into the background. For once, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and see what happened.
After fiddling with my hair for what felt like forever, I gave up and tied it into a simple ponytail. My dress, thankfully, didn't need much effort—it was a modest yet elegant white gown with delicate diamond embroidery along the neckline. It wasn't overly flashy, but it had a quiet charm that felt right. I paired it with white heels and the diamond-stone earrings my mom had given me on my birthday.
Makeup was another story. The idea of applying anything more than lip balm felt foreign. After staring at a small tube of foundation for several minutes, I sighed and gave up. Simplicity had always been my way, so I stuck with a touch of cherry lipstick. That was enough.
I glanced at my reflection one last time. Without the glasses and with the cherry lipstick adding a hint of color, I looked… different. Not a warthog, at least. Maybe my brother wasn't completely wrong.
The party venue wasn't close, so I hailed a cab. As the car weaved through the city streets, the soft hum of the engine gave me too much time to think. What if I didn't fit in? What if my classmates whispered behind my back, judging me for daring to attend?
When the cab pulled up to the hall, my doubts hit full force. The entrance was swarming with people dressed in every shade of white imaginable—flowing gowns, sharp suits, glittering accessories. Everyone looked like they'd stepped out of a fashion magazine.
I stepped out of the cab, clutching my bag tightly. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the soft strains of classical music coming from inside the hall. I joined the line to enter, nerves knotting tighter with each step forward.
The crowd was overwhelming. "I thought this was just for our class," I mumbled under my breath. "How could there be so many people? Don't tell me it's the entire semester—or the whole university!"
As the line inched forward, I glanced around nervously. I spotted clusters of students I recognized, their faces lit with excitement. It felt like everyone belonged except me.
When it was finally my turn to step through the grand doors, I hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The hall was breathtaking. Warm golden lights cast a soft glow over the room, making it shimmer like something out of a dream. Chandeliers hung low, their crystals catching the light and scattering it in a dazzling display. The tables were draped in white silk, adorned with fresh flowers and flickering candles.
The air buzzed with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the low hum of conversation. My heart pounded as I stepped further inside, feeling like an outsider in a world of elegance and ease.
"Breathe," I whispered to myself. "It's just a party."
But it wasn't just a party. It was a chance to step into a world I'd never been part of, to see if I could blend in—or even stand out.
I glanced around the room, searching for a familiar face. A few people smiled at me politely, but most were too engrossed in their conversations to notice. Part of me wanted to bolt back to the safety of my hostel, but another part—small but persistent—urged me to stay.
As I moved further into the crowd, my nerves slowly began to settle. Maybe tonight wouldn't be as overwhelming as I feared.
Or maybe it would be the night that changed everything.