Beauty watched from behind, feeling even smaller as the seconds dragged on. Everyone around her seemed so at ease, so comfortable in their skin, while she felt every insecurity bubbling to the surface.
Her uniform was the largest size available, and though it was too big, she had to wear it since no senior was bigger than her.
When it was finally Beauty's turn, her heart raced. The photographer's initial excitement quickly turned to impatience.
"Alright, let's get this over with," he muttered under his breath, not even bothering to look at her as he adjusted the camera.
Beauty's stomach twisted into knots. She took her place in front of the camera, unsure of where to stand or how to pose. Already uncomfortable in her own skin, she now felt all eyes on her.
The photographer barely hid his irritation. "Okay, um... maybe turn a little to the side. No, no, not like that. Try sucking in your stomach a bit... and could you lift your chin a little higher?"
Beauty did as she was told, struggling to hold her breath and suck in her tummy, but the pose felt awkward and unnatural.
She could hear the whispers and giggles of the other students behind her, making the whole situation worse.
The photographer sighed dramatically, clearly unimpressed.
"Try not to... you know, look so big. You're very fat... it's exhausting trying to make you look smaller," he muttered.
Her face flushed red with shame. Her arms felt too heavy at her sides, and she didn't know where to put them.
She tried to smile, but it felt forced and shaky.
"Come on, Beauty, suck it in!" someone shouted from the line behind her. The words pierced her like knives.
The laughter that followed burned in her ears, growing louder by the second.
"Yeah, don't break the camera!" another voice jeered, followed by more laughter.
"Keep quiet!" the teacher's voice roared.
Beauty's eyes stung with tears she fought to hold back. She tried to keep her chin up, pretending she didn't hear the cruel comments, but the photographer wasn't helping.
He walked over and began adjusting her position, turning her this way and that with roughness, muttering that she was wasting his time.
"Final trial" he said, snapping a few shots in quick succession, barely looking at her through the lens.
"Alright, I think we've got something. Next!"
And that's how she ended up with the pathetic cutout picture.
As the flashback faded, Beauty clenched her fists and turned her face away from Bruno.
"Wow! Look at that. How adorable."
Bruno said cutting into her thoughts.
"We... don't need to stand with that. Let's go in," she said quietly and walked toward the event hall.
"That? We have to take a picture with teenage Beauty," Bruno said softly.
"I look stupid. It's stupid. Please don't ask me why-we need to leave," Beauty whispered, cautious of her surroundings. However, Bruno remained standing with no intention of leaving.
"Do you really hate yourself that much?" he asked, frowning.
Beauty looked around anxiously.
Beauty sighed and continued in a lower tone.
"I don't see what's wrong with you. Do you really care about other people's opinions? What about mine? I said you're beautiful. Why don't you believe me? It's not stupid. It's beautiful."
He walked over to the cutout and called a photographer's attention.
Beauty stayed in place, her back turned to him.
Bruno sighed and went to her.
"I don't care what they made you think ," he said, his voice full of quiet strength. "You're beautiful now, and you were beautiful then. Don't let others decide for you anymore.You need to make her proud. Just look at her... please. Look at her".
He whispered softly.
Beauty pressed her lips together and looked back at her image. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks. She chuckled and laughed in tears.
"She'd be so proud of you,"Bruno whispered with a smile.
Beauty fell against his chest, sobbing, ignoring her makeup.
"Just a minute, please, we are very emotional here and happy you know..." Bruno told the cameraman, his hand caressing her hair.
After Beauty's heart felt a little lighter, she pulled back and nodded.
"Thanks."
Bruno whispered and gently took her hand, squeezing it softly as they walked together to stand beside the cutout.
The photographer positioned them for a picture with the cutout.
Beauty managed a small, shaky smile, while Bruno never once let go of her hand.