Beauty stood in front of the restroom mirror, staring at her reflection, about to practice her approach to Bruno.
"Okay, I can't believe I am doing this, but I better be fast else someone will walk in here and that will be really messed up".
She sighed deeply and adjusted her blouse, took a long deep breath, and started her practice.
"Hey, Sir Bruno, would you like to be my... date?"
That made her cringe instantly, shaking her head. "No, too forward, too forward."
With a loud sigh, she tried again, putting on a more serious expression on her face.
"Sir Bruno, I was wondering if you'd be interested in... attending an event with me this weekend?"
Her reflection stared back, unimpressed.
"Event? What event? A funeral? Ugh! Girl be serious".
She muttered, rolling her eyes at herself.
"I told you. This is not going to work, Jessie".
A few seconds later, she brushed her hair back and leaned closer to the mirror.
"Okay, Beauty, just keep it cool. Be confident, remember to be confident. It's no big deal. It's not like you're asking him to marry you."
More determined, she straightened up and opened her eyes slowly.
"Hey, Sir Bruno! What's up? So, there's this thing, a reunion, and I thought..."
Suddenly, she gasped, clutching her chest.
"Oh my God, 'what's up'? Who says that to their boss? I'm definitely going to get fired."
She slapped her forehead followed with a frustrated groan, pacing back and forth in the restroom, waving her arms dramatically.
"Fine, take a deep breath, be confident ... .be more feminine...unlock your inner feminine charms".
She patted her cheeks lightly, then with
a soft tone, she spoke again to her reflection.
"Sir Bruno, I've been thinking... would you, um... mind coming with me to this reunion?"
She glanced at her reflection as if it would give her the answer, just then the restroom door swung open.
Beauty stiffened, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Kathy and her two sidekicks, Linda and Michelle, walk in.
"Of all the people. Great!"
Beauty cursed and rolled her eyes.
Kathy and her sidekicks strolled in like they owned the place, chattering loudly as they made their way to the sinks for touch-ups.
Kathy immediately made a gross expression when she caught sight of Beauty at the mirror, then she smirked.
"Oh look, it's the company's whale, our poor Beauty".
Kathy announced in mockery, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
Her friends stifled giggles as they glanced at Beauty, waiting for the punchline.
"You mean, beautiful Whale".
Michelle added and they laughed out loud this time.
"Guys stop the bully. Fat is also beautiful, it can be unhealthy, but you won't want the poor girl to think of suicide right? Being ugly is something I have never experienced, but it can be really frustrating".
She glanced at Beauty then continued her speech while applying her blushes.
"Especially when you have no choice but to use pity to gain favors. Everyone is beautiful in all sizes...whales...whatever shape... You know what I'm saying".
The two others burst into laughter again.
Beauty's stomach dropped, but she kept her eyes focused on the mirror, pretending not to hear them.
Her hands gripped the sink, knuckles whitening. She arched her tightly.
"Beauty don't look, just ignore them".
She said to herself and kept staring at the mirror reflection.
Kathy sidled up beside her, fixing her lipstick in the mirror in an exaggerated way.
"By the way, what have you been doing here for so long, Beauty?"
She asked in a syrupy, mocking tone.
"Practicing your acceptance speech for some amazing contract, huh? Big, bold and beautiful?"
Linda snorted, covering her mouth, while Michelle added.
"I don't think so, she looked flustered then. What if she was touching herself... I mean it must be difficult to be unattractive".
Kathy gasped, but her eyes showed the satisfaction she had from the comment.
"Oh goddess! Michelle, you are a devil! She is not sex starved. Maybe she's just planning to take a selfie for her new diet progress. You know, before the weight loss."
The three of them burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the tiled walls.
Beauty's face burned from humiliation. She wanted to disappear, shrink into the floor, anything to escape.
Without looking at them, she slowly reached for her purse, avoiding their reflection in the mirror.
"I don't have time for this," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than them, but her voice betrayed a slight quiver.
"Oh, come on," Kathy said, stepping in front of her, blocking her path.
"Where are you rushing off to...? You need some extra time to waddle down the hallway?"
She grinned wickedly, her friends snickering in the background.
Beauty clenched her fists by her sides, fighting the sting behind her eyes. She couldn't let them see her cry.
Not here. Not now.
Instead, she forced a tight smile and sidestepped Kathy, who watched her with a smirk.
"Excuse me," she said quietly, keeping her head high as she walked past them.
As she exited the restroom, their laughter echoed behind her.
"That's so cruel I wish we could do it again, she makes this company look bad...can't she just hit the gym".
She overheard Linda's voice.
The moment the door closed, Beauty's breath hitched, and she felt the tears threaten to fall. But she swallowed them back.
She'd cry later, but not now.
Maybe at home just not here.
She closed her eyes in meditation.
"Don't let them ruin this day for you, Beauty...confident ...you are confident".
Taking a deep breath, she wiped away the tears that had started to gather in the corners of her eyes before walking back quietly to her office.