Crown Of Resilience

12 : "𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭" 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲.

Yarana's phone buzzed with an incoming call from her mother, Aliciah. She hesitated, knowing her mother's calls often led to criticism and disappointment.

"Yarana, darling," Aliciah said, her voice dripping with condescension. "I saw the news about you and Junho. How quaint."

Yarana braced herself for the inevitable. "What do you want, Mother?"

"Don't be rude, Yarana. I'm just concerned about your...arrangement with Junho. You know our family's reputation is at stake."

Yarana sighed, familiar with her mother's priorities. "Our family's reputation is all that matters, right?"

Aliciah's tone turned icy. "Don't be sarcastic, Yarana. You know our expectations. Marry someone suitable, like Reginald, and forget this...infatuation with Junho."

Yarana felt a familiar sting from her mother's disapproval. "I'll consider it, Mother." She knew her mother would never understand her choices.

The call ended, leaving Yarana feeling drained and unsupported, as usual. Her family's wealth and influence came with a price – their love and acceptance were always conditional.

Yarana leaned back on her couch, staring at the ceiling as memories flooded her mind. She had always felt like a disappointment to her parents, especially her mother. Aliciah's criticisms and expectations had shaped her life, making her feel like she was never good enough.

She remembered the countless hours she spent as a child, forced to practice ballet, piano, and violin. Her mother's constant critiques still echoed in her mind: "Straighten your posture, Yarana. Fingers curved, not flat. You'll never be a true artist with such sloppy technique."

As she grew older, Yarana became desensitized to their criticism. She learned to nod along, to smile politely, and to pretend their words didn't pierce her skin like daggers. She perfected the art of hiding her true self, of concealing her dreams and desires behind a mask of obedience.

She remembered the day she realized she was living a lie. She was sitting in her room, staring at her reflection, when she thought, "What's the point of all this?" The performances, the grades, the perfect facade – what was it all for?

In that moment, something shifted inside her. She began to see her parents' taunts and acts for what they were – attempts to control her, to mold her into their ideal. And she decided she'd had enough.

Yarana started asserting her independence in subtle ways, refusing to conform to their expectations. She began to explore her own interests, to read books they'd never approve of, and to dream of a life beyond their grasp. Her parents were appalled, but Yarana didn't care. She was finally finding her own voice, her own strength.

The photo on her mantle seemed to symbolize that transformation. The same girl who had once been trapped by her parents' expectations was now a powerful woman, forging her own path. And as she gazed at that image, Yarana knew she would never go back to being the timid, obedient child she once was.

"A Villian Was Never Born, But Rather Made."