La Familià (Lim X Vergara Family) Au

XV

Later that evening, Selah storms into her room, her footsteps heavy and filled with frustration. She slams the door shut behind her, her face flushed with anger as she throws her pageant sash onto the bed. Charles and Loyden follow her inside, exchanging concerned glances, while Josiah lingers near the doorway, watching her niece with a heavy heart.

"I can’t believe I lost to Mairwen! This isn’t fair!"

Charles steps forward, her voice soft but firm. 
"Selah, you were amazing. You put your heart into it. Sometimes, things don’t go the way we want them to, but that doesn’t mean you’re any less worthy."

Selah spins around, her eyes filled with unshed tears, fists clenched tightly. 
"But I did everything right, Mom! I worked so hard for this, and it still wasn’t enough! Mairwen didn’t deserve to win."

Loyden sighs and sits on the edge of Selah’s bed, her voice calm and measured. 
"It’s tough, Selah. Losing always feels like this, especially when you’ve given it your all. But this one competition doesn’t define you."

Selah shakes her head, pacing back and forth as her emotions swirl. 
Selah: "It’s just so unfair! I thought I had it in the bag. And now everyone’s going to look at me like I failed."

Josiah steps forward, her tone more direct but filled with affection. 
"No one thinks you failed, Selah. Losing doesn’t make you any less of the incredible girl you are. You’ve got so much ahead of you. This is just one moment, and there will be others."

Selah falls silent for a moment, her anger slowly giving way to disappointment. She sinks onto her bed, her hands buried in her face. 
"It just hurts so much."

Charles sits beside her, pulling her daughter into a comforting hug. 
"I know it does, sweetheart. But you’re strong. You’ll bounce back from this, and when you do, you’ll be even stronger."

Josiah adds softly, 
"Take this as a lesson, Selah. Not everything will go your way, but how you handle it matters. You can use this feeling to fuel your next move."

Selah sniffles, her anger softening into something more manageable. She knows they’re right, but the sting of losing still lingers. After a few moments of silence, she looks up, her voice quieter. 
"I’ll try… but it still feels terrible."

Loyden smiles gently. 
"That’s okay. It’s normal to feel like that. But remember, this doesn’t define who you are. You’ll have more chances to show the world what you’re made of."

Selah nods, leaning into her mother’s embrace. Though the disappointment is still there, she begins to feel the weight lift, knowing her family is with her every step of the way.

The next day at school, tension is thick in the air. Mairwen walks through the hallway, her head held high despite the whispers and stares from her classmates. She’s aware that her victory in the pageant has stirred up mixed emotions, but she’s determined not to let it bother her.

As she approaches her locker, Selah, still bitter from the loss, is standing nearby with her friends, Crielle and Aviona. The three of them exchange looks before Selah steps forward, her arms crossed, a smug smirk playing on her lips.

"Well, if it isn’t Ms. Zoe Christian School herself. I guess they’ll let anyone win these days, huh?"

Crielle and Aviona snicker behind her, throwing mocking glances in Mairwen’s direction. Mairwen pauses, her hand on her locker, but she doesn’t respond right away. She takes a deep breath, holding onto her patience, knowing that reacting impulsively won’t help the situation.

Aviona chimes in, her tone sharp: 
"Yeah, I mean, I’m still trying to figure out how you won. Must’ve been pure luck."

Mairwen turns slowly to face them, her expression calm but resolute. She’s ready for this, even if it’s unpleasant. Her mother’s advice about confidence and staying true to herself plays in her mind. She straightens her posture, refusing to give in to their taunts.

"I won because I gave it my best, just like everyone else. If that bothers you, that’s your problem, not mine."

Selah’s smirk falters slightly at Mairwen’s composure, but she isn’t ready to back down. 
"Oh please, Mairwen. You’re not as perfect as everyone thinks. Just because you got lucky once doesn’t mean you’re anything special."

Crielle steps closer, adding fuel to the fire. 
"Exactly. People are going to see the real you soon enough, and they’ll realize you’re not all that."

Despite their words, Mairwen remains steady. She can feel the heat rising within her, but she channels it into staying calm, reminding herself that she doesn’t need to stoop to their level.

"You can say whatever you want, but it doesn’t change anything. I’m proud of how I did, and nothing you say is going to take that away from me."

Her unwavering tone causes a brief moment of silence. Selah’s frustration is evident, but Mairwen’s patience and refusal to engage in their bullying catches her off guard.

Selah, narrowing her eyes, steps closer, her voice low and tense. 
Selah: "You’re not as tough as you think, Mairwen. Just wait people will see the truth."

Mairwen meets her gaze head-on, unafraid. 
"I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. If people see who I really am, that’s fine with me. Can you say the same?"

Selah glares, clearly irritated that her attempts to rattle Mairwen aren’t working. Crielle and Aviona exchange unsure looks, realizing that Mairwen’s strength isn’t something they expected.

Before the situation can escalate further, a teacher appears at the end of the hallway, and the trio quickly backs off. Selah throws one last glare at Mairwen before turning to leave with her friends.

As they walk away, Mairwen lets out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She feels the tension leave her shoulders, proud of herself for standing her ground without losing her temper. She knows this might not be the last time Selah and her friends try to get under her skin, but she also knows she’s ready for whatever comes next.

"I’ll just keep being me. That’s all I need to do."