Wish you were mine

3. Hurt

PENELOPE

The grey eyes, so piercing and enigmatic, were a stark contrast to the chaos of my near fall. His warm hands, wrapped around my waist, sent shivers down my spine. My stomach flipped at our close proximity. He didn't bother to avert his gaze, staring at me intensely. It was then I realized I had bumped into him, causing my loss of balance.

A familiar voice brought us back to reality. I quickly pushed him away and steadied myself.

"Penelope," my sister called. I looked up and saw her staring at me, confused. I gulped nervously and gave her a weak smile. I glanced at Sean, who was looking at me from head to toe, his eyes darkening with anger.

What? Why does he look angry? Doesn't he like my presence here? These thoughts sent a pang of hurt through my chest.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. I opened my mouth to reply, but then I heard Serena's voice.

"How do I look?"

She walked out of the changing room in a beautiful off-shoulder purple gown, looking like an enchantress. She twirled in front of me, and I giggled.

"You look stunning," I said and clapped. She gave me a proud smile, then her eyes fell on the person behind me, and she frowned.

"What are you doing here?" she asked Sean.

"Nothing much, just came here to sell some vegetables. What do you think I must be doing in a shopping mall, my little sister?" Sean replied. His sarcastic remark made me chuckle. As soon as the chuckle left my mouth, his head snapped toward me. I bit my lower lip nervously.

Serena glared at Sean. To change the awkward situation, Sophia opened her mouth. "We just came here for engagement party shopping," she replied, showing her shopping bags.

I glanced at my sister, standing beside Sean, her face lit up with a radiant smile. Together, they looked flawless, like something out of a picture-perfect romance. A perfect couple, effortlessly complementing one another. Despite being twins, the differences between us were stark. We shared the same eye color, but beyond that, we were worlds apart. She stood taller than me, with strikingly sharp features and an hourglass figure that seemed to draw attention wherever she went.

She was perfect in every way. And maybe that's why, no matter where we went, boys always gravitated toward her. In high school, she was the popular one. Everyone knew her name, and I was often just an afterthought-her sister, the one who trailed behind, barely noticed. It wasn't that she didn't love me, because she did. She was kind, never flaunting her beauty in front of me. But despite that, I couldn't help but feel like I was always standing in her shadow, living in the background of her life.

I never compared myself to her because I used to think that everyone has unique qualities. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder I'd say, clinging to that hopeful thought.

But that was before it happened. Before that moment shattered the illusion I had built for myself. After the incident, my perspective shifted, harsh and unforgiving. It became painfully clear that the world wasn't interested in inner beauty. A pretty face and a perfect body-that's all people cared about. No one looked past the surface. No one really saw me.

And maybe no one ever would.

"Oh shit! I forgot to tell you that we're hosting an engagement party next week. I'm sorry, sweetheart," Sophie said.

"It's okay," I replied, but the hurt lingered. I felt it should have been Sophie who informed me, not Serena.

"Anyway, now that you're here, you need to pay for my dress," Serena chimed in happily.