I started noticing something strange. Jordan and his friends were beginning to give me attention in school. At first, I thought I was imagining things, but it became obvious. They would stare, whisper, and sometimes laugh when I walked by. It wasn't my face, I knew that much. It was my ass. The only thing I had that made heads turn.
My friends teased me about it all the time. "Loveth, the girl with the biggest ass in school," Dora would joke. Sometimes I laughed along, but deep inside, I wondered if that was all I was worth.
The attention didn't make me happy. It made me confused. I knew Jordan and his friends were the flirty types. The ones every girl talked about. The ones that broke hearts without feeling a thing. I had seen it with my own eyes. One afternoon, near the school garden, I saw a girl crying. She looked broken. I asked around and someone whispered that one of Jordan's friends had flirted with her and dumped her. Just like that. Like she meant nothing.
So, when one of Jordan's friends drove up beside me after class and said, "Hey, we want to see you at a birthday party," I was shocked.
"Whose birthday?" I asked. "Jordan's," he replied, smiling like it was some big honour.
Another one leaned out the window and laughed, "I hope you can dance. You better make use of your ass as a stripper. Not your face though… and not your nose."
That one hurt. My nose had always been a source of embarrassment. It was big. And here they were, making fun of it like I was some clown. I forced a fake smile and walked away, holding back tears. I didn't tell Dora what they said. I just told her about the invitation.
"You should go!" she said excitedly. "It's Jordan's party! This is your chance to just be seen. Don't let anyone make you feel less."
Her words gave me some strength. I decided to go. Maybe I could just enjoy myself, even if it was for one night. I picked one of the best dresses I owned. It was yellow, tight, and showed my curves. I did my makeup, tried to smooth out my hair, even added a little gloss to my lips. I wanted to feel beautiful, even if just for a moment.
We went to the party together, me, Dora, and Flenra. The house was already packed when we arrived. Music was loud, people were dancing, laughing, drinking. Everything looked like a movie scene. But as soon as I stepped in, I felt out of place. Everyone had someone. Couples were clinging to each other, and I was just there. Alone.
My confidence faded quickly. I felt naked in the crowd. Eyes looked past me. No one offered a drink. No one asked me to dance. I quietly stepped outside, sat near the flower pots, and stared at the stars.
Two hours passed. I was beginning to regret everything. Why did I come? Why did I think anything would be different? I was about to leave when I heard the door open. Someone stepped out, talking on the phone.
It was Jordan. He didn't see me at first. Then he looked around and noticed me sitting quietly.
"Hey," he said, ending the call. "Why are you out here?"
I forced a smile. "I just like the serenity here," I said.
He walked closer. His perfume filled the air. Sweet and expensive.
"Your gown is nice," he said. "And your shoes too. Why don't you come inside?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine here."
He paused, then smiled. "Okay then. Let me have your number."
My heart stopped. Did he just ask for my number?
I hesitated. For a second, I thought about saying no. But then I nodded slowly and gave it to him.
As he turned to go back in, he stopped and looked at me again.
"You haven't wished me a happy birthday," he said, with a smirk.
I laughed lightly. It was the first real laugh I had that evening.
"Happy birthday, Jordan," I said. He smiled. "Thanks."
And then he went back inside, leaving me with a racing heart and a mind full of questions.
What did that mean? Was it real? Or was I flirting with shadows?
I waited outside until the music faded and the guests started trooping out in pairs, laughter echoing in the night. I sat quietly on the low fence just by the flowers near the entrance, trying not to feel foolish. My eyes kept darting toward the doors, expecting Dora and Flenra to come out any moment, hoping they wouldn't ask too many questions.
Soon enough, I saw them step out, all smiles and still talking excitedly about the party. They looked around and spotted me sitting quietly.
"Loveth! Where have you been?" Dora asked, hurrying over. "We didn't see you inside!"
I smiled, trying not to sound too off. "Oh, I was inside. Maybe the crowd was too much, that's why you missed me. I didn't stay in one place, just moved around a bit."
Flenra looked at me, slightly confused. "Are you sure? We really searched around."
"Of course," I said with a small laugh. "I even met Jordan. I wished him a happy birthday."
Their eyes widened. "What? You met Jordan?" Dora said, clearly excited. "Where?"
"Outside," I replied calmly, "he came out to answer a call and saw me. He liked my gown and my shoes."
They both squealed in delight. I tried to join in the laughter, acting like I was just as thrilled. But inside, I wasn't sure how I really felt. I had lied. I hadn't been inside. I hadn't danced. I hadn't mingled. But I did meet Jordan. That was true.
We walked down to the junction and flagged a cab. I sat in the back seat, staring out the window as the city lights flickered by. Dora and Flenra chatted about the party, who danced with who, the girls who wore the best dresses, and who got too drunk. I just nodded, smiling occasionally, lost in my thoughts.
Well, that was it. Just one brief moment. One compliment. One number exchanged.
I held onto it quietly, like it was the first little light I had seen in a long tunnel. I didn't know what would come next, but I knew something had shifted inside me.