Class Villainess

I went home in a complicated mood. That face Mason made as if he was disappointed over something. What I said wasn't wrong, right? 

Mason and I barely knew each other, so it would be weird for him to just come to my home to pick me up. 

Besides, my neighbourhood was that type of neighbourhood with many gossipy middle-aged moms with too much time. I knew they gossiped about my mom being a call girl, whoring her body to support our family. Because apparently, for some of them, a family without a man was deemed to be a dying family that couldn't survive.

I knew they were just close-minded, backward idiots. But it still hurt to hear that around you. 

I returned home and saw Mom already sitting on the couch, eating fruit salad while watching some drama show. She returned earlier today, and I guessed, Grandma was already resting in her room. 

Mom looked at me while chewing a fruit, "Em, you're quite late today."

"Yeah, got to clean the club room," I said while sitting beside her. I took a slice of apple from her bowl and ate it. 

Mom kept staring at me as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, we just watched the movie in silence. 

I wanted to talk about this problem of mine when I saw her. 

No, it wasn't about my revenge against Leah or someone else. That was my own problem that I could deal with on my own.

It was about my first date, and that date was with Mason Hall. 

"Mom…"

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Just ask, honey," Mom said while watching the movie. 

"What did you do on your first date?"

"Hm? I wear my casual—" Mom paused after she realized it. She turned her whole body in my direction and asked, "Wait, what did you ask?"

"First date… what did you do on your first date?"

Mom stared at me with disbelief, "You're going on your first date? What? How? Why? When? Where? Who?!"

Mom started barraging me with questions. I knew it was unbelievable for her. 

"Am I that ugly, Mom? You don't even believe me…."

"No, no, it's not like that," Mom denied. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. "It's just… you've never gone with boys in middle school, and you said you hate them. I really thought that it's not possible—"

"Mom!" I yelled out of annoyance.

"Okay, okay, sorry," Mom laughed awkwardly. "Tell me what kind of man—I mean, the boy will go on a date with you."

I imagined Mason Hall in my head. Although I barely knew about his private life, at least, from what I observed, I concluded, "He is handsome, very handsome in fact. He is the school quarterback and also an honour student. He also works as a teen model part-time."

"You're describing a School prince from movies, Em," Mom chuckled as if she heard a joke. 

I wasn't offended on that one, though. I had to admit, Mason seemed to be a character straight out of Wattpad.

"Anyway, when will you go on a date with this boy?" 

"Tomorrow morning," I replied. "I... I just need few tips, Mom. What did you do on the first date? Was it with Dad?"

"NO," Mom replied curtly. All her cheers vanished once I mentioned Dad. I knew he was a sensitive topic for both of us, but I couldn't help to ask.

Because if Dad was Mom's first date, then I'd avoid everything that she did during her first date to make sure I didn't end up meeting a man like Dad. 

Mom looked up, trying to reminisce about her youth, "My first date was also at the first year of high school. He was a member of Music Club, a drummer."

"He wasn't exactly a romantic. But he knew how to treat me right during our first date," Mom chuckled. "Well, if you want to hear my tips, don't overdress during the first date, especially when you're in high school. Because usually, boys hate a girl that overdressed on a date."

"Be casual, but cute enough—though, I think my daughter is already effortlessly cute," Mom teased me by pinching my nose. 

A thin smile bloomed on my lips, "Thanks, Mom. I don't want to doll up for this anyway."

"Uh-huh, but that still depends on your date. Will he come here to pick you up?"

"Ah, no, I refused him twice. I don't want him to know our address," I said. 

"Why? Is it because our house looks a bit too shabby?" Mom asked, not sugarcoating anything.

"I just don't feel like it. We're not close enough for him to come here. Besides, we will be the source of gossip around the neighbourhood."

"Hah, you don't need to care about those people. They have nothing better to do!" Mom raised her chin, ready to fight them. 

I chuckled and shook my head, "It's okay, Mom. I will meet him at the Cake shop. I'll go by bus."

Mom sighed, "Fine. I already cooked dinner for you."

My body froze when I heard Mom already cooked something, "I—I'm feeling a bit stuffy. I had lunch with my club president today," I got up and walked straight to my room, but Mom suddenly grabbed my hand, and she warned me, "Remember, Em, do not let your guards down. If he asks you for a kiss, then it's okay. But if he wants more, especially if he wants to touch your body, then Get. The. Hell. Out."

I nodded, "I know, Mom. I'm not that stupid. I accepted his date because he has been asking me many times."

"Oh-ho-ho~ Emmelyn Jones is such an expensive girl, I see~" Mom winked and released my hand. She leaned on the sofa, continued eating the fruit salad. "Alright then, I'll put money on the table for you tomorrow morning because I have a weekend shift."

"Thanks, Mom."

I went to my room and locked the door. 

I sat in front of the small dressing table that was most unused because this was my first real date. I felt nervous. 

I stared at myself in the mirror. I hated to admit it, but I started checking my appearance when facing my first date. I checked whether I had pimples, freckles, or dark spots on my face. Then I got up and checked myself on the mirror, in case I got fat on my waist, and I really had to cover my big boobs. Lucky that it was already fall season, so wearing mostly black wouldn't look too weird. 

Mason was blessed with an angelic face that gave him a free pass since I had never seen him looking ugly, even with only one pimple on his face. He was always smooth and clean. 

I already told myself that I didn't want to be an idiot in front of a boy. 

But in the end, when facing the first date, I still became conscious about my body and appearance. It was like a curse.

The curse of all girls, we might not admit it, but we got very conscious about outer appearance. I didn't like it, but it was inevitable,

"Haaahhhh… I'm just a normal teenage girl in the end."