In a small province in the Philippines, where everyone knew everyone's business before breakfast, lived a girl named Elena Marquez.
If beauty contests were held in her barangay, Elena would not even qualify to clap in the audience.
Her hair was thick, curly, and always frizzy no matter how much coconut oil she used.
Her teeth were slightly big in front.
Her skin was pale and rough from helping under the sun.
Her clothes were simple — hand-me-downs from cousins.
Her mother baked pandesal every dawn and sold them outside their tiny house.
Her father worked in rice fields.
Her only sibling was her younger brother, Mateo — noisy, dramatic, and her number one fan.
Elena was quiet. Too quiet.
In school, she wasn't bullied violently — just constantly laughed at.
"Why does your hair look like electric wire?"
"Smile again! Your teeth look like piano keys!"
She laughed along sometimes.
Sometimes.
But inside, she felt small.
Very small.
And every night, she would watch American movies on their old TV and whisper:
"One day… I'll leave this place."
---
The Day Everything Changed
It happened on a humid afternoon.
Three girls from her class followed her after school.
They weren't evil — just bored.
"Let's see if a jungle girl can survive in the jungle," one of them joked.
They pushed her lightly toward the trees near the rice fields.
She stumbled, embarrassed.
They laughed and walked away.
Elena brushed the dirt off her skirt and sighed.
Then she noticed an old woman sitting under a mango tree, surrounded by bags.
"iha," the woman called softly. "Can you help me carry these?"
Elena didn't hesitate.
She carried the heavy bags all the way to a small nipa hut she had never noticed before.
The old woman smiled warmly.
"You have a good heart."
From her pocket, she brought out a gold necklace.
Simple.
Elegant.
With a small star-shaped pendant.
"It once belonged to someone who wished too hard to be seen," the woman said.
"Use it wisely."
Elena blinked.
"Is it real gold?"
The old woman laughed.
"More real than you think."
---
The Next Morning
Elena woke up feeling strange.
Her pillow felt softer.
Her body is lighter.
She walked to the mirror.
And froze.
Her skin was glowing smooth.
Her hair fell in soft perfect curls.
Her smile was delicate and balanced.
Her features — elegant.
Not unrealistic.
Not goddess-level.
Just… stunning.
Like the kind of beauty that makes people stare twice.
She touched her face.
Still her.
Just upgraded.
"Elena, you're late!" her mother shouted.
She walked outside.
Her father dropped his spoon.
Her brother screamed.
"ATE?! WHO DID YOU MARRY?!"
And that was the beginning of everything.