Fame in a small town spreads faster than gossip.
And gossip spreads faster than fire.
The same girls who once laughed at her now whispered louder.
"She definitely had surgery."
"She's pretending to be innocent."
"She thinks she's better than us."
One afternoon, after school, Elena walked home alone.
She noticed a tricycle following slowly behind her.
She quickened her steps.
It followed.
Her heartbeat rose.
When she turned into a smaller path near the rice field, the tricycle sped up and stopped in front of her.
Two older men stepped out.
"Model ka na pala," one of them said, grinning. "Let's take more pictures."
Her stomach dropped.
She stepped back.
"I need to go home."
They moved closer.
Before anything could escalate, a loud shout cut through the air.
"Elena!"
Her father.
He was running toward them with a bolo knife used for farming.
The men immediately backed off and left.
Elena's hands were shaking.
That night, her father didn't eat much.
Her mother cried quietly in the kitchen.
"Beauty is dangerous," her mother whispered.
Her father looked at her seriously.
"You cannot stay here anymore."
The room felt smaller than ever.