Behind the Perfect Smile

Eliana's POV

SMACK.

"OW! What the hell, Mia?!"

I yelped, clutching the side of my head as I turned toward the attacker—Correction: my attacker.

Mia stood there, arms crossed, brows raised, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"That hurt!" I snapped.

"Good," she shot back. "Just checking if you're still capable of feeling pain. Because, Eliana, when I walked in, you were sitting there smiling like some creepy porcelain doll. And I've been here for ten minutes!"

I blinked. "Wait—what? Ten minutes?"

"Yes! Ten whole minutes. You didn't flinch. Not a single blink. Just that weird little smile and your deep-in-thought stare. I thought you were broken!"

I groaned. "You could've called my name like a normal human being. No need for physical assault."

Mia rolled her eyes. "Oh, so you can talk. Great. Then explain."

"Explain what?"

She threw her hands up.

"Where do I even start?! First, you didn't tell me what you were going to do on my blind date. Then you created an Oscar-worthy scene, disappeared from the café without waiting, and the next morning—boom! You're internet famous. I called, messaged, panicked… and when you finally replied, it was just, 'I fell down the stairs.' And then you casually mention your parents went on a business trip. What kind of soap opera are you living in, Eliana?!"

I blinked, stunned by the speed of her meltdown.

"I couldn't sleep all night," she continued, now pacing. "And I come here expecting to find you crying, or at least watching sad rom-coms. But instead? Zombie Eliana, smiling at nothing like she's in a toothpaste commercial!"

I sighed. "Okay, first—deep breath. You're spiraling."

Mia inhaled.

Dramatically.

Of course.

"Second… I was going to tell you about the sabotage plan. I just… didn't get the chance."

She folded her arms. Not impressed.

"And after the café, I felt dizzy and overwhelmed. I ended up fainting. Again. Hospital."

Her face softened immediately. "Wait… again?!"

I nodded. "Yeah. First time was during my first surgery. The patient died."

"You performed surgery?!"

"I assisted."

"Still!"

"And then I watched a depressing movie about lovers dying under a tree."

Mia groaned. "Eli, why would you do that to yourself?!"

"I don't know. Emotional masochism?"

She snorted despite herself.

"And then? Boom. The Hendrix Parker Show. Fake baby, fake breakup, real fall. Add it all together and—

🎉 Congratulations to me: I'm the Internet's Favorite Disaster. 🎉"

Mia dropped onto the couch next to me and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "This is all my fault. You're in this mess because of me."

I hugged her back. "Apology accepted… if you help me find a house."

She pulled away, blinking.

"Wait—what? Your parents kicked you out?!"

"No," I laughed. "No one kicked me out. I just want to—"

"I swear, Eliana," she cut in, hand over her heart. "If your parents throw you in the trash, I will personally pick you up. I'll drag you out of the dumpster, feed you snacks, and protect your emotional well-being. You can sleep on my couch. I'll even lend you my good pillow."

I grabbed her face. "Calm down, drama queen. Listen—I'm not getting kicked out. I just… want my own space."

Mia looked confused. "But you already have a huge house… your own room?"

I smiled—sadly, but without crying.

"I have a room, Mia. My name's on the property. I have jewelry, designer clothes, expensive handbags. But if you asked me if I liked any of it… I'd say no."

She blinked.

"I never wanted any of it. The lace dresses. The pastel colors. The soft-spoken persona. None of it is me. Not even my room feels like mine—it's a showroom version of who my parents want me to be."

Mia just stared, her expression softening.

"I want to wear what I want, eat what I crave, argue when people try to control me. In that big house, there's not a single thing that belongs to me—not really."

I looked at her, still smiling.

"I'm not moving out permanently. I just want space filled with things I actually love."

Mia slowly reached out and held my hands.

"Eli… why didn't you tell me all this? I mean, I know we haven't been friends for that long, but I thought… we were close."

"You are my best friend, Mia," I said softly. "I've wanted to tell you. I just… didn't know how."

I looked down, the words catching in my throat.

Mia gently lifted my chin.

"Do you remember that day? Two months ago? When we first met?"

I nodded slowly.

"Two boys were harassing me. And when I saw you walking over… petite, graceful, all quiet and cautious—I thought, we're both doomed. I didn't expect you to open your mouth and unleash the kind of verbal destruction that would make a grown man cry."

I laughed.

"I did curse them out pretty bad."

"You cursed them," she said with pride. "Then you threw anything you could grab—your water bottle, your umbrella, even your shoe! They ran like scared rats."

She squeezed my hands.

"You saved me that day, Eliana. And I knew then—you weren't just some perfect doll with pretty words. You had fire."🔥

I looked at her, something tight in my chest loosening a little.

"How could I ever forget the day I found you, Mia? You're the only person I can be myself around."

She smiled, eyes a little teary.

"Then let's find you a house. A real one. Not perfect. Just… yours."

I stared at her.

Then I started laughing.

"Oh my God. Mia. Are you crying?"

She sniffed, clearly offended.

"I am not crying."

"I don't believe you. This atmosphere's way too emotional. I'm going to get us some snacks before we both end up hugging and sobbing like a Hallmark movie."

She groaned.

"Please do. I didn't come here for emotional growth—I came for judgment and chips."

She pulled out her phone.

"Wait—I know someone. He's a realtor. He helped my cousin find a studio last month."

I paused in the doorway, turning to look at her.

And just like that, for the first time in days, something felt... right.

A future that wasn't controlled, forced, or fake.

Just mine.

And maybe—just maybe—it was finally starting.