More Than What They See

CHAPTER 7: Standing Up For Myself

Rhian’s POV

When Saturday came I woke up earlier than usual, even before the sun had fully risen. I washed my face, put on my old but neatly pressed clothes, and got ready to help Mama sell our vegetables and small goods at the public market. I saw how tired she was when she came home the night before—her hands rough, her shoulders slumped, and her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

“Ma, please stay home and rest today,” I told her gently as I tied my hair back. “I can handle everything at the market. I know how to weigh the goods and collect the money.”

She looked at me for a moment, then sighed and gave a small smile. “Are you sure, anak? It is heavy work.”

“I am sure, Ma. I want you to have a break.”

As I carefully arranged the fresh tomatoes and green beans inside our woven basket, she walked up behind me and wrapped her arms around me in a gentle, warm hug. She rested her chin on my shoulder and fixed my messy hair softly with her fingers.

“Rhian,” she asked in a quiet, worried voice, “are you really doing fine at your new school? Sometimes you come home quiet, and you look like you carry so much on your mind that you cannot even tell me.”

I took a deep breath and turned to face her, giving her the best small smile I could manage. “Yes Ma. I am okay. I am just still getting used to everything there. It is a big school, and I am still learning how things work.”

She held my shoulders gently and looked straight into my eyes. “You know my child, I cannot give you all the nice dresses, expensive bags, or new shoes that other children have. But the only thing I can be proud of is that I raised you to be a kind and good person. Never learn to look down on anyone, no matter who they are. But never let anyone step on you either. Your worth is not found in what you wear or what you own. It is found in how you treat everyone around you with respect and heart.”

Tears suddenly welled up in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I nodded slowly and held her hands tight. “Yes Ma. I understand very well. I will never forget that.”

Later that afternoon, while I was arranging goods at the market, a woman accidentally knocked over one of our small piles of vegetables. Instead of saying sorry, she looked at them with disgust and kicked them aside like they were trash.

“Be careful next time,” I said softly, remembering Mama’s words. “These are all we have.”

The woman looked surprised that I spoke up, then mumbled an apology and helped me pick them up. In that small moment, I realized what Mama meant: being kind did not mean being weak.

When I went back to school on Monday morning, I felt different. My heart still beat fast when I saw Francis, Gio, and Jace standing by the gate, but I was no longer shaking with fear like I used to. I remembered every word Mama said to me, and it felt like she was walking right beside me.

Later that afternoon, as we walked together toward the library, I saw Francis purposely bump his shoulder hard against Mae—the same girl who gave me a pencil. She stumbled back, almost fell, and all her books scattered all over the floor.

“Watch where you are going,” Gio said with a laugh. “You are blocking the way.”

“Someone should teach her to look ahead,” Jace added, grinning.

Just as they were about to laugh louder, I could not stay quiet anymore. Before I could even think, my feet moved on their own. I stepped forward quickly, knelt down, and helped Mae pick up her things gently. Then I stood up straight, looked straight at Francis, and spoke clearly and firmly—my voice no longer trembling.

“Why do you keep doing this?” I asked. “She did absolutely nothing to you. Does it really make you feel strong or happy to embarrass and hurt people like this?”

The laughter died instantly. All three of them stopped and stared at me like they could not believe what they just heard. Francis looked shocked for a moment before his face hardened again.

“Stop it,” he answered sharply, stepping closer. “Who do you think you are to talk to us like that?”

“I am your classmate,” I answered without looking away, without backing down even an inch. “And the people you hurt are people too. Just because you have more money or more friends than others does not mean you have the right to treat anyone badly. If you really want to show how great you are, show it through how you help others, not by bringing them down.”

Gio opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again. Jace looked away, like he suddenly felt ashamed. They looked at each other, unsure what to say. For the first time, none of them had any cruel words to throw back. Slowly, Francis lowered his gaze, and they stepped back one by one.

“Let’s just go,” Francis said quietly, and they turned and walked away without saying another word, without laughing, without even looking back.

Mae looked at me with wide, teary eyes and gave me a small, thankful smile. “Thank you, Rhian. No one has ever done that for me before.”

I squeezed her hand gently. “We do not have to be afraid anymore.”

Right then I knew, everything had changed. I was no longer just the girl who stayed quiet and hid at the back. And things would never be the same again.