The school bell rang through the halls, and a wave of chatter filled the classroom as Mafer Solar adjusted her backpack and walked toward her seat. As she did every morning, she greeted everyone with a warm smile, nodding politely at those who passed by — keeping that perfect balance between friendliness and reserve.No one ever suspected that behind that smile was a silent calculation of words, gestures, and reactions.
"Good morning, Mafer!" said Valeria, one of her classmates, flipping through her books and notebooks."Hey! Good morning," Mafer replied, her tone just enthusiastic enough — never too much, never too little.
The teacher stood at the front, checking the attendance list. Class began with the dry squeak of a marker against the whiteboard and the first instructions of the day. Laughter and whispers blended with the sound of pencils scratching against paper. Everything seemed normal.Too normal.
Mafer looked around, subtly scanning her classmates. Everyone was where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to do. No tension. No suspicious glances.It was a relief — another day without misunderstandings, without awkward moments.Another day where everyone saw her as the kind, cheerful, and sociable girl she'd carefully built herself to be.
(Everything's "fine," right? Just like always. No one will notice that sometimes… I don't even know what to say, or how to react?) she thought, her fingers fidgeting with the eraser. She reminded herself to stay composed — every gesture mattered, every word could be misread.
A few boys threw her quick glances and teasing smiles, trying to catch her attention. Mafer met them with polite smiles before steering the conversation away, effortlessly. She didn't want to stand out too much, nor seem distant. She always had to stay in balance — friendly, but not too close; perfect, but never the center of attention.
"Mafer, you coming to the game this Friday?" one boy asked, flashing a confident grin."Uh, thanks, but I don't think I can…" she said softly, tilting her head slightly — careful not to hold eye contact too long, afraid her nervousness might show.
Every interaction was a delicate choreography. Mafer knew exactly when to smile, when to nod, when to respond with something casual yet impersonal. No one could ever tell that inside, she was constantly tense — afraid that her true self, the insecure, hesitant version of her, might slip through and shatter the image she'd built.
When the bell signaled recess, Mafer stood and walked toward the cafeteria, offering light greetings to passing groups. She watched them laugh, tease, and talk freely — their interactions so natural, effortless.She longed to be like that — spontaneous, unguarded.But spontaneity, she feared, might expose too much.Every step, every word was measured. Every gesture, evaluated. Mistakes weren't an option.
"Mafer!" a boy called from another table. "Aren't you trying the new burger?""No, thanks. Just looking," she replied gently, smiling before turning back to her imaginary group of friends — those quiet, safe conversations where she could pretend to be confident without anyone noticing how drained she really felt from socializing.
By the end of the day, the final bell rang like a small liberation. Mafer gathered her things and left the school grounds calmly, breathing in relief that nothing had gone wrong.On the outside, she was still that same smiling, approachable girl; inside, her shoulders finally loosened.
At home, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Her little sister Sofi ran to her, throwing her arms around her in a noisy, joyful hug."Mafer! Look at my drawing!""It's beautiful, Sofi!" Mafer said, hugging her back and laughing freely — not worrying how she looked for once. "You did amazing!"
At home, Mafer could be herself. She could argue playfully with her older brother about the latest show they were watching, or grumble a little when her parents asked for help with chores — knowing it all came from care, not judgment.Home was her safe zone, where no word or smile had to be rehearsed.
"Are you finishing that chapter before dinner?" her brother asked as she looked over her notes."Yeah, just a couple more pages," she replied, laughing as he joked about a ridiculous scene from their show.
Later, lying on her bed, Mafer sighed softly. Another day had passed — no incidents, no cracks in the mask.She closed her eyes, feeling a brief, fragile peace, even knowing that tomorrow she'd have to wear the same smile again.
(Another 'perfect' day… But tomorrow, can I do it again? Am I happy between who I pretend to be and who I really am?) she wondered as her eyelids grew heavy, finding comfort in the quiet routine she had so carefully built.