kennedydaphne900

Born on a day that should have been perfect, twin sisters Kang Hana and Kang Dara entered the world with equal promise—or so it seemed. As the years passed, one blossomed into a vision of beauty, while the other became a shadow, labeled “ugly” by a society obsessed with perfection.

Hana grew up in a world where beauty and talent were everything, but she had neither. Ridiculed, dismissed, and treated as a joke, her only solace was a desperate dream, to become an idol and prove her worth to the world.

Yet the road to stardom is not kind to those who don’t fit the mold. Desperation leads Hana to make a fateful decision, one that transforms her life forever. But beauty comes at a price, and the secrets she keeps and the lies she weaves to sustain her new life may just be her ultimate downfall.

As Hana rises in the cutthroat world of idols, she faces a harrowing choice: cling to the fragile perfection she’s achieved, or rediscover the strength to embrace who she truly is, even if it means losing everything.

A story of ambition, identity, and the dark side of fame, The Ugliest Beauty asks the ultimate question: How far would you go to be loved?

THE UGLIEST BEAUTY

"Ewwww," someone whispered as Hana stepped into the classroom.

"Omg, she stinks," another voice added, fanning the air with a small rechargeable fan.

They eyed her like she was some sort of pest. "She's sweating a river. It's so gross," one winced, disgust clear in their voice.

"Why couldn't we get Dara in our class?" someone complained. "Why Hana?"

The sting of their words was sharp, but Hana had grown numb to it. It was always the same.

The door swung open, and Miss Ki Joona, their English teacher, entered. Her strict aura filled the room as she surveyed the class.

Hana instantly felt the tension rise. She knew Miss Ki too well, the teacher who never gave any second chances, the one who made sure everyone knew just how much she disliked Hana's presence.

Hana took a quick swig from her water bottle, the coolness offering a fleeting comfort. She had failed every single English test and exam last year, her grades a constant reminder of her failures.

Miss Ki's voice cut through the room. "Today, we'll be focusing on writing a 1500-word essay about the way we spent our holidays in English."

She glanced at the students, her short bob and knockoff designer outfit looking out of place in the classroom. The whispers started almost immediately.

"What is she feeling like?" one giggled.

"Yeah, everyone knows those are fake," another added, louder than necessary.

Hana turned her gaze out the window, trying her best to shut out the noise. She didn't want to be their target today.

"Hana," Miss Ki's voice rang through the room like a blade. "Do you have something to say?"

Of course, she'd pick on her. Out of everyone, it was always Hana who got singled out, the one who was always the target, even if she hadn't said a word.

"No, Miss Ki," Hana said softly, the words barely escaping her lips.

Miss Ki's sharp eyes pinned her down, and for a moment, the whole world seemed to stop. "Not only are you untidy in appearance today," she sneered, "but I can bet you didn't even do the holiday assignment I gave you. Try not to fail all my classes this year, Hana. You're tainting my record."

Hana gritted her teeth, her fists clenching at her sides. She wanted to scream. She wanted to shout, to make them all stop, just for a moment.

Can everyone just fuck off? she imagined saying in her head, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction at the thought.

But instead, she swallowed down her frustration and whispered, "Yes, Miss Ki."

It felt like a lie, but it was all she could say. Anything to make the silence return.

Chapter 5