I had this random memory and I needed to share it

This happened more than 10 years ago now but I just remembered it.

One time, we were supposed to attend a school "formal activity", it wasn't something big but it was out of school grounds and we had to wear our school uniform.

I was 16 at the time, and I don't know why that day I decided I wanted to wear a little bit of makeup; just some bb cream and a little bit of light pink blush, nothing crazy. I thought "this isn't inside school grounds so the no makeup rule shouldn't be an issue and besides who will notice".

I got to the place of the event and found some of my classmates. We started talking before the event. My classmates commented on my makeup "you look cute!" One said "it's such a simple natural look! Looks great on you!" Said another. I was feeling nice, I had always struggled with my self-esteem and listening to their compliments made me feel nice.

Then the person I used to call my "best friend" arrived. We greeted her and when she saw me, she tries to swipe her hand on my face, I was lucky I saw that coming. "What's wrong with her..." I asked myself "she could have ruined my look!". Then she looked at me and went "you look ridiculous, just take that clown makeup off".

I was so sad, my "best friend" was insulting me in such a cold way...my classmates stepped in and called her out "she looks pretty!" I heard "she did a great job!" Said another "you are just jealous!" Was stated.

At that moment, I felt as if an ice cold bucket of water fell on me..."do you hate me?" I asked to my "best friend".

Silence.

"I'm just trying to save you from the awkardness of looking so bad!" She spit. That was it. That's all I needed to hear, she did hate me.

"I see..." I said "...well I want to look bad then!". My classmates looked so proud. My "best friend" looked surprised and mad. She stepped away stomping muttering something. My classmates congratulated me "its the first time we have seen you stand up to her! Such a brave thing to do!" They said.

At that moment I felt so powerful, like I had challenged a beast and won.

It was true, I had always left my "best friend" dictate what to do, what to like, how to look and so on. I didn't need to do that!

I realized this was probably the beginning of the end of our "friendship". I had realized I wasn't a rug to get stepped on and I wasn't going to keep being one.