Lost Words

Monday morning is the busiest day at Beatancy High School. Around half past seven in the morning, a group of student had flocked into the school gate which was painted red with a circle craved on the top.

At eight o’clock the gate will be closed and the lesson will start, not for the student council, the entire student council sat at white table. Not only members, all student council administrators and tutors sit in the line of hardworking-faced students. They are currently discussing the annual Beatancy High School event.

This year, the current student council president has a new idea to add the series of events, and this idea has received approval from the supervisor, and it is to add seminar to the series of events. This seminar is planned to bring in a keynote speaker, famous capital city artist. For the seminar, the student council president has appointed a separated committee who is responsible for conducting the seminar. The name that come out were Leah, Althan, Grace, Mia, Darcy and Evie. The student council room was suddenly silent when the student council president mentioned Evie name, all the students gaze were fixed on the last chair on the large student council room table.

Evie is type a student who is smart and hardworking. She actually was a completely normal student, like all student. In fact she looks friendlier than the other student. It’s just that all her advantages make other students envies, and try to knock her down.

For a few minutes, all the students in the room stared at Evie. Shock, displeasure and hearted dominated the face. Evie straightened her seat, some of students interrupted and reject the decision also questioned Evie participation in the seminar event. However, the student’s council committee has decided. All the students left, except for Leah, Grace, Althan, Darcy and Mia. They held Evie when she was leaving the room.

“We only have about three weeks. In my opinion we’ll just decide composition of the committee now." Leah stood near the chair that had been occupied by the student council president. Darcy and Althan who are the men in the committee sit next to each other, and Grace joins Mia. They sat on the other side. Evie walked hesitantly towards Grace and Mia's chair, her eyes alternately looking at them.

"Who do you think will be the chairman of the committee?" Leah continue.

"Me, I've never been a leader before." Grace raised her hand with a smile.

Mia deftly lowered Grace's hand, "If you have a leader like you, the seminar will be disbanded."

Althan and Darcy laughed, so did Leah. Meanwhile, Evie was confused about what to do. She wanted to laugh too but she was worried that her laughter would make their jokes not funny. Evie knew them very well. She'd been in the same class in first grade, and by the first week she was pretty sure they never liked her. Every time she voluntarily worked on the questions given by the teacher in front of the class very accurately (without errors), instead of the admiration she received, she actually reaped insults and arrogant assumptions.

"If there are boys who want to be chairman of the committee, don't they?” Mia interrupts their joke.

"No, what are you doing. My life is already busy enough, don't add it." Althan tapped his finger on the table surface several times, he was a really busy student.

Not the busy type that comes from a pile of assignments or long study hours, but busy spending time with friends gathered at the most popular hangout spots. Perhaps the only activity Althan can say well is his passion for sports, especially football. He always makes time to play ball every day, making his body look very athletic and well-built. His handsome face, and broad chest made him quite famous in school. However, it was his skill in playing football that made him even more famous, several football matches he (and his team) won. He is quite successful in the field of sports.

"If Althan doesn't want to, what about Darcy?" Leah's gaze turned to Darcy. Darcy was surprised, his eyelids widened and his body lifted.

"Well, not me. I don't want to. How about you? Don’t make it complicated." Darcy seems to throw something at Leah.

"So how is it?" asked Leah again.

"Never mind, you're way better than Grace or me. I agree." Mia leaned forward slightly, the others nodded their heads as if agreeing with her words.

"You're not very happy if I become chairman of the committee, are you?" said Grace, glancing at Mia, such a dangerous glance. Like the glance of a snake.

"It's a fact, Grace. Leah fits better." Mia didn't want to lose, she patted Grace's shoulder.

"Just accept it, Grace. You better keep selling cosmetics don’t worry," sneered Darcy from the other side, Althan was heard chuckling slightly at him next to Darcy.

"Ah, you all really envy me." Grace threw her body in surrender.

"So, do you agree that I'm the chairman of the committee?" Leah looked at her friends.

She took a deep breath when she saw the approving expressions on her friends' faces. "So, has it been decided that I am the chairman of the committee? So I have full rights to determine all of your duties," Leah's voice had started to get loud, just like a minister was giving a speech.

"Yes, yes," Grace replied.

It seems that at that time no one noticed that Evie was sitting between them, she was like an unseen ghost figure in the room. Evie just sat with her head down, her body seemed transparent. She had watched fauna shows on television, and seen how a chameleon blended into the background. She began to think that was what she was now, blending into the background.

The discussion is getting more serious, now Leah as the committee chairman is considering the duties of her friends. Like a judge who is calculating the punishment for the defendant based on the background, and the actions that have been done.

"Althan, I'll assign you logistics, okay. So all kinds of needs, and the things we need for the event are your responsibility. Do you agree?"

Althan shrugged his shoulders, he had no choice but to agree. "I only take care of the important stuff, okay? Nothing more?" he added in a lazy tone of voice.

Leah's gaze turned to Grace. "Grace, you are the field coordinator. So you are the one who organizes the event, and you are the time keeper so that the event is on time. How about it?"

"I just want to, as long as everyone agrees." As she spoke, Grace deliberately glanced at Mia.

"Come on, don't be angry. You're so cool, Grace." Mia smiled widely and hugged Grace from the side.

"Well, Mia and Darcy will help take care of the participants, such as adjusting the sitting position, and distributing the microphone during the question and answer section. The rest we do together. For example, decorating or arranging chairs." Leah spoke without pause.

"Looks like we're going to be really tired. I regret going to the student council." Darcy rested his head on his folded hands on the table.

"Don't be surprised, what do you expect from student council?" said Althan.

"So everyone agrees, huh?" Leah ask.

Althan, Darcy, and Grace agreed in unison.

However, suddenly Mia interrupted, "Psssttt.... psstttt....Leah," whispered Mia.

"What?" Leah immediately answered.

Mia didn't say anything, she just signaled with her eyes that Evie was sitting with them (only a few seats from Mia). They suddenly realized that Evie was with them at the time, but they didn't show any bad feelings at all. They still look calm, and cold. While Evie could only hear and pay attention to the things that were rolling around her, she occasionally glanced at them from between her forehead.

"Oh yes, Evie." Leah's loud voice echoed throughout the room.

Evie raised her head, and answered with plain and stupid answer, "Yes, I'm here."     

Grace burst out laughing, "Yes, you are there. Where have you been all this time?" A second later Darcy, Althan, and Mia laughed too.

Evie just stared blankly at them, her straight hair moving forming a wave every time she moved her head.

"What's a good job for you?" Leah paused for a moment before continuing again.

"Oh yeah, it's your job to take care of the speakers. So you negotiate the payment, arrange the schedule, and make sure the speakers arrives on time. Anyway, the speakers is all your responsibility, because we're already busy with our respective tasks.

“Do you agree?" Leah's question at the end of her sentence was more like a verdict that Evie couldn't help but accept, she is a judge and Evie is the defendant.

"Okay then.” Evie answered in a weak voice. She surrendered.

"Well then, everyone agrees. After we disband we have to get to work immediately." Leah took her notes from the table. "Good job," she concluded.

After closing the room, she saw Grace turning to her. "Good job, okay." Accompanied by a really bitter smile.

In the past, Evie's late grandfather had told her to drink the coffee without sugar that she used to drink, Evie was surprised by the fact how bitter the coffee was. Her grandfather smiled seeing Evie's expression that couldn't stand the coffee the bitterness. Now she knew what was bitterer than her grandfather's coffee: Grace's smile then. Grace's congratulations to work were like the words, "It's good to have a tough job." On her head. Grace and her friends disappeared around a bend in the classroom hallway, close to the first grade room.

Evie was quite grateful they were no longer walking in the same direction, Evie's classroom was on the second floor. She walked in the opposite direction from them because the school stairs were to the left of the student council room. At least Evie didn't have to see their faces all day, a few good things she could be grateful for today.

The night had just fallen, the sunlight had disappeared about two hours ago. At her house, Evie is having dinner. She was used to eating alone. In that big house, she only lived with a domestic worker who had worked with her family before she was born. Her name is Julia, a fifty-five year old woman who still looks fit, no signs of aging on her body. At first glance, one would think that she was only in her early forties because of her sturdy body. Julia's movements are still nimble, and her brain is still working normally. She was Evie's family finances were her responsibility. Since the death of Evie's father about five years ago, all the family affairs have become the responsibility   

            Evie's family is a well-to-do family, her late father working in an oil drilling company. Even though her father used to be out of town most of the time, their relationship was very close. Her father, mother, and sister has a very close relationship. The funny thing is, they rarely get together. Evie's mother also works as a manager at a contracting company, and her sister continues her undergraduate education outside Olivia's city only to come home during semester breaks, maybe once a year or at most twice a year. Evie is the only member of the family who spends the most time at home.

When she was in middle school, she came home at one o'clock in the afternoon. Usually she spends time reading books or repeating what she has learned. When she doesn't want to do that, she just listens to music until she falls asleep.

Now that her father has died, her mother is still working as a manager at a contractor company. The different thing is that now Olivia has returned with a bachelor's degree in hand, and has been accepted to work as a public relations officer in an educational institution. Olivia had returned to live at home, but she often came home late at night. Doesn’t change things much. Evie scooped up her food slowly, and chewed carefully when the food reached her mouth. From the kitchen came the sound of knocking plates several times.

"Just eat here, Julia. Accompany me." Evie turned towards the kitchen, her guess was right. Julia is eating in the kitchen. "Please accompany me, I am lonely eating alone. “She took the glass filled with water, her throat began to have difficulty swallowing food.

The sound of tapping plates stopped, Julia's figure emerged from the kitchen. She carried a plate in her right hand, and a glass of water in her left. Julia smiled at Evie, and so did Evie. It was as if there was a strong bond between them, more so than a domestic worker and her boss. The bond was more like that of a grandson and grandma.

Julia placed her plate and glass on the table and sat down next to Evie. "Your mother and Olivia haven't come home yet?" she started to stir her food.

"Not yet, maybe come home late again. That's usually the case, right?" Evie began to feed food into her mouth.

As a teenager, Evie needed someone who could support her. When her late father was still alive, her father was her support. Almost every day they talked on the phone for hours when her father was out of town. If her father was at home, they would spend time together in the living room watching television. Her father was often out of town. However, when not out of town, she returned home in the afternoon, two hours after Evie returned. No wonder they often spend time together while waiting for her mother to come home. Evie was born into a busy family, and rarely had time to be together.

However, she never regretted it, because she knew her parents did that to ensure that her and Olivia's future was secure. When they get the chance to spend time together, the family uses every second they get together. No time is wasted, they sometimes go on vacation or have dinner together. Her father loves to burn chicken and beef in their yard. At that time, her mother and Julia had a duet to cook amazingly delicious meals. Her parents also invited their neighbors to join. Their house was bustling with neighbors and close relatives who came, bringing the busy little family back to life.

Evie misses her late father. She sometimes wondered where her father was now. Does he also miss his beloved daughter? Her mother and Olivia knew that her father loved Evie very much, they didn't mind at all. They understood each other, they already knew why her father loved Evie so much without having to explain. Evie is indeed a smart child, but she is so fragile. Like a butterfly that has an amazing pattern, but can be destroyed with just the touch of a finger.

"Evie, you seem really lethargic. What's wrong? “Julia’s question brought Evie back to the dining room of her house.

"It's nothing, ma'am. I'm just tired maybe."

Evie has never and will never possibly recount all the stress she felt as a smart kid at her school to Julia. If only her father were still alive, maybe she would have poured it out on her. How tired she was of the sarcasm, and the cynical gaze directed at her when she got a perfect test score, or she was chosen as the kid who got the first champion in her class. So much praise for always being a smart teenager, but so much more taunts and sharp glances. And it's not easy.

Julia stroked Evie's hair gently. When her fingers touched her forehead, she could feel the warmth of Julia's fingers, warm but rough. The rubbing of Julia's fingers was like a cold water wash on the surface of the severely burned skin, so cold but it did not relieve the pain at all. The pain is still there, not going anywhere.

"Don't be too tired, okay. You will be sick. Do you want me to make hot tea after this?" Julia's blue eyes stared at Evie.

When she saw Julia's face, Evie felt a little calm. The face full of wrinkles behind the graying hair was very calm and warm.

 "Thank you" replied Evie slowly.

 Tears almost dripped from her eyes, she wanted to hug Julia and cry as much as she could. However, she was afraid things would get worse if she did that. Julia will know all the difficulties she faces. Julia was tired of taking care of her family's household, she didn't want to add to it.

Evie knew that Julia really thought her family was her own when her mother wanted to retire her, but with her famously calm expression on her face she refused. She still wanted to work with the family, because she knew that the family still needed her. Especially after the death of the head of the family. When Evie saw Julia's gaze when expressing her refusal, she felt that she had found someone who was truly loyal to her work and at the same time loved her family.

After dinner, Evie took her dishes to the sink. She was about to wash it herself, Julia stopped her.

"I will do it, you just go up and rest” She said. Evie went up to her room and sat on her study table. Evie's room was beige and wooden floors. Corner of the room, close to her                  study table. While her wardrobe stands on the side of her bedroom door. Many photos are plastered on the walls of her room, most of them are with her father, mother, and Olivia. Some of the photos are pictures of her with some friends in the past.

She read several textbooks, and did some practice questions at the end of each material. Her cellphone was lying not far from her textbooks, she rarely checked her cellphone if there were no SMS or calls. Evie was never interested in her cell phone, even if it was a smartphone. When teenagers her age are busy surfing or just writing on social media, Evie is even more distant from her smart phone. She prefers to drown herself between textbooks. In fact, she also has a personal account on social network, but she rarely uses it. She only greets her old friends or Olivia.