SLEEPY!-Still Doll-Kanon Wakeshima, produced by MANA-SAMA!Am so tired, but wanted to finish typing this.
"Confidence"
My Mid-years' Compo.
Confidence.Black polished shoes, neat proper uniform, prim tidy hair, and a head, held high. That was the basic description of many of the students that attended this school. Each individual, brimming with confidence that like a golden liquid seemed to be spilling from every pore of their being, flooding the air with their very presence.
Mike himself were the same, from the neatly combed hair-do, to the sparkling ebony loafers that adorned his feet, he was very much similar to the students that entered the elite school’s gates.
Neatly pressed uniform shifting with every movement, he followed the crowd into the school, and from there, headed back to his form class. Where, like a black shadow inhabiting the corner of the room, sat Zach. The class prodigy, clad in a uniform that seemed one size too big, with glasses thick and round, and a head of constantly messy hair, that was always buried in a book. Either that or it was glued in a constant forty-five degree angle to the floor. Mike scrunched his nose and walked to his own seat.
Zach envied them, for they were able to walk with their head held high, with that air of superiority around them. He wanted so much to be able to immerse himself in that golden liquid, and to paint himself with its colour. His pale fingers entwined together, clutched painfully, nails pressing crescent marks upon his skin. He did not like who he was, no he did not, someone who could not hold his head high, or even excrete one drop of that glistering liquid that everyone seemed to have so much of. Maybe they could spare him some?
“Hey.”
Zach heard a voice above his head, before seeing a grey school bag being dropped onto the table beside his. He nodded a quiet reply as his partner, Mike, occupied the seat next to his. He was drowning, drowning deep in Mike’s presence, his golden essence enveloping the air around them, but, still Zach felt unbelievably dry. Golden waves held no lasting impact upon him. He was but an unconfident, low esteemed, idiot.
Mike had no idea, not a clue of why he would have issued a greeting to his partner, whom up till now have had been ignored by him. Today of all days. Could it be because, Zach seemed to be especially sad today? Or maybe it could be because of the fact that those small lips seemed to be pursed in such a tight way, that small pink cherry blossoms seemed to bloom upon them. He offered a small smile to the tiny grey boy, who seemed to have no colour upon him.
That lunch, he saw Zach stalking his way to the rooftop, like he usually does. Today, giving a wave and an apologetic smile to his usual friends, he followed. Up the winding grey steps, coloring them along the way, leaving a golden trail at his wake.
Pushing open the door, he was greeted by the huge expanse of azure sky, Zach in his little grey coloured world, in the middle of it all, a piece of paper clutched tightly between his long fingers.
“…T-the little b-bear ran…” He stuttered.
Zach was having difficulty reading the text. He did not feel comfortable with reading aloud, and it seemed all the more curious that he was reading it to no one in particular, aside for himself. Suddenly, a noise came from the door, and from the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar face.
“Mike…?”
Zach blushed, blooming roses threading across his cheeks to his ears. He was flabbergasted, and embarrassed that he was seen.
“Well, go on!”
Mike grinned, fully aware that of the blooming blossoms that was donned on Zach’s cheeks. He fully understood the situation, he smiled to himself. Their class was going down to the local student care center in a week’s time to take care of the children. Then, Mike saw it, that small sparkle if silver that clung to Zach’s heart. That sparkle represented Zach’s hope and determination to succeed.
“Now you have an audience.” Mike urged Zach on, making himself comfortable, he settled his gaze on the other, while sitting down.
The small build shook, nodding his head reluctantly. He did not want to read with someone there! Especially not one of those golden colored being that would laugh at his expense. Yet, not wanting to reject, he couldn’t fin it in his heart to, he read. All that came out was a throaty croak. He flushed red, and tilted his head down, and all of a sudden his feet felt like the most fascinating thing in the world.
“Come on, think about the smiling kids. Don’t disappoint them now!” Mike nudged the blushing boy.
Zach looked up, a determined look on his face, and with his small piece of silver shining more brightly than ever, he read. For once, Zach felt that he could produce his own little drop of happiness. Maybe not gleaming gold, not just yet, but something smaller, and yet bright. Without knowing, the small silver piece melted away, little by little, turning itself into gold.
The same story about the little bear finding light that was repeated countless of times, the apologetic smiles, placed a smile onto his face…
“ ‘Mommy! Mommy! I found the light!’ Smiled the little bear…” He smiled at the way the children clung onto his every word. He clung on his new found piece of gold, and beamed at Mike who stood at the back of the classroom.
‘Thank you’ He mouthed.
only your friendly neighbourhood NARUTO~~
