Letter to Atlanta

9. Feel it

After flying the war flag to a man named Theo, it was Elisha's turn to drag Atlanta away from the cafeteria. Bringing the man who is now struggling to adjust the footsteps of Elisha who was too rushed to the school park. There was absolutely no intention of the girl to take Atlanta to one of the students' favorite places to breathe fresh air, he simply obeyed his heart and footsteps towards a place he thought was quiet by then, considering the lesson bell would ring in two minutes.

Elisha let go of his hand after they set foot on the green grass, the girl rotated a puffy eyeball, then took a breath, throwing it round and round.

"Sit down" he said flatly, intending to tell Atlanta to sit on the wooden bench available there. Where they first interacted yesterday.

"Gue said sit down!" Now Elisha's voice is a bit higher, after getting Atlanta did not respond to his speech earlier. Atlanta flinched slightly, and inevitably she obeyed what Elisha had ordered. Just to see the look on the girl's face it felt like Atlanta couldn't. Really, Elisha is creepy.

Elisa paced back and forth in front of Atlanta several times, biting her nails and ruffling her waist like she was thinking about something. Atlanta just lowered her head, playing her trembling fingers.

"Lo tuh-" Elisha raised his index finger right at Atlanta. He saw that the man was bowed, as the finger slowly turned into a fist. "Argh! Goddamnit!" Elisha threw the fist into the air, channeling the resentment that occurred.

"Lo can't fight that bastard, huh?! Don't let them dong when they're so rich!" sahutnya. Elisha could not resist what had been contained within him.

He is fed up, very fed up, with people who always consider themselves the most powerful, and utilize existence to demean others. Well, maybe Elisha just found out another fact, that men who are now nearby always get unfair treatment from the people around. Elisha had just set foot in a new school for two days, and that could prove that Atlanta often get insults and insults from other students.

So how was that guy doing for a year? Is he just quiet? Oh, really, Elisa can't imagine how to be Atlanta. The man must have been very lonely, and depressed. The important point is, why Atlanta is still silent, shut up and reluctant to report the bullying actions he got. The school won't be quiet, will it?

Elisha moved his legs, approached Atlanta, and sat down beside the man. His fingers stretched out rubbing the back of Atlanta's hand, and he could feel how the hand trembled when it came into contact with her skin. Elisha took a breath, neutralizing the rumble in his chest that was slowly suffocating.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be angry with you" said Elisha slowly. He still faithfully channeled a gentle swab at the back of Atlanta's hand.

The man turned his head, looking at the face of Elisha who was now bowed. Atlanta smiled, pulling the corners of her lips until they formed a crescent moon. Atlanta let go of Elisha's hand, the man turned to reach for a flat object of his. Type something in there.

Elisa raised her head, looked at the smartphone Atlanta thrust at her, then read the writing written in a note application.

"I'm gapapa. You don't worry. What can I do? After all, what Theo said was a fact, that I was indeed mute."

The girl looked at the smiling Atlanta, but reluctantly returned the Atlanta smile she knew was a heart-wrenching smile. He could see clearly how a wound was drawn there, how the man still tried to toughen up to live the destiny of life given. When the world does not accept it, but the beautiful arch is always there, as if to say everything will be fine.

Elisha's thumb was lifted, wiping a wound that might have been imprinted on his face if Atlanta had not helped him earlier. The man grimaced, as Elisha touched the surface that was bleeding.

"It must hurt" he murmured. Elisha grimaced to see clearly the wound. He imagined how strong Theo's fist was, to make a tear in the corner of the Atlanta lips.

Atlanta shook her head in response to Elisa's words just now.

"Don't lie. Come to the UKS," asked Elisa. Atlanta frowned. It made Elisha tick. Does the man have no idea what the use of a room that often becomes a basecamp of mischievous students is to avoid annoying subjects?

"Yes want to treat your wounds" he said. Once again Atlanta shook her head, rejecting Elisha's invitation at that moment.

"You're usually just a mulu's head bobble. Occasionally nod the cake. I don't like it" said Elisha, now folding his hands, pursing his lips.

Atlanta took a breath, and re-typed a sentence on her smartphone

"Udah bell. We better get to class, I don't want to skip. It's just a small wound, it's healing tomorrow."

Elisha stared intently at Atlanta, then hissed, rising from his seat. "Don't refuse! If you don't want to come with me to the UKS, I don't want to be your friend anymore" Elisha threatened. Like knowing the man's point of weakness. Atlanta shook her head quickly, and moved.

The girl gave a smile, now she knows how to make Atlanta obey her. Elisa smiled broadly showing off her white teeth, then clasped her Atlanta hand, linking her fingers with the larger Atlanta finger.

"That's dong. Now where's the UKS?" ask Elisha. Atlanta pointed south from where they stood. The girl nodded, starting to walk away from the garden.

The smile never faded from the corner of Elisha's lips, even as they walked side by side through the quiet corridor, the smile remained imprinted there. Elisa did not know, or even realized that Atlanta was staring fixedly at her fingers that were tied to the girl. Elisha occasionally shook his hand which made the same gesture in Atlanta's hand.

Atlanta smiled faintly, which Elisa might not have seen. His feelings instantly became calmer, a fact that Atlanta did not want to spend a second with Elisha, it felt like he wanted to stop time, and continue to repeat the moment with Elisha. Just looking at the girl's cheerful face, was able to make her heart flutter.

"Mother, what is this thing called being happy?"