Chapter 5: Mysterious Beauty

I learned a lot about her in a short period of time while we conversed.

In March, she turned twelve. We were roughly the same age at the time. She attended an all-girls school. Her mother is a seamstress and her father is a fisherman. She has a large family. She was a resident of Brookeville. Her parents couldn't afford the all-girls school's expensive tuition anymore, so she transferred to my school.

She loved music so much. She could sing and play a guitar. Her taste in music was eclectic. She enjoyed all types of music like rock, jazz, rhythm and blues, hip hop, trance, techno and house. But her favorite type of music was rock. I also like music. We listened to the same bands like Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Deftones, U2, Muse, System of a Down, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. We talked about those bands during the break time and dismissal time. We clicked instantly. We started hanging out since that day.

We discovered our other similarities and contrasts as we got to know one other. We both enjoyed music, but she was particularly enthusiastic about it. Music was her life, and it provided her with comfort through difficult times. I merely listened, sang, and danced to music to be entertained. We shared a passion for reading novels. But she reads faster than I do. She could read a tome in a single sitting. In three days, I could finish a book. We shared a passion for video games, but she was a greater player than I was. I knew this because we played in the arcade.

She could beat me in any game, whether it’s a violent mature game or a kiddie game. She was kind of a lone wolf; I have a lot of friends in school. Actually, everybody in school liked me, so I could say that I could get along with anyone. We both loved to go to rock concerts and gigs. But, because she was poor, she only went to concerts and gigs on rare occasions.

"I was alone when I went to concerts and gigs," Daphne explained.

What she said astounded me. "What were you thinking? Why didn't you bring your friends?" I asked her.

"I don't have any friends who like rock music," she said.

"It's good that nothing awful happened to you; you know, there are a lot of bad people out at night," I remarked, my voice a little raised because I was worried.

"I was able to easily protect myself because I dress in baggy clothes and frequently wear a hoodie. I don't wear makeup, so I didn't attract men, whether they were friendly or bad. I also look like a boy because I don't wear makeup."

I didn't agree with Daphne's last statement. She wasn't wearing any makeup that day, but she still looked lovely.

I don’t know about this girl. You couldn't tell if she was joking or if she was just self-conscious about her appearance. Her natural appearance didn't bother me in the least. I just don't like the idea that she was dressed in shabby or loose clothes since it appeared as if she had made no attempt to look nice.

Maybe she’s not interested in any guy as of the moment so she’s always so simple. She was likewise unconcerned about her appearance. It's a pity, because she was truly blessed with attractiveness.

At least she's still beautiful even if she wears a sack. I see girls who go to great lengths to make themselves attractive. Every day, they put on makeup and dress up in nice clothes. But they still are not beautiful.

"I can accompany you to concerts and gigs," I offered.

“Really? Wow, that'll be great! Thank you," she replied. It's something I'm already looking forward to."

"Me, too," I told her.

Daphne excelled at deciphering song lyrics. That's why I enjoyed spending hours with her. She admitted to reading and listening to interviews with her favorite musicians on a regular basis. She was a deep individual who was pleasant to converse with.

Miss Cordelia, our adviser, informed us a few weeks later that the classroom officers would be elected. Our classmates began to nominate candidates for class president.

The election was overseen by Anthea Smith, a stunning and intelligent girl. "For the role of the president, nominations are presently being accepted. Are there any presidential nominations?

April, a classmate who looked up to Leslie and voted for her, said, "I nominate Leslie Lane for president." Leslie had kinky hair that she wore in a ponytail and was short and chubby. She was a bright young lady who put in a lot of effort.

"Do you accept the nomination for president, Leslie?" Anthea asked Leslie. Leslie responded with a resounding "yes."

"Is there a motion to end the presidential nomination process?"

"Anthea posed the question to the rest of the class."

They continued with the nomination after someone said "none."

Ramona responded, "I nominate Kathie Belle." Kathie was a stunning young lady with a tanned complexion. Her superb looks made her highly popular. She had a lot of charisma.

George said, "I nominate Gerald Watkins." Gerald was a tall guy with a medium build and fair skin. He was wearing eyeglasses. He was both academically and athletically gifted.

Joshua responded, "I nominate Gil Jenkins." Gil was pale-skinned, slender, and wore his hair short. He was bright and belonged to the chess club.

My friend Jacob voted for me and said, "I nominate Alexander Pierce." Oh, no. "What the fuck?" I said to him, mouthing those words. He gave me a friendly smile. I let out a sigh. My classmates applauded me. But it wasn't as if they were mocking me or anything. In fact, it's the total opposite. They looked up to and respected me. But, oh well. So it's possible that I'll be the president once more.

"Silence, class!" Miss Cordelia commanded us." We fell silent.

Jacob declared, "I move to close the nomination." He gave me a wink.

"Does the motion have a second?" Anthea asked.

Allan added, "I second the motion."

"The presidential nomination is now closed," Anthea declared for the candidates we wanted.

I received the majority of the votes in my class. I was elected president. We voted for our vice president, secretary, treasurer, auditor, public information officer, business manager, and sergeant at arms as we continued our election. It was now time to cast our vote for our muse.

Clarence, a thin white-skinned guy with a curtain haircut, remarked, "I nominate Anthea Smith."

"Wow, thank you so much! I gladly accept the nomination," Anthea cried. Her skin is beige, and she has a tiny body with almond eyes. Her beautiful, raven hair cascaded down her shoulders.

Brielle responded, "I nominate Desiree Jones." Desiree had a statuesque stature, hazel eyes, and a tanned skin. Her wavy brunette hair cascaded to the ground below her shoulders. She had the appearance of a model.

Claudine remarked, "I nominate Lucy Lopez." Lucy was tall and slim, with milky complexion and deep-set eyes. Her lengthy black hair was dangling below her shoulders.

"I suggest Beverly Campbell," remarked Hannah, her best friend. Beverly was thin and tall, with porcelain complexion and oriental eyes. Her brown hair, which was straight and long, hung below her shoulders. She was charming and gorgeous.

Another Hannah responded, "I nominate Daphne Rose." She was Daphne's seatmate and new friend.

Miss Cordelia told Daphne, "Please remove your hoodie so we can see your face." Daphne obeyed her.

Daphne has pinkish white skin, brown eyes, and a slim, medium-height body. Her dark brown wavy hair fell to her shoulders in a cascade.

Cordelia smiled and nodded. She appeared thrilled that Daphne had been nominated. Daphne had kept her beauty hidden for a long time. Everyone in the class could now see how naturally lovely she was

“Why me?" She asked Hannah.

Hannah told Daphne, "Because you are beautiful." Daphne was a shy girl. And it appeared like she lacked confidence in her ability to win.

I told the class, "I motion to conclude the nomination."

Peter added, "I second the motion."

Desiree Jones received the most votes. She became our muse.

Derek Wood was chosen as the escort. He was attractive, tall, and had stylish hair. I had no idea why, but I was relieved that Daphne had not become a muse. Perhaps I was jealous at the time and didn't want to see her with him.

Daphne and I talked about the recent election in the cafeteria during lunch.

With a knife, she was furiously carving her meat. "I can't believe I was nominated as the muse!" She blushed as she talked angrily. "It's embarrassing," she said as she cut into the steak, which she accompanied with a heaping tablespoon of white rice.

"What makes you believe that?" I cocked my head. "You are stunning," I said softly. I ate a scoop of red rice and a bite of baked salmon.

"No, I'm not!". She retorted. She had inadvertently raised her voice.

I let out a sigh. When would Daphne be certain of her own beauty? I'm still perplexed as to why she believed she was unattractive. Isn't there a mirror at her house? She pulled the hoodie over her face once more.

She did that whenever she was ashamed.

"Look, no one would pick you as muse if you were truly unattractive. If you were unattractive, people would have laughed if you had even been elected. Isn't it true, though, that they didn't laugh?” I realized I was moving my hands while speaking. It was just a habit of mine. I chewed into some mashed red potatoes.

She ate a scoop of green beans and said, "No."

"Hannah is someone I've known for a long time. She isn't the kind of person who makes fun of others. I chewed a mixture of salmon, mashed potato, and rice that I shoved into my mouth.

Daphne was silent all of a sudden. She carried on with her meal.

"It doesn't matter to me. Being a muse is more than just amazing looks, as we all know. A muse should be confident. I'll never be confident. Desiree was elected, and I'm delighted she did. She is well-deserving of the post. I can picture her sashaying onto the stage, modeling, posing, and beaming boldly in front of the audience. I am confident that she will triumph. She had the looks, the confidence, and she seemed intelligent." She sipped her pomegranate juice.

I gave a nod. "She is," I said as I continued my dinner. I took my time eating so that I could spend more time with Daphne.

Daphne shifted the conversation's focus. She drew her fork and pointed it at me. On the fork was dangling a lovely piece of meat. "I'm happy you were elected as the president."

I laughed shyly. "It was insignificant. Every year, I am re-elected. I've known a lot of our classmates for a long time," I said as I sipped my lemonade.

Suddenly, a swarm of students surrounded our table. When I first saw them, I was surprised. Why were they approaching us in the first place?

"Hey, Daphne!" Daphne was greeted by a girl with long, straight dark hair and black-rimmed eyeglasses.

“Yes?” Daphne asked. She was perplexed.

"Do you mind if we take a picture with you?"

I knew who she was. She was Melody. She was in the company of her other female companions. Everyone was ecstatic.

"Erm, it’s all right." Daphne replied. “Go ahead.”

“Great!" Melody exclaimed with glee. They posed for a shot as a group.

"Aww, Daphne," Melody said, "please take off your hoodie and comb your hair afterwards. You look really beautiful with your hair down.”

Melody's friends were in agreement.

“Oh, okay,” Daphne responded. She combed her hair and removed her hoodie.

Melody approached me with a friendly request, "Please take our photo, Mr. President." She handed me her phone so I could take their group photo.

“Sure," I replied. "One... two... three!" I took the picture. They all looked pretty.

"And now I'm going to photograph you," Melody said. She snapped a picture of Daphne and myself.

"You look great!" She said, "You two are adorable together!" She teased us.

“Ayiiiiiieeeeeeee!" Everyone was rooting for us. Daphne was blushing, which I noticed. I smiled.

We entered our classroom and sat in class till the end of the school day.

"Can I walk you home?" I asked Daphne.

Daphne remained silent when I asked her a question. "Let's go to the forest first," she replied instead, giving me the nicest smile.

We took a stroll through the woods. It's late in the afternoon. She pointed me in the direction of the west. In the midst of the pine trees, we watched the sunset. This appeared to be a romantic location.

"The sun is stunning," I exclaimed. With a simple "yes," she replied.

"So, you just brought me here to watch the sunset?" I asked.

"Come with me," she said, laughing.

We went into a vast and lovely forest. It was just a sea of green. It was densely forested, with lush grass and vibrant flowers. It was also muddy and rough because it had rained for a bit around three hours before. We walked across logs, pebbles, and slick areas. Daphne was on the verge of slipping on the moist loamy earth when I caught her. We peered into each other's eyes while she lay in my arms. She blushed as I gave her a sweet smile.

It became a little weird, but my heart was racing as I held the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life. Maybe she sensed the beat of my heart. I desperately wanted to kiss her, but she averted my gaze. My heart sank.

But that's fine. I could just wait for her to fall in love with me. It was almost admirable how patient I was. I could wait forever.

She became ashamed and exclaimed, "Oh my God, I'm so clumsy."

"It's fine," I reassured her, "it's natural; it's a bit slick here."

"I'll be more careful next time," she replied.

We went on a forest exploration. I observed a lane lined with roses, each of which was painted in a different color. Pink, orange, blue, red, white, and yellow were among the colors. It was a lovely sight to behold. I could see myself riding a bike here with Daphne in front of me. We continued walking and came upon the tall green mountains. The magnificent blue sea was directly in front of those mountains. The sky was tinted in a gradient of pink, orange, blue, and violet. The sea was bathed in color.

We continued walking till we came to a cliff.

"Are you going to push me down here?" I joked to her.

"No, foolish," she answered, a smile on her face.

"Let's just stop here for a minute and take in the scenery," she advised.

"Alright," I said.

We could get a panoramic view of the woodland below us from the rock. It has a beautiful rural environment and a beautiful seascape. It was as if we were a king and queen looking over our realm.

"Thank you for sharing this view with me," I said to Daphne.

She said, "It's my pleasure."

"You seem to know a lot about this place," I said. "Do you live in the area?”

"Yes," she replied quickly.

"Wow," I exclaimed, awestruck by the forest's magnificence.

"Let's get going," she said. I decided to follow her.

We came to a halt by a brook. It was surrounded by a tire swing that was suspended from a tree. A wooden house stood nearby.

"This is your home," I said now that it had dawned to me. She said, "Yes, it is."

When I first saw Daphne's house, I was astounded. It was just too basic and routine. The front lawn and the nearby brook were what made the home acceptable. When I first walked in, it was narrow and filthy. The entire place screamed “poverty!”

Daphne was born into a huge, impoverished family. And I pondered how they could breathe in such a place. Maybe they're just sticking with what they've got. I wouldn't last a week if I lived here. Perhaps God has a plan for each and every person on the planet. Perhaps God knows who is patient in such places, who can endure the trials of the impoverished.

Well, me, I can’t do this. I was fortunate enough to be born into a wealthy family. This place was claustrophobic, dark, and run-down. Daphne isn't supposed to be here. A beautiful girl like her has no place in this dingy house where she lives. I'd take her away and tell her parents that she should come live with me in my lovely home. But we were still young, and two young people living together is not a good idea. Not to mention the fact that we weren't technically dating. And, yes, I just realized it.

Daphne apologized, "I'm sorry if our house is ugly."

I lied and said, "No, it's fine." She was completely correct. Her home is extremely revolting.

I plastered a smile on my face. I didn't want her to think I was a pampered rich brat.

She had a melancholy expression on her face.

Is it possible that I said something wrong?

"Can you tell me why you're sad?" I asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," she says. It's simply that you're the first person from school to pay me a visit," she said. "Of course, some of my neighbors have paid a visit to this residence. They all seemed to be okay, but I could tell in their eyes that they pity my predicament."

So my face gave it away.

"However, it's not your fault. Our thoughts are beyond our control. No one can them," she answered somberly.

I couldn't think of anything to say, so I remained silent. I wanted to hug her, yet doing so would make me feel much worse for her. So, like a moron, I just stood still.

"Oh, Daphne, you have a visitor?" A woman who looked like Daphne said.

"Oh yes, mama," Daphne said, "this is Alexander Pierce, one of my classmates. This is my mum, Alex."

I said hello to her mum. Mrs. Rose smiled as she responded, "Pleased to meet you, Alex."

We exchanged handshakes. I was relieved that the bell had come to my rescue.

"Can you tell me where your father is?" I quietly asked Daphne.

"Oh, he is at work right now," she explained.

I nodded, "Ah, okay."

I was sitting at the table with Daphne before I knew it. I was offered bread, cheese, and Coca-Cola by her siblings. Their hospitality was something I admired.

"Thank you so much," I expressed my gratitude to them. Daphne and I devoured the snacks. Then we watched Yu Yu Hakusho and Flame of Recca on the television. Even though the screen was little, I enjoyed watching these shows with her. I enjoyed spending time with Daphne.

I said my goodbyes to her family members and headed home after we finished watching anime and chatted about school.

Surprisingly, this has been one of my favorite days since I learned more about Daphne. And I intend to do so in the future.