Chapter Eight
Char was surprised but he didn't show it. He didn't come up to me, hug me and say "You're not married! Let's get married!" I knew he was cautious of Mum Olga and her spawn. I just smiled but I wanted so much to cry. Tears of joy. I'm near Char yet again! And this time, I'm not Lela but Ella! But Mum Olga and Hattie were looking at me with suspicious eyes. I pulled away from Char's grasp and curtsied.
"Pleasure meeting you." I said again. Then, I went next to Hattie. It was Olive's turn.
After the reintroductions, we proceeded to the parlor. Mum Olga led the way. I walked behind Olive. I acted humble and simple so then Char would be convinced I had change and leave me alone. Though it was part of the plan, I wanted not to do it. I wanted once more to charm him. I wanted to make him laugh. I wanted to tell him all my jokes. But I couldn't.
Hattie clung to Char all the time. She was chattering nonstop. I suddenly remembered Char's entry to his journal…
I don't know how she managed to pour the words while smiling so hard, revealing the largest teeth I have ever seen. She must be excellent in cracking nuts…
I suddenly laughed. It was a wrong move. Hattie spun around and frowned while still smiling. Mum Olga too. Olive just looked at me. The wheels in her head must have been moving slowly. Char did too but he was smiling. He looked so happy. And hope spread across his face. His eyes were questioning me, "Do you still love me?" I wanted to nod. To smile. To say it in my eyes that I still love him.
But despise this, I immediately resumed my indifferent face. I clouded my eyes with nothingness so he will see nothing. I looked straight ahead with my chin up. I saw his smile disappeared. He must have thought that I was still me. For a slight second. I hated to cause him pain. But I have to deceive him. I have to. I must.
We all were seated in the parlor. I was still indifferent and vague. Hattie and Mum Olga chatted Char away. I said nothing. They mostly talked about court affairs. Gossip sometimes. I just looked ahead. I sometimes nodded my agreement. I didn't listen so I spent the whole session just imagining Char's departure. He would be sad, disappointed that I am not the Ella he knew. I could imagine his journal entry…
I have gained nothing by visiting Ella. Sirs Aubrey and Stephan were not fools after all. She was there. She was breathing like Sir Aubrey said. But she doesn't look human. She looked like she was made out of stone. She somehow reminded me of Hattie's simpleton sister, Olive.
All she did was sit there and look straight ahead. She looked like she was in a trance. She talked once or twice but rarely. Wanted so much to run to her and shake her while saying "What's wrong with you? Are you doing this to discourage e from coming? Tell me!" I could have begged her to tell me. Anything to know.
The letter was rubbish. It was a lie but this experience pained me more. I could have accepted her wedlock because most ladies marry at her age. But I couldn't accept the fact that Ella is here, alive and unmarried, but made of stone. Living stone. She seemed like a corpse. Her head was always high up but there was not a trace of pride. Her eyes were clouded and vague. Her hands always on her lap. She was not like before.
I wish I would know what is the matter. But how? I am not there and Ella won't even speak to me?
That he could write. Right now, I am saying to myself that I am made of stone. I have no feelings. Char must not think I am the same.
Hattie has finished talking. Dinner. After dinner, this deceiving game would now come to an end.
-Thanks Eowyn for reviewing for so many times! If all of you are bored waiting for then next chapter, why not read my poem? It's called "The Popping Of The ZIT". Asking why is that the title? Read and review so then you'll know!
-Nayie
Char was surprised but he didn't show it. He didn't come up to me, hug me and say "You're not married! Let's get married!" I knew he was cautious of Mum Olga and her spawn. I just smiled but I wanted so much to cry. Tears of joy. I'm near Char yet again! And this time, I'm not Lela but Ella! But Mum Olga and Hattie were looking at me with suspicious eyes. I pulled away from Char's grasp and curtsied.
"Pleasure meeting you." I said again. Then, I went next to Hattie. It was Olive's turn.
After the reintroductions, we proceeded to the parlor. Mum Olga led the way. I walked behind Olive. I acted humble and simple so then Char would be convinced I had change and leave me alone. Though it was part of the plan, I wanted not to do it. I wanted once more to charm him. I wanted to make him laugh. I wanted to tell him all my jokes. But I couldn't.
Hattie clung to Char all the time. She was chattering nonstop. I suddenly remembered Char's entry to his journal…
I don't know how she managed to pour the words while smiling so hard, revealing the largest teeth I have ever seen. She must be excellent in cracking nuts…
I suddenly laughed. It was a wrong move. Hattie spun around and frowned while still smiling. Mum Olga too. Olive just looked at me. The wheels in her head must have been moving slowly. Char did too but he was smiling. He looked so happy. And hope spread across his face. His eyes were questioning me, "Do you still love me?" I wanted to nod. To smile. To say it in my eyes that I still love him.
But despise this, I immediately resumed my indifferent face. I clouded my eyes with nothingness so he will see nothing. I looked straight ahead with my chin up. I saw his smile disappeared. He must have thought that I was still me. For a slight second. I hated to cause him pain. But I have to deceive him. I have to. I must.
We all were seated in the parlor. I was still indifferent and vague. Hattie and Mum Olga chatted Char away. I said nothing. They mostly talked about court affairs. Gossip sometimes. I just looked ahead. I sometimes nodded my agreement. I didn't listen so I spent the whole session just imagining Char's departure. He would be sad, disappointed that I am not the Ella he knew. I could imagine his journal entry…
I have gained nothing by visiting Ella. Sirs Aubrey and Stephan were not fools after all. She was there. She was breathing like Sir Aubrey said. But she doesn't look human. She looked like she was made out of stone. She somehow reminded me of Hattie's simpleton sister, Olive.
All she did was sit there and look straight ahead. She looked like she was in a trance. She talked once or twice but rarely. Wanted so much to run to her and shake her while saying "What's wrong with you? Are you doing this to discourage e from coming? Tell me!" I could have begged her to tell me. Anything to know.
The letter was rubbish. It was a lie but this experience pained me more. I could have accepted her wedlock because most ladies marry at her age. But I couldn't accept the fact that Ella is here, alive and unmarried, but made of stone. Living stone. She seemed like a corpse. Her head was always high up but there was not a trace of pride. Her eyes were clouded and vague. Her hands always on her lap. She was not like before.
I wish I would know what is the matter. But how? I am not there and Ella won't even speak to me?
That he could write. Right now, I am saying to myself that I am made of stone. I have no feelings. Char must not think I am the same.
Hattie has finished talking. Dinner. After dinner, this deceiving game would now come to an end.
-Thanks Eowyn for reviewing for so many times! If all of you are bored waiting for then next chapter, why not read my poem? It's called "The Popping Of The ZIT". Asking why is that the title? Read and review so then you'll know!
-Nayie
