*Asrik*
'Clap, clap, clap,', the sound of applause filled the auditorium, it was his seventh award of the night, as he walked onto the stage, smiling for the seventh time, only I could see the slight falter in his steps, he seems to be tired. Thankfully, this is his last award of the night, "please, put your hands together, for this year's best graduating student 'Eiran Gray' ", he turned to the crowd, smiling, as he took a shallow bow, it was one of the few occasions that I got to see him smile.
Fifteen year old Eiran Gray, dressed in a black and white suit, shiny black shoes, his curly brown hair gelled back, giving him a soft classical vibe, his dark blue eyes , that twinkled under the stage light, squinted slightly as he smiles and his bright pink lips, that revealed his perfect white teeth when curved into a smile.
For the past eight years, he hasn't won less than five awards, when graduating a class, in our sixth grade he had won all, he was one of the most envied people on the campus, had he not been an orphan, he would've been the most envied for sure. That's correct, he's an orphan, Asrik Gray, Eiran Gray, everyone from the orphanage took the the Gray surname, it was the surname of the late founder, 'he lives on through us', they say. He came back to his seat, beside me, his seven awards in front of his legs and my two in front of mine, the event was near it's end, when Mr's Clyde approached us, Maria Clyde, the orphanage's headmistress, I guess you could say, she was some sort of a mother figure. "You both, are the sole reason I get up in the morning", she laughed, dragging us into a hug, one at a time, "the director is coming to visit next week, and he's bringing gifts, specifically prepared for the both of you, not only do you win scholarships, but your always the top of your grade's too'.
I smiled "it's the least we can do to repay you", "repay me, nonsense, you owe me nothing, in fact, I owe you, the orphanage, has been getting a lot more sponsorships, because of your efforts", she smiled putting her arm over my shoulder. Eiran didn't say anything, he just stood there, like always, with that tired uninterested look on his face, "Eiran must be quiet tired, let's go home", she tapped his shoulder, we packed up our awards and left.
The car ride back was silent, Mrs Clyde sat in the front, with the driver, while I sat in the back with Eiran, his head placed gently on the headrest as he stared into the outdoors, the buzzing traffic lights, the cars moving up and down the street, he was looking at them, lost in them, as though he had never seen them before. His eyes light, as though there wasn't a single thought behind them and his face calm, not reserved or tired, just calm, as if he was floating .
I feel tired, I clapped so hard, each time they called his name, but he didn't even clap once for me, you'd think after all these years he'd have warmed up a little.
I leaned over resting my head against the window, I want to rest my head against his shoulder, the windows cold, but I'll let him be for now, because after the break I'm going to put my head on his shoulder all I want, it's saddening, to think that after six whole years, he still wants nothing to do with me. Hmm, seven years, it was seven years ago,when we were only eight years old, that Eiran Creed, arrived at the orphanage, after having lost both his parents in a car accident.