THE LOST COORDINATE

STRANGE DAY

The days passed quickly along with the resumption of strange moments. The moment seemed to have no intention of passing.

On the noisy day of examination that seemed like there’s an occasion. With the sounds of footsteps, as if marching for justice, from a strange door to a new place, the exam is ready to begin.

Each student quickly went to their seat. As usual, the computer opened automatically as the question appeared. Nothing changed in the process, but the rapidly changing of questions pierce my eyes.

Silence prevailed all around. You hear nothing but the movement of the hands. This is the tests for the future.

I slowly turned to my left. The little boy sat quietly in his seat. His eyes were calm as if it wasn’t difficult for him to understand the question.

Moments later, he slowly turned around, with an unusual smile on his face as if he was challenging me. But like before, he has gentle eyes. Whatever the outcome, it will surely surprise everyone.

(Strange sound) the test ended quickly in conjunction, with the return of the ambient noise. Everyone is eager to see the result, except one.

It slowly walked away from the exam room. His sluggish body portrays that he is not interested in any marks. There is something strange in his actions.

I hurried over to the bunch of children, where the leaderboard was located. I looked carefully at each number. I know in myself that there is a change in the position of the numbers contained herein. There’s a sudden change, there is someone who got the number one spot, but there is no name or number placed on it.

Even the students with the highest scores were surprised by the accident. One hundred is the perfect mark, but even in the history of this place, no one has gotten such a point. This is unbelievable, that’s all I can say because I can’t really believe in what I saw.

It’s a strange day, isn’t it? Ms. Melinda said from my left. “The 4 years old child was able to record the highest score. It’s incredible, isn’t It.” she said. There is an indescribable joy on her face.

“Is this what you wanted to tell me lately?” She asked while smiling.

“Don’t tell me…? It can’t be!” I said while in a state of shock.

“Yes, he is.” She proudly said. Who would have thought, a naïve toddler had a hidden talent? This time all the wondering and doubt has been answered.

“Those eyes! He really understands the words in my chest. This day is really special!” She’s happy when she said that.

She seemed to receive something that could change her life. This was the first time I saw her happy, a genuine joy, not even before.

“Tell me! What kind of teaching did you give to him? I know you know that this thing just happened now.” She whispered to me.

“No! Not even once. His life was etched in my eyes. Sleeping at night after eating, waking up in the morning with breakfast, I clearly remember everything. I did not teach him a single word.” I explained while enveloped in astonishment.

“The next morning, after the day, the day my eyes first saw him, the day he left the clinic, I found him alone in the library. I watched him intently, the incident without a doubt. It was the first time my mind had glimpsed to the things he could do.”

“He can read. He can understand everything. He knows how to write, he understood the word. I know it’s impossible, but it’s true. He is not just an ordinary child.”

She just smiled, as if not surprised by what I said. It was as if she was already expected this event to happen. What is she hiding from us? What’s wrong in this day? This is the biggest question in my mind.

“Aren’t you glad 1122?” The change is already heralding. The change I’ve been waiting for. It’s only a matter of days to understand the words.

“You don’t have to think. Just smile and keep on doing what you used to do.” It slowly turned around and walked away.

Suddenly, a question appeared in my mind. Curiosity enveloped my whole body.

Wait! Didn’t you teach him, while he was on the clinic, three years ago? I asked her before she could walk away.

She approached me and smiled.

“Who knows? The impossible is possible, and the miracle takes place.”

He left quickly with a smile on her face. The pleasure she only felt now.

I hurriedly looked for the little boy to ask and understand everything. As usual, he sat solemnly in the library while reading. I no longer wandered around; I approached him and boldly uttered those words.

“What else do we not know about you? What other mystery you aren’t revealing? You don’t know how big of a question you’ve caused in this area.” I asked with a quite high voice.

It looks like a child with a disability. His ears were closed to the noises around. He heard nothing but his own words. It can be compared to a wild animal, he does not care about anything that doesn’t catch his attention. Calm in the face of danger.

He looked straight into my eyes and smiled. He slowly closed the book he was reading as he reached for a piece of paper.

“In that case, you don’t understand the advice I gave.” The message contained in the paper.

Moments later, he slowly stood up, and for the first time, his words came to my ears. The voice buried in the depths of the mind. A voice that has been hidden for a long time. The sun seems to be ahead in deciding the moon. The light provided even the preference is nothing yet.

“What do you understand by beauty?” The first words, that came out of his mouth. I looked dumb and still couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“You receive advice, but you don’t appreciate it. You cherish their smiles, you are happy while watching them, but you don’t hear the moans in the depth of their heart. Listen to the meaning, not in words.”

I can see the image of Ms. Melinda in his speech. They are so deep, that there seems to be indicating something more than that. Is there something going on in this place that we don’t know? This questions lingering in my mind, after I heard him.

I sat up slowly as if my body is weakening.

What happened to you? I asked confusedly.

Little by little, nervousness took over my mind. I knew something strange going on around me.

“Happened? He asked with a frown. Many things happened to me that you cannot understand. My past is very dark, but I know there is something much worse than that. This is the place that serves as a cover to the darkness of the world. It hides the truth and insists on pointing out the happiness that isn’t real.”

“Don’t let the suffering replace the pleasure imprinted in your eyes. Absence quickly engulfs a person when it does not know its destination.” He added.

I wasn’t able to speak again. It’s very complex, but the world we live in is very different. I don’t quite understand, but I felt ashamed to myself as I listened to his words.

“I wish this conversation is only on us, don’t tell it to anyone. Not yet, but I trust you a lot.” That was the last thing he said before closing the door.

Hours passed quickly. I walk slowly and trying to understand what happened earlier.

“Are you okay, 1122?” I quickly came to my senses when I heard the voice. I didn’t notice, I was already in the dining room.

Oh, it’s you! 1696! I smiled. The girl in the room with me, ages seven to ten, together with two other students. She doesn’t talk much, but she’s not shy either. She’s so kind to everything, that’s what gives color to her personality.

What are you doing here? I asked calmly. She was holding a basket, full of vegetables. Preparing for what will be food in the evening.

“Oh, this?” she replied innocently. “I just help the seniors to prepare dinner for everyone. Yes, it's tiring, but it’s even more tiring to be an idle person.”

This becomes her hobby or pastime after taking care of the children.

Here you will notice students with high scores. They prepare food from morning to night. That’s the kind of work for older students. The most important jobs and we will only count a few months before we replace them and do their former job.

Do you know anything about the new child? I asked seriously.

It shook as if wondering. The thought of something could be seen on his face.

“I often see him go to the library. You still don’t change! You give your best for children to learn.” She was praising me.

I was a little surprised. Even the attentive and observant 1696 was unaware of what was going on around. It means, only Ms. Melinda and older students notice this.

“Why did you asked that? He has nowhere else to go. If anyone knows him better, it was you. You’ve been with him all day until now.” She said with clarification.

I seemed to be haunted by my own question. I don’t think I will be stuck in my own problem. Only now I have witnessed these moments in my whole life. It’s a strange day again.

She stopped putting vegetables for a moment. There was still a look of astonishment on his face.

“Is there a problem 1122?” she asked calmly. “Not just now, but often. I notice you always not in yourself. You’re not like that, those smiles that I didn’t see for a long time. Is there something I should know?” She asked with mixed emotions.

Is that so? I smiled. Believe it or not, I just have something I don’t understand. An event that I just didn’t understand at first.

I barely looked into her eyes. This is the place of happiness, I’m sure everything is just fine. You will not notice, but this day will pass quickly. I said, explaining to her.

I knew in myself that there was something strange going on around me, but I didn’t want to replace the pleasure imprinted on their minds with doubt. This is the place we are all aware of; children should not be overwhelmed by fear.

I didn’t think much and just help her settling the vegetables. We prepared the ingredients and start cleaning the room.

What exactly awaits us behind this pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction? Another question popped into my mind. Where did it come from?

These past days, the happiest days that seems no end. Smiles can be seen everywhere. Noises of laughter you will hear every day. Unity, that can’t be compared to any material thing. His silent arrival coincided with the gradual spread of change around. That inexplicable happiness that can be seen from Ms. Melinda’s face, this is really a very odd day.