-"I hope everyone present here, is prize holder. I have a very good news for you guys." Her eyes are glowing with a unknown mystery. "After lunch, all the prize winners are invited to join the 'introductory function' briefly arranged in the GRAND HALL. I'll be at the auditorium entrance after lunchtime and guide yall to the Grand Hall."
She left the stage and the spotlight got switched off again. The auditorium was left with a few students like some scattered electrons in a vast atom. And all they could think was 'Oh no! How can we get to know each other! It's gonna be super awkward. I wish I wouldn't get to be one of the winners!"
At cafeteria, the eighth table is the main source of noise this time unlike yesterday lunchtime. Rae, Haze and Rosa are checking through the window with interval of a few minutes, five or less than that. And all the students around be like- "Why the hell that window had to be the only window with perfect view! Moreover why those idiots took that table to shout boorishly! Ugh!"
"Yall! Finally she came!" Haze shouted and sat on her chair perfectly; so did other two.
As soon as Ele crossed the seventh table, "We want treat and you'll get 'sweet treat'", they three came out if their seats and attacked on her. Undoubtedly, without a spotlight, they got the unwanted attention of everyone present there.
-" Happy? Let's go eat now!" Ele smiled even after getting beaten.
-"Now say, what did she Ms. Sherrnia say?" Haze asked as she was taking her seat.
-"Well, we're gonna attend the introductory function in the GRAND HALL. I mean, the winners,you know!" Ele couldn't finish her words properly. When she said, 'GRAND HALL', "What! GRAAAANNNDDD HAAAALLL! Wow! Eleee! You made it!" Rae jumped like a spring.
-"Well, I'm a little bit excited too", Ele said while scratching her scalp. But the next moment being all serious, "But the thought of communicating with unknown people already started disgusting me. Ugh!"
Actually, to get to enter the Grand Hall even for once in a six years VersheeLife is a dream for all Versheeans. Till now only 14 Versheeans have got to fulfill this very dream of them!
-"Whatever, when is the function?" Haze asked and Rosa nodded as if she was going to ask the same question.
-"Umm..." Ele tried to remember, "After lunchtime".
Rosa checked her watch, " You mean after 35 minutes?"
-"Maybe," Ele said while eating.
-"Don't say you're going to attend the function with this outlook!" Haze said in a high-pitched voice, stopping her meal.
-"Aa...what's wrong with my outlook?" Ele brushed her palm against her face lightly and then on her messy,loosely tied hair while eating.
Rosa and Rae threw their vexed look on her and then looking at Haze,said together, "She can't care less about her makeover, nah?"
Haze nodded.
-"Well, let's go to the restroom. I can't let my prestige be punctured for you as you're my roommate who gonna join a party with unruly hair while I do everyone's hair for any special functions," Haze heaved a sigh.
-"Don't exaggerate, dear! You'd die if you had to tie hair of 350 heads for any special functions", Ele grinned.
-"Whatever!" Haze took Ele to the washroom mirror by pulling her hands all the way.
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The poster hung on the ceiling of GRAND HALL says "Congratulations to the winners!"
As per the guidance of Ms. Sherrnia, the winners of essay competition and painting competition stood at the left and right wing respectively.
-"Well, our most respected chief guest Mr. Morshen Rane arranged it for you all. It's all thanks to him that you guys got to visit the GRAND HALL. Versheeans know what I mean, right?" Ms. Sherrnia smiled and skimmed the hall, "So now enjoy until it's tea-time". She left the hall and musics played on.
Ele looked at her right and then left instantly, then at the entire hall,but found no known batchmates. She felt like fish out of water.
-"Hi, Eleonora Auclair, right?" A tall and thin boy with brownish voluminous hair approached to Ele and offered a handshake, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Daniel Edward."
It was nice fighting with you - suddenly hit on Ele and she couldn't move a bit.
-"Hi, nice to meet you too," Ele shook hand with him gently unlike her dream she dreamt earlier. Then forcing a smile at the corner of her nervous face, finding something to continue the conversation, to wash away awkwardness, she estimated, "By the way, congratulations! You did a great job."
-"Oh, thanks.Actually I should be the one to congratulate you. I bet you did show a brilliant performance", he said trying to show his cirdial happiness for her achievement but actually his eyes told off the inner jealousy of him.
-"Thanks,too. But I'm not that brilliant as you're thinking", she said with a hesitant smile.
-"There you go again!" he smiled playfully.
"Oh, you're here! Congrats Daniel bro!" a boy of almost 178cm height dark brown voluminous curl hair came across Daniel and patted on his shoulder.
-"Thanks a lot. Congrats, too. I saw your painting in the exhibition hall. It was really awesome and I'd come out for protest if it didn't win the prize! I mean it!" Suddenly Daniel stopped as soon as he noticed Ele looking at them confusingly, he remembered Ele be not supposed to know this guy. Looking at Ele, he went ahead introducing,"Well, he's my best friend Rache Billace," then glancing at Rache, "And she's Eleonora Auclair!"
-"Oh, the winner of 'NERD' Award!" he bit on his tongue just at the moment the words slipped out of his mouth.
-"Never mind him. I'm sorry on his behalf",Daniel apologised."You'd better stay silent,idiot", clenching his teeth, he said to Rache in a low voice. Whispered actually.
-"No,no, it's okay. Everyone thinks like that but once you get to know me,you'll remember this moment everytime you utter 'NERD'", Ele chuckled at Rache.
-"It's great,I guess? How about being friends?" Rache looked at Daniel while stretching his hand toward Eleonora.
-"Yeah,sure", she said with a delightful smile.
-"I thought we already had been", Daniel said in a low voice, more like whispering but loud enough to be heard by Rache and Ele. They two laughed loudly and Daniel joined them.
Ele let her guard off around them as if she has known them for decades. They talked,laughed and shared their lifestyles casually, just how she communicates with Rae,Haze and Rosa. When it was tea-time,they felt like it has been just 30 minutes at best! But actually one and half an hour passed already!
-"It was really so nice to meet you that I feel bad to leave now", Rache urged.
-"My pleasure. It has been a while since I made new friends. So it was nice to talk with you guys." Daniel as usual zoned out and noticing that Ele continued in a teaseful tone,"Rache, do me a favour,please. At any cost, make you dear best friend communicative!"
-"As if I never tried! I even tried to..." Rache couldn't finish, "Stop right there!" Daniel shouted at Rache covering his mouth with his both hand so he can't say a word.
-"Okay,okay, I won't hear it,then",Ele laughed smoothly.
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-"Let's put this poster on that wall", Haze directed Rosa to the south wall of Ele's bed.
-"How about hanging the black and golden balloons around the table!"
-"I agree with Rosa," Rae nodded.
-"I'm super excited about the reaction after she enters!" Haze said while planning the whole surprise party.
-"Imagine Ele passing by her table and seeing us coming out from three corners of her bed shouting 'Congrats!'"
-"Oh, Rae! Stop! I'm already getting goose bumps! " Rosa shouted out.