"Just as I thought, you've given up, haven't you?" Luca asked.
She stayed silent.
"Tsk, I don't know who you really are, but I don't like the idea of leaving someone like you alone. It doesn't sit right with me."
She chuckled, "I'm living, aren't I?"
"No, you're not," he replied seriously.
He walked closer, "Your eyes and voice have been dead this whole time."
Again, she said nothing.
"Since you're staying here anyway, I'm going to show you that giving up isn't the answer."
"Why bother? It's not like I'm planning to end my life."
"No, but you're missing out on so much because you're only breathing, not really living. I don't know what you've been through, but fate brought us together for a reason. I'm going to change that empty look in your eyes."
The play continued...
The young lady kept helping out in the fields, and the villagers started warming up to her.
"Maybe they were right... maybe simple living is better," she said as she and Luca ate.
"Were you rich?" Luca asked.
"Yeah, I was. But..."
She moved her fingers like she was controlling a puppet, "...riches come with strings."
"You ran away because you had no freedom."
"I ran away because no matter how hard I worked, nothing mattered. I could never make them see that I was enough."
Luca stayed silent. She had finally opened up a little, but he didn't know what to say.
"But... this place is better," she said softly.
When she looked up at him after playing with her food, there was a bit of life back in her eyes.
Luca noticed but stayed quiet.
Days passed, and more life returned to her eyes. She also started smiling with the villagers, and he saw that she was a smart and capable person.
"This place is nice... but your real life is somewhere else," Luca said as they finished tending the fields.
"Are you tired of me being here?" she asked.
"No. But your wings can't spread here. You're intelligent and capable. You can only be truly free where you belong."
"I'll be trapped there."
"How many times have you tried?" Luca asked.
"Tried what?"
"To convince them."
"That I'm capable?"
"That they can count on you."
"I don't remember."
"You only worked hard, didn't you? You worked hard and achieved things, but when they gave you something else—like a marriage partner—you just ran away."
She stayed quiet.
"I noticed, you know. You worked hard, but you never tried to speak up. I saw you wanting to say something but then stopping and staying silent."
She looked down, still silent.
"That's not how you fight for what you want. You're just running away. You can't say you've given up just because of that."
"They won't listen anyway, so what's the point?"
Luca shook his head, "Sometimes, you just need to speak without assuming they won't listen."
In the next scene, they were talking with the villagers.
"Uhmmm, I..."
She raised her hand, getting everyone's attention, and then shared her idea.
"You have such a brilliant idea," one villager said.
One by one, the villagers complimented her. She looked at Luca, who just shrugged.
Later on...
"I told you, you just needed to speak up."
"I hope it's that easy with my family."
"If once isn't enough, then keep speaking," he said with a smile.
By this time, the life in her eyes had completely returned.
Another scene change...
"I'm going back now," she said.
Luca looked at her.
"I've decided that I can do something more. There's still a chance for a different option."
He smiled, "Go on then. Do what you want to do."
She smiled genuinely, surprising everyone.
Not just her classmates, but the whole audience as well.
No one had used makeup for this play, so her face remained plain, but when she smiled this time, all eyes were on her. The reason everyone was so captivated by her acting with a dead expression was because of how ordinary she looked.
Who would have thought that when she smiled, it would feel so refreshing?
'Well, if it's a genuine smile, it's bound to have an impact,' Luca thought to himself.
Being right in front of her, he was also drawn in, but he could see that it wasn't her real smile either.
Another scene change...
Luca was left alone in the house they shared, deep in thought. After a while, he sighed.
"I guess I can only be proud of my words to her if I get myself together too."
After that, he left.
The audience was in awe as the seasons changed on the backdrop that their class had created. The play felt even more realistic.
"What's on your mind, dear?" asked the classmate playing her mother.
Harmony was looking out the window at the pouring rain.
"I was just thinking about the time I ran away," she replied.
"We're really sorry about that, dear. We were blinded by the fact that you're a girl; we didn't see how capable you were," her mother said.
Harmony shook her head, "I didn't try to make you see back then either. I can't put all the blame on you."
The mother smiled.
"That young lady is being influenced by the acting of the main female character, isn't she?" Jake asked Dylan.
"Same with the villagers. Her acting is pulling them into their roles more," Dylan replied.
"Such a powerful talent," Jake whispered.
"Are you thinking about the person who gave you the courage to come back?" the father asked after a while.
Harmony smiled sadly, "He was gone by the time I tried to return and thank him properly."
Her mother smiled and patted her back.
"Fate brought you two together. He gave you what you needed most at that time. If fate allows, you'll meet again."
Another season change...
It was raining again.
"Just when we're signing an important contract, the rain starts," Harmony's colleague said.
"It's fine. It feels like the sky is blessing us with this rain. I'm sure the contract will be signed smoothly," Harmony replied.
She extended her hand and let the rain fall on her palm.
"Rain isn't so bad," she said.
"Rain isn't so bad," another voice echoed.
When she turned, Luca was there, looking at her too.
"Oh, good morning, sir," her colleague greeted him.
"Ma'am, he's the president of the company we're signing the contract with."
Harmony blinked, while Luca smiled.
"Fate seems to have played its part," he said.
She smiled back, "It seems it has indeed."