I am a mute. That's right. A mute. I can't speak, can't communicate with anyone freely. Even if I do, they all run away from me. I'm weird, I'm different and nothing can change that.

I remember those days when I attended normal high school. I was already a mute, but I managed to claw my way through the whole student body and get the top grades. Everyone hated me but it didn't matter either way. Even if they were to talk behind my back, I'll let them be.

I once could speak, just like anyone else. However, due to a certain incident, it had left a scar which made me inarticulate. An incident, a trauma that I've been through that no matter how many speech therapies I went for, could not get me to speak again.

My inability to speak made me lonely, but I guess, it's my punishment of that incident. It had robbed me of love, warmth and happiness. Though one could say that those feelings can be found again, I tend to differ. Love and warmth; these two will never be part of my life again.

Yes, this inability has made me look like an outcast.

It was time for the graduation ceremony and Ciel was looking up at the ceiling, staring into nothing. He topped the level, as usual, and was required to give a speech. But the only problem was… he was mute. Imagine the look on the audience's faces when he has to give a speech with sign language, while someone standing at the mike, helping him interpret the signs. It would be a look of pure disgust or admiration. But… it seemed that the latter was less seen.

Regardless of what, the only thing that mattered to him was that among the audience, he wouldn't see those proud smiles of his parents. If they were here, he was sure they would be grinning from ear to ear, telling everyone that the top student was their son. But those thoughts would never come true.

"Ciel!" called a shrill voice. It was his cousin, Elizabeth. If he could groan, he would. Instead, he rolled his eyes at her.

He curled his fist into a ball and moved it up and down. Yes?

Elizabeth smiled. "Your turn!" she exclaimed, not helping her cousin in calming his nerves down.

Ciel nodded, getting somber. He moved his head, gesturing that his cousin should follow him. The blond looked at him with gentle eyes; they seemed to say 'let's do it!'

The duo was greeted by a loud applause. Then a hush fell upon the audience as Elizabeth took the mike.

They both glanced at each other, silently communicating and Ciel slightly moved his head down. It's time.

Turning to the audience, Ciel bowed a little and raised his hands.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, lecturers and scholars. I am Ciel Midford," Elizabeth said after the male paused for here to catch up. After she was done, he continued.

As Elizabeth read out Ciel's speech to the guests, she admired and respected the other. Ciel had faced many challenges and overcoming the odds. He did not like the taunts affect him, neither did he give up. But that was what she personally felt. Among the audience, she could already see people dozing off while others stared blankly on the stare. Some were even looking skeptical.

Nevertheless, Ciel was strong. He looked very familiar with the stage and he was one to be feared of though he was a mute.

"Thank you and may you have an enjoyable night," she ended off and the auditorium was filled with claps. She believed that it was out of courtesy. Ciel shook his head and frowned at her. Apparently, he knew what she was thinking. His eyes were warning her not to judge others for he knew it was unbelievable for a mute to study in a normal school.

Graduates were invited to stand on stage on last time for a photo shoot before they go their different ways. Elizabeth pulled Ciel along. "Come on, this is just a photo shoot. The last memory you have of this school before we leave."

Ciel vigorously shook his head. He tried to tug away from the blonde's grasps but couldn't. In the end, he could only stand on the stage and stared blankly into the camera.

"1, 2 and 3!" the photographer said before they were blinded by the flash light.

Soon, Ciel was all packed and ready to go. He brought his right hand to his head and drew in his fingers into a beak-like figure. Let's go.

Elizabeth nodded, but made a few rounds of saying goodbyes and congratulating the others. Ciel watched and gave a mental growl. That girl was a handful; it was surprising that he could stand her for so long.

"Ciel!" called the said female. "Are we going now?"

The male snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. It would be best if they were to leave now, if not some random graduate would grab them and force them not to leave.

It was their last day as a student and soon, they would be entering the working world.

Five years later:

It was boring, he concluded. Staying at home was never fun. Here he was, sitting in front of the television, like a couch potato. Randomly flicking through channels, he tried to settle for a television program. But it seemed that… they never had much variety.

The sounds of him clicking the remote were accompanied by the ticking of the clock. It was barely noon and… it was boring.

He should really get a job but… who would want a mute person like him to work? He has enough money to let him live till a ripe old age. A house big enough to contain at least two generations. Life would be perfect for him if he wasn't that lonely.

Just then, his house intercom rang. Sighing, he picked himself up from the couch and walked towards the machine. He pressed the loudspeaker button once and tapped twice on it to indicate that he was listening.

"HEY CIEL! CAN I COME IN?" the guest said, or rather screamed.

Said male shook his head and went to open to the door the visitor. Blond curls came into view first, followed by the guest. He nodded at her and opened the gate. With a small gesture of his head, the guest entered his house.

"How are you?"

Said male shrugged and his right hand tilted left to right and to left again. I'm fine.

She nodded and smiled. "Really? Day after day, you spent time at home doing who knows what? Isn't it boring?"

Cerulean eyes narrowed and he gave a silent hiss. This time, he used pen and paper to tell the female what he wanted to say.

'Why are you here, Elizabeth? You may be right, I am bored. But that is my own personal business. Or do you have something for me to do?'

After reading, Elizabeth placed the paper onto the coffee table and sighed. "Ciel, you have been lazing around for the past two years after studying. Don't you want to do something with the certificates you received?"

A new piece of paper was handed to her soon. 'I can't work. Who would hire me? I'm a mute. Someone who doesn't speak. I'm a freak, people will call me that. Don't you know?'

The duo sat on the couch, each facing the other. Elizabeth shook her head, sighing as she glanced at the younger. "I know how you feel Ciel. I've been with you since… Anyway," she changed the subject. "I'm here because of this." A stack of papers were taken out and handed to Ciel. "I was hoping you could help us in this."

Rustling of the papers filled the silent room and Ciel looked up at the female. He pointed to the papers. This?

"In three years, you've completed two degrees. You have flair in design Ciel. I really hope that you could feel in the space we have in the company. The interview is two days away. I do hope you would consider this. Would you?"

Ciel gnawed his lips as he debated his options. This was an opportunity to experience what it was like to work but that also frightened him. The working environment wasn't like that of school life. Who knew what might happen to him when everyone knows he is a mute.

He slowly nodded. It won't hurt to give it a try right?