STUDENTS' CORNER: WHAT MAKES A PERSON BEAUTIFUL?

 “Don’t you think I’m ugly? I mean look at my face! It’s full of acne and I have a few moles!”. He chuckled. Mikasa sure is insecure about her face. It’s true, everything described was correct but she was only describing what’s on her face not behind her face. Eren sucked in a breath before speaking. “Miss Ackerman, I don’t care if you keep on rambling on why you think you have an ugly face. My point here is what’s hidden behind your face. There”. He pointed towards her heart. Mikasa looked down and backed up at him. “Here? What do you mean, Eren?”. Eren sighed and moved closer to place a hand on Mikasa’s back to gently edge her closer to him. Placing the other hand on her cheek, he spoke. “You have a kind personality. You always helped those in need. Like the other day, Sasha was having trouble carrying books to the library and you quickly took half of the pile and carried them beside her. Just now, I saw you help Connie and Jean to find Mr. Smith’s desk at the staffroom.” 

Eren paused for a moment and looked down at Mikasa who was clutching his shirt while listening. He then continued. “You also don’t judge people. The fact that you accept how short our janitor is not something the other students do. I’m quite surprised how you can get along with him. Mind sharing?”. “He’s my uncle. My dad and him are cousins. I only knew when dad himself told me”. Eren nodded and spoke again. “ Another thing that makes you beautiful is how you stay true to yourself. You don’t let negativity take over. An example is when Ymir mocked you for following me around like a duckling. But you didn’t care at all and ignored her. Other people might immediately stopped what they were doing but you stayed true to yourself. In other words, you were still original”. Mikasa pulled away for a moment to speak. “That’s all?”. Eren laughed for a bit. “No but here’s my last point. You know how to make decisions. You use your brain to think why that decision should be made. Most importantly, you don’t need help deciding. Honestly, I like a girl who makes up her own decisions.” Eren finished talking and stared at Mikasa for a response. 

“Eren” 

“Yes?” 

“What about my confession?” 

“I accept” 

Mikasa beamed with happiness and hugged Eren. “Promise me you don’t call yourself ugly anymore”.

 “I promise”.

Written by: Cynthia Ak Nyanggai