8:15 PM...
At Mingyu's house...
After closing the noodle shop for today, my mom wanted to use the spare time to clean up the kitchen. Since there were a lot of customers today, meaning that the kitchen is a lot more messier than usual. She's already starting to feel irritated just by looking at, and I have a feeling it's gonna affect her behaviour towards me in some way.
As my mom starts cleaning the kitchen table filled with spilled sauce and seasonings, I continue to mop the kitchen floors. Since our kitchen is quite small, I didn't have to waste much time to mop the whole kitchen.
"I'm done," I say as I put the mop back in its place.
"Then go get a shower or whatever you want. You are 18 and I still have to tell you what to do? Idiot," my mom blurts out.
Hearing this, I let out a sigh. Once again she had hurt my feelings. I just told her that I was done and this is how she reacted? She's really making me feel like the idiot here.
My mom turns around and starts studying the floors which I had mopped. However, she didn't seem to look satisfy with the result. She stares at me with boiling in her eyes, making me feel more anxious.
"You didn't even clean it properly, you idiot!" she says with fury in her tone.
I sigh. I try my best to calm my anxiety down while not letting myself get emotional.
"Don't you see that it's not right? It's still messy! You pathetic child, you can't even mop the floors properly," she says with a harsh tone, making me feel worse.
"I already mopped the floors. If you think it's still messy, I'll mop it again," I say, fear starting to fill my voice.
"Forget about it, you useless brat! You just failed to do something so simple," she says with fury. Suddenly, she throws the cloth that was used to clean the kitchen table to the floor. She walks over to me and slaps me in the face. I try to hold the pain and not scream, since she would just slap me harder if I show any signs of being in pain.
"Go to your room, now! I don't want to see you ugly and useless brat," she shouts, before turning back and walking away.
Hurt and broken, I ran upstairs as fast I could since I didn't want to waste anymore seconds downstairs. I don't want her to hurt me again, mentally or phisically. When I finally reached my room, I open the door and slams it shut, before running to my bed. I put my head on my bed while my knees are kneeling on the floor, as I continue to cry my eyes out. Right now, I just wish to die in a blink of an eye. I don't know how longer I have to deal with this. It kills me already everyday, knowing that I'm nothing but a burden who is always belittled at home.
The next day...
8:12 AM...
At Huang University...
"So this Saturday?" Meiling ask Junhao as the two of them are walking through the hallway.
"Yup, I'll pick you up," Junhao answers.
Meiling smiles after knowing that she and Junhao will be going out together this Saturday. They're planning to watch a new movie together at the cinema.
"Great, then I'll better prepare myself," Meiling says.
As the two teenagers continue to walk through the hallway, they pass by Mingyu who is walking in faster pace while carrying her bag. Junhao turns his head to see his friend walking in a rush. He noticed that she looks down.
"That's Mingyu," Junhao says.
Meiling turns her head to see Mingyu walking away. She then turns her gaze to Junhao, who is looking at the girl walking away with concern.
"I think something's not right. I'll go check on her first," Junhao says to Meiling.
Though in her mind, Meiling didn't like the idea of Junhao seeing Mingyu, she had to agree with the idea so Junhao won't think that she's actually worried of his best friend, when he had stated before that he only cared for her as a friend, and that Meiling didn't have to worry.
"Ok. I'll see you in class," Meiling says with a small, fake smile.
"Ok." Junhao smiles at his girlfriend, before running off to catch up with Mingyu.
Meiling watches her boyfriend catching up to the anxious girl. She couldn't help but feel jealous that he can't seem to keep his concern away from the anxious girl.
She thinks she can get all his attention? Let's just see who's better at the game. Wang Mingyu, you better watch out!
Meiling thought.
Meiling takes one last look of her boyfriend from a distance as he finally approach Mingyu. With an unfriendly gaze, Meiling walks away and heads to class.
Meanwhile...
"Mingyu!"
Mingyu turns around to see Junhao approaching her in the hallway. His steps becomes closer to her as Mingyu stood in silent.
"What?" Mingyu ask in a low tone.
"Just wanted to see how you were doing," Junhao says as he starts to study Mingyu's face. Her eyes looks puffy, her skin looks pale, and she has dark circles under her eyes. It's not the first time for Junhao to see her like this, but today he noticed that she looked worse. Maybe since she's not trying to cover her face today with make-up?
"Are you ok?" Junhao ask.
"I'm good," Mingyu says in a low tone, not really wanting to speak much at the moment.
"Your skin looks pale. Are you sick?" Junhao ask with a concern tone. Deep inside, he feels worried that Mingyu's condition might have gotten worse.
"I'm ok, Junhao. I just didn't use any make-up today because I'm so sleepy," Mingyu says.
Junhao could sense that she sounds exhausted. For a moment he thought that something happened between Mingyu and her mom, that again caused her to stress out and have a hard time going to sleep.
Junhao takes a deep breath. He could tell that the girl haven't got any sleep yet. Looking at his best friend at this state makes him feel worry. Until now, her condition is still not stable. Other than that, he was surprised to know that she had ride all the way to college though she had lack of sleep last night. That girl could put herself in danger.
"You shouldn't push yourself to attend college when you're exhausted. You know it's not safe to ride anything when you have lack of sleep, and a stressful mind," Junhao says.
"I will only be more stressful at home," Mingyu states, before taking a deep breath.
Junhao sighs. The girl has a point, but to him, that still doesn't make up as an excuse for her to put herself into possible danger. She could have called him to drive her, because she was so desperate to go to college, just so she could avoid her mom. Nevertheless, deep down he knew he couldn't blame the girl for her actions. She had her reasons, and he understood well of her condition.
"Why didn't you call me so I could pick you?" Junhao ask.
"I didn't want to cause more trouble since my mom had been in a really bad mood since last night," Mingyu answers in a low and exhausted tone.
"How can my presence actually bother her when I'm here to help you, A.K.A her daughter?" Junhao ask. Sometimes he still has a hard time figuring out why Mingyu's mother gets easily irritated even at the smallest thing. Though Junhao already heard from Mingyu about what happened between her parents, he still couldn't put his mind together about her reasons for putting her fury to her own daughter.
"You know my mom, Junhao. She gets irritated by everything," Mingyu says.
Junhao takes a deep breath upon hearing Mingyu's statement. Looking at his best friend right now, he is concern on how fragile her mental state is, and that she's trying all her best to avoid any possible problems that could occur.
"Man, that sucks," Junhao says in an apologetic tone, as if he feels sorry for her condition.
"Well, you know how things are. It's always gonna be like that. Let's not think about it much," Mingyu says.
"I know, but you heard what my uncle said. You have to at least try and feel better at some points," Junhao says.
Mingyu sighs. "I'll try if it's possible."
Mingyu really sounds hopeless at this point, that it only makes Junhao feel more worry. He is afraid that if her mental health gets worse, the girl could get herself into worse trouble, and even danger.
"Actually, I'm worried that you'll go back to that state," Junhao says in a low tone, as the vision of Mingyu trying to attempt suicide back when they were 15 flashes back in his head.
Mingyu became silent upon hearing Junhao's words. The crazy thought that she almost end her life when she was 15 starts surfacing back in her head. As she starts to remember the deep pain from the past, tears slowly starts to fill her eyes. She quickly realize and wipes her tears away, while trying to look away from Junhao.
Junhao sighs. He knew his friend needed help, and that the only person she could run to for help is him. After learning about her condition back in middle school, he grew pity of her and starts to concern more of her mental health, and protects her from the bullies back in school. He also became her shoulder to cry on, where he would often comfort her after her mom abused her.
Realizing that it's been years and Mingyu is still mentally unstable, he starts to think of ways to cheer her up so she'll be emotionally happier, and by that it could help with her anxiety. Of course, he is aware that he can't always be there to calm her down and cheer her up, especially since he is now getting closer with his mutual crush, Meiling. After a moment of thinking, he finally gets an idea.
"I have an idea. So this Saturday I'll be going out with Meiling to watch a new movie. Instead of staying at home, how about if you join us along with the others?" Junhao ask Mingyu. He thought it would be fun if Mingyu could go out along with him and the others.
"Did you forget that I get anxious near people?" Mingyu ask.
"I remember, but I'll be there and there won't be much people. Other than Meiling and I, we'll probably only ask Yifei and Xiaoliang to join us," Junhao states.
Hearing her best friend said Xiaoliang's name somehow gives Mingyu sudden butterflies inside of her. In silence, she wonders why did she felt such thing when she heard his name, which reminded her of his figure. Tall, side combed black hair, warm smile, and a gentle voice that keeps playing in her head every time she thought of him. For a moment, Mingyu felt a bit happy at the thought of seeing Xiaoliang this Saturday to watch a movie. Yet, her anxiety starts to kick in again upon realizing that there could be a chance Liqiang will be there. She's literally been avoiding the guy after his comments regarding women made Mingyu furious at Junhao's party.
"Will Liqiang be there?" Mingyu ask as she starts to get anxious at the thought of the guy who both irritates and scares her at some times.
"No, since I know you don't like him. Besides, Liqiang and I are not really that close," Junhao states. Knowing the fact that Mingyu hates the guy, the reason Junhao didn't want Liqiang to join them is because he doesn't like the idea of Liqiang approaching Mingyu, knowing well that the guy is a player who could break her heart. He didn't want Mingyu to fall for the player who doesn't even know how to talk nice about women.
Mingyu takes a deep breath. She felt relief that Liqiang won't join them this Saturday. Otherwise, she would rather choose to stay at home and wait for another unexpected problem to approach her, and again abuse her mentally. Knowing that the guy she hates won't be there with them, she feels grateful.
"Ok, I'll join," Mingyu states.
Junhao instantly forms a small smile as he stares at Mingyu with a relief look. He's glad that she agreed to spend some time with him and his friends in an attempt to make her feel better and away from her problems.
"Great. So I guess we'll all meet this Saturday, at Moonlight Cinema," Junhao states. Mingyu nods upon hearing Junhao's words.
"Well, I should go to class now. See you later," Mingyu says, before running off through the hallway, not wanting to be late.
"Bye! Be careful," Junhao says in a distance, as he watches Mingyu walking further from him.
A few hours later...
At the cafeteria...
Junhao and Meiling are walking inside the cafeteria, when they spot an empty seat and decides to sit together. The two teenagers places their trays of food on the table, before pulling our their chairs to take a seat. As the two teenagers start to eat their lunch, Junhao happen to notice that Mingyu is no where to be found in the cafeteria. His gaze wonders off for a moment to see any sign of her, only to find none.
Did the girl skip lunch? Junhao thought.
Meiling turns her vision to Junhao. She sees that he looks as if he had spaced out, in which she assumed he must had been thinking about Mingyu. Just the thought of the girl's presence in his life already irritates Meiling. Yet, she decided to stay calm and not question about it, since she already has other plans for the anxious girl.
Meanwhile, Yifei and Liqiang are sitting together while talking about Saturday's movie plan. Even though Junhao didn't plan to tell Liqiang about it, Meiling and Yifei decides to tell him anyway without Junhao knowing, since they know Mingyu will be there. The two girls are planning to hook up Liqiang and Mingyu together, since they didn't want the girl to get near both Junhao and Xiaoliang.
"I can't believe Junhao planned to leave me out for Saturday," Liqiang says in a sarcastic tone.
"He seems to worry that you'll do something to Mingyu," Yifei states, before taking a sip of her lemonade.
"Oh come on, I'm not that dangerous," Liqiang says.
"Whatever. You just need to pop up all of a sudden, and I'm sure we'll end up watching the movie together and you can do whatever you want to Mingyu after," Yifei says. She is already annoyed with the idea of Mingyu getting near Xiaoliang, she just told Liqiang to do whatever he wants to her. She wants to get rid off her from Xiaoliang's sight for good, since her presence made Yifei feel insecure knowing that she has a competitor.
"Good idea," Liqiang says.
Meanwhile...
At the library...
Xiaoliang decided to skip lunch and enters the library to study. As he walks inside to find his usual reading spot, he sees a girl lying her head on the table with her arms crossed. He steps closer to the table to see the girl peacefully asleep, with a strand of hair covering her face. She must have been really exhausted that she fell asleep at the library.
Mingyu? She's asleep. Xiaoliang thought as he stares at the sleeping girl.
To be continue...