"Mingyu, still awake?" Xiaoliang ask through the phone.
"Yeah, still studying," Mingyu answers.
"I see. By the way, I was wondering if you have time this Saturday?" Xiaoliang ask.
Mingyu could feel butterflies in her stomach all of a sudden, just by hearing his question tinkles through her ears with his gentle voice. She suddenly became speechless, not really sure on how to react since she is too surprised. To Mingyu, this is a new type of feeling she rarely experience. Between butterflies making her nervous, and an odly small amount of excitement and joy mixed together. Yet, if there is one thing she is sure of, is that this sudden feeling he gave her makes her feel alive, and happy.
"Hello," Xiaoliang says through the phone, wondering why she is suddenly silent.
"Huh? Oh sorry, I kinda spaced out," Mingyu says, feeling a bit embarrassed that she just spaced out on the phone.
"Haha, it's ok," Xiaoliang says in a chill tone.
Did I just hear him laugh? Damn, he has a beautiful laugh. Mingyu thought.
"So? Are you free this Saturday?" Xiaoliang ask.
Mingyu hesitate for a moment, but decides to go with what her heart wants to say. She thought she could always think of an excuse for her mom later, but it's not everyday that she gets to go out with a sweet introvert who makes her feel comfortable. The only friend she has ever went out with is Junhao, so going out with someone who is not Junhao will be something new for Mingyu.
"Yes," Mingyu answers. She feels both relief and happy that she finally gave him an answer.
"Great, I will you pick up at 5 PM, is that ok with you?" Xiaoliang ask.
"Yes," Mingyu answers.
"Ok," Xiaoliang says, this time with a rather shy tone. He's happy that she agreed to go out with him, since he didn't expect her to actually feel comfortable enough to go out with him.
"Well, don't sleep too late. I shall prepare for bed now," Xiaoliang adds.
"Ok, bye bye!" Mingyu says.
"Bye, Mingyu," Xiaoliang says, before ending the call.
Mingyu puts her phone back on her study desk. She keeps staring at her phone with mixed feelings, as she feels her heart starts beating faster and butterflies continue to dance around her stomach. These new feelings she's experiencing makes her heart feel a type of beautiful happiness, that she rarely experience for the past years. Though there were times Junhao made her happy, yet what she is feeling now is different. The feeling is one of a kind, and gets her addicted.
With all the happy thoughts of Saturday, Mingyu forms a smile and continues with her study. It's been a while since she feels a slight of happiness inside her heart, and having to experience it tonight made her feel grateful.
Meanwhile...
At Xiaoliang's house...
Xiaoliang's POV...
I put my phone on the small table beside my bed. I sit on my bed as I try to think about my actions a few minutes ago. It's hard to believe that I had the guts to ask the anxious girl at college out. Despite the awkward encounters we had, it's funny because we eventually brought together closer with it. I lay down on my bed, letting my mind wonder itself about what's gonna happen this Saturday.
But again, I can't be too relax. I can't only focus on my personal life, since I also have to make my grandma as my priority. Often times I feel guilty of myself for not being able to give her the best. This thought never fails to make me restless, like I am now.
The next day...
At Huang University...
At the cafeteria...
Mingyu's POV...
I decided to have overnight oats for today's lunch. Since I was 14, it had been a secret remedy for my anxiety. Somehow, I start to feel better after having it, of course complete with some berries and honey. As I finish my last spoon, I still haven't seen any sign of Xiaoliang at the cafeteria. He better not be skipping lunch again. Or..is he? Man, it's so hard to read him sometimes.
After sitting at the cafeteria with my now empty jar, I start to lose hope with no signs of the introvert boy. Yup, he skipped lunch and is probably at the library. Maybe I should I visit him there, just to see how he is doing. Besides, the poor boy hasn't had lunch yet, and it's a good thing that I brought an extra jar of overnight oats from home, almost like I knew from the start that I was gonna give it to him since he'll probably skip lunch. With that final thought, I stood up from my seat and grab my bag from the table. I walk out of the cafeteria and heads of the library.
At the library...
I walk inside the library. My vision starts searching the whole room for the quiet boy. From a distance, I spot a guy wearing a gray sweater, sitting alone while reading a book. I start walking to the guy's direction, and gives him a small tap on his shoulder. He turns his head to look at me. I give him a small smile, though he didn't smile back. That was weird.
"Hey, I was waiting for you at the cafeteria," I say as I take a seat next to him.
"Sorry, I had been at the library reading," Xiaoliang replies, while continue to read his book.
"I see. By the way, I brought you this," I say as I open the zipper of my bag and grab the new jar of overnight oats.
"I made this myself," I say, while placing the jar in front of Xiaoliang. He turns his vision from the book and stare at the jar.
"You didn't have to do it," Xiaoliang says. His voice sounds a bit restless today. Did something happened to him?
"It's ok. How many times do I have to tell you not to skip lunch?" I ask him, yet with a rather bossy tone even I was surprised to realize.
Xiaoliang turns his head to face me. We stare at each other's eyes for a while, as I start to get lost in his beautiful brown eyes, which somehow today, looks more restless than usual. It seems like it was just last night that he sounded happy on the phone, so why is he suddenly restless today?
Xiaoliang eventually turns his head away. His cheeks blushing red like a strawberry, which I am also experiencing now. I shyly turn my head, hoping he won't notice how red my cheeks are.
"Thank you. But next time, you don't have to do it," Xiaoliang says. "I'm a guy, Mingyu. I can take care of myself."
I slowly turn my head back to his direction. His vision looks lost, as if he has some things going on in his mind. Maybe he's going through some hard times? Possible. Somehow the sight of him reminds me of myself, when I lose my mind and bottles up all emotions. Just as I continue to get lost in his restless charm, the library door suddenly opens, revealing a young girl with long black hair wearing a white t-shirt, black skirt, and black flat shoes walking over to us with a baby pink lunch box.
"Xiaoliang, what are you doing?" the girl, Yifei, ask with a her usual cheerful tone. She has her vision focus on Xiaoliang, completely ignoring my existence beside him.
"Studying," Xiaoliang replies casually.
"Well, I noticed you weren't at the cafeteria earlier. I brought you this," Yifei says as she hands Xiaoliang the baby pink lunch box.
"Yifei, thank you, but I am good," Xiaoliang says as he returns the lunch box to Yifei, making her frown.
"Ah, you skipped lunch, Xiaoliang! You can get sick you know. Please just accept this," Yifei says in a whiny tone.
"Thank you, Yifei. But I already have lunch," Xiaoliang says as he grabs the jar of overnight oats on the table. He opens the jar but eventually realize that there is no spoon in sight. Oh great, I forgot to give him a spoon. I open the zipper of my bag and grab a small spoon and hands it to him.
"Here," I say as I hand him the spoon.
"Thanks, Mingyu," Xiaoliang says, as he forms a small smile. Finally, he's smiling again.
As Xiaoliang starts eating the overnight oats I gave him, I notice Yifei's face looks annoyed as she turns her vision from Xiaoliang to me. I look down out of awkwardness, not wanting to heat up the tension.
"Well, ok. I'll be going now. Bye, Xiaoliang!" Yifei says before walking away with her baby pink lunch box in hand.
A few hours later...
After college...
I walk through the hallway, passing the crowd that are wondering around. I notice that some of them are glancing at me with dirty looks. Weird, usually none of them ever notice me. I'm not even popular around here.
"Mingyu!"
I turn my head at the sudden voice that calls my name. I see Junhao running towards me with his backpack.
"Hey, what is it?" I ask him.
"Well, I was wondering if Meiling and I can drop by at your noodle shop for dinner," Junhao says, "remembering that your momma makes delicious noodles."
I thought about it for a moment. Honestly I wouldn't mind about it, but I just hope that my mom wouldn't get furious at me in front of them. That would be embarrassing.
"Sure," I say.
"Great. Meiling and I will head there. In fact, you can join us in my car," Junhao offers me to ride with him and Meiling.
I hesitate for a moment to agree, but figure that he did have a point. It would be a lot faster if I was to ride along in Junhao's car.
"Ok. But is it ok if I put my bike in the back of your car?" I ask him.
"Of course it's ok," Junhao says in a chill tone, "now come on, let's go!"
With that final word, Junhao drags me through the hallway and exit college. Outside, we see Meiling already waiting near Junhao's car. She turns her head to see both of us and smiles, yet I feel like her smile to me seems different. It's seems kind of stiff.
"Baby," Junhao says as he walks over to Meiling and gives her quick kiss on the cheek.
"Shall we go?" Meiling ask.
"Yeah, let's go," Junhao says.
"Umm..I'll go get my bike first," I say while looking down at the ground, feeling awkward.
"Ok," Junhao replies casually with a smile.
With that final word, I turn around and heads off to grab my bike. I walk back to Junhao's car with the bike. He opens the back of the car and helps me put the bike in the back, before closing it.
"Great, let's go," Junhao says.
Junhao walks over to open the car door for Meiling. He closes it and heads over to the driver seat and enters. I open the back seat door and enter the car, with the sight of the two teenagers sitting in front of me. Junhao starts the engine and drives off.
During the ride, I notice that Junhao and Meiling are taking chances to hold each other's hand every now and then. Looking at how madly in love they are, reminds me of a certain type of human emotion. To be more specific, it's more likely an old and common human emotion which anyone could experience, but I had grown to abandoned the thought of it for the past years. That emotion, is the so-called common love.
They say love is a simple yet beautiful emotion, which anyone can experience in life, with anybody, despite their background stories. Sometimes it happens without your concern, other times it happens when you're not ready, and a few times it happens with the most unexpected people, at the most unexpected time. At least, that's what they say, but growing up in survival mode and dealing with emotional abuse through out the years, I've come to abandoned the thought of love. I didn't have time to fully understand the deeper meaning of it. However, I was still able to feel gratitude when receiving any act of love, like when Junhao supported me through my ups and downs with affection, which I am very thankful. Looking at him and Meiling now, it makes me wonder if I would like to experience such emotions. But other than that, it made me thought, am I even capable to experience it despite my background and mental state?
Meanwhile...
At the ATM...
Yifei is walking back from the ATM with her chaffeur already waiting for her outside the car. The man is waiting to open the door for the young lady.
"Han, I need to talk to you," Yifei says to her chaffeur.
"Sure, Miss Chen," Han, the chaffeur, replies in a professional manner.
Yifei opens the zipper of her leather black sling bag, and pulls out a yellow envelope. Yifei hands the yellow to Han, much to his confusion.
"I have a favor to ask," Yifei says, while handing the yellow envolope to Han. He eventually takes the envelope, still staring at it with confusion. He thought Yifei must had some something going on in her mind.
"Sure. What is it, Miss Chen?" Han ask the young lady, still having no idea what she has in mind.
"For first, I would like to thank you for being with the Chen family since I could remember, and for accompanying me everywhere I went," Yifei says, before pausing for a moment.
Han starts to wonder to all the possibilities that could happen after what he heard from Yifei. Being her personal chaffeur since she was very young, one thing he knew about Mr Chen's daughter is that the girl who looks cheerful is not one to speak much words to those she doesn't feel she has any important matters. She only gets involve in conversations with people she shows interest in, which most of them are her socialite friends.
"But well, life keeps going and a few things change. New ideas will soon be release, and some choices will be made," Yifei says. "Han, I want you to tell my father that you wish to resign."
To be continue...