The dawn of a new day .When there was only hope and endless possibilities was Song Xia favorite time . When the whole world was at a standstill and the only thing you heard was the sound of your own breathing and heartbeat. A glorious sunrise in front of you as you ran feeling a refreshing breeze on you face.
When the park started getting crowded Song Xia headed back to the apartment to have breakfast with Shi Qi. It was Saturday morning but Shi Qi had to get back to Mei Li , the new sales girls would be interviewed today and she needed to check on the renovations of the makeup studio.
Ding. Ding.Ding.
Song Xia paused on the corner of the street to check her Chatbox messages assuming her Aunt wanted something from the connivence store.
[ Wu Qingge:Xiao Xia, I heard from my agent that the agency fired you. Are you okay? Can we meet for coffee today at 1:00 p.m. ?]
Song Xia didn't have any plans and Wu Qingge sounded worried about her so she agreed.
[ Song Xia: Hi , I'm okay. I'll see you at Yummy Cuppa .]
+++
"Well, I'm glad you are okay. Maybe it was for the best that you left when you did. The agency has been in a state of disaster recently. Director Tou and Agent Huang had a falling out and can barely stand each other. Apparently ,Li Zen offended a big shot and got 99 Scenes involved." Wu Qingge sighed.
Aunt Shi was worried when she told her that she was going to meet Wu Qingge. She was afraid that 99 Scenes and Li Zen would use some dirty trick to get her to quit the modeling industry. Although Wu Qingge was a good person the human heart can be a fickle thing so she promised her aunt she would be careful.Now it seems like 99 Scenes and Li Zen had troubles of their own and didn't have time to bother them.
Song Xia sipped her vanilla latte and they began to speak of other things.
"I'm going to study business management at university. I thought I could give modelling and acting one last shot but I don't think that's going to work out."Wu Qingge put on a strained smile .Song Xia passed her some chocolate biscuits and her smile became less forced.
"What about you, Xiao Xia?What do you want to do after school?"
"Besides modelling...I want to be a fashion designer. "Song Xia admitted .She empathized with Wu Qingge because hadn't she also gave up on her dreams and followed another path? At least Wu Qingge had tried her best and exhausted all her options .In her case she had given up before trying.She did not regret becoming a doctor .It was an amazing profession and she had learned so much, helped so many and was content. The only thing she regretted in her previous life was not chasing her passions. As the saying goes you rather try and fail than fail to try.
"That's so cool !These an amazing sewing store called ' Buttons' on the corner of Ivy Avenue if you want to check it out sometime."
+++
Monday morning ,the weather was bitingly cold. Grey clouds, fog and an icy breeze made it seem as if was dead winter instead of the beginning of autumn.
Song Xia's bus was running late so Jin Yu and her arrived at the gate at the same time.Song Xia had borrowed black gloves and a scarf from Shi Qi.
Jin Yu rubbed her hands together to get some feeling in her fingers."Xiao Xia, it's freezing today! When my alarm went off I couldn't believe it 6:00 a.m. !It looked like it was still night.''
Song Xia nodded in agreement.
"Aunt ,didn't allow me to go for my morning jog .She said it'd freeze and catch a cold. "
G City High School consisted out of 6 buildings. The first building you saw when you entered was the administration building. Here was basically secretaries offices, the principals offices and head of department offices. A large hall attached to the left hand side of the administration building that was used to host assemblies ,formal events and school functions. On the right of the administration building was a small clinic that had a single nurse and doctor on duty.
The red and white building next to it was the school cafeteria. Outside the cafeteria were tables and benches near some large trees .Students who disliked the noisy atmosphere of the cafeteria usually sat here.
The next there buildings were allocated to each grade. These buildings had three floors that allocated class1 to class 6.There were more or less 180 students in each grade.
The last building was the school gym. It was also used for basket ball and volley ball.
+++
Once Song Xia and Jin Yu entered their 2nd year building they felt strange looks directed towards them.
" Do you think she really did it?"Girls nudged each other."She doesn't seem like the type!"Song Xia could hear many rumors flying around but nothing made sense.
Jin Yu was confused but had no clue what was happening. She could feel the unfriendly glares directed to Song Xia.
" Xiao Xia ,what's happening?" She took a step closer to Song Xia as if protecting her from harm.
"Of course she is a - you know what!"
" Well she got what she deserved!"
" Such a shameless person!"
Ding.Ding.Ding.
Song Xia and Jin Yu's phones beeped showing notifications from their school forum.Jin Yu opened the forum and saw the most recent post.
" The Truth behind the Girl you praise: A drug addict and thief!"
The post mentioned that a person in the top 3 of their year was a white eyed wolf who stole from her foster mother. A drug addict who was involved with gangs and would do anything for her next fix . Apparently for the year end exams after taking performance enhancing drugs to cheat suffered from an overdose and ended up in the hospital.The person who posted it actually called themselves: Bringer of Justice
The whole post was utter rubbish and even called this person S pointing out her identity and was made to humiliate Song Xia.
People were easily influenced and quick to judge even if the gossip was utterly fake.
Bai Zhu Zhu:[ I was beginning to like that girl! How dare she be a disgrace to our school and society!she should be expelled!]
Ni Ni's Treasure:[ Druggie , get out of our school!]
In my Heels -Da Zui : [ A thief and drug addict ! Who could she harm next? Get out!]
Well at least majority of her classmates believed and supported Song Xia.
Mao Nu only loves kitty- kats :[ Are you people idiots? How can you accuse our school mate without any proof?]
Sweet- Sweet Yu Yu: [ Utter nonsense! Someone is just making up rumors! Don't make up stories you vinegar bucket!@Bringer of justice]
Winter plum blossoms: [ People like you are bullies! Where's the proof ? @ Bringer of justice]
Jin Yu was shaking with rage, " Xiao Xia , some people are brainless idiots who only know how to slander others because of their own jealousy!"
" Jin Yu ,are you still defending this bloody drug addict?"
Meng Min guffawed with laughter taking utter delight in Song Xia's predicament. She then flicked a tear away from her left eye. " Are you not afraid that people will think you are a drug addict and thief as well?" She insinuated that she too believed that Jin Yu was the same as Song Xia.
" Song Xia is smarter , more talented and a much better person than most of the people here. All those rumors on the forum are lies!Probably from someone like you who is jealous of her.Anyone believing that nonsense should be ashamed of themselves!"Jin Yu declared before adding.
" I am her friend and proud to be by her side.To be honest I could't care less about what rubbish you think Meng Min..."