I woke up late!
It's already 7:34am!
I will be late if I don't run!
I have to-
Oomph!
I bumped into someone!
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
I looked down, ashamed.
"D-don't worry about it." A guy with a sweet and shy voice said as he picked up the books that fell on the floor from the impact. I helped him as well.
The people around us started to whisper, like bees buzzing through the hallway.
Without thinking twice, I sprinted my way to my classroom.
All of the students inside looked at me.
I was gasping for air.
"Am I late?" I asked.
"No you aren't." A guy behind me tapped my shoulder. It was the guy from earlier.
"You left this." He handed me my handkerchief, it must've dropped when I bumped into him. I was slightly embarrassed. I took the handkerchief.
"You're 15 minutes early... Maybe you set your watch in advance without knowing..?" He said.
I looked at my wristwatch, it was stuck at 7:34.
Maybe it ran out of batteries yesterday and I didn't notice.
"Thank you." I said.
"No problem!" He smiled.
And for the first time, I felt my heart beat loud.
"I'm Ling Huang Wang. Call me Ling." I said as I offered my hand for a handshake.
"I'm Bao Zhao. A transferee. My room is just next to yours though. Mind letting me have a tour in this school later if you're not busy?" He said as he grabbed my hand. His hands were soft, I felt myself blush.
"S-sure! It's a d-date! I MEAN! LATER AT LUNCH TIME!" I stuttered and panicked.
He chuckled.
"You act like you're also a transferee here, Ms. Vice President of the Student Council." He smiled widely.
How did he know that?
There were no posters on the hallways and the introductions of the student councils are still being prepared. I tilt my head.
"Ah, you must be wondering how I knew that. My friend is also a student here. He also got the news before he graduated here. I'm aware that this school chooses the student councils before the end of the school year?" He finally decided to pull his hand off of mine.
"Ah. W-well..." I was stuttering, again.
"I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable. How about I treat you later? I'm really sorry." He chuckled nervously.
"No it's okay! I'm just really surprised that you're getting a long with someone here in this school as early as now. I hope you'll have a nice year learning here. And please don't bother about treating me later." I smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear.
"Oh, please. I insist. Since you're my first friend in the same batch of course..." He said. I looked at him.
"Please?" He pleaded.
"Fine."
"Nice! After class?"
"After class."
"Nice meeting you! I'll see you around!" He then ran to his classroom.
I sighed.
Okay, what just happened?
A cute transferee guy talked to me?
And he's going to treat me later at dismissal time?
This doesn't really happen to me quite often. I'm that kind of person who would usually be ignored due to my status and popularity.
I finally went inside my classroom and fixed my things, waiting for a teacher to come inside.
. . . . .
It was lunch time, everyone was gathering in the cafeteria to get lunch. Some were strolling at the school park admiring the huge water fountain, and some were casually touring the new students. I took my sandwich out of my bag and sat by a nearby bench.
I grabbed out my notebook and started to compile my thoughts to write a poem.
~ And so I thought; I just met a cool guy today.
Someone who is very bubbly and really cute.
His eyes; red as a blood from a man who was stabbed.
His skin; pale as a snow and soft as a cotton.
At this very moment, I also want to know-
"You like making poems?" a voice of a guy made me jump.
I turned around to see who it is.
It was Bao from earlier. I immediately closed my notebook.
"So who's the guy?" He asked.
"Erm... If I tell, please don't let anyone know." I said, blushing.
What could go wrong in trusting Bao? He looks like a good guy.
He chuckled.
"Go ahead."
I took a deep breath.
"He's a varsity in our batch. Basically, my classmate. It's... Uh... Zac Chen."
I felt myself blushing.
He stopped drinking from his juice box and stared for a good minute and then laughed.
I gave him a confused look.
Did I say something wrong?
Did my breath smell bad?
Is there something stuck between my teeth?
I instantly sat properly and pinned my hair behind my ear.
"Ah. Ahahaha. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." He wiped a tear on his eye.
"You have a good taste in picking a man. Although, I can't blame you if you really like the guy." He dunked down the remaining juice of what's left inside that juice box.
"Say, can I ask you a question?" He leaned back and stared at the sky, his head resting by the backrest of the park bench, the cloudy gray sky with cold winds lets his hair sway a bit.
I nodded.
"You were stuttering earlier. I heard you loud and clear. Sure, let's date."
My jaw dropped.
Oops.
"My question is. Do you believe in mythical creatures?" He tilted his head as he looked at me.
"H-huh?"
"Pegasus, Lycans, Centaurs... Vampires...?" He said and raised a brow.
"No. I don't." I said.
"But I've dreamed of encountering one and have an interview with him or her. And I can definitely make one for the school paper! And I will be well-known, and would easily get a scholarship! But... it seemed impossible." I sighed.
"How about you?" I asked.
He sat properly.
"Oh, I believe in them." His voice was deep, he seemed serious about this kind of topic.
Did I say something wrong?
"In fact, I've encountered one." He murmured.
"What?" I asked, I didn't quite hear what he just said.
"I said, I've believed in them ever since I was young."
Then silence surrounded us.
The atmosphere became a little awkward.
That sounded dumb, but we can never please everyone in what we believe in, and I respect that.
I tapped my knee as I bit on my sandwich and stood up.
"Let's go." I said, pulling Bao to stand.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Welcoming the history of our school. Come on!"
I promised Bao that I'll give him a tour in our school.
"Hey, are you close with Zac?" I asked as we walked.
He looked at me.
"Hmm?"
"I said are you close with-"
"OH MY GOSH! IT'S ZAC CHEN! THE FAMOUS BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE CAMPUS!" A girl beside me squealed and joined in the fangirls, surrounding Zac. I stopped walking and joined in and fought my way to the front.
There he is.
The famous basketball player, his blood red eyes locked in mine and his lips lets out a cute smile. I blushed and waved.
"Hey there Ling." He said as he passed by.
"H-hi." I waved.
"Who's that?"
"It's the Vice President!"
"Oh how lucky!"
"Are they together?"
"I'm looking forward for their date if ever!"
"Eek! He's dating those kinds of girl? Ain't he using her for her popularity?"
The whispers grew louder as I finally realized that I've left Bao. I tried to look for him, but he was no longer here.
Crud.
I went back to my classroom but checked if Bao was there in his.
I heard grunts and smashes. I immediately walked towards their door.
I knocked and opened the door, a few male students were gathering around someone and beating him up. I stepped in and cleared my throat.
"BOYS! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE?!" The group finally stopped and casually walked back to their seats like nothing happened.
But before they were able to, I snatched their I.D.'s and finally got the chance to see who was beaten up.
It was Bao.
"BAO?!"
"What's up?"
He was laying down there with his arms on his head like a person sunbathing at a beach.
His face is full of bruises and there was blood coming out of his noise, but he still managed to smile.
"What happened?!" I pulled him up.
"These pigs are trying to get my lunch money. Although I only bring a juicebox with me as my recess and lunch. I don't buy anything here." He said.
"Let me take you to the clinic."
I helped him and slowly made our way to the school clinic.
"Good morning, Nurse. A student here got beaten up by a bunch of jerks for his lunch money." I said as I let Bao sit on one of the beds. The school nurse immediately grabbed everything she needed and patched Bao up.
I looked at Bao and caught him staring at me.
"Listen... Bao... I'm sorry if I left you earlier...-"
"Nah, they dragged me back in the classroom when you were lovestrucked by Zac." He chuckled.
"Yeah... I'm really responsible of what happened to you. I'm really really sorry, Bao. Let me make it up to you. I got their I.D.'s, I'll immediately report them in the-"
"You don't have to do it, Ling. It's really fine."
"But-"
"It's fine."
I looked down.
This day is really full of shame and embarrassment.
"Hey. Don't look sad now. We'll still hang out later." He said.
"You rest." I said.
I sighed as I rushed back into my classroom.
I'm not going to be stopped by a transferee in doing what I should really do. I am responsible for his wounds, if I haven't been a desperate girl to date Zac, Bao would've-
"Hey there. You look bothered." Zac tapped my shoulder.
I almost jumped.
"Oh. Hi there Zac. Didn't notice you there."
"What's up?" He smiled.
God, he looks so cute.
"The boys in the other section bullied a transferee." I let out a sigh.
"If it wasn't for my carelessness, He wouldn't have been beaten up by those jerks!" I added.
He chuckled.
"You're really a hard-working SC, huh?" He brushed my bangs out of my eyes.
I felt my cheeks warming up.
"Well then, I'll let you send the report to the rest of the SC's and to the school counselor as well. You be careful, a'ight?" He said.
I felt myself turning red.
"Y-yeah... Sure! T-thank you!" I smiled and walked past him and quickly made my way to the office. I knocked and went inside to meet everyone else in the student council.
It was exactly 1pm, the president was about to give his speech when I came in.
"You're late, Miss Wang." his voice was husky and loud, it gave chills down my spine.
The smell of the newly varnished circular table calmed me down.
"I apologize President Chao, but I'll give my reasons after the meeting. Please do carry on. Sorry for the inconvenience." I sat down beside the president and listened to his announcements and started to list every important detail.