Bich Quyen herself has never been a person who likes to compare with others. Whether she is the object of comparison or the one who listens to that comparison, she does not like it. Each person has a different strength. Some are strong in this, some are strong in that. Then the world will be colourful. But, she also understands that not everyone can understand this, especially Minh Hong. What happened in English class made the relationship between Quyen and Minh Hong, who didn't like each other, even more uncomfortable. They used to be good friends, sat in the same class together, and studied at the same table, but now they have turned into enemies. It's also difficult to look at each other. Bich Quyen sighed. She didn't want things like this to happen. She didn't want to, because of herself, other people were uncomfortable. The only thing she desires is not what others desire.
Bich Quyen was bullied again. The students in the class did not hit her, they were afraid that she would have injuries on her body. But that's why they decided not to let her be in any class activities. Whenever the class had a job, it was only when Mrs. Tuyet called Quyen up and asked her why she didn't participate in school activities that she knew that the school organized activities. Because of these things, Bich Quyen's emulation score also decreased a lot. It is often said that the wounds on the body will heal again, but the wounds in the heart are not like that. Of course, that's right. Bich Quyen secretly laughed in her heart at the mocking smile she gave herself. She was nothing more than a person who was considered hostile by the whole class.
Recently, Manh Tuan saw that something was wrong with Bich Quyen. She often comes to class very late, and the dark circles under her eyes are also darker than usual. Maybe it was because she stayed up all night studying, he thought. A person who spent more than twelve hours a day just sitting at the study table, next to the books and the scratch paper, found was very easy to stay up too late. It was just that he wasn't happy to see her like that. On top of that, Bich Quyen has not been a person who knows how to protect her health. She just let it go until the consequences came, then laughed it off. More than anyone else, he understands what kind of person Quyen is. But, if only that were the case, then Manh Tuan would not have been so worried that he had to ask his mother to tell Quyen's mother to pay attention to her.
Since the first summer vacation of junior high school, Bich Quyen has had very strange expressions. During the summer school period, until the whole class was reviewing for the final exam of the first semester, Bich Quyen's learning capacity performance decreased significantly. She could not remember the knowledge she had learned in class. She just collapsed to sleep. No less than ten times, Mrs. Tuyet had to call Bich Quyen to the teacher's desk to warn her about not paying attention to the lecture. From a student who ranked first in her grade, Bich Quyen's grades were only average. She even had subjects that she couldn't pass. Seeing Bich Quyen like that, of course, Tung Lam and the others were happy. Apparently, the more they gave an inch and they took a mile, the more isolated and beaten Quyen was. But, it seemed that Bich Quyen didn't care anymore, regardless of what they wanted to do.
- Dang Bich Quyen, stand up!
During class activities, Mrs. Tuyet angrily slammed her hand on the table. Her face was red from anger. She shouted loudly. Bich Quyen looked up, lifeless and gloomy eyes looked up at her headteacher, and then slowly stood up. Manh Tuan sat not far from her. He turned his head to look.
- Forgetting homework more than ten times a week, falling asleep in class, Are you trying to rebel?
Mrs. Tuyet frowned. Bich Quyen used to be a very good student, an example for other students. But now, Quyen is so different! She didn't seem to care about her studies anymore.
Bich Quyen stood motionless, her body unmoving and her head bowed. It was not that she didn't want to justify herself, it's just that she didn't know what to say. It was true that she forgot to do her homework, it was also true that she fell asleep during class. Those were all things that she did. How did she justify it? But, she didn't want to rebel, nor did she intentionally bring down the class's competition score. It was just that she was so tired, her mind was always heavy, and she didn't want to do anything. The only thing that Quyen wanted, was to lie on the bed and sleep deeply.
Mrs. Tuyet saw Quyen like that and didn't say anything more. She turned around, grabbed her bag, and left the classroom. The school drum sounded, and the students quickly gathered their books and ran out of the classroom. Bich Quyen slowly sat down, gathered her books, and put them in her bag. Manh Tuan looked at her. He did not go immediately but stood at the door, waiting for her to step outside. In the deserted corridor, only her and him remained. Since being isolated from the whole class, Bich Quyen has made a habit of herself, which is to only pack up her books and go home after no one is in the class anymore. The air was silent. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of Quyen and Tuan's footsteps intertwined in the hallway. Earlier, Bich Quyen did not see him standing at the door, otherwise, she would definitely have sat still instead of packing her things.
- Quyen... Quyen... Bich Quyen...
Manh Tuan walked behind, saw her step by step, quietly, but did not pay attention to the front. When he ran over and pulled her back, Bich Quyen realized that she had almost missed the stairs.
- Tuan? Why are you still here?
She raised her head, looking at the boy who was already a head taller than her. His arm was around her waist, making Quyen blush slightly. She took a few steps back, then turned her head to look back at the stairs, scratching her head with a smile.
- Thank you. I wasn't paying attention.
He frowned. Didn't pay attention? Last time, when she was pushed down the stairs, she fractured her back vertebrae and was hospitalized for a month. Again, not paying attention, she almost missed the step. Did she really want to be hospitalized? Why not even a little bit of self-care? Just now, when he put his arm around her waist, he discovered that Quyen had lost weight.
- Hey!
When Bich Quyen wanted to turn around and leave, Manh Tuan kept her. Her eyes looked at him with wide eyes of curiosity. Is there anything else going on?
- Are you free tomorrow? Let's go out.
- You asked me out?
- I see you're not feeling well these days. Go out for a bit to clear your mind. Is it okay?
- Then see you tomorrow. Morning or afternoon?
- I'll come to pick you up at eight in the morning.
Bich Quyen nodded, then turned to leave. Manh Tuan watched her back disappear down the stairs, thinking in his head that something was not right. Just now, when she looked at him, those eyes were wide open, but he couldn't see a single ray of light. Bich Quyen's eyes are always bright. Those eyes are bright with optimism and joy, but now, he can no longer see those rays. Tuan knew that Quyen was not fine. She could act like she was okay, but her eyes couldn't hide what she was thinking. He clenched his fists tightly. He didn't know when, but Bich Quyen used a smile to cover everything, even him.
- Mom, can I ask you something?
He opened the door to enter the house. Seeing Mrs. Linh's shoes on the shelf, Tuan entered the living room as a habit. Sure, his mother was sitting there, and on her lap was still a lighted laptop. Tuan took a deep breath, gathering the courage to ask his mother about the strange things he saw in Bich Quyen. It seemed, somewhere in his mind, that Quyen was not fine. It was just that he didn't know how bad she was. He was young, a twelve-year-old with so much to learn.
- Is something wrong?
Mrs. Linh looked at her son, resting her hand on the arm of the chair. It has been almost a year since Manh Tuan asked her. She, too, is curious. What is the subject of her son's inquiry?
- Have you ever seen a normal person suddenly not paying attention to anything? Even memory loss and not paying attention to anything?
After hearing the question, Mrs. Linh was silent for a long time before speaking.
- You mean, people with depression?
- Depression?