Primary School
'[Why don't we try a rapunzel tale for this year annual function?]' A 7 year old Ning suggested with all her guts and a smile beming on her face.
'[Ning are you serious? Rapunzel tale! Where do you think we will find a tower and such long hair from?]'
'[Maybe our seniors could help and--]'
'[If we could we would have that, we are not stupid you know.]'
'[Then how about asking the teachers for--]'
'[Ning you aren't helping please stop]'
'[Okay...I am sorry...]' Ning said as she looked at her shoes and the other kids kept on discussing while giggling.
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Middle School
Examination hall
'[Ning...please show me the answer to this question?]' A girl asked from behind.
'[But I am not sure---]'
'[Just show me, please!!!]'
'[Ohkay...]'
After exam
'[Shit! Ning this answer was completely wrong!]'
'[I told you I was not sure]' Ning said as she looked at the girl who was mad.
'[Really? Then what now? either way I lost 5 marks! Do you understand how much that means to me!]' The girl said as she was nearly on the verge of tears.
'[Shh it's fine...]'
'[Don't worry]'
Some girls confronted her while Ning stood there looking guilty as the word "I am sorry..." left her lips.
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Back to Present time,
"Ning tell me why are you sorry?" Feng asked as he looked at the girl who seemed lost in her own world.
"I---I am sorry for shouting at you...I was wrong."
"No you weren't wrong. Ning it's just our views that didn't match or more like miscommunication." He said and Ning looked at her with an unexplainable expression.
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"Ning, I don't like to talk in a lengthy and complicated way so I will keep smiple. All I want to tell you is that....you don't need to say sorry just to tell out your views, your worries, your thoughts. I short you don't need to say sorry for when you are not in the wrong side.
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And that day...your outburst was quite understandable, Ning you are a human too, you breath, you speak and you feel, so what's wrong in taking it out? Though it took me a week to understand your sudden outburst but now I know I being a jerk there but truthfully I wasn't in my right mind and let me be clear I care about mental health and I don't see it as a taboo that can't be talked about." Feng said without breaking the eye contact.
.
"Ning...forgive me..for being a insensitive jerk..." Feng said softly and gently.
Ning looked at him for a while and then she started to chuckle, making Feng raise his eyebrows.
"Feng you said yourself you were in not your right mind that day and I was not angry at you anyway so why are you being sorry?" Ning said as she smiled....and that smile was not a smiple smile but a smile full of thankfulness and a bittersweet feeling...afterall someone in the past 10 years for the first time taught her the first lesson of life and the importance of those three words that slipped form her tounge like 'Hello' even if she went through 'Hell'.
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"Yeah, see how great of a tutor I am, I forget what I taught a while ago." Feng said as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Maybe you should eat almonds they help in improving memory power."
"Hmm, now you are back to being all teasing aren't you?" Feng said as he rested his face in his palms.
"You give me the courage to." Ning said she patted his head unconsciously.
Making both of them shocked.
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"Uh I---I need to head to washroom!" Ning said as she stood up and headed towards the washroom leaving Feng in the same position.
"(Shit! I need to wash my face.)" Feng said as he flet the hotness of his face as his hands touched his face and then reached to the top of his head.
"(Her touch felt nice though...I don't remember the last time someone patted my head like this...)" He thought as he washed his face and returned back to there original place where now the other two were gathered too.
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"Where did you went to? I told you not to leave her alone."
"I--"
"Ling, I went to washroom and the seniors are no longer here so don't worry. I am okay." Ning said as she held onto Ning coat.
"Oooo, Am I seeing things or is our little bunny really acting cute to protect our Feng Ge?" Yuan joked and immediately stopped when two hands smacked his head.
.
"Ouch! Ling! Feng Ge! Not my head please!"
"Do you want another?" Ling asked as she rolled up her jacket sleeves.
"No, No I am good anyway if the practice is done then shall we move? Feng Ge house is just 10 minute away from here."
"But before that I need to stop by the grocery shop, I am out of some ingredients and I know you kids will be hungry so decide beforehand what you want, I don't want a ruckus inside the mart." Feng warned them as he looked at the three who nodded their head quietly.
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"Seriously? I told you to buy food and you all bought just snacks? Chips, nuggets, coke? Are you having a party or something?" Feng said as he looked at his shopping cart.
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"Feng Ge, we don't want to trouble you with the cooking and all so we just bought snacks."
"Hah, thats not done with me. I am going to feed all of you no matter what! You are visiting my place for the first time I can't just let it be." Feng said with a stubborn look on his face.
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"Wait a sec but Feng can you really cook whatever we want too ? No most importantly do you even know how to cook eat able food?" Ling questioned and Feng just gave her a smirk.
......To be continued.......