Next Day,
"Ning stop moving around in circles and sit down have your breakfast." Mrs. Xiao said as she looked at her daughter chewing her nails and moving around the living room.
"How can I! Ma (Mom) I am so nervous...what if I fall down and embrass myself? What if I drag Feng back? What if I--" Ning wasn't able to complete her sentence as Mrs. Xiao pushed a bun inside her mouth.
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"And how do you know if those 'What if' of yours will be true or not? My dear daughter how would you know it without even trying?"
"And also what about Feng, he must have tried really hard for this competition too by acting so nervous you will also cut his self esteem. So, even if it's just for him fake it till you make it." Mr. Xiao said as he put down his newspaper and looked at his daughter who was silently cheieng on the bun.
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"Fake it till you make it." Ning murmered when someone suddenly knocked at the door.
"It must Ling! I will go and look at it." Ning said as she stood up and walked towards the door and as accepted it was Ling only.
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"Good Morning Aunty! Good Morning Uncle! Oh what's for breakfast?" Ling aksed as soon as she entered the house and sat comfortably opposite to the direction Ning was sitting.
"Here Ling today I made your favourite dumplings."
"Really! Thank you so much Aunt Xiao! *picks one with hand* are they my favourite sweet and sour favour!" Ling asked as she sniffled the dumplings and Mrs.Xiao nodded her head in response.
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"Really I love you Aunt Xiao!!" Ling said as she started eating like there is no tomorrow.
"Eat slowly no one will take it form you." Ning who came back to her seat said as she looked at Ling.
"I know that but Ning we don't have time! Feng called me and said to report at the ground a hour earlier."
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"What! And you are telling me that now! Ling!!" Ning said as she dropped her chopsticks and stood form her seat.
"...I remember it until you opened the door and the food smell hitted my nose..."
"Ling!! You really are going to the death of me!"
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Ning said as she quckily grabbed two dumplings and ran towards her room.
"Ning gets very energetic when she is mad." Ling said as she drank the soup calmly.
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"You are still sitting there and enjoying the soup! Get up we need to leave!" Ling fully dressed in her gym clothes which consisted of a white plan t shirt and a blue jacket with the school symbol in the left side along with a pair of blue long pants and lastly a pair of white snikers.
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"Wow! You left only for 5 minutes and you are already ready."
"Ling are you leaving or not?"
"Clam down! okay I am leaving but beofre that fix your hair will you, see your ponytail is crooked."
"That doesn't matter! We will be late let's go!" Ning said as she took her backpack and pulled Ling out of the house after biding Farwell to her parents.
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"Ning you need to chill okay." Ling said as she noticed how the short ones legs were trembling non-stop.
"Girls your stop has arrived!" The bus driver said as he looked at them with a smile on his face.
"Thank you uncle Nick! Ning let's go!" Ling said as she pulled her up and dragged her down the bus.
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"You know when I told my mother about the race that happened yesterday. She didn't belive me at all at first but then I showed her the video taken by the school committee and you must have seen her reaction! It was as if she has seen something unbelievable!" Ling rambled as both the girls walked towards the school stadium.
Ling was in high spirits and in good mood while Ning was lazily and cowardly following her.
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"(What do I do?)"
"(Is this race happening for real!)"
"(Can I really do it?...that that infornt of so many people...)"
Ning thought as she felt a sudden movement in her stomach.
"Ouch!" She whimpered while siting on the ground while hugging both of her knees.
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"And then I---Ning! What's wrong?"
"My stomach hurts a little...maybe because I ran right after having my food." Ning said as she smiled and sighed.
"Does it really hurt only a little? Your face is practically pale."
"...Actually...I am scared...I am really scared.." Ning said as she lowered her head.
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"If you are scared then...do you want to run away?" Ling asked as she sat on the green grass beside her.
"Do you think I can do that?"
"Why not?"
"Because this is my duty and I can't runaway form it." Ning said as she looked at Ling.
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"Since you already have your answers with you so why are still linking to that one emotion when it nothing but just a road blocker." Ling said as she stood up and dusted her pants.
Ning looked at Ling and suddenly her stomach no longer felt werid and the fear too seemed to have pretty much left her mind.
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"I have answers so there is no need to be afraid." Ning said as she stood up and took a deep breath.
"Hey girls! You are here already!" Yuan said as he waved towards them followed by Feng who had a paper bag with him.
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"My little NingNing! How are you doing? Huh, are you nervous for the race? Or do you want someone to get away just tell me and I will do anything for you." Yuan said as he put his arms around her shoulders.
"You don't have to do anything for her, she can handle this race on her own." Ling said as she removed his hands away and the staring contest between them began once again.
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"Ning, are you ready for today?" Feng asked as he took out a small tumbler and handed it to her.
"Uh huh..what is this?"
"Thats green tea...it will help you focus more and you won't feel too nervous." Feng said as he scratched the back of his neck.
Ning looked at him and than with a smile she thanked him while holding the tumbler closer to her heart.