Chapter 5 :
Music Class and the Cafeteria
Sophian sat quietly in the music classroom, the gentle hum of the air conditioning filling the space. The walls were adorned with various instruments—pianos, guitars, and even a drum set in the corner. Today, the music teacher had announced a special activity to test the students' abilities, and Sophian couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
"I've heard about you, Sophian," the teacher said with a smile, looking at him from the front of the class. "I've heard you have perfect pitch. I'd like to test you. Can you identify the notes I play?"
Sophian felt a wave of nervousness wash over him. He had always known he had this ability, but it wasn't something he usually displayed. "Sure," he replied, trying to sound confident.
The teacher began to play a simple note on the piano—a middle C. Sophian immediately responded, "C."
The teacher nodded approvingly and moved to the next note, a sharp. "F-sharp."
"Correct," Sophian answered. The class watched in awe, and he could sense their curiosity rising.
The teacher continued playing more challenging notes, slowly increasing the difficulty. Soon, the notes were no longer just natural—he began to play chords with sharps and flats. Each time, Sophian correctly identified the notes, one by one.
The room was silent except for the sound of the piano. The teacher seemed impressed as he played increasingly complex chords. "Let's see if you can identify this one," he said, playing a complicated chord that involved multiple black keys and sharps.
Sophian paused for a moment, his mind processing the sound, and then replied, "That's a C major seventh chord with an added ninth."
The class gasped. They hadn't expected such precision from someone who couldn't see the notes themselves. The teacher smiled widely, clearly impressed by Sophian's ability. "Amazing," he said. "You've passed the test with flying colors."
As the lesson continued, Sophian felt a sense of pride. For the first time, he felt like he had proven something to himself and to the others. He was more than just a blind student—he had abilities that set him apart.
After the class ended, Sophian walked to the cafeteria with his new roommates. The sounds of chatter and clattering trays filled the space as students lined up to grab their food.
"You've got to try the fried rice today," one of his roommates, Li Haowen, said as they walked through the line. "It's the only thing worth eating here."
Sophian laughed softly, his cane tapping the floor as he followed his roommates. "I guess I'll give it a try."
As they sat down at one of the long tables, they began to complain about the food. Li Haowen was the more refined one, always dressed neatly, but he had no problem expressing his displeasure about the cafeteria's meals.
"The fried rice might be okay, but everything else is terrible," he said, shoveling a spoonful of rice into his mouth. "At least they got the rice right today."
Sophian smiled. He couldn't exactly judge the food by its appearance or smell, but the tone in his friends' voices was enough to tell him that the food wasn't the highlight of the day.
"Last time they served us this weird mushy soup," another of his roommates, Zhang Tian, added. "No one could tell what was in it, and it tasted like cardboard."
The group laughed together, but Sophian could sense the camaraderie between them. They might be complaining about the food, but it felt good to have people to share these moments with. It was different from the long years of silence at the welfare institute, where he had learned to eat quickly and alone.
"Hey, do you remember when we were in middle school and they served us that rubbery chicken?" Li Haowen continued, clearly enjoying the moment of shared frustration.
Sophian chuckled, imagining the absurdity of the situation. "I don't think I've ever had anything that bad."
"Trust me," Li Haowen said. "You'll get used to the food here. It's nothing compared to the stuff we used to eat."
As they continued eating, they began to talk about the school.
"This school has strict rules, you know," Zhang Tian said between bites. "The teachers here are tough, especially the English teacher. He gives us so much homework, it's like he wants us to live in the library."
"Yeah," Li Haowen added, "and don't get me started on the weekly meetings. The school is obsessed with keeping track of everything we do. It's like they don't trust us to make our own decisions."
Sophian listened intently, finding the conversations more engaging than the bland food. He was starting to understand the dynamics of this new place, and it made him feel a little more comfortable. His new life here at Guanghui High was just beginning, and even though the food wasn't great, the warmth of his new friends and the sense of belonging he felt was enough to make it bearable.
They soon moved on to talk about the teachers in the school, with particular mention of the strict, no-nonsense principal and the beautiful, tall Chinese teacher who had everyone in awe. Sophian found himself laughing at their stories, enjoying the ease of the conversation. There was a sense of community that he hadn't realized he was missing.
As they finished their meal and headed back to class, Sophian couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. He had been worried about this new chapter of his life, but the more time he spent here, the more he realized he was no longer alone!