A few hours later...
8:07 AM...
At Huang University....
Mingyu's POV...
After the argument that happened yesterday involving Junhao, Meiling, Liqiang, and Jing Jing, I thought about checking up on Junhao today, just wanting to see how he is. I haven't had a single word with him even on the phone since I was busy doing my homework last night after Xiaoliang took me home. Not to mention, I was struggling to consentrate on my homework after what happened between Xiaoliang and I. Even when I woke up this morning, I still couldn't get it off my mind, making my heart flutter more in every chance.
Flashback starts playing in my head as the feeling of our first kiss starts fluttering in my heart, making my mind escape a typical college morning filled with husle. I continued to walk with my mind going back to flashback, when I accidentally bumped into someone. I snap back to reality as I stood in front of the girl, feeling both shocked and guilty that I just bumped into her.
"Ugh! Don't you ever use your eyes, Mingyu? Watch where you're going," Meiling blurts out, her brown eyes sharply staring at me, yet I noticed she has tears in them.
"Sorry, Meiling, I-"
"Shut up! You always took Junhao away from me! Just get out of my way!" Meiling pushes me away from her sight as she walks away in a fast phase, almost making me fall to the side.
I turn my head to see the furious girl storming off. Some of the students starts gazing at her, before turning their visions to me. While some of them stares at me with dirty looks, others just gaze at me looking clueless, due to the pros and cons from yesterday's drama. I let out a sigh, honestly feeling bad for the girl, even though she was the one who spread the fake rumours about me back then. It hurts, but I believe she did that just because she didn't like me getting close to Junhao. Despite her rudeness towards me, it wasn't hard to notice that she really cared for Junhao, just as much he did to her.
Nevertheless, everything happened out of the expections, and it's all in the past now. I turn around and continue to walk to Junhao's locker, hoping to see him. However, as I finally reached his locker, I noticed that he's not there. Weird, I tried to call him earlier but he didn't pick up, and he's also not at his locker? I want to assume that he's in class, but at this point he already made me worry about where he could be.
A few minutes later...
At class...
Another typical morning as the students all listens to the lecture. At least, that's what it seems like. For me, I need to count the amount of times I had spaced out during class today, not only because I am bored with the subject, yet my attention got stolen by the ever-so-focused Xiaoliang sitting in front of the class. When I glance at him, my heart starts fluttering like crazy that I start to fear that someone will hear it. Yet, I didn't want to avoid my visions to him when I feel there's something about him that gives me a feeling I couldn't put together. On one side he sends fear in me when I feel the butterflies in me getting mad, but on the other side his presence gives me a comforting feeling.
It's crazy to know how one guy could revive the comfort in my soul that was long gone. How he is able to calm my anxiety without a single word, and restores the peace in my heart with his physical act.
A few hours later...
At the cafeteria...
Even after I finished my lunch, I still haven't seen any sign of Junhao. Till now he still hasn't pick up my calls or messages, making me more worried about him.
"Try this! It's delicious."
And the only sight I'm getting right now is the sight of Yifei literally attempting to feed Xiaoliang a cheese cake she had brought for dessert. The girl surely has enough confidence to feed him a cheese cake in front of the whole cafeteria.
I didn't intentionally tried to stare at the two. More likely, I was only trying to take a glance at Xiaoliang, but it would be impossible to only look at him when Yifei is in sight. Not that I mind her presence. At least...I think I don't? But looking at how they seem to be spending more time together since he became her chauffeur, somehow gave me an uncomfortable feeling in my chest. A feeling where fear and anxious are mixed.
Feeling more anxious at the sight of them and realizing that Junhao won't be appearing here, I stood up from my seat and walk out of the cafeteria. I decided to check out the library to see if he's there.
At the library...
Upon opening the door, I walk inside the quiet library while observing its surroundings. I continue walking inside with hopes of meeting Junhao.
"Did you actually chose this place so I wouldn't be able to shout at you?"
A high-pith voice can be heard from the other side of the book rack as I walked pass it. That female voice sounded familiar since I've heard it before.
"It's over and I want you to stop looking for me!"
A male voice can be heard, which is also familiar.
"Was that even suppose to be an answer to my question?"
At this point, I think I know who those voices belong to. Sounded well that they're in the middle of arguing in the quiet library. Curious at the scene, I decided to walk over to take a peek at the scene.
"Whatever we had is over, Jing Jing. Damn, I never even stated that we're official in the first pla-"
"You stupid jerk, Wu Li Qiang! You lied to me about what we were and now you're just ending it like this," Jing Jing shouted at his face, making me shock at her loud and furious voice. I swear the whole library probably heard that.
I figure that Junhao is not here. Not wanting to get into any trouble since their argument seems to get more "feisty", I decided to walk away from the sight and exit the library. I can't spare Jing Jing caught me eavesdropping where she could really attack me in her worst state.
Half an hour later...
After lunch, Yifei and Xiaoliang are walking through the hallway together as Yifei shows Xiaoliang her sketch book of her drawings. Deep down, he is in awe of the girl's improving drawing skills in every pages. By this, she stated that she felt lucky that her parents actually let her study art, which had been her passion since she's 5 years old.
"These are very beautiful, Yifei," Xiaoliang says, his eyes still glued on a drawing of a woman holding a rose in her hand while wearing an elegant dress.
"Thank you," Yifei says in a confident tone, feeling proud that her secret crush actually likes her drawings.
Xiaoliang closes the pink sketch book and hands in back to Yifei with a smile.
"By the way, what do you usually do on the weekends?" Yifei asks Xiaoliang as the two continue walking.
"Hmm...usually I just study and help my grandma clean up the house," Xiaoliang says.
"I see," Yifei says. "That's good."
"Yeah, it is," Xiaoliang says.
As the two continues walking, Mingyu walks pass them. Her phase seems to be in a rush and she didn't bother to glance at the two. Yifei, however, noticed that Xiaoliang had glance at Mingyu as she walks pass them, making her feel annoyed inside.
"Seems like Wang Mingyu is in a rush," Yifei says to Xiaoliang. Though she didn't even like her question which involves Mingyu, she wanted to know Xiaoliang's responce.
"Yeah, she is," Xiaoliang answers, slowly forming a small smile on his lips, which caught Yifei's attention, yet she chose to stay calm and instead ask him more about the ever-so famous anxious girl.
"You know, after the quarrel between you and Liqiang about her, there were rumours about you being close to her," Yifei asks. She turns her head to Xiaoliang. "Was it true?"
Xiaoliang's small smile soon fades. Not that he didn't look happy, but he just looked surprised by her question. As much as he wants to think that they are getting closer, sometimes he still doubts himself if he is actually good enough to make her comfortable enough to stay. After the kiss they shared, he felt the sparks in their hearts are drawn closer. But one question is still running in his head...how long will her spark for him last? He wants to be her 24/7 comfort zone.
"We're close friends," Xiaoliang says, answering Yifei's question while at the same time leaving her unsatisfied with the answer.
Close friends, huh? Seems like it's more than that. Yifei thought.
6:02 PM...
At Junhao's house...
Mingyu arrives in front of Junhao's house. Since he hasn't been answering her calls nor replying her texts all day, Mingyu decided to visit him at his place to see if everything is really ok. After parking her bike in front of his house, she walked up and knocked on the door. It didn't took long for the door to be open by a middle age woman with short black curly hair.
"Ah, Mingyu, you're here," says the woman with a warm smile.
Mingyu smiles. "Hi Auntie! I'm here to see Junhao. Is he home?"
"Ah, yes. He's been staying in his room for a while. Please, come in," says the woman as she leads Mingyu to enter the house, before closing the door behind.
At Junhao's room...
Junhao is sitting on his bed while having his eyes glued on his phone. Since he wasn't able to get any sleep last night, he eventually didn't feel well in the morning and by that decided not to go to college. The post-break-up effect really got him stress, making him lose his apetite and not able to get any sleep. The only things he had been doing all day is drinking cans of beer and playing an action game on his phone for hours, refusing to come downstairs to even eat anything though his mom had convienced him.
As Junhao continues to focus on his game, he suddenly hears a knock from his door. He assumed that his mother is probably trying to get him out of bed for the dozen time.
"Come in," Junhao says, not bothering to move his vision from his phone.
Mingyu opens the door and enters Junhao's room. Her eyes widen as her gaze observe the surprisingly messy room. It's obvious that he had been stressful, that he didn't even bother to tidy his room. Books scattered on the study desk, empty cans of beer on the floor, as well as crumpled papers on his small table next to his bed. His whole room looks like a chaos.
"Where have you been all day?" Mingyu asks Junhao as she walks over to stood beside his bed.
"Right here," Junhao answers. His voice sounded dull with his vision still glued on his phone.
"Are you not feeling well?" Mingyu asks, her voice sounded concern.
"Pretty much," Junhao answers, again with a dull tone.
"Your mom told me you refuse to get out of bed," Mingyu says, before giving her hand to Junhao. "Come on, let's go downstairs for dinner."
"I don't want to, Mingyu," Junhao says, finally putting his phone down on his bed.
"You can't spend all day in your room, Junhao," Mingyu says. "You didn't even answer my calls or reply to my texts."
Junhao became silent. His eyes looked tired due to the lack of sleep. His hair is a mess and there's no smile on his thin lips. It's obvious that he looks stressful, and Mingyu knew that. Looking at him at this state breaks her heart, but other than that, it made her worry about him.
"I'm sorry," he says all of a sudden. His eyes are filled with guilt. He didn't mean to ignore Mingyu all day, but with everything that happened yesterday, he found it hard to face the pain before he heal himself. By that, he just wanted to be alone for some times.
Mingyu sighs and takes a seat on his bed. She turns her head to stare at her best friend looking all desperate. She finds it a sad truth to know the negative effect that depression could cause. The smile on her once lively and outgoing best friend has faded into a frown of sorrow, erasing the spirits in his eyes.
Slowly, Mingyu moves her hand over to Junhao, touching the top of his hand in an attempt to comfort him.
"Regardless of what's happening or what will happen next, all we can do is learn to get through all of this," Mingyu says. "I am here for you, Junhao. You know you can call me anytime for help."
"Mingyu, this really sucks. I didn't want to make you worry about me," Junhao says, before he lets out a sigh.
"I understand you, Junhao. You always help me out through the ups and downs in my life. I want to do the same to you," Mingyu says, while staring at Junhao's brown eyes.
The two gets into eye contact as they find each other lost in their eyes. Junhao notice how Mingyu's eyes sparkles with hope, making him remember the time he had taught her to believe in hope. Till now, she still remembers his word, which touched his heart.
"Thank you, Mingyu," he says, slowly forming a small at his best friend.
Upon seeing Junhao smile, Mingyu forms a smile herself. She felt relief that he is able to smile a bit now, hoping that he will soon get much better.
"Let's go downstairs. Dinner is almost ready," Mingyu says.
"Can you please join me? I don't want to have dinner alone," Junhao says, the small smile still on his face.
"Your mom is downstairs and your dad will be home soon. You're not alone, Junhao," Mingyu says, slowly forming a shy smile at her friend.
Junhao chuckles. "I just want you to join us."
Mingyu smiles. "Fine."
"Alright, let's go," Junhao says.
With that, Mingyu gets up from the bed and drags Junhao out of his room. Deep inside, she felt relief that he is now willing to get out of the room. Little did she know, Junhao was happy when he found his best friend comforting him during this time of sorrow. Deep down, not only did he felt grateful, but he felt thankful to have met such a kind soul.
She's a bright soul. And...beautiful. Junhao thought.
To be continue...