Chapter 6

Monday morning arrived with clear skies and a faint breeze that carried the smell of chalk dust and morning dew through the open classroom windows.
By the time I stepped inside, the room was already buzzing—lively voices, the rustle of sports bags, the clatter of chairs.
Everyone seemed a little more awake than usual.
Maybe the first P.E. class of the term had that effect on people.

"Yiyi! Over here!"

Lin Xia waved the moment she saw me, grinning brightly.
She was already dressed in her sports uniform, hair tied with a pink hairpin that matched her energy.

I smiled and made my way over.
"Morning."

"Morning!" she said, almost bouncing. "Did you hear? Our class is joining up with another one for P.E. today."

"I did," I replied, adjusting a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"Everyone seems very excited about it."

"Of course!" Xia said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"It's the perfect chance to talk to people from other classes."

Then she leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"I heard Li Rui's class will be joining ours."

I paused for the briefest moment.
"...Really?"

"Mhm!"
She suppressed a laugh, clearly enjoying the dramatic reactions spreading through the room.
A few girls nearby were already whispering—about how good he was at sports, how tall he'd gotten over the break, who he might talk to today.

I listened quietly, watching the spark in their eyes, their nervous excitement, the shifting glances toward the door as if he might walk in at any second.

For some reason...
I could never quite match that kind of enthusiasm.

Their world felt louder, brighter—
something I could observe, but not easily step into.

And even though I smiled along with them, I stayed where I always did.

A little outside the circle.
A little quieter than the rest.

******

Soon, the teacher arrived and led everyone outside.
The sunlight felt warmer the moment we stepped onto the field, and the faint scrape of sneakers against the court echoed through the open air.
The breeze carried the mixed scents of grass, rubber, and distant chalk.

The boys were sent to the far side for football practice, while the girls gathered near the volleyball nets.

Lin Xia immediately grabbed my wrist.
"Come on! Let's be on the same team!"

I smiled softly. "Of course."

Our team faced off against a group from the other class.
The match began with a burst of laughter and cheers, the ball spinning through the air in quick, bright arcs.
Each hit made a soft thwack, sun flashing off the surface every time someone managed a clean return.

As expected, Xia was everywhere — jumping, laughing, swinging hard even when she missed.
Her energy had a way of lifting everyone around her.

"Yiyi, nice save!" someone called when I managed to return a tricky serve.

I nodded back, slightly embarrassed but grateful.

The game continued in a lively rhythm.
Girls shouting encouragement, shoes skidding across the court, the occasional squeal when someone mistimed a block.
A few boys who finished their drills early wandered over, leaning against the fence with half-teasing cheers that made some of the girls flustered.

I glanced around casually — not searching for anyone in particular, just taking in the scene.

Beyond the net, past the lines painted on the ground, the boys' football match was still going.
Someone scored, and the opposite end of the field erupted with shouts.
Laughter, groans, pride — all mixing into one warm summer noise.

I didn't think much of it.

Just another normal day.
Just another P.E. class.

But for some reason, my eyes lingered on the field for a moment longer —
longer than they usually would —
before I turned back to the game, raising my hands to receive the next serve.

******

By the time our last match ended, the sun had climbed higher, the warmth settling heavier on the field.
My face felt warm, and a few strands of hair clung stubbornly to my neck.
Lin Xia plopped down beside me on the bench with a dramatic sigh, her towel draped over her head.

"Ahh, I'm done for! I can't believe we lost that last set," she groaned, fanning herself weakly.

"You played well," I said, handing her a bottle of water.

She took it with a grateful grin.
"You too, Yiyi. You're so calm even when the ball comes flying right at you. I'd probably scream if I were you."

I laughed softly. "You almost did."

Her cheeks puffed up, offended in the cutest way.
"Hey! You noticed?"

We both laughed.
Around us, the other girls sat in loose circles, wiping sweat, tying up their hair again, talking about everything from the match to what they planned to buy at the cafeteria.
Across the field, the boys were still finishing their football game. Their voices echoed loudly — cheers, shouts, groans — rising and falling like a noisy summer wave.

Lin Xia leaned forward, hugging her knees.
"You know, Li Rui's team is really strong this year. Everyone's talking about how he scored twice already."

I didn't answer at first.
Her gaze drifted toward the field, so I followed it.

A group of boys ran back and forth, jerseys damp with sweat.
From here, everyone blended into shifting flashes of color and movement.
Tall figures, quick feet, brief cheers.

I couldn't tell who was who.
And honestly, I didn't feel the need to.

"Still indifferent, huh?" Xia teased, nudging my shoulder.

"I'm just not that interested," I said, smiling a little.

She sighed dramatically.
"You're hopeless. Every other girl here is watching the match like it's some kind of romance drama."

I shrugged.
"Maybe they just enjoy the excitement."

"Hmmm... maybe," she said, her tone too mischievous to be innocent.

Before I could question her, the teacher blew the whistle, signaling the end of P.E.
Instantly, the field erupted into movement — students grabbing their bags, running toward the changing rooms, laughing loudly as the morning's adrenaline faded.

I stood up, gathering my things.
Xia looped her arm through mine, her steps light as we headed back toward the school building.

A gentle breeze brushed past, carrying the scent of grass, dust, and the lingering warmth of the sun.
I tilted my head slightly upward, letting the wind touch my skin.

It was such an ordinary scene —
too ordinary, really —
yet for some reason, the moment lingered in my thoughts longer than it should have.

Maybe it was just the calm after all the noise.

Or maybe... something else.

I couldn't quite tell.

******

By the time we reached the building, the bell for lunch break had already rung.
The corridor buzzed with voices—laughter, footsteps, the clatter of lunch boxes and lockers.
Lin Xia linked her arm with mine again, her grin returning as if she'd never been tired at all.

"C'mon, Yiyi. Let's go before the cafeteria turns into a battlefield!"

I nodded and followed her through the flowing crowd. The cafeteria was already alive when we arrived—trays sliding, chairs scraping, students chatting over steaming bowls of soup and bento boxes.

We managed to find a table near the windows after getting our meals.

Just as we sat down, someone called out from nearby.

"Hey, Lin Xia! Zhao Yiyi!"

I looked up.
Li Rui stood there with a couple of his friends, his P.E. jersey draped loosely around his shoulders like a cape. He looked relaxed—almost glowing with post-game confidence.

Xia brightened at once.
"Li Rui! Your match was great earlier! That last goal was so cool."

He grinned.
"Thanks. You girls played pretty well too. That last volley you guys almost scored? Close one."

Xia laughed.
"Almost! But that tall girl from 2-B is like a wall. Zero mercy."

Their banter flowed easily.
I stayed quiet at first, sipping my drink, listening.

Then Li Rui's attention shifted to me.
"And Zhao Yiyi," he said, his tone softening just enough to notice.
"You looked really calm out there. You're pretty good at volleyball."

"Ah..." The compliment made me freeze for a heartbeat.
"Thank you. I just... tried my best."

He chuckled lightly.
"That's exactly why it was impressive."

From beside me, Xia shot me a look—wide-eyed, mischievous, absolutely ready to make fun of me later.

After a bit more conversation, the boys waved and moved to another table.

The moment they were out of earshot, Xia leaned in like she'd been holding her breath.

"So..." she whispered. "That's what trying your best looks like, huh?"

I sighed. "Don't start."

"Oh, come on! You can't tell me you didn't notice the way Li Rui was looking at you."

"I didn't," I said, focusing on my food. "And even if I did, it doesn't mean anything."

She groaned dramatically.
"You're so boring sometimes."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

She laughed, flicking a grain of rice at me.

The rest of our lunch passed in light, easy chat—stories about the match, joke rumors about who liked who, Xia's dramatic reenactments of tiny classroom scandals.
Even if I pretended not to care, I still found myself smiling more than once.

By the time we finished eating, the cafeteria had begun to empty as students drifted back to class.
Xia stretched and yawned.

"Ugh... I don't want to go back yet."

"You say that every day," I said, standing.

"Because it's true!" She hopped up beside me. "But fine, let's go. Maybe the afternoon will be less boring."

We walked back together, weaving through the soft chatter in the hallways.
I glanced out the window as we passed—a patch of sunlight spilled across the courtyard, warm and gentle.

For a moment, everything felt simple.
Quiet.
Normal.

Just another school day.

But somewhere beneath that normalcy, a faint feeling lingered—
like something waiting quietly at the edge of my awareness, just out of reach.

And for the first time, I wasn't sure whether it made me uneasy...
or curious.

******

When we returned to class, most students had already come back from lunch.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, washing the desks in a warm, golden glow.

Lin Xia and I went back to our seats, still chatting idly about how full we were, how sweet the milk tea had been, and how she regretted eating that extra dumpling.

There was still time before the next teacher arrived, so the classroom felt alive with the familiar noise — light conversations, someone playing music quietly from their phone, a few students dozing with their heads buried in their arms.

I had barely set my bag down when a group of girls gathered around my desk.

"Yiyi," one of them said, eyes sparkling with curiosity, "we saw you talking to Li Rui just now. What was that about?"

I blinked slowly.
"Ah... nothing, really. He just mentioned the match earlier."

"Really?" another girl chimed in, leaning closer with a grin. "He looked pretty happy talking to you."

I hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"I think you're overthinking it."

Before I could say anything more, Lin Xia leaned forward dramatically, resting her chin on her hand.

"What she means," Xia declared with theatrical flair, "is that Li Rui came over all confident after the match, and th—"

"Xia," I cut her off quickly, though she only laughed, clearly enjoying herself.

The girls exchanged amused looks.

"Wow, Yiyi, you're really popular lately," one of them teased.
"First Li Rui, and now the teachers keep praising you for your grades. Maybe we should start taking lessons from you."

I waved both hands lightly, embarrassed.
"It's not like that..."

Their questions eventually softened into lighter chatter — weekend plans, homework, snacks they wanted after school.

"Oh right, Yiyi," one asked, "are you going anywhere after class?"

"Not really," I said, glancing at Xia.
"Probably heading straight home. Why?"

"A bunch of us were thinking of getting milk tea later. You two should come!"

Xia leaned back in her chair with a dramatic sigh.
"That sounds great, but I've got some errands later. Rain check?"

The girls nodded, and just then the teacher walked in with a stack of papers.
The room quieted almost immediately, everyone slipping back into their seats.

The rest of the afternoon passed as softly as it always did —
the steady whisper of the teacher's voice, the gentle scrape of chalk on the board, the turning of notebook pages.
Outside, the sun slowly dipped lower, dust motes dancing lazily in the warm light.

When the final bell rang after homeroom, the classroom burst into motion again — chairs scraping back, bags being zipped, clusters of students gathering as they made plans for after school.

I packed my books quietly, glancing once more at the sunlight stretching across the window.

Another ordinary day.

Or at least, that's what it was supposed to be.

But somewhere beneath that simple thought, something faint lingered—
a passing whisper of a feeling I couldn't quite define,
light enough to ignore,
but present enough to stay.

******

When the final bell rang, the classroom filled with the rustling of chairs and voices overlapping as students called out to one another.
Somehow, the air felt lighter—like the tiredness of the day had floated out the open windows along with the breeze.

I packed my things slowly, waiting for the hallway noise to settle a little before leaving.
At the door, Lin Xia was already waiting, waving at me with her usual carefree grin.

"Yiyi, let's go home together!"

I nodded, smiling faintly.
We stepped outside into the mild afternoon sun. Light spilled gently through the trees lining the school gate, casting moving shadows across the path.
It was warm, but not enough to be uncomfortable—just the kind of weather that made you walk slower without realizing it.

As soon as we started down the road, Xia launched into her usual stream of thoughts.

"You know, if we'd practiced more before P.E., we definitely could've beaten Class 2-B. I swear the spike I missed was the wind's fault."

I laughed softly.
"You're blaming the wind now?"

She stuck out her tongue.
"What? It was breezy!"

We passed the bakery on the corner, and the smell of fresh bread drifted out, warm and comforting.
Through the window, people chatted over pastries and coffee, and for a moment, I thought it looked... nice. That easy warmth.

Halfway home, we stopped by the convenience store.
Xia grabbed a can of milk tea automatically—as if her hand always knew exactly where it was.
I took a bottle of water instead.

Outside the store, she looked at me with that mischievous glint she always had before saying something risky.

"Hey, Yiyi... do you ever get tired of being the calm one? Everyone says you're cool and composed, but sometimes I think they just don't know you."

I hesitated, then shrugged softly.
"Maybe. But I don't mind. I like quiet things."

"Mm." She sipped her drink thoughtfully.
"But someday," she said with a grin, "someone's going to make you talk so much you'll forget you ever liked silence."

I didn't reply—just smiled.
The sunlight caught her hair, turning it warm and bright, and for a moment, I felt grateful to have her beside me.

By the time I reached home, the sky was fading into orange.
The light through the windows painted everything in soft gold.
I changed into something comfortable and headed to the kitchen.

Mom was already there, setting the table.

"Oh, you're home early today," she said. "How was school?"

"Normal," I replied, helping her with the dishes. "We had P.E. We played volleyball."

"Did you win?"

"Not really. But it was fun."

She smiled a warm, familiar smile—the kind that always softened the edges of the day.

"You should invite your friends over sometime," she said as we sat down. "It's been a while since I've seen Xia."

"I'll ask her next time," I said quietly.

After dinner, I helped wash the dishes.
The warm water against my hands, the steady sound of running tap—there was something soothing about it.

"You woke up early again today," Mom said gently. "Even on weekends, you don't sleep in. You should relax a little, Yiyi."

I laughed. "I just don't want to become lazy."

"That's just like you," she said fondly.
Then, after a small pause:
"By the way, isn't there some joint class activity next week?"

"I think so," I replied. "The teacher mentioned it."

She nodded.
"Try talking to new people, okay? You might meet someone nice."

Her words lingered long after we finished cleaning up.

Later, in my room, I opened the curtains slightly.
Outside, the streetlights glowed pale orange, and a soft breeze rustled the leaves.

Meet someone nice...

I leaned against the windowsill, watching the last traces of daylight fade behind the rooftops.

I didn't know why, but something about those words left a quiet warmth inside me—
like a story waiting quietly at the edge of beginning.