Muyan looks at Dandan, pen down on paper.
"Stop talking rubbish." she speaks out, giving her a stern gaze.
"Aigh aigh now, calm it. I wasn't. I said what I saw." Dandan replies, a little taken aback.
"Oh yeah? And how do you know? Were you staring at him all the time?" Muyan continues, gaze back to her book.
"I mean, who would not look at someone so handsome?" Dandan adds, attention back to her notebook as well, smiling as if she didn't just get scolded by Muyan.
Muyan doesn't respond to that. This whole 'handsome' thing was stupidity to her. She thought that at the age they were in, it was very important to stay focused on yourself. Distractions could cause loss of precious years and she believed certain things will happen by their own at the right time.
Rest of the periods start and end. It was the last bell when Muyan reaches to Hua.
"These are the science notes. You can take these with you today." Muyan hands her copies.
"Thank you." Hua accepts them, smiling at her.
Muyan leaves without saying anything back. Hua just proceeds to see her walk out.
"Is she always so straightforward like this?" Hua asks Xin Yan.
"Who, Muyan?" Xin Yan responds.
"Yeah." Hua agrees.
"Muyan.....is a story to tell. There's always more to her than seems." the girl adds. "She is the middle one of three sisters, her parents own the most famous flower shop in Hong Kong at the moment. Her elder sister graduated from here as well and the younger one is just one year behind us." she continues while putting her things into her bag.
"It is so fascinating to see how much different Muyan is from both of her sisters. Always so organized, serious, good at everything. She is awfully strict with her eating habits, studies and excercises. It's not entirely good at this age to be like this." she takes a pause before continuing. "I mean, stay disciplined of course, but enjoy your school years a bit too. I don't know what she thinks....seems as if she is in a robotic stance, some inhuman urge to make everything perfect like movies."
Hua stays silent.
"But she is a good person, that I would definitely say about her. Don't really mind her sharpness, it is how she is." the girl adds more before standing up. "Come on, lets go."
Hua nods and follows her.
In the corridor, Mingxia catches up to Muyan from behind.
"Jiejie!" she runs to Muyan, grabbing her elbow.
"Stop running around." Muyan directs her, holding her arm.
"I'm going to the stationery shop with Neng Neng." Mingxia informs her in a baby tone.
"Okay, I will wait by the park. Go and come quickly." Muyan replies.
"Ah no need, it will take some time. Neng's parents opened a new restaurant near the stationery market. It's opening day so she asked me to visit with her." Mingxia adds.
"Huh? How long will it take?" Muyan questions.
"Jiejie, what I'm saying is that go back home without me." Mingxia explains.
Hearing which Muyan was about to protest but Mingxia continues.
"It won't be that long, like about an hour or two..... plus you have your shift with ma and baba today, no? So don't wait for me. I'll be careful. Now bye, Neng Neng is already outside, waiting for me." she completes before running off.
"Lu Mingxia!" she calls out.
"Reach home safely!" saying Mingxia runs off jumping.
Muyan stops walking and watches her vanish with forrowed brows.
"Don't whine if ma scolds then." Muyan says under her breath before resuming.
"Safely huh? It will be a miracle if she reaches safely first." she continues muttering.
Than she stops and sighs, looking up, eyes closed.
-----------------------------------------------------
(Sheung Shing Street Park)
(Evening)
Muyan keeps waiting in the park for Mingxia. She keeps a straight look at the road. Then she drops her bag the the grass as something clicks her mind.
"If I have to wait, might as well make it worth it." she talks to herself.
With that said, she starts running laps. A few mothers with their kids look at her saying something to eachother.
Without paying any attention to them, she finishes 10 laps of the park before starting to do reverse laps. First she keeps her pace slow since running backwards in a public are can be unsafe but since the park didn't have too many people, she picked up pace naturally.
This kept on going for a while before suddenly being stopped as someone puts their hand on the back of her head.
She turns, a somewhat shocked expression on her face.
A guy looks down at her, sipping his drink. He removes his hand from the back of her head and casually gulps before talking.
"Careful there. You were just about to hit the pole." he says.
The person is wearing a hoodie, has a striking unusual tone of hair color and a small mole in between his right eye and brow. He gulps his drink again.
"You know, a park isn't really the ideal place for retro running? Next time be careful." saying he starts to walk again.
But something clicks in Muyan's mind. She doesn't say anything but thinks deeply until it hits her.
"Excuse me?" she calls out to him.
He turns around.
"I think I've seen you before." she continues "You...."
"Seen me? I don't think...I mean I don't remember seeing you." he thinks and shrugs.
"Do you live around here?" she proceeds to ask.
"No." he answers. "I'm sure you've mistaken me of someone else. I'm in a bit of hurry so, have a nice day." saying he starts to leave.
But Muyan caught his eyes. He was definetly lying. She foced herself to think because she has a strong feeling that she has seen him. But she couldn't remember where and when until....
" I remember! You were after my jiejie!"