TURBULENCE

Chapter 12: Gone Crazy

HeDi

This play is boring as hell. I already loss count of the times I yawned all through out its duration. I didn't even know know what came over me, when I agreed to come and watch this production. Sure, Chou Ye?... Xu Ye?... Tsu Ye? What was her name again? Hmmm... whatever her name is... is really pretty. A true personification of Belle, the character which she portrays, but I really find her acting bland and lacking of passion. If not for XiZe and JiaQi, who I observed is rather enjoying it, I might have run out from here before Act One is finished.

I am in the act of stiffling another yawn, when XiZe glanced my way with an amused expression on his face.

"You're dying of boredom Di." He said, not bothering to hide his teasing smile.

"Do you really have to mention it bro?" I replied, slightly annoyed, not with my friend, but with my situation.

"I know you're itching to go dude. You don't have to endure this if you're not enjoying it. Jia and I can manage on our own" He said, focusing his attention back at the stage again.

I tapped his shoulder to let him know how grateful I am of him for freeing me from this torture before hastily sneaking out of the theater.

***

I felt better after leaving the confines of the dark theater. I strutted lazily along the campus grounds without any particular place to go.

I walked passed the open basketball court where Xize, XiZi and I frequently played ball together during our free time.

I also strolled past the library where Shen Yue and I almost got stuck into. We had fallen asleep in the middle of conversation. I could still remember the startled face of the Librarian when she discovered Yue and I in between the rows of bookshelves after my phone's ringing blared loudly inside the quiet confines of the building. What's still vivid in my memory is Shen Yue's expression. That embarassed awkward expression she sported when the Librarian reprimanded us for being irresponsible. I smiled to myself at the thought.

Then suddenly, like it had a mind of its own my feet took me at this creepy place where Shen Yue usualy hang out. Her sanctuary as she calls it. As per usual, that picnic bench between that twin willow trees is deserted. I suddenly had this vision of that time when Shen Yue and I spent an afternoon here, eating donuts while doing homework. That was a fun afternoon. We joked around a lot. I could still hear that lovely melody of Shen Yue's laugh. How her eyes lit up with joy as I kept her entertained with my stupid jokes. We truly enjoyed each other's company that day, that we only noticed the time when it started getting dark and the street lamps were lit one after the other. I smiled at the thought.

I told you Wang HeDi, you better stop thinking about her. Remembering fun times with Shen Yue is no way to forget these strange feelings of yours.

I was about to leave when I heard footsteps of people approaching.
Then I saw her, Shen Yue. Her petite frame dressed in her usual outfit of a loose knitted sweater, jeans and white sneakers. Her satchel slung on her shoulder. The only difference now is that her hair is tied in a disheveled bun with loose fringes delicately framing her face which is now free from her usual oversized glasses. My heart starts pounding hard on my chest. But then I noticed that she is not alone. Liu YiHao is with her. Both of them animatedly talking to each other that they failed to notice me standing there a few feet away from them looking and feeling like an idiot while they settled on the bench, the guy bringing out a portfolio that the both of them started to fuss over.

Right, she said she's going to be helping him out with his exhibit. I better leave them be. I have no business here anyway. But why can't I move? Why can't I even take my eyes away from them? ... from her? Why this sudden feeling of wanting to be in Liu YiHao's shoes?