Silent and lonely world (Dark clouds before sunny weather - Book 1)

Chapter 3

A-Yuan was extremely restless; he had been ever since this morning. Today was his birthday, and it was also today that the big party was about to happened, he could not wait. He was already imagining how much fun he and all his friends would have. He knew his parents would probably scold him for daydreaming at school but he could not help himself right now.

The minutes felt like hours to him today and he could not focus on anything at all. He had been reprimanded by several teachers already. He did not care, not too much since he was usually a good student and the teachers knew it, they would not be too mad at him for not paying attention for one day.

Finally, the classes were finished for the day and he jumped up from his seat, immediately being surrounded by his friends who started asking him about the party. He only smiled mysteriously and refused to give them any details, saying that they would have to wait a bit and that it was a surprise. He wanted his friends to be jealous of his party. Even though he knew it was not nice and that he should not do that. Hopefully his father would forgive him this once.

He let his friends run ahead of him, his dad was already waiting for them in the parking lot and they just needed to change and grab their belongings. They would meet directly there. He was about to run out of the room himself when he realized that he was not alone there.

Mo Xuanyu was still sitting in his seat, looking like he was not about to move any time soon. A-Yuan immediately remembered that he had also invited him to the party and headed to his desk. He wanted to confirm that the boy was coming with them.

Just as yesterday, Mo Xuanyu got startled when A-Yuan got closer. A-Yuan felt perhaps just a bit hurt by this fact, they should be friends by now, right? He was going to his birthday party so he should not be scared of him. But he quickly chased away his own discomfort, Mo Xuanyu probably just got spooked because he had thought he was the last one in the classroom, just like usual, now that A-Yuan was thinking about it. He had never seen the boy leaving before anyone else. He was also usually the first one to arrive in the mornings. Well, nothing strange there, he just did not like crowds concluded A-Yuan.

He grinned and went a bit closer, slowly. Mo Xuanyu was now looking at him with a weird look in his eyes. A-Yuan could not understand why the boy seemed to be so disheartened, he was going to have fun at the party!

Unless his parents had not let him come and he was now regretting that he would miss everything. A-Yuan was now sad for him.

Then again, he was not sure that Mo Xuanyu's parents had forbidden him from coming so he asked: "Mo Xuanyu, are you coming with us? We will be leaving in a few minutes. For the party, you know. My dad is already waiting for us outside."

Mo Xuanyu did not move, he only lowered his head. A-Yuan's heart ached, so he could not come after all. It was confirmed when the boy shook his head slowly.

"So your parents would not let you come?" he asked again, just to make really sure. If that was the case, they could do nothing about this. But if it was just Mo Xuanyu who had changed his mind, he could still try to convince him to come, he did not know what he was missing out on.

As if the boy had heard his thoughts, he shook his head again. A-Yuan cheered up at once, he could come after all! Then there was no problem.

He reached down, swallowing the guilty feeling when the motion made Mo Xuanyu flinch, and grabbed the boy's hand. He then started to drag him to the door, only giving him enough time to actually pick up his bag, luckily already packed. Strangely enough, the boy did not protest but that was fine, A-Yuan did not want to make a scene. He was sure that even if his classmate was not too eager to come, he would actually be glad he did in the end. And if he would not like the party after all, he could just ask his parents to come pick him up earlier.

He only let go of Mo Xuanyu's hand long enough for them both to change into their outdoor shoes and then he was dragging him outside quickly. Since the locker room was already empty, all his friends must be waiting for him outside, or at least those who would be walking to their house with them. The rest will arrive later with their parents.

He and Mo Xuanyu run into the parking lot and A-Yuan immediately spotted the group of his friends and his dad waving at him with a big smile. He waved in return and stopped next to the adult. He was a bit out of breath and he was panting slightly. He could feel Mo Xuanyu's hand in his, all sweaty and hot, but he did not pay it too much mind.

It was hot today; they were all bound to fell overheated really soon. He was excited, he wanted them to already be at his house so they could have a glass of dad's homemade lemonade and cool down before all the fun would begin.

He only realized that he had been dragging Mo Xuanyu along all the time when they have finally arrived at his house and he wanted to open the garden door only to find out that one of his hands was in reality occupied. He quickly let go and whispered a quick apology to the other boy. Since Mo Xuanyu did not respond nor complain about the treatment, it must have been fine.

A-Yuan opened the gate and let his friends in. His dad immediately disappeared inside the house to come back with a large bowl of lemonade, everything else was already prepared and glasses were on the garden table from this morning. The party finally started.

At some point, A-Yuan looked around for Mo Xuanyu and found him sitting down by the house, in a small shadow. He looked a bit pale but it could have been just because A-Yuan's eyes were a bit blinded by the sun. Mo Xuanyu must have been resting for a bit, he was surely hot, he was wearing his jacket after all. For some reason, A-Yuan got worried about this strange boy.

Before he could decide to go check on him and invite him to join them, one of his friends tugged at his hand to let him know that the next round of the game they were just playing was starting. He could go ask Mo Xuanyu to join the next round, he told himself and he was already running around with everyone.