The Pencil's Case

What a stubborn pain!

One month ago. As usual, I am sitting alone. The class is about to start. Suddenly, that guy, Jun Dewei sat next to me. "Hi!" I looked at him in disbelief. Has he just sat next to me? Without asking me for permission... He moved his hand in front of my eyes. "Hey? Hello?", he tried again. I took his wrist to make him stop.

"Hello", I finally replied nonchalantly. I let go of his hand. He held it out.

"I am Jun Dewei." he introduced himself joyfully.

Don't tell me he wants to converse with me? He titled his head, so I asked him: "What?".

"You are supposed to shake my hand and reply with your name," he said always so lively.

"I don't fit in with the supposed to, or generally," I retorqued.

He chuckled, he also took back his hand. "What's your name, mister stranger? What do you like?". I could tell he was truly curious about it. He put his head against his hand, his elbow leaning on the table, watching me. He was waiting for an answer.

"Kang Liu. I love the calm and the silence" I clarified making him smile his teeth out.

"Enchanted Kang Liu," he replied way more excitingly than needed.

It let me be disconcerted. The teacher came rushing into the class. He was late. He was holding tons of things again. I was watching my teacher trying to get ready for his lesson, I could hear that guy unpacking his stuff. The teacher said he was ready before apologizing for his lat. Then he asked us to be ready for taking notes. I heard the guy next to me getting agitating. I looked at him. He doesn't have his pencil case, what a weight... The teacher started his lesson. I started taking notes, with my right hand I took a pencil in mine before handing it to him. He gave me a light "thanks". At the break, his friends asked him to sit next to them. He did. But he has my pencil... At the end of the day, I was determined to find my pen but he has rushed out.

The following day. I was sitting alone as always. Let's say yesterday morning was only a bad dream. The class was again about to start. I didn't see that guy. How am I supposed to get my pencil back? Suddenly, the same boy sat next to me. I was about to ask him but he put his finger to his mouth to tell me to be quiet... Then he smiled. Taken aback, I forgot about my pencil. I didn't ask for my pencil. The lesson started before I could. At the break, I asked him: "Where is my pencil?" He replied by asking me to let him find it. A few seconds passed before a light "oops" came from his mouth. He scratched the back of his hair, then, he explained to me: "I forgot it at my house". I couldn't believe what I heard.

"How could you forget it in your house?" I tried not sure about wanting to have the answer.

"I used it to do my homework," he said making me want to tear his school uniform.

"Are you kidding me?" I replied. He smiled before simply answering "no". I sighed. What should I do to make him give my pencil back?!

It has been three days since I am fighting to have my pencil in my hands again. At the break, I've gone into my locker to find the book I was currently reading. "Hi! What are you reading?" finally that Dewei was back next to me... I didn't answer so he continued: "Come on. Tell me!". Should I?

"You stole my pen and you want me to answer you?" I finally replied.

"I didn't steal it." he calmly said. Was he really making fun of me?

"When are you going to give it back then?"

"When I will find it's the right moment," he honestly answered.

"The right moment?" I asked him not sure of what he meant. He first hummed before asking what I was reading another time. I capitulated before telling him I was reading Brianna West's book titled The truth about everything. "I know her!" he said, I didn't respond. So he capitulated at his turn: "Okay, I let you breathe. I will come to see you later. See ya". No way! I shouted to him: "Don't". He waved me goodbye. I sighed again.

Another day. I was already sitting as I am used to. The class would start in half an hour. There he is again... "Hi Liu!!"

"What do you want Dewei?" I asked making him smile, "what are you smiling for?".

"Nothing! What are you reading today? I saw the cover has changed in colour so it's a new book." he told me.

"As I liked Brianna West's previous book, it's another one."

"What is its title?" he wondered.

"The human element." I simply said.

"This one is made of prose," he replied. I hummed in response. He smiled again. How does he know that? He spoke again: "I have to go, goodbye, see you later". He waved to me as always.

It has been a few days since Dewei last came to talk to me. I was reading again during my break. "Liu!" He came running to me, his foot got caught in a chair. They were now both falling. I stood up, kicked the chair, and caught the falling Dewei.

"You should look where you are going. Are you okay?" I finally asked him.

"Wow. Thank you!" he said amazed.

I replaced the chair I had kicked a few seconds before. I went to sit again. He took the seat next to me. Then I start to read my book again. Wait? I have finished it... I turned my head to Dewei. He was smiling. So I asked him: "What again?"

"Here it is!" he said joyfully while handing me a book he had in his backpack.

"What is it?" I asked confused.

"A book," he logically responded.

"Yes, I know. I can tell. But, why are you handing it to me?" I specified.

"You have finished yours," he started, without an answer from me he continued, " Take it!".

I finally took it. A bit surprised, I blinked twice. He stipulated that as it was a gift I couldn't give it back. I hesitantly agreed. He shouted a happy: "yes". So I questioned him why, why was he so happy? But his answer wasn't answering my question:

"It was impressive when you saved me earlier!"

"That's nothing," I replied without conviction in this conversation.

"You gave a turning kick to that naughty chair," he added making me smile at the chair's nickname, "So you like something else."

"What?" I automatically said surprised.

"I guess you like sports" he simply responded.

I replied to him that I also loved the pencil I gave him. He took it as a generality and asked me if I was loving pencils. So I had to say to tell him that it was this specified pencil which was particular to me but I didn't finish my sentence. Without the end of my sentence coming, he assured me: "I will give it back to you". Before I could reply he started to speak again "But". That was surprisingly simple... He also didn't finish his sentence. So I restarted:

"But?"

"Give me your phone number," he stubbornly requested.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because," he started while thinking, "Or at least, permit me to have it!"

"You have my permission then I want my pencil" I clarified.

After that, he told me he will give it to me the same day. As I noticed it I asked him "not now?". He explained he has left it at home to not lose it. "Then tomorrow" I replied that making him smile, before getting up. "Bye Dewei". He smiled at my greetings. He was about to wave me goodbye but I did first. "Goodbye Liu".

That night, the rain wouldn't stop falling. An officer wearing a khaki jacket came to arrest me.