DANDELIONS

Ch.12

I woke up early and headed to Aunt Sherry's apartment for breakfast since Aunt Adeline was always busy. As I walked to school with Dre, I couldn't help but notice people decorating their shops with paper hearts.

"Tomorrow is February 14th," Dre remarked, and I nodded in acknowledgement. "And there's a festival called Qixi Festival," I added.

"You should invite Meiying before Cheng asks her," I suggested, pushing aside the twinge of pain in my heart.

Dre looked at me, considering my words. "Yeah, you're right. I should ask her now," he said, suddenly darting off, leaving me behind. I chuckled at his eagerness.

I continued walking at a slower pace, absentmindedly touching my chest, feeling an ache within me.

My stomach churned, and I couldn't quite decipher the mix of emotions swirling within me.

Was I jealous that Cheng liked Meiying and not me? But I didn't have any feelings for Cheng... or did I?

Shaking my head, I tried to push away the confusing thoughts. Soon, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find Liang holding an apple.

"What?" I retorted sassily, and he took a step back. "I just wanted to say good morning," he mumbled, taking a bite of the apple.

I ignored him and walked away, but to my surprise, he followed me. "Do you have a girl problem? You seem grumpy," he remarked, causing my cheeks to flush.

"Shut up, stop talking, and finish your food," I snapped, trying to focus on my own thoughts.

As we continued walking down the hallway, I noticed Cheng walking alongside Meiying. Once again, a pang shot through my heart, intensifying the ache within me. Liang looked at me, confused, and followed my gaze.

"[Name], are you okay? You keep looking at Cheng and Meiying. Do you possibly like Cheng?" he inquired, and I stared at him blankly.

"Shut up!" I hissed, dismissing the idea. But deep down, the turmoil within me remained, unexplained and unsettling.

Just then, I felt a presence in front of us and saw Cheng and Meiying standing there, their eyes fixed on us.

Cheng gave us a quizzical look, and Meiying's gaze seemed focused on me. Without saying a word, I walked past them and entered the classroom.

Finding my seat, I put on my earphones but didn't play any music. Instead, I stared out the window, trying to make sense of my conflicting emotions.

I glanced towards the door and saw Liang enter the classroom by himself. He approached and took the seat in front of me, while Zhuang observed the scene and decided to occupy Cheng's seat.

"Where's Cheng?" Zhuang asked, looking around. I remained silent, pretending not to hear their conversation.

"Oh, the lover boy decided to accompany Meiying to her classroom, possibly to ask her to the Qixi Festival," Liang remarked casually, causing me to bite my lip.

I continued gazing out the window, trying to block out their words. In the periphery of my vision, I noticed Cheng looking at me. I quickly put on my earphones again, drowning out the noise around me.

Amidst the chaos of my thoughts, I suddenly realized why I was feeling this way. "No, I don't like him. I don't have a crush on him. Boys are a waste of time," I told myself, trying to convince my own heart.

As I grappled with my feelings, I felt Cheng poke my arm. I glanced at him, confused by his actions. He slowly withdrew his hand, and in that moment, Liang switched seats with me, taking the spot next to Cheng.

For the entire class, I sat in Liang's former seat, feeling someone's gaze on me. But I ignored it, focusing on keeping my emotions in check.

Mr. Pong, our teacher, decided to lighten the atmosphere and asked some lighthearted questions. "So tell me, everyone, do any of you have a crush?" he inquired playfully, eliciting excited reactions from my classmates.

He pointed at a girl sitting in the front row, asking her if she had a crush. Blushing, she nodded.

"Can you tell us who?" he prodded, his tone childishly teasing. The girl laughed and evaded the question.

"Come on, tell us," Mr. Pong persisted, his playful demeanor contagious. "Well, it's Harry from the other section," she finally confessed, causing everyone to playfully tease her.

Mr. Pong chuckled and scanned the room before his gaze landed on me. "How about you, young lady? Do you have a crush?" he pointed at me, and the attention focused on me made me feel uneasy.

"I don't have one," I rolled my eyes, trying to deflect the attention. But Mr. Pong refused to believe me, his gaze locked on mine.

"Don't lie to me. I believe you do," he asserted, causing my nerves to escalate. I laughed nervously, feeling trapped.

"Fine, for now, let's say I like someone. His name is Jeon Jungkook," I blurted out, hoping to redirect the conversation. Laughter and giggles erupted from some of the girls in the class.

"Oh my, who is this Jeon Jungkook? Which section is he in?" Mr. Pong inquired, a mischievous glint in his eyes. I smirked, refusing to divulge any more information.

"Why would I tell you?" I sneered playfully, earning laughter from some of the girls. "Maybe we should all go to Korea," I added with a hint of sarcasm, diffusing the tension.

As the class continued, I spent the time sitting in Liang's seat, feeling a sense of relief being further away from Cheng.

Yet, I couldn't help but notice Cheng occasionally glancing at me. I played my music louder, using it as a shield to block out any lingering thoughts or emotions.

Deep down, I realized that this emotional turmoil had sparked something within me. I was determined to understand it, to unravel the mysteries of my own heart, even if it meant confronting the uncomfortable truths.