Superficiality, S. Ricky

one

inventory of self-inadequacy

Every now and then, Xiang Meilie questions the significances of her achievements, the position she stand and her image in other eyes. She would vaguely travel across her memories of forgotten land, throwing away her moral for a mere significance in society lies. Others see her as a glorious being, a genius with a knack of beauty. Her family treats her as if the same blood doesn't flow in her body.

Her significance in this world made her venture through this hell hole disguised as society, entangled in its web of strings, unable to escape, knowing too much to be let go. thriving to become a better version of herself, without realising that society had mold her to become "her".

Meilie slide the door open to her bedroom which is filled with stacked workbooks on top of her white desk, decorated with plenty of sticky notes on top of each other. Her room resembles herself, full of knowledge yet personality as thick as a grain of rice. adore and respected by many yet having no one to lean to. She took the mathematic workbook with perfectly aligned colourful tabs, putting it inside her tote bag, with a couple notebooks and stationery as she went out her way back to school for supplementary classes.

upon arriving in front of the luxurious school, known as one of the top high school in south Korea, the female walk towards the entrance of her classroom on level 3. Heads were turned, whispers were heard. Xiang Meilie, your typical famous girl. Despite her mean appearance, she's known to be rather friendly and social. The day she stepped forward to this very building, student were confused yet mesmerised by her appearance; a chinese transfer student who hurriedly climbed the top spot. who doesn't know her to be honest?

Sitting on her designed seat, she took out her workbook and began writing as she's fourty minutes earlier than the meeting time. a few minutes past by, come a blond hair male which Meilie did not in fact have the beat impression of. a fellow classmate which have more absences than attendance. the male proceed to sit a few desk behind her. an awkward yet peaceful silence past by as the classroom slowly filling with students.

Her class goes on as usual, it was a typical Tuesday afternoon, the same people, same teacher and same classroom. yet it felt so different than usual. perhaps, it's the non-stop giggling at the sights of Shen Ricky. Truth to be told, Meilie did not had the best first impression of the male, when he bumped into her on their first day of the exchange program. mind you, he didn't even apologise and just storm out.

soon the class came to an end, Meilie felt rather peaceful without her friends, don't get her wrong; she loves having them by her side, however they can be quite tiring to handle. Meilie was the only one who took afternoon classes within the group of friends.

on her way out, she bumped into ricky— the supposedly hotshot whom girls had always talks about. "sorry— look where you're going next time," she gave a small bow, being respectful as she tilt her head upwards slightly due to the height difference. Although consider quite tall, standing at 170 cm of height, ricky was much taller than her.

"i'll keep that in mind," ricky said, acknowledging his mistake. meilie realised this was the very first time she had spoke with ricky despite having most classes with the male. ricky seems to be rather shy despite his popularity.

"it's fine honestly,"

ricky nod at the female gestures. as meilie was about to walk away, she felt a grip on her right wrist, on reflex she turned towards the male once again, facing him.