A Crack Away from Destiny

Shijie

Betraying his parents was the worst feeling he ever could've experienced. He knew his abilities allowed him to control the minds of others, though he'd never in his wildest dream anticipate on using them upon his parents. But here he was - not being interrogated by the police, his parents devoid of any knowledge that their only son had gone missing for two whole days. A bump in the bus jumped Shijie out of his seat and made his head painfully collide with the window. He rubbed his right temple gingerly, and looked toward Huiyi (sitting diagonally from him), whom was gazing out to the vast streets of Beijing, which was bustling with people. Shijie readjusted his backpack, sitting beside him, so that it was leaning against him instead of leaning in toward the aisle. As an afterthought, he decided to take a binder or something of the sort to keep him busy. He produced a history binder from within the sea of school supplies. He flipped to an arbitrary page and began reading his neat notes of the Medieval Times in China. It took only a minute for him to realize that his eyes were merely gazing over the words, not interpreting them. Shijie attempted once more to read at least a paragraph, but it was to no avail, and he slid his binder back inside his backpack. He'd been like this all through the bus ride - trying to focus on something. Anything. He couldn't explain it; he just felt so antsy. At the corner of his eye, he noticed Huiyi look at him quickly before returning to gaze out the window. He raked his hand through his dandruff-infested hair, and in a split second decision, he rushed to Huiyi seat with his backpack slung lazily on his right shoulder. She threw her hands up, startled by the sudden movement, though when she realized who it was, she merely huffed out in disgust.

"I have something to say," he began, hoping to pique her interest in his anticipated conversation. She rolled her shoulder uncomfortably in reply. At least she was listening. "What I said before I had gotten ill those two days ago-"

"What you said - you meant it. So don't say words were just somehow spilling out of your mouth," she snapped, facing him, then returning to the frost-covered window. Shijie stayed silent for a moment, picking the right words.

"I know I did. I just felt like people were treating me like I was some kind of resource for their exams-"

"Me included? Shijie, we've been friends since grade school! I'd never treat you like someone lesser than myself. You should know that." She was facing him again.

"I... think I was jealous," he admitted, surprised when the words escaped past his lips. "I'm kind of a loner, and you have all those friends talking with you during lunch." Huiyi furrowed her eyebrows.

"They aren't close friends - they are just a group of girls I talk to during lunch. If that's what you really were bickering about with me, then why didn't you say anything? It's no secret," she said. Though she was only a few inches taller than Shijie, he felt as if he was but a tyke, looking up to an adult, towering over him. Well, they almost were adults - two more years. But with Shijie's shorter-than-average height, he resembled more of a younger teen.

"I... sincerely apologize. I realize that in order to gain friends, I shouldn't really push my old friends away," he replied. Huiyi hesitated, scanning his expression as if analyzing his words.

"I accept your apology, but don't think I'll forget." Shijie nodded, abashed. Huiyi smiled.

'Maybe he isn't so rude as I thought he was,' a though emanated from Huiyi. 'He's actually kind of cute-' Instinctively, Shijie blushed like a tomato, 'Ah, whatever girl he ends up with, she'll be a darn lucky one.'

"Shijie, why are you blushing?" Huiyi asked aloud.

"I - er - what?" he asked, startled by the sudden inquiry.

"You're blushing like someone just kissed you." He felt his cheeks burn brighter.

"Just thinking about things..."

***

Shijie slammed the apartment door, and slumped against it. He actually faced his fears. He actually did it. A smile etched its way onto his face.

"Mama, Baba, are you home?" he called out. Silence replied to his call. Though the loneliness was unsettling, he knew that he was anything but alone, and he felt more honorable than ever. Sure, he didn't confront Zai or Mingmei, but confronting Huiyi was the first step in restoring his title as the thoughtful one. He'd been so selfish, assuming that it really mattered that his friends adored him. Yet, that wasn't genuine friendship. Friendship is letting you falter until you can find your way again. After all, Shakespeare had once said, "A friend is one that knows you as you are, accepts what you have become, and stil, gently allows you to grow." And Shijie treasured every word of that quote, because every word of it was true. He dragged his backpack over to the table and produced his history homework. Suddenly he heard the door swing open and slam closed.

"Hello, Baba!" he exclaimed, then quickly shut his mouth. His father peered around the wall, eyeing his son warily. "I mean - hello."

"Hello, Shijie... Are you doing your homework?" he asked. Shijie nodded. Unconvinced, he walked toward the table and picked up the history homework, frowning. "You didn't even start it, I see. Wanting to sneak off again?"

"No, I just got home. I have learned from my prior experiences not to disobey you," he said. His father gazed down at the homework, reading the instructions at the top. Shijie suspected he was about to scold at him for not starting sooner, but to his immense surprise, he began to chuckle. "Er - Baba?"

"I'm sorry, Shijie. I just..." His voice trailed off.

"Yes?"

"I think you need a break," he finished. Shijie's eyes widened.

"A break? But I want to be able to go to America-"

"I don't think, Shijie that you'll be going to America by excelling in Chinese history... What I'm trying to say is, I thought about your punishment and I had to think, 'Why did you lie in the first place?' And I realized just how much work I was imposing upon you. You never got to even see your friends outside of school. Also, I had read in an article somewhere that encouraging social activity in youth will assist that youth in the future," he said. Shijie gulped.

"So..."

"So, I think you should be with your friends for the next hour - doing whatever you wish. And then you may work on your homework." As if suffering from a lock jaw, Shijie's jaw did not move. "Now go! I don't want to see you in this apartment until five. Besides, it's Friday, and your homework will not be due until Monday. You have more than enough time," he exclaimed. Shijie thought he was going to have to call a psychiatric ward. But the smile he wore earlier that day found its way back onto his face, all the same. Without a moment to waste, he rushed to the phone and dialed the number.

"Hey, Huiyi? How do you feel about revisiting that Chinese restaurant we went to two days ago?"