Find your faith

Chapter 82: Two people, One dilemma

Keqing's POV
Ningguang: Shenhe and Xingqiu have been boring recently. They stopped comparing Crystal to Chloe recently.

Keqing: Right? What's bumming me out most is that they are now in Chloe's side! Isn't Chloe supposed to be our foe?

Ningguang: Isn't it obvious? She now cares about something other than anime. That pisses me off, she's trying to change her image.

Shenhe; Isn't that good? She's changing herself not to fit in but to be a better version of herself.

Keqing: So ask her when she's getting her plastic surgery she begged her parents to get for her in Secondary 1! sighs
Flashback
"Wow, that batik dress looks so long!" I screamed when Chloe entered the class. "Are you an auntie at the pasar malam?" The people that had entered the class all started giggling. "Are you poor, or did you pick that dress up from the trash?" The giggles grew louder and Chloe started rummaging through her belongings to find her school uniform to change into.

"Oh if you can't find your school uniform to change into," Xingqiu declared. "I think you should go for surgery! It solves everything!" Everyone egged her on and we all guffawed when she actually started to look up plastic surgery options in Singapore.
Present day
"Cher*," Chloe asked in class. "So if particles move rapidly under high pressure that means even gas particles don't move as rapidly under pressure, right?"

"That is a very good question, Chloe," our physics teacher replied. "A gas at low pressure is a less dense state where particles spread out in the container, cooling down. High-pressure gas behaves like cold due to rigid atomic collisions. Although particles move fast under high pressure, collisions decrease over time, making the gas denser." The class gasped in awe, both at Chloe's courage and his explanation.

"What's gotten into Chloe?" Xingqiu wondered aloud. Yet his tone was one of reverence towards her growth as a person and not one of contempt. "Where did she find her inner ikigai? I probably should ask her sister." He left for Crystal's seat.
Crystal's POV
"Oh, where she found her ikigai?" I asked, giggling. "She's been driven ever since she saw some singer on the streets and knew if she didn't actually take action to become an animator she'd end up on the streets."

Yes, I know she might not end up on the streets but life will be a lot harder for her if she didn't get her act together. I'm glad Chloe did it before it was too late and I'm happy to know her efforts did not go to waste, her good deeds inspiring others. Now, Xingqiu declared he would find a way to balance his internet activities with his studies.
Xingqiu's POV
I was starting to love my new life! After breaking off contact from Keqing, I shifted all my focus onto my studies, now learning how to study from Daphne, who is very interested in studying. She has taught me a lot of useful study skills and test taking didn't feel nearly as daunting as before. Only Daphne's hopes on me were, but we'll work that out.

However, I still sit next to my old friends. Ningguang was always looking for an opportunity to squeeze a comparison between Chloe and Crystal and get everyone's attention. Keqing, on the other hand, constantly relieves memories of when I was a gossip boy who acted good in front of the teachers for his CCA points. It was confusing for me at first, as the line between my new life and previous one was blurred. However, some heart to heart communication with Lucas and Shenhe encouraged me to stand my ground and run to the light with my new friends.
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Mdm Yeo: You're considering switching out of your current arrangement?

Xingqiu: Yes. Hate me for this, but I want to take the rest of the year to get back on track. They aren't going to help with that.

Mdm Yeo: Anyone you have a preference for?

Xingqiu: Maybe Anika or Ethan? Their combinations are pretty similar to mine and I feel a little uncomfortable with Chloe now.

Mdm Yeo: I understand where you're getting at, because we shouldn't ditch our old friends for new ones. Maybe rather than go to their seats they could go to yours?

Xingqiu: I believe that is unnecessary. There would be bad influence to me and I might regress to my old self again.

Mdm Yeo: Fair judgement. I will talk to them to see if they are alright with this arrangement, if not I'll swap you and Shenhe together. Would this work best for you?

Xingqiu: Much better, thank you.
*a Singaporean way to get a teacher's attention when one does not wish to use the teacher's name