Find your faith

Chapter 99: The revivial of hope 🟰

Shenhe's POV
"You seem to be heating up," I told Xingqiu, feeling my hand on his cheek.

"You don't have to reiterate the truth to me," Xingqiu mumbled weakly. "I'm feeling really cold right now. Try and get Mrs Raine's attention." I decided to do it because we were friends. Mrs Raine managed to stop the lesson for us and she managed to check on Xingqiu, quickly using a thermometer for his forehead and confirmed he was heating up indeed. She rushed off to unlock the handphone locker for Xingqiu, while I waited for Xingqiu to finish packing up. Once he finished, he stumbled over to my side, and we were soon hobbling to the general office.
Clinic
Xingqiu's POV
I swore everything passed by in a flash. Between hot flashes and chills, my nose suffocated me as I struggled to breathe and held in this iconic feeling that something was going to come out of my stomach. Thankfully, my mother didn't leave me in the lurch and picked me up, sending me to the clinic quickly. I brought my hoodie, but it was futile from protecting me from the cold, so you could imagine me panting like a helpless puppy while waiting for the doctor. Thankfully, it didn't take long.
Consultation room
Doctor: Alright, based on my analysis, it looks like it's a bad cold from exhaustion.

Xingqiu's mother: What excuse is that?

Xingqiu: Company leadership and another event*. Also emotionally exhausted from dealing with a toxic teacher, and I've been staying up to get my grades up.

Xingqiu's mother: Sounds like a you problem!

Doctor: Then I wouldn't have to send you for a psychology referral, but I do advise you to talk to the staff as soon as you can. I seriously don't need you coming back because you overworked thanks to your "toxic teacher."

Xingqiu: I'll try my best, but it can't guarantee anything...
Xingqiu's room
"At long last..." I mumbled to myself as I landed face down on my bed. I took a few deep breaths as my body absorbed its chilliness, coughing a few times while I closed my eyes and tried to get some much needed rest...
Glass prism world
Still lying on my stomach, I got up while my muscles yelped in pain, trying to make sense of the world I got into. In this world, I was crammed into a room full of glass, and the only person that seemed to have been accompanying me was my reflection. I placed my hand on the glass gingerly, letting my fingers run through the glass, and all of a sudden, the mirror did something magical.

In front of me was a memory that replayed. It was Mrs Teo, who was reciting the digits of pi last year for the digits of pi competition. I reached to the glass and tried to adjust the view to point it at me. As the number of digits played on, fewer and fewer people were seen standing, and by the 60th digit, I was the only one standing. This was met with reverence and applause by my classmates, and high-pitched, excited flattery from Chloe. She even tried to hug me tight, much to my embarrassment. But now, I don't see it as something to be embarrassed now. It was a powerful reminder for me to never give up on my passion.

Everything was starting to make sense! This world contained all the happy memories with my strength for math. As I ran across the magical glass gallery, I heard the sounds of the xylophone tap as I ran across the glass prism. The music charmed my ears as I tried finding more beautiful memories to reminisce about, and I soon ended up tripping on a staircase. All of a sudden, a smaller hand reached out to me, and I looked up.

That was me, but from primary school.

I accepted his help, as the younger me guided me up the stairs.
-
Xingqiu (14): Aren't you preparing for the PSLE** now? Shouldn't you focus on that? It's just weeks away.

Xingqiu (11): Who cares? I can't leave you to suffer by yourself.

Xingqiu (14): And how you do know about me?

Xingqiu (11): Because I know someday in the future I'll get 6 points for the PSLE, go on to some great school and make some really awesome memories! I can't give a name to those memories yet, but I know I'll have a lot of fun! What happened?!

Xingqiu (14): We ended up with a toxic teacher that drained us out.

Xingqiu (11): You mustn't think that! Maybe he's going through something you don't know about, so he does what he does!

Xingqiu (14): Easy to say. But now I have to make up for A Math failure with my science tests.

Xingqiu (11): In times like this, do everything you can! Let's do our best!

Xingqiu (14): ...Yea, let's
-
I grabbed my younger self's hand once more as we ran up the glass stairs with the xylophone sounds and he opened the door for me, pushing me into the greater light.
Shenhe's POV
Xingqiu's room
Xingqiu hits Shenhe's face by accident
Xingqiu: Oh I am so sorry! Blame my fever dream.

Shenhe: I can tell.

Xingqiu: You were watching me sleep?

Shenhe: Just a little bit. But you don't have to worry about Mr Williams anymore, we're going to present about the reasons he should be fired to the school management committee, soon. So just focus on getting more rest now, ok? Xingqiu, no matter what, let's always do our best.

Xingqiu: Right
*he means the China immersion, but said this to protect himself
**Primary School Leaving Examination