It's Okay, Just Smile

Z

6 | SIX

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Be strong. The beginnings to great things are always the hardest.

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         Waking up to the sound of grandmother non-stop coughing, Tzuyu rubbed her eyes with her knuckles. "Halmeoni ~" She called softly but no answer. She got off the bed and walked to the kitchen.

          "Halmeoni?" She called again and she heard the coughing sound again. Immediately she followed the sound and now she is standing on the doorway. She switched on the lamp and saw grandmother hardly breathing as her hand grip on the dining table tightly.

             She ran toward the grandmother a hold on her. Slowly brought her back to the room. It was just 2 in the morning. "Halmeoni, what are you doing in the kitchen at 2 in the morning?" She asked as she sat the grandmother on the bed. "I want to drink." She coughed a little. Tzuyu looked at the grandmother pitifully. "You can always wake me up." She replied. The grandmother just smiled at her as she went back to sleep.

          Tzuyu sighed and put the covers over the grandmother before went to her thin mattress on the floor. She closed her eyes trying to get back to her sleep. 

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     In the morning, Tzuyu woke up as her alarm set off. She looked around before stretching her body around and waking her entire body up. She went to wash her face at the bathroom. After that, she went to the kitchen and found a breakfast already cooked by the grandmother. She looked around as she didn't saw the grandmother sign anywhere in the house. She went outside at the backyard and saw the grandmother watering flowers.

          "Halmeoni ~" She exclaimed happily. "Good morning pretty..." Replied the grandmother. Tzuyu beamed at the grandmother and sat in front of the door watching the grandmother. "Have you eat breakfast?" The grandma asked. Tzuyu shook her head almost too immediately. "Have you?" She asked back. "I'm done with mine already. You can go to eat yours...and come back here again later. I have something...to talk about with you." She said and Tzuyu was left confused. Being a submissive child she is, she went to the kitchen and ate her breakfast. 

          After she finally finished the last bite, she put the dishes on the sink and washed it. She went to the convenience store to find the grandma -- the grandma just opened it after watering the flower -- who was sitting at the counter table. "Halmeoni ..." She called. The grandma looked up from the receipts to Tzuyu. She smiled and motioned Tzuyu to sit in front of her.

          "What is it halmeoni ?" Tzuyu asked as she fidgeting with her fingers. "Do you want...to go to school? again ?" The grandma asked. Tzuyu's eyes widened as she heard the question. She looked down searching for the answer as if the answer was written on the floor. "Sweetie?" The grandma called. Tzuyu looked back up at the grandma. "May you give me some time to think?" She asked still fidgeting but this time with her sleeves. "Sure. But I hope to hear your answer by tomorrow." The grandma said and Tzuyu just nodded her head even though she wanted to protest and asked for more times.

          With her head hung low, she went back inside the house.

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          Tzuyu was used to job life. She already forgot that she is a teenager who was supposed to go to school. She sat on the room she shared with the grandma and hugged her knees so it was close to her chest. She was out of her mind. She looked up at the wall and saw Jieqieong's school uniform. 

          Does she miss school? 

          Yes, she did.

          But, she was afraid to admit it. School is better than work yet, some thoughts kept hunting her. What if she was bullied like before? What if everyone in the school left her out? What if she was isolated by the students? What if ...