ａｓｙｍｐｔｏｔｅ // guanho

Eighth

During lessons, Guan Lin couldn't focus, for the first time. It is frustrating since he still has to catch up on what was taught the day before. Losing concentration now only adds on to his distress.

He kept looking at his seatmate who was busily writing down notes as the teacher spoke, eyes fixated on the board before they shifted to the speaking man in front.

He can't believe he has to deal with his minor anxiety when he should be doing the same as his seatmate since his teacher is probably talking about what is going to be tested. All it takes is one question and things will be over and done with, so why is he fretting so much?

Because he kept peeking at his seatmate secretly, it almost made him jump when they made eye contact which the girl had a confused expression on her face. "Are you okay?"

Now he has to reply but he could not manage out a single word so he nodded instead, quickly turning to face the teacher as he pretended to be attentive. It is so uncomfortable but he couldn't voice it out so he stuck with it until the lesson ended, which sent him tumbling into another wave of turmoil, because what just happened? What did the teacher teach about? What is going on?

"Erm..."

Breaking out of his daze, he blinked before looking at his seatmate with widened eyes, which scared the girl a little as she awkwardly smiled. "Are you really okay? Your notebook is empty by the way..."

He hurriedly took a look down to his table, eyes on the notebook that he usually jots down notes until the whole page is filled. It is really empty like she said, not even a single scratch on it. It is beyond embarrassing to be noticed being in a daze during lessons since he is normally attentive and a diligent student.

Giving the guy a brief look, the girl smiled. "Do you want to borrow my notes? Including the notes for yesterday."

​
Okay, so the thing is the girl got things done for him already, the burning question in his mind already unneeded since she offered her notes first. All he has to do now is to say 'Yes, thank you' and accept her notes sincerely, but it is so difficult to even mutter out a word to her, and he started mind blanking. What is her name again?

"Guan Lin?" Again, she broke his thought.

Giving up on speaking to her, he nodded in which he was returned with a sweet smile. "I will lend them to you after school." 

Relieved that she said nothing about his inability to converse with her, Guan Lin was finally able to concentrate on the current lesson, though the content was too dry for him.

​

✣

Lunch came earlier than he thought as he held onto his food tray close, going to his favourite hideout to eat.

Like usual, the pesky junior whom he remembered as 'Seon Ho' approached him, offering to eat with him but gave up as soon as Guan Lin avoided him, the older trying his best to ignore his presence as much as he could with his headphones on.

Guan Lin is sure he is being awfully rude to someone who is willing to spare him kindness but then again, he doesn't want that concern because he loves being on his own since it grants him the chance to do whatever he wants so the only way to stop Seon Ho is just ignorance until the other gets tired of it because telling him a 'no' straight in the face is harsh. Mainly because he knows he is going to sound really mean—even though he already is—, making him the worst person people ever crossed paths with.

You may call it his luck running out but by the time he reached his usual eating area, it has been blocked off, making it unable for him to access. Given the signs and barriers, he assumed it was under construction.