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CHEN MEI XING
"just because? that isn't a reason!" he exclaims.
"i gave you an answer, be grateful." we were still walking around the school, talking.
the school bell rings, signaling us students to get to class. justin and i exchanged goodbyes and left for our classes.
i walked back to the worst class in the history of classes who also had the most perverted teacher. how? he stares at students' ass when he thinks they aren't looking.
"ms. chen." mr. yang nods at me. i glare and walk to my seat at the back.
"today's class won't be about science. we'll be talking about respect." he looks towards me for a split second before looking at the rest of the class with a bright, fake smile.
what does he know about respect? nothing. he doesn't know anything about respect.
"it is absolutely important to respect you're peers, superiors, and elders." he starts, walking around the classroom.
"disobeying them is absolutely disrespectful." he continues, getting closer to my desk. i nervously tap the edge of my desk anxiously, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip.
"you have to give respect to receive respect. people need to be punished when being disrespectful." he punctuates 'punished'. i chew on my bottom lip, feeling nervous as ever.
he finally gets to my table, "punishing the bad is what's right. they don't deserve happiness in life." mr. yang said in a cruel tone. he taps my wooden desk in a specific rhythm.
"what do you think, mei xing? huh? what do you think of all this disrespect being spread around the school? is it right to punish them?" he pressures me by getting close to my face. the other students watch the terrifying scene, not bothering to do anything.
i heave a sigh, "i don't think that's right. i do think being disrespectful is rude but that doesn't give you the right to declare that they don't deserve happiness in life. no one can do that." i said confidently, staring him down.
he finally backs down from our staring contest and stands up straight. he tightens his tie and clears his throat.
"let's just agree to disagree. we both have different opinions on this topic." he fakes another smile for everyone. several students continued to watch him as he walked back to the classroom podium.
some turned towards me and mouthed, asking if i was okay. i just nodded.
"back to our original lesson. chemical compounds. what are chemical com-" his voice started to blur as i fought the urge to keep calm.
thankfully, i made it through the class without strangling mr. yang to death. i trudge our of the class, curving my back slightly.
as i was walking, i felt someone tap my shoulder a few times. i was still a bit mad so i yelled at the person.
"what do you want?!" i shout, not knowing it was an acquaintance.
justin flinched, jumping back. "shit, mei. you can scream." i apologize quietly, rolling my eyes.
"are you okay? you look mad." i nod my head, brushing him off. i walk towards my locker, rummaging through my bag.
i was looking for the combination i got from the principal. i remember slipping the piece of paper in my back pocket. i check all my pockets, panicked.
nothing was there! and of course i have all my books and worksheets in there.
"you don't seem okay." justin said again, placing his right arm over me.
"i lost my combination for my locker! today has got to be the worst day ever, ugh." i groan, banging my head against my locked locker.
"what? today's gonna be great! let me take you out." he asks, hope evident in his voice.
"where would be going?" i scratch my head, looking up at him.
"hm, wherever you wanna go." he smirks, attempting to be flirty.
"i dunno. my paren-" i pause, thinking of a reason why i shouldn't go. maybe i should just go and hang out with him.
"yeah, okay. i guess it'll be fun." i shrug.
"really? are you serious?" he said in disbelief. i nod my head, smiling a bit before retuning to my usual stone face.
"after school?" i ask him. he nods his head rapidly, embracing me tightly. my head goes blank, is he hugging me?
he lets go of me, "i'll see you later, yeah?"
i didn't respond. did he really hug me? why does his embrace feel so familiar. i feel someone poke my cheek, i fall out of my trance.
"get to class, it's almost time anyways. you said that you do like to go to class early." justin tells me, pushing me.
"yeah, thanks. i'll see you after school." i wave a bit before i walk into the room.
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the bell rings and i rush out of class, slinging my bag over my shoulder. i exit the school, slightly excited for our hangout.
i stand outside of the school gates, on my phone. i should've just waited for him inside of the school. god, i'm such a dumb bitch.
"hey!" justin chirps. i look up, smiling.
"hi! so where're we gonna go?" i slip my phone onto my back pocket, unaware of the phone's vibrations.
"there's this fair that i haven't been to for a long time." he suggests. i nod my head, walking with him.
"when was the last time you've been to this fair?" i ask him, breaking the silence.
"it's been 6 years, i guess. i used to go to this fair every year with my best friend." he goes quiet.
there was an awkward silence, only our footsteps against the sidewalk.
"best friend? what happened?" i ask.
he stops walking, staring at the ground. i turned to look at him, giving him a confused face.
