School Days

[11] Scared

YuXin lit the bunsen burner while Zhengting heat up the beaker with chemical. It was another day of lab and the two lab partners were concentrating on the task given by the teacher.

YuXin, "Zhengting, are you afraid of ghost?"

Zhengting, "No.. Not really, why?"

YuXin smirked at Zhengting and replied, "Then you can follow them to haunted house later to do some research for our booth. Xue Er is afraid of ghost." YuXin tapped Zhengting's shoulder lightly, "Help me take care of her."

Zhengting, "Ah?"

YuXin, "What ah? I'm helping you to create an opportunity. Just meet us after class later."

Zhengting nodded his head in a half confused daze, wondering what's all that about.

After school, YuXin gathered the students assigned to head over to the haunted house and included Zhengting as well, briefing them on what they were supposed to observe. 

YuXin, "Remember to look at how they decorate the area and the designs for the ghosts as well as how they create the eerie ambience." 

 YuXin walked past Zhengting and whispered to him,"Have fun with Xue Er" before heading off with Kun to the group in charge of purchasing materials.

When the group of them arrived at the haunted House, they arranged themselves in pairs to enter the house. Zhengting stood beside Xue Er strategically, comforting the latter, "Don't worry, the things inside are just mechanics and actors to scare us."

Xue Er glanced at Zhengting with an amused smile and nodded, "Yeah, I know."

Zhengting inhaled deeply and cleared his throat, silently muttering to himself, "Its fake, its not scary" repetitively. In actual fact, he was pretty timid about these scary scenario and would rather not be here but he decided to fake bravado for Xue Er after hearing that she is afraid of ghost from YuXin.

As they stepped into the dimly lit haunted house, the eerie and spooky ambience made Zhengting shudder as a chill went down his spine. The house was foggy and the walls were adorned with scary looking apparatus and ghastly looking masks. In front of them, a spooky figure with long hair and bloody mouth crept towards them, the face twisted beyond recognition. Zhengting wanted to scream out loud but stifled it, shielding Xue Er protectively as he stood in front of her with one of his arm out, holding her hand with his other free hand.

Zhengting, "Don't.. Don't worry.. I'm.. Here.."

He shuffled his feet precariously, taking small steps as he walked forward while holding on to Xue Er's hand tightly.

Halfway in the haunted house, a loud pop sound went off in the corner and shrill of ghosts echoed in the walkway as the lights flashes erratically causing Zhengting to jump up in fright. His hands were trembling uncontrollably but he still tried his best to reassure Xue Er.

Zhengting, "Its.. It's just some noise.. It's nothing.. Don't be scared.."

Seeing how the timid Zhengting tried to comfort her when he's already trembling, Xue Er sputtered a laugh and patted Zhengting's shoulder, comforting him.

Xue Er, "It's alright, let me lead the way."

She moved to the front and held on to Zhengting's hand, leading the latter safely out of the haunted house. Spotting a horrifying looking figure in front, Xue Er placed her free hand on Zhengting's eyes, covering his line of sight." Don't look, just follow me closely," Xue Er pulled him along forward, avoiding the ghost carefully. In that instant, Zhengting felt a buzz in his heart from the gentle and caring touch of Xue Er and a warm feeling coursed through his body, eradicating the cold chills he was feeling. He was falling for her.