5 Understatement of Good News and the Bad
BING!
[TO ALL TEST TAKERS, FIVE MINUTES REMAINING, THANK YOU!]
Frantic writing could be heard, others even slamming their fist on the tables frustrated and unable to answer the harder questions. Unsurprisingly some top students were already done and left moments ago.
Luo Feng for some reason was just staring at his paper, scanning all the contents and rechecking to the point he probably answered the whole exam three times. He turned into somewhat a machine that just kept analyzing and answering the questions with a straight face. One would probably say he was just guessing and unsure like the other lazy students that took exams. Some would say that he froze from the intensity of the exam.
But little did they know that he was doing something so mesmerizing in his head. A large yellow map of information was available for him at hand. He swiftly opens and closes many branches holding big and small bubbles of information and uses it to come to a conclusion for each number. He calculates and thinks so deeply considering every possibility all the while moving through more cautiously with the motivating thought of his grandmother smiling and crying because of such favorable and unexpected results. He was in a state of concentration using the system somehow and finishing the task at hand. Eyes as sharp as a tiger stalking their prey scanning all the questions without emotion.
As he puts down his pen, finishing the third round of rechecking...
BING!
[PLEASE PUT DOWN YOUR PENS, CONGRATULATIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEARS EXAMS! THE PROCTORS WOULD COLLECT YOUR PAPERS SHORTLY.]
xxx
All Luo Feng could do was stare at his hands in astonishment. He was still slightly in denial, he can't even remember all that he did. It was like the system took over his mind and controlled him. He can just remember a foggy memory of a yellow map and bubbles of info opening and nothing more. He didn't know that the system was this strong, he was scared, was this really permanent, wasn't he just cheating, did he even deserve this?! But he looked back to studying for hours on end and thought maybe even just a little, his hard work and all the times he studied helped him on the test.
Glancing suddenly at his phone he suddenly saw many texts from Yang Cai. He forgot to meet with Yang Cai in front of the temple! Was he spacing out so much and too surprised to forget his only friend! He hurriedly ran to the entrance of the temple or else Yang Cai would have a grudge once again with him.
xxx
Giving a big sigh of relief and smiling as Yang Cai sees his friend nearing...
[Luo Feng!! I thought you were going to leave me hanging again.]
Shaking his head and rubbing his neck slightly embarrassed...
[Yeah...sorry I'm late..]
Yang Cai suddenly comes forward and gives a big hug to Luo Feng squeezing him quite tight.
[We're done, all the studying we did, were finally finished and with the new robotic system we get our answers tonight!!!]
Standing slightly stiffly he was stunned and slowly softened his stance.
[Yeah...we did it...but tonight already?]
Moving away wiping his tear stains slightly embarrassed with a pink hint on his face.
[That brings me to the topic, wanna stay at my place while we wait, it's so we get our results together]
Luo Feng was slightly hesitant, he would really want to go back and stay with his Ahma for a while, but he needed to make up for the times he kinda hurt his friend. He finally just decides to stay with his friend, although a slightly bad feeling for not staying with his Ahma first.
[Yeah...but let me just call my Ahma for a second]
[Sure]
Luo Feng calls his Ahma and has a short chat with her about the test and that he would stay at his friend's house.
[Alright, let's go!]
xxx
[The results are out Luo'ze!!]
It was already near midnight when Yang Cai said that and Luo Feng was slightly sleepy and had a weird bad feeling, but he just brushed it off like jitters once he heard the news.
[Come here! I opened the site already on the Laptop]
Once Luo Feng got there Yang Cai had his eyes wide open, surprised was an understatement. He was just going through a silent breakdown.
[What happened!?]
Approaching the screen he slowly started to understand Yang Cai's surprise. He was also crying internally.
[Luo Feng...why did you pretend to be dumb and fail in class...]
Luo Feng knew he felt betrayed and he was also stunned to the core.
[But...I'm also stunned...]
[Then how the hell did you get a perfect score and a tie with the top student for first!?!]
[I don't know]
Yang Cai slowly looked Luo Feng up and down, scrutinizing any changes and with slight jealousy in his eyes.
[Is it just me or did you just get so much smarter studying. I studied more than you since you fell asleep and left me but....you got a perfect score?]
[...]
With a sigh and a slightly teasing smile...
[Well at least your hard work paid off, I'm glad to have a smart friend....but remember to teach me your secrets and give me your notes! I got a passing mark so at least I get a good university, unlike Mr. Genius Overnight who would get offers...Now let's celebrate!]
The boys continued to laugh and talk about things they never could when they were busy, sharing many heartwarming stories without much care in the world with the exams over. Two hours had passed and they were finally tired, but Luo Feng couldn't help but want to tell his Ahma about his results...
Hesitantly while laying down with Yang Cai on the mattress, he puts a hand on his shoulder and with a sheepish smile...
[Yang'er I can't wait anymore! I want to go back to my Ahma and tell her about the good news!]
[Ehhhh....it's still 3 am, are you sure?!]
[Yeah...Thank you for having me here, tell auntie and uncle too when they wake up.]
Luo Feng takes a picture of the results of his test on his phone and excitedly leaves although tired from the whole day. He just wants to see his Ahma's smile when she knows the good news!
xxx
He finally arrives at his house knocking swiftly with the excitement of a dog finding a new owner. No one answers...
[Ahma! I'm home, I have some good news]
Bang!
The sound of the window breaking comes from the back of the house. Luo Feng gets anxious and knocks. It was only his Ahma in the house, was it just a robbery while she sleeps, or is she hurt?
He hurriedly tries to open the door and finds it open. Rushes inside to find his Ahma, the sight is horrid. The little amount of furniture they had was tossed around the room and broken. What happened to Ahma? was all he could think about.
He finds her in his room and the sight is not for the faint-hearted, a grotesque scene with blood on the curtains and bedsheets with his grandmother barely holding on to her life.
Heavily breathing and puking all the contents he ingested, he just broke down and held his grandmother...
[AHMA!! STAY WITH ME PLEASE...I have g-gre..great...news!]
Luo Feng breaks down while he talks..but still trying to comfort his dying grandmother...
[I-I will call the ambulance and you will be fine...right?!]
His Ahma was in a very bad condition, her body decorated with slashes from a knife. Her leg completely separated from her body and crushed to the point of recognition.
[H-he-hello...please.. at 15.. mango road...my grandmother...she needs an ambulance..}
Hysterical Luo Feng knew that it might be the last time he spoke to his Ahma....he completely forgot that it was another person who did this and that they were still there...
The smell of sulfur fills his nostrils, while bits of ashes fly pass with the wind.....the heat is increasing...
[Ahma...w-we...are gonna be fine...]
He tries to reassure his Ahma and carries her in his arms...
[Stay with me...I-I *hic*..have g-gr*hic* great news!.... We d-don't need to*hic* l-live in p-poverty anymore!]
He runs outside choking slightly with the smoke and scent of sulfur and places her down on his lap on the concrete ground a few meters away from their house.
Tears were streaming down his eyes.. barely comprehensible words came out of his mouth... all he needed was his Ahma to live...just to live...
[I...got..f-first!...Ahma, please! Help is almost here...]
His Ahma tries to look at him comfortingly, but the pain still shows through her eyes... she could only comfort him by squeezing his hand and mouthing 'p-proud..l-love you...it...ma' With her last strength she reaches up to his face and caresses his face....' ..always..with you...'
She takes her last breath and her hand falls...
[No..please]
He grips his head and shakes with unbearable pain and feelings of emptiness forming...
[NO!.. don't leave me!]
He grips his Ahma's hand and lifts it to his mouth...Tears flowed like a never-ending flood.
[...please..]
As the sounds of sirens and fire surround him, his expression turns blank and a churning typhoon of emotions swirl in his head. the ambulance trying to resuscitate his grandmother and calling her time of death....was the breaking point...
The only sound that can be heard is the house filled with memories being burnt to the ground...
[hahaha.....HAHHAHAHAhaha...]
He could only laugh deliriously in indescribable pain...
[HAPPINESS!...HAHAHAHAHA...]
such a dream granted by faith to many...
all but...his grandmother....and himself...
Luo Feng quiets and looks at his hand and whispers silently...
[well then...might as well go against fate to get it..]
