28 SERIOUS MATTERS

The well-received puppet show brought the twins into a higher state of ecstasy. They didn't realize that the field trip, and presenting in front of such a large crowd of strangers would be THIS fulfilling.

Chen Lihua grinned from ear to ear. Between the two, she's the more troubled regarding this field trip. She had apprehensions of mingling with other students and seeing them interact with their parents – something that she and her twin brother do not have.

'I don't want to be pitied by those who did not lack what we do.' At a tender age, even if she could not explain it with words, she had a strong opinion of receiving sub-par or special treatment just because of their circumstances. That's why she initially did not want to attend this retreat.

Even though, some parts of her also stirred in the curiosity of the what-ifs… 'What if we go? What will happen?'

The little boy and girl talked things through and decided not to submit the forms for the field trip. They didn't even tell their family about the field trip before.

Chen Lingtian, being the older of the twins by seven minutes (their mother had difficult labor), and generally being more indulgent of the two, agreed to what his twin sister had wanted. For him, going or not going to the field trip was the same feat.

But now that they were surrounded by warm applause from the same crowd that cheered them on with their puppet show, both kids tasted a novel variety of happiness they have not tasted before.

It was from the sense of acknowledgment of people they did not even know – in fact, strangers – for doing something exemplary.

It was their first time.

And perhaps, after today, they would strive for excellence again and again, because the taste of triumph was both exhilarating and intoxicating.

Both kids turned their heads up to see what their aunts and uncles' faces look like. They were overjoyed by the triumph, too.

Their aunt kissed them both on the cheek while whispering with so much tenderness, "You did well, both of you. Am so proud of you. Love you."

And Uncle Guangxi gave them both two thumbs up, then tapped their heads with pride. His eyes shouted, 'Those are my babies.' And they could decipher it.

Their beams of smiles grew larger.

Chen Lihua and Chen Lingtian searched for Grampa and Gramma in the crowd. They cheered, too, with watery eyes. They saw Grandpa's tripod beside him, holding his precious camera in place.

Gramma threw flying kisses with both hands, then proceeded in wiping tears off her eyes with her handkerchief.

The fact that it was their first performance mattered a lot to everyone.

And even if the twins were not aware of it, being the last performer added a certain tang to it.

The audience's applause lasted longer because there were no more other performers after them who needed to set up on the stage.

Theirs was the culmination of the performances.

And, they did great too.

When the applause died down, they found their seats again. Chen Lihua and Chen Lingtian were encapsulated by the loving arms of Gramma and Grampa, and again their hearts fluttered and bloated with so much love.

"Only seven but you're already of pro-caliber!" Grampa remarked.

"Maybe we should audition them for child roles in movies." Gramma dreamed on.

Xue Guangxi laughed out loud. "Mother, Father, don't exaggerate too much or you'll inflate the kids' ego. While it's true that they perform well, they did not exactly ACT, you know what I mean? Let's not audition them yet… Perhaps, we can enroll them in theater classes if they want." He suggested so as not to break the old lady's dream and heart.

"Yes, yes!!! That's a wonderful idea." Mother Chen's eyes sparkled even brighter.

Xue Guangxi scratched his temple. 'Surely, Mother isn't too hard to please.'

The schedule after the performances was a break in which the students and guardians could freely do whatever they pleased.

While the guardians cleaned up and prepared for dusk and dinnertime, the children played on the same field where the games were held that morning.

The recent triumph equipped the twins with newfound courage to interact with the other children. The felt that the performance boosted them in other ways that could compensate what was lacking in their lives.

And so, hands held tightly in each other's clasp, Chen Lihua and Chen Lingtian approached the children to play with them.

Still, they fidgeted in their feet with so much hesitation. They had not approached other children on their own accord to play with them before.

They had always played by themselves. They were lucky they had each other.

"Uhm, can we play too?" Chen Lingtian asked with all the courage he could muster. He was not sure how to ask, or if there's a need to ask and just join them without asking.

"Sure!"

"Uhh, no, you can't." A larger boy with beady eyes spoke up.

"But he said we can join…" Chen Lihua pressed while pointing to the kid who allowed them first.

"But I said, you can't." The boy-boss tried to intimidate the poor girl, Chen Lihua with his domineering stature. He stood and towered in front of her.

For kids their age, size, and strength decide the hierarchy. Being bigger and stronger meant being the boss.

Of course, the twins knew nothing about this unspoken rule due to their limited social interactions and exposure. They were in their first year in normal schooling. In previous years, they were homeschooled and had not met nor played with other kids.

That's why the culture shock of mingling with kids in school and receiving special treatment – both good and negative -- for not having parents were rubbed into their faces in magnified amplitude.

That's why they preferred not to mingle with other kids anymore.

Except for today.

And perhaps it wouldn't go well, just like any other day.

"Why not?" Chen Lihua pressed. The more cautious elder twin brother, Chen Lingtian, tugged her wrist, "Xiao Lihua let's just go back to our room, alright? Let's play by ourselves." He whispered.

"No! The boy said we can join. So we should!"

The boy-boss pushed her by her shoulders. She fell on her butt on the ground. The shock and the pain that shot through her body made her quiver and break into tears, even if she did not mean to cry.

"Wah!!!" The girl buried her face on her forearm. She stayed slumped on the ground.

"What a crybaby!" The boy taunted, relentless.

"What did you say?! Why did you push her?" This time, Chen Lingtian surged forward, unrestraint. The fire of injustice burning in his almond eyes.