Chapter 03: "Fresh Start"
In the past, I used to be so careless. I didn't give a damn about the consequences of my actions. I didn't take my studies seriously, I have no ambitions, I don't attend class regularly, and I always get myself in trouble.
I thought I had all the time in the world on my hands.
In the past, my mother had been a regular in the guidance office because of me.
"Why do you kept on bringing me nothing but trouble?!" She nagged as we walked to the school's hallway.
"Ugh! What am I gonna do with you?!" She added and went inside the office to talk with the dean.
I was left outside standing. I can see my mother and the dean talking through the glass window. I didn't really cared back then. My face was bruised because of the fist fight I had.
"How annoying..." I mumbled as I squat down.
"Um... Excuse me?"
I raised my head to see a girl with a doll-like face standing in front of me.
"You scratched your forehead. Here, put this bandaid on." She said and handed me the bandaid.
"Thanks..."
"No worries. And it's better if you go to the infirmary after." She added. "I'll be going now."
I watched her walked away. A smile formed on my messed up face. Since then, I realized that I had fallen for her.
----------------
"Good morning!" I smiled, cheek to cheek while walking on my way to the classroom.
"Good morning, classmate!" I walked around and greeted every person I come across.
"Good morning, fellow student!" My cheeks were hurting from all the smiling.
"What's with him?"
"I don't know... Maybe he finally lost it."
"Weird."
I was quite annoyed by the 'whispering' from the other students that I could clearly hear.
Despite that, I still kept the smile on and went in the classroom.
"It's a fresh start for me! I can't mess this up—" I thought to myself.
My inner monologue was interrupted when a ball suddenly flew right on my face.
"Oh no! Watch out!"
"It already hit his face..."
Damn these idiots...
"Bro, are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm good." I replied with that smile still plastered on my face along with my bleeding nose.
"Dude! Your nose is freaking bleeding!"
"I told you not to play with balls inside!"
"It wasn't my fault that it flew into his face!"
This is just the start... Yet, I feel like my life's going to end first.
----------------
During lunch I went to the cafeteria with Luke and Chet. We sat down and put our lunch on the table. My nose was stuffed with cotton. It still freaking hurts.
"PWAHAHAHA!" Chet laughed right on my face.
"Bad luck had been catching up to you lately huh" Luke said as he put the vegetables from his plate to Chet's.
"Hey! I don't want to eat vegetables!" Chet complained.
"You need this if you want to run faster."
"Liar!!"
I feel like a third wheel everytime I'm with these love birds.
"Ugh..." I sighed.
"So, what's the sudden mood lately?" Luke asked.
"Well, I want to change my lifestyle. I want to improve myself, and... I want to pursue Miya." I answered in a serious tone.
They both looked at me like I was possessed or something.
"HAHAHA! I bet you can't even talk to her without stuttering!" Chet teases.
"T-that's because I always forget what to say, alright?!!" I replied and slam my palms on the table.
It's true though. I get nervous when I'm talking to her that I forget what I wanted to say.
"Hmm... Even if you figure out how to talk to her. There's still one problem..." Luke lift his glasses up.
"Isn't that Zen?"
"The top student?"
"Yeah... He's really good-looking."
The cafeteria was filled with murmurs.
"Actually... She already..." Luke continued but I could barely hear him.
"I want to ask him out!"
"Seriously? Didn't y'know he already rejected a ton of girls before."
"They say he has a terrible personality."
"What a shame."
"He's just a pretty face after all"
"So annoying..." I can't clearly hear what my friends were saying because of the chattering.
"What's all the ruckus about?" Chet asked as he look around.
I slammed the table, it was loud enough to make the people around us shut up.
"Oh, he's here."
"Huh? Who?"
"The council president and school's top student."
Luke and Chet's attention were on the guy that everyone was making a ruckus about.
I can't clearly see him because of the people surrounding him.
As the crowd slowly cleared up, I can finally picture out slowly.
"He looks familiar..." I squint my eyes to see him.
"Hold on... Isn't that..." I thought to myself.
When I can finally see that guy's face clearly. I realized that he's...
"That bastard from yesterday!" I shouted and stood up while pointing my finger on him causing everyone's eyes, including him, to turn on me.
"That's Zen Liang. The guy Miya has a crush on." Those words from Luke made my dreams shattered into pieces. I was dumbfounded, and I felt like my whole body turned into a stone.
"Who's that?"
"Is he referring to council president?"
"Oops... We need to go, guys." Chet stood up and dragged me out of the cafeteria while covering Luke's mouth.
"Damn it! You two are heavy!"'
----------------
"I already lose without a fight..." I mumbled as I shove my face on my table.
Chet turned around to see me.
"Tch, stop being a loser and get your act together, man!" He whispered.
"Chet is right... I haven't even tried yet." I thought to myself and lifted my head.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
"What else? Confess your feelings to her and never let her get close to Zen Liang." Chet suggested.
I was quite amazed how this guy thought about that when all he do is think about games, food, and running.
I looked at him intently and bowed my head. "Please teach me your ways!"
He was quite proud and cocky, he loves teaching stupid stuffs to people. Well, I'm desperate. I've got to take any chance I can get.
"Oh, well... I'm a busy person, but since you're my friend... I guess I could spare some of my precious time." Even when my head is down I could still sense the sparkles and the proud face this guy is making right now.
Chet lend his hand. "Alright, let's do this."
I raised my head and took his hand.
"Yeah!!" We exclaimed in unison.
We didn't noticed our subject teacher as he went to our seat and smacked our heads with a rolled paper on his hand.
"Ow!"
"How about you two talk outside with these books on your hands." I could see fire burning on his decreasing hairline.
----------------
"Ugh... This is all your fault." Chet whispered.
"How is this my fault?!"
"Well, it was your damn love life!"
"The two of you outside! Stand straight!"
"Y-yes sir!" We stood up straight and shut our mouths. We don't want to get in to more trouble.
Chet and I were both punished by standing classroom hallway while squatting with our hands piled up with books.
"I promised to myself that I wouldn't get in trouble again. Yet, here I am." I thought to myself and sighed.
"Dude..." Chet said trying to modulate his voice.
"What?"
"Miya's coming!"
"Oh no! Hide me!!"
"Shit!" Chet covered my face with the book he was holding.
Miya was walking with her friends. She stopped and smiled at us. She has the sweetest smile!
"Oh hey!" Chet greeted.
"Hello. Are you guys okay?" She asked.
"Yep! Nothing to see here! This is not definitely Jian!"
"This stupid bastard..." I mumbled.
I heard Miya's soft chuckle.
"Alright, see you two around." She bid her farewell and walked away along with her friends.
"Do you know them?"
"Yeah"
"Looks like a troublemaker."
The book was still on my face. However, I turned my head to the side and saw her walking away.
"She even walk like an angel..." I unconsciously said.
"Dude! Snap out of it!" Chet kept on shaking me and I couldn't careless. I'm totally captivated by her.
----------------
The last period bell rang.
"That's all for today." The teacher bid his farewell and walked away.
I quickly grabbed my bag and rushed out. "I'll get going!"
"Hey, Jian! Don't you dare escape from your cleaning duty!" Our class president shouted, but I didn't mind her I need to make a move on Miya right this instant!
I was almost out of breath when I arrived at the school gate. I saw Miya walking with 'that guy'. My rival, Zen Liang.
They were a bit far from me and it seems like they didn't saw me. I was about to approach Miya when suddenly I heard her say something that made me stop and hide behind wall.
"I... I want to give us a chance..." She said as her cheeks were visibly red.
It was a fresh start indeed. Although, it was also a fresh heartbreak.
"Damn... I hate this guy"