11

A summer later, the week before the start of 11th grade.

Chen Xia sat up in his bed slowly and begrudgingly. Herubbed his eyes, then stared blankly at the wall.

Turning his head, Chen Xia observed the clock that read 10:37 am. It's still early…

He lay back down and closed his eyes for a few moments.

After a short while Chen Xia was feeling restless, so he opened his eyes again. He groaned and forced himself out of bed, then headed into the bathroom to wash up. 

His reflection in the mirror showed fatigue and boredom in his eyes and face. He sighed, trying to feel indifferent. 

​Having forced himself through his morning routine, Chen Xia went down the stairs and to the storefront tableswhere Mrs. Chen was preparing napkins and utensils for the lunch rush.

​"Finally up?" Without looking up, Mrs. Chen could tell by the dragging footsteps that her son was finally out of bed.

"Yeah," Chen Xia responded dryly. 

"Everything okay?" Mrs. Chen was concerned with Chen Xia's depressed state. 

"Sure, not really looking forward to school starting."

"You really don't you feel excited at all?" Mrs. Chen stopped what she was doing and turned to face Chen Xia. 

"Not really, no." Chen Xia bent down to put his shoes on. 

"Where are you going?"

"Just taking a walk."

"... Okay then, can you pick up some supplies for me while you're at it?" Mrs. Chen was glad that Chen Xia at least was willing to go out, and felt that giving him something to do might help improve his mood. 

"Alright." Chen Xia walked out of the restaurant and into the midday sun. 

Mrs. Chen watched Chen Xia leave. He's been like this since Yang Qiu left... He's always moping around and only brightens a little when Yang Qiu calls or sends letters. I really hope Xiaxia is alright. Mrs. Chen sighed and turned back to the napkins and utensils. 

​Outside, Chen Xia walked slowly. Calm music pulsed in his headphones, matching the pulsing heat of a hot summer day. Where should I go… I guess I'll just go grab the stuff mom needs. He set out towards the convenience store.

​The bell rang as he opened the door. The same bell that rang for each customer that came in or left the store, and the same bell that had been ringing for as long as Chen Xia could remember. 

"Hello there, Chen Xia!" the cashier, Mr. Guo, greeted.The same Mr. Guo that had greeted the two boys each time he saw them come into his store, while Yang Qiu was still here.

"Hello," Chen Xia replied, trying to show a genuine smile.

"Running errands?"

"Yeah." Chen Xia quickly walked inside to pick up the items Mrs. Chen needed. He didn't feel like speaking with Mr. Guo. 

Chen Xia walked through the aisles until his body stopped of its own accord in front of the large cooler at the back of the store. His consciousness was overwhelmed by the memories of his first day of school, when Mrs. Chen had brought him and Yang Qiu there to buy ice cream. He smiled at the memory, but the smile quickly faded as his mind returned to reality. 

He looked at the ice cream cooler for a moment, then slowly pulled aside the sliding top. He reached in a picked one up. It was the same as the ice cream Yang Qiu had chosen that first day of school. 

He slid the lid closed and went to check out. 

"Find everything okay?" Mr. Guo asked out of habit, knowing very well that Chen Xia knew the layout of the store as well as himself. 

"Yep."

"That's good!" Mr. Guo couldn't help but sigh at Chen Xia's detachment. Youth these days, always finding something to mope about… haha.

​Mr. Guo began to bag the items. He took the ice cream and began to place it in a bag.

​"Wait. You don't have to put that in a bag; I'll eat it on the way home." Chen Xia suddenly stopped Mr. Guo. 

"Sure! It's good to enjoy something cool on a hot day like this. Have a great afternoon!" Mr. Guo handed the ice cream to Chen Xia with a warm smile.

"You too." 

Chen Xia walked back into the blinding sunlight. He took a few steps down the street then stopped to look at the ice cream in his hand. Why did I even buy this… whatever. If I don't eat it right now, it will melt. He ripped open the wrapper. This is a lot bigger than I remember. It seemed so small when we shared it before… 

He threw away the wrapper in a nearby trash can. 

Though he was alone, he still decided to break apart the ice cream. It split perfectly in half. But what was the point? He was the only one eating it anyway. 

He headed down the street and began to eat the ice cream, feeling the heavy waves of heat and sunlight weighing him down. 

​By the time he reached the toy shop Chen Xia had already finished both halves of the ice cream and only the wooden sticks remained in his hand. He paused by the window and saw the great variety of trinkets and toys being displayed. 

​Through the window he could also see the shelf of teddy bears in the back of the shop. He remembered the teddy bears he and Yang Qiu had bought for each other when they were younger. Yang Qiu brought his bear with him… he must have liked it a lot. Chen Xia felt himself smile.

​The same bears were still sitting on that shelf in the same store that had not changed much over the years. But Yang Qiu isn't here right now.

​He suddenly felt a drip on his hand. Oh, the ice cream must be melting. Chen Xia looked down at the bare sticks in his hand, remembering that he had already eaten it all. 

I… I'm crying? Why am I crying? He quickly wiped his eyes. Idiot, what are you doing crying over something so stupid out here in the open? 

Chen Xia lowered his head and walked briskly back to the restaurant. 

​"Oh good, you're back!" Mrs. Chen turned to see Chen Xia walking in. "You can just give me the bags. Thanks for running this errand for me!" She walked over to take the items Chen Xia had just bought.

​Chen Xia handed them over wordlessly then quickly walked up the stairs to his room.

​Mrs. Chen watched him go. My, he really is upset. She took the bags to the kitchen and placed them on a counter next to Mr. Chen who was busy chopping away at the cutting board.

​"Honey, here are the things you needed. I had Chen Xia go out and get them." Mrs. Chen watched her husband's mesmerizing cutting skills. 

​"Thanks!" Mr. Chen finished cutting up a section of cabbage then turned to the bags on the counter. However, before he could reach out to take them, he noticed the frown on Mrs. Chen's face. 

​"What's wrong?" Mr. Chen put everything down and approached his wife.

"Do you have a minute right now? I know it's almost lunch time, but I want to talk to you real quick. About Xiaxia." Mrs. Chen felt that her concern was growing too much to keep ignoring. 

"Sure, let me wash my hands." Mr. Chen went to the sink, worry surfacing across his face.

​Mr. Chen and Mrs. Chen sat across from each other at the dining table.

​"Honey, I know you've noticed it too, but Xiaxia has really been out of it recently. And it all started when Yang Qiu left…" Mrs. Chen knew that the correlation was clear.

​"Yeah, he really was fond of Yang Qiu wasn't he… I mean I can see why; Yang Qiu really was a good kid. I miss him myself sometimes, haha." Mr. Chen smiled. "It was much livelier with the two boys in our home. Now that Yang Qiu is gone, and along with him Xiaxia's spirit, it almost feels too quiet." 

​The cheerful and energetic boy that Chen Xia had once been,was no longer there. 

"I just don't know how to go about comforting him. Yang Qiu has been gone for a summer, and he always tells us not to worry in his calls and letters, so we never really know what his life is like." Mrs. Chen frowned.

"That's true, I guess some habits never change; Yang Qiu has always been so considerate. Though it seems such traits have their downsides too..." Mr. Chen sighed. "I understand that he doesn't want us to worry about him, butI just wish he could depend on us more, even if we can't do much for him right now."

Mrs. Chen nodded in agreement.

"I know it's selfish, but I just wish Yang Qiu would come back. It's been hard on Xiaxia, and I'm sure Yang Qiu hasn't had it any easier." Mrs. Chen couldn't help but imagine how hard it would be to adapt to a completely new life.

"I get it, I sometimes wish he would come back too, but since he already made this decision, and we already chose to support him, all we can do is wait and hope for the best for him. Who knows when he will be able to leave... But since he promised, he will definitely come back one day. I know you trust in him as well." Mr. Chen was confident in Yang Qiu's return.

"Yeah... thanks for talking with me, honey. Let's get back before the lunch rush starts." Mrs. Chen let out a huff and got up, trying to relieve the tension that had built up.

"Good idea." Mr. Chen also got up and smiled. As they walked back to the kitchen, Mr. Chen put his hands on his wife's shoulders and gave a few comforting squeezes. 

"I'm sure everything will be fine. Xiaxia is not so weak; he is our son after all." Mr. Chen winked at Mrs. Chen, who shook her head and smiled.