My Days Stuck With You

Nothing has changed since yesterday. Only the rhyming of a heavy downpour. Mum woke me up but we never argued. It is weekend. Our morning has started peacefully. We ate breakfast at the dining table and my Mum starts to speak, "Your cousin, Shén will be moving here today."

I nearly choke as I heard what my Mum said, my expression I don't know how to describe it but I feel the excitement. I miss her, she's beautiful, sweet, talented, and intelligent. Unlike me. We're completely the opposite except for the fact that I somehow manage to be rank 3 in the overalls this semester. Wait, she'll be studying at our High school? For real?! I screamed internally God this will be tough I need to keep up.

"Say, Mum, she isn't gonna attend my school, right?" Oh, I hope she won't.

"Of course, you'll be in the same school, and be classmates." She answered.

I couldn't respond to her and she continues, "Your Aunt and Uncle asked me to take care of her while they're working overseas."

I snorted inwardly, I didn't have any hard feelings for her. It's her parents. When we're in need they didn't even help us out. How could they? They know we are barely surviving. I couldn't take and finally replied, "Mum I think they're too much. When we needed they didn't even bat an eye. Why should we care about them.-" and she cuts in, "No, child, they already apologized, we're family you must know that."

I looked at her and walked out of the table to grab my bag. Too much drama for my bright morning.

I walked to the village market. The rambling of the sellers and buyers. The haggling, quartering of sounds, the high-lows of loudness. Makes it, more like a c.o.c.kpit than a market. Everyone wants to be heard, wants to win higher sales and profit. These aren't many lucrative deals but it steadies the economic growth.

I walked to buy food ingredients, for my well-beloved cousin's welcoming celebration. So I picked sirloin, pepper, and other ingredients to make a feast for her.

"5 for 10," I said firmly to the big mustache vendor.

"No. Young woman, 8 for 10 only" he said in a coarse tone. A voice that suits his age.

"But Chang sells this for ONLY 5 for 10. How come yours is too expensive?" I replied and smiled cutely. I need to get that "change" so I can buy other stuff for myself. Hehe.

"Take it or leave it. Tell her your offer, surely she'll agree" he sneakers.

In the end, I took the deal. His was the lowest amongst the sellers of Luo mai chi. I couldn't fool the bastard. I sighed.

I was wondering about wasting time in the Market, shopping items only with my eyes for satisfaction. Then I saw him, Tongxia, he was just standing there, leaning on the wooden frame of the door. I stared at him. Then an old lady comes out and dragged him inside. All my entirety of 13 years in this village. I have never seen him here. Much less being coerced by the owner of a metal workshop.

I tried to snoop at the shop, but he's nowhere to be seen.

—————

As walked fast and made it in time. I overslept, yes, I am late once again. Luckily our teacher wasn't there yet, which reminds me. maybe she has gone to fetch Shén. Oh no, we're gonna be classmates.

I walked towards my desk. And saw the empty seat behind. Looks like Mr. Trouble Maker Tongxia is gonna be late today as well. While being lost in reverie. I didn't notice Mr. Wang entered with Shén, until my classmates started to greet him. He isn't with Shén? Weird.

Mr. Wang then signaled to someone to enter the room.

She walked gracefully, a tall slim girl standing with a long jetblack hair, and gorgeous. Thats her, my cousin. Mr. Wang then said, "We have transferee today, please introduce yourself."

She's captivating, her features are remarkable, her prominent v line, pointed nose, almond eyes, slightly full lips, her dark eyebrows seems like she got full marks in the golden ratio.

"Hi, I'm Shén Ru, From B City, my parents are working in overseas that's why I moved here, I hope we could get along. " She said politely.

They were just staring at her, my classmates. In awe of such beauty. Fickle and superficial people. Mr. Wang, then, points her seat next to Tingxiao, and next to me. Uhhh I got too much to handle for today. She walked to her sit and greeted, "Good-morning Xiaoxiao, I hope you'll show me around." I nodded and smiled at her. And the class session began.

When our class before lunch had ended, I sensed Shén walking towards the side of the table and she poked me. I saw her holding her lunch so I grabbed my desk towards Tingxiao's desk so we can face others while we're eating.

"So what did you got all of your things," I asked her.

"Yeah, Miss Jian had packed them for me."

I just smiled at her. Rich kid. They even bother ed to pack her things for her. What am I expecting, of course, she's got everything settled, I muttered to myself.

"Hey, you know what happened between our parents doesn't concern us. We're cousins so we should stick together." She said she's become pretty open than before. Her felicity makes me think that if she's gonna be okay to deal with but I am very much incessantly annoyed by the way she's too familiar with me. I just don't feel like it. Again I had pushed those thoughts out of my mind and replied, "Yes, I think that it doesn't matter because we'll be together for a while now." She turned her head, and smiled in a slightly awkward manner. I couldn't help but blush.

I just cannot understand myself one time I hated her the other time I adore her. This couldn't be insecurity but something deeper I don't know what it is.

Then it was our physics class damn it the one who is sitting behind me is all murmuring and I cannot concentrate I got to study for my college to get into a good college and never fail. Then I heard Shén giggled, oh gimme a break. I turned my back to face them and looked both of them in the eye, Shén lowered her head. And Mr. Trouble-Maker Lu looked at me not taking his eyes off, peevish. Throughout the day I never did talk to her. She's all flirty and hell where did she get her A++ grade? That's preposterous. I had given her too much of my thoughts today, and erased the bubble of ideas in my mind about her and proceeded to do my thing.

It was lunch break, Shén went to side of chair and poked me

"Xiaoxiao! Let's eat together."

"With me?"

"Yeah Is it wrong to eat with my cousin?" She said.

"No problem at all." I muttered.