The Black Swan Behind

Chapter 22: Seafood Shop

Emma stopped her movement and turned her head. She smiled kindly, “You want to go home already?”

“Of course. Aren’t you tired? Today’s exercise was really hard. I feel like my joints are going to fall out.” The girl replied while massaging her shoulder. Her curly red hair was dishevelled out of her bun that used to be neat.

Emma chuckled, “You can go home first. I still want to practice because I still can’t master this technique yet.”

“Gosh.. You’re not the only one who can’t, Emma. Almost everyone here can’t master the move either. Don’t push yourself too hard. You’ll get stressed out later.” Kathy suggested, shaking her head in surprise.

“In fact, I will be more stressed because I can’t master this move.” She laughed.

“Gush..” Kathy snorted as she kept shaking her head, couldn’t even think what was inside Emma’s mind, “If you keep training like this. Maybe you can beat Poppy when she comes back. She will definitely be surprised at your fast progress. By the way, where did that girl go..? Isn’t it weird, because she is the most diligent student in this class?” She thought.

Emma just smiled. By hearing Poppy’s name made her reminded of Ms Diana’s request for help. Until this moment, Emma had not had a chance to see Poppy again. Somehow, it seemed the girl was avoiding Emma. Even in the class, Larry and Brian were also looked very obvious avoiding her.

.....

Emma had time to think, did she have to approach the two stupid losers first? But she always ended up undoing it to avoid trouble.

“You could leave me, Kathy. I still want to practice for a bit.” Emma said.

Kathy nodded, “I have an online meeting with my hacker club. So I’m in a bit of a hurry. See ya!”

“Okay, I’ll see you again..”

Emma returned to her training. But after having a chatting for a while with Kathy, now her mind became unfocused. Emma didn’t really get to know Poppy well. But Emma felt a special bond, without she could even control that made her really care about Poppy.

Emma had been in the ballet room for almost an hour after today’s practise was over. Without realizing it, now she was alone in that large room filled with mirrors. Emma immediately cleaned up her things to take a shower and went home. She took her bag and moved out of the room.

BUMP!

The tote bag that Emma was carrying fell as soon as she hit someone, “Oh.. Sorry.” she said. She realized it was her mistake, because she came out of the door while busy fiddling with the contents of her bag, so she didn’t pay attention to the way.

“That’s okay.” Answered a girl.

Before Emma could take her bag back, the girl had already taken it for her. Emma was a bit surprised when she realized who the person she hit was, “Oh.. Ah.. Thank you.” she said gawking.

“Your welcome.” The big girl just smiled briefly and then walked away.

Gosh.. Emma’s heart almost stopped. Unexpectedly, she could collide with Rachel Markway. The girl who was known to be a mysterious person dan the ballet girls rumoured that she was cruel. But from what just happened, Rachel didn’t look cruel at all. Although her body was so tall and her face looked vicious, but she turned out to be a nice person.

“Gossip is gossip. They are not trusted.” Emma muttered as she stared at the back of the girl in the denim jacket who was walking further and further.

As soon as she finished showering, as usual, Emma would go home. The campus was already deserted at this hour. Even though she had had grocery shopping a few days ago, Emma felt very tired if she had to cook for her dinner today. Therefore, she chose to eat outside.

Emma drove her car, around the city centre which was still busy. Around there, there are many squares and good food shops. Finally, Emma decided to eat crab soup at a shop that serves a variety of seafood dishes. She parked her car and walked a little to the shop.

Emma entered through a small entrance door that was only covered by a faded bamboo tree curtain. The place was still quite crowded, so Emma looked around for a seat.

“Huh?” Emma was stunned when she found a figure of a guy in a white T-shirt sitting alone at a small table. He was Calvin Lee.

Feeling like someone staring at him, Calvin turned towards the entrance. He found Emma standing there like a statue.

“Excuse me.. Please don’t stand in the middle of the way.” A lady who was about to enter the shop reprimanded Emma.

“Hey! Here.. Sit here..” Calvin waved at Emma and then pointed to the empty chair in front of him. Emma complied and went straight to him.

“Didn’t think you’d eat here too,” Emma said as she sat down and looked around.

“I really like eating here. The food is cheap and delicious. That’s why the place is quite crowded.”

“Oh.. It’s my first time here. Since I’m moving to this city, I’ve only eaten at a restaurant near my house twice. I finished my college assignment yesterday. So today I have time to go around. I looked at the front sign, it turns out there’s a crab soup here. So I’m trying to get in.” Emma narrated.

Calvin smiled faintly as he rested his chin on the palm of his left hand, “Looks like you’re having a good time. I don’t think you usually talk much.”

“Really?” Emma laughed, “I just don’t like talking to strangers too much.”

“Oh.. So I’m no longer in the category of strangers to you?”

Emma shrugged, “Some kind like that.”

“Here’s the menu book. You haven’t ordered yet, have you? I just came too.” Calvin opened the menu book, looked for a page of crab soup, then placed it in front of Emma.

“Thanks,” Emma said while observing the shop’s menu book.

“The butter-fried squid here is really good. If you don’t like beer, there’s also lemonade to reduce the fishy taste on your tongue.” Calvin said.

Emma nodded, “What do you order?”

“I’m would ordering honey-grilled squid.” He answered.

“Squid? I like squid too. Is it tasty?” Emma’s eyes lit up.

Calvin nodded, “Very tasty. Next time you should try it.” He gave a thumbs up.

“Eum.. By the way, how are you doing? Since that night, I have never seen you on campus again. Did you go to the hospital?” asked Emma.

“Oh.. right, I’m recovering. But at home. I don’t like going to the hospital.”

“What did your parents say? Aren’t they worried?”

Calvin smiled sadly with both eyes staring down at the table, “I don’t have parents anymore.”

Hearing Calvin’s answer made Emma want to curse herself. Emma should have remembered that she had been less socialized all this time. She shouldn’t have asked Calvin too many questions, just because she felt like they’d been pretty close these past few weeks. Maybe Emma was the only one who was too happy to have a good friend that she forgot her place.

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