[Chi¡¦s Work]
A Chance to Start Over
Chapter 4
While rubbing his tummy with glimpse of pain on his face, Dao Ming Si enters the café. When he sees the rest of the F4 skipping class again, he goes to the F4 table and sits down with his face darken from anger.
XiMen: What happened to you?
DMS: Nothing¡Kit¡¦s just¡Knevermind.
No matter how angry DMS is, he doesn¡¦t want to admit to his friends that he was just beaten by a petite girl. He still has his proudness and dignity after all.
XiMen: Then where is San Cai?
DMS: She is in class.
MeiZuo looks at DMS rubbing his stomach, and knows for sure that he is hurt.
MeiZuo: Did San Cai beat you up? I haven¡¦t seen her beat you up for a long time.
Thinking of the person who hit him, DMS turns angry again. His hot temper is over ruling him again.
DMS: It not her. It¡¦s that Xiao Ling.
XiMen and MeiZuo: What?!
XiMen and MeiZuo¡¦s faces look astonished as Lei smiles and has a little laugh.
DMS: Yes, that ugly monkey beat me up. If she isn¡¦t a girl, then I would have pin her down and beat her up.
XiMen: What did you say to her to make her so angry?
DMS: Nothing¡Kjust yell at her a bit that she is annoying. She was talking way too much.
MeiZuo: So, what you mean is when Xiao Ling tries to be friendly with you and starts a conversation with you, you started yelling at her because she is trying to be your friend?
XiMen: That is a girl with a bad temper. Don¡¦t you think she is a lot like San Cai? Friendly, yet bad temper.
DMS crosses his arm and says in dismay, ¡§She is nothing like San Cai.¡¨
MeiZuo: It¡¦s really boring here. Lets go somewhere fun.
XiMen: Like where? Lets go find some new girls.
Lei gives him a thumbs up then a thumb down.
DMS: I agree with Lei. What¡¦s the fun with flirting with new girls? Boring.
MeiZuo: Lets go and have a game of basketball.
XiMen: OK. I haven¡¦t play a game in a while.
So, they all went for a game of basketball.
***Class ends for San Cai***
Sitting at her isolated seat, San Cai stretches after the long class.
San Cai: Finally, this class is over. No more hard to understand mathematic principle. What is the use of learning those anyways. We won¡¦t use it in real life.
As San Cai looks around her seat and finds no one around her, she lets out a sigh.
San Cai: Am I that horrible to be around with? Can¡¦t believe that there are thousands of students in this school but less 10 of them would talk to me.
San Cai leaves her classroom and head for her locker. On her long way to her locker, she sees Xiao Ling.
San Cai: Hey! Xiao Ling!
Xiao Ling, with a smile, turns around to see who it is that is calling her. When she sees San Cai, her smile vanishes.
Xiao Ling: Hi.
San Cai: Mm¡K..you don¡¦t look like you are in much of a good mood. Is something bothering you?
Xiao Ling answers in an angered and offending tone, ¡§Is something bothering me? What do you think? This whole school is a joke. This whole thing is bothering me. You know what? I like things fair. I like people to earn their respect by earning it, not by their power. I want people to respect me when I respect them. I just want to make some friends and be respected in class either by the teacher or students. But it seems as if it is something impossible to get in this school.¡¨
SanCai didn¡¦t see that coming and is a little startled by the trail of words that came stampeding out of Xiao Ling¡¦s mouth. SanCai puts a hand on Xiao Ling¡¦s should and say, ¡§Calm down.¡¨
Xiao Ling: No. You won¡¦t understand. And you know why? Because you are on top of the world here. Everyone here lets you do anything you want, even the teachers in the school. It seems as if you own the school.
San Cai: No¡KI don¡¦t own the school¡KIt¡¦s DMS who does.
Xiao Ling: So, it¡¦s him who caused all my humiliation. Good that I gave him a good lesson.
San Cai: What do you mean? Are you mad at me?
Xiao Ling feels better for getting it all out of her system. She looks at SanCai who has a guilty and sorry look on her face. Xiao Ling knows that none of these are SanCai¡¦s fault. She knows she had no right to yell and blame every thing on San Cai. Xiao Ling sighs and continues in an apologetic tone, ¡§Sorry. I don¡¦t mean to be angry with you. However, it is just that I used to be the queen of the school. I used to be the one who is on top of the world. Whatever I do, I would be the winner and never the loser. In my old school, I would be surrounded by friends. People would seek a way to get close to me as if they can share some of my fame. But now, here in Ying De, everything is different. I am nothing here. People hate me because I look like¡K..
Xiao Ling pauses.
San Cai: Look like what? Me?
Xiao Ling nods.
San Cai: I am sorry. I am very sorry.
Xiao Ling: It¡¦s OK. It¡¦s not your fault, but I think I would be happier if we were never friends.
Xiao Ling then walks away, leaving San Cai standing there alone like an idiot. Those were one of the most hurtful words San Cai heard. She never realizes before what a trouble she is herself.
***
San Cai's cell phone keeps on ringing. While tears fall down her cheeks, San Cai picks up the phone. SanCai clears her throat and tries to cover up her upset voice before saying, ¡§Hello?¡¨
DMS: San Cai, your class is over, right? Me and the guys are playing basketball at the gym. You want to come and join us?
San Cai wipes her tears away. She isn¡¦t really listening. She is not in the mood for anything right now.
San Cai: Erm¡Kno, you guys have fun.
Hearing San Cai's uncertain voice, DMS becomes anxious and worry.
DMS: Are you OK? You sound as if you have been crying. What's the matter?
San Cai: I am fine. I got to go now. Bye Bye.
Then San Cai quickly hangs up.
DMS: Hello? San Cai?!
Lei: What's the matter?
DMS: It's San Cai. She seems really depressed. I think she has been crying.
Then a frown hangs on both DMS and Lei's face.
***
San Cai walks to her locker to pack up and get ready to go to work. She has been thinking of what Xiao Ling said to her. As she thinks about it, she realizes that she has been causing many troubles to her friends. First it is Lei who argued with DMS because of her. When Qing He first enrolled in Ying De, he was bullied by others. Then it is Li Zhen. Now it is Xiao Ling's turn. Disaster or unhappiness seems to follow those who get too close to San Cai. All these are either directly or indirectly related to DMS. Sadness trailed behind her ever since she knew DMS. SanCai is so concentrated on her thoughts that she doesn¡¦t notice Qing He who has been calling her name. Qing He calls out her name for the third time before SanCai finally realizes that Qing He is next her.
Qing He: Are you OK? Your eyes are all red.
San Cai looks at Qing He and tries to tell him that she is alright and nothing is wrong. However, before she can speak out her lie, her tears are already pouring out of her. San Cai slowing rests her head on Qing He's shoulder for comfort.
Shocked at San Cai's reaction, Qing He doesn't know what to do. Eventually, he puts his hand on San Cai's back as an action of comforting.
Qing He: Don't cry. Whatever it is that is upsetting you, it will pass away as time goes on. It will be all over.
San Cai: Am I such a troublesome person to be around with? I have been causing trouble to people around me. That¡¦s why now in all my class no one would even sit with in 2 meter from me. Every class I sit at the isolated seat.
Then only San Cai's crying can be heard.
San Cai: When I finally have a new friend, Xiao Ling, I also have to make her hates me. I am really lonely in this school. I only have you as my friend now. You are the only one for me to talk to.
After crying for a few minutes, voices from behind the corner can be heard. F3 are being dragged by DMS to look for SanCai. Just replaying SanCai¡¦s sadden voice in DMS¡¦s mind makes him worry.
DMS: I think she would be at her locker. Where else can she be, rite?
XiMen: DMS, she is not a kid anymore, she can take care of herself, why don't you just give her some time?
DMS: How can you tell me to just leave her like that when I know she is upset?
Finally, when F4 turns at the corner, they have found San Cai who is hugging Qing He.
DMS: Hey!!! Bao Fa Hu De Er Zi, What are you doing? San Cai! Let go of him now.
Qing He: I...I..I..
San Cai then lifts her head from Qing He's shoulder and turns to DMS. Upon hearing DMS's voice, she becomes quite angry. Finally, there is someone to blame the bad things on other than herself. Probably because she knows that DMS loves her, she tends to take advantage of him because she knows no matter what she does to him when she is angry, DMS would always forgive her at the end.
San Cai: Who are you to control me?
San Cai's tears filled face is now visible to F4.
Seeing San Cai's red and wet eyes, DMS¡¦s voice turns soft.
DMS: San Cai, what is bothering you?
San Cai doesn't answer.
DMS then suddenly become angry and worry.
DMS: Did someone bully you? Who is it? Just tell me and I will beat him up for you.
San Cai looks away from DMS and says, ¡§You.¡¨
Then San Cai walks away.
DMS stands there dumb founded. Then he looks at Qing He. Seeing DMS's angry eyes, Qing He takes a few steps back.
DMS: What did she say to you?
Qing He: Er..Er..
Then Qing He takes a few more steps back before DMS push Qing He against the lockers while gripping onto Qing He¡¦s collar.
Qing He: I..she...
DMS: Say it!
Running out of patience, DMS lifts his fist. XiMen and MeiZuo quickly hold DMS's back.
XiMen: Don't do it, Ah Si.
Qing He: I can't really make out what she was saying between her sobs...she said something about Xiao Ling, but I don't know who is Xiao Ling.
Dao Ming Si finally let go of Qing He¡¦s collar.
Lei turns to Qing He and says, ¡§Go. Get out of here now.¡¨
Dao Ming Si: So, it's that Xiao Ling.
Vicious look can be seen in DMS¡¦s eyes.
***
The locker way is as crowded as usual as people are getting their books to get ready for the first class of the day, one of which is Xiao Ling. People are in their little groups of friends chatting about whatever the latest gossip is. Oddly, only Xiao Ling is by herself. Maybe be because she is new? Or is it just really because people dislike her of her ¡§San Cai¡¨ look? Xiao Ling practically needs to drag her feet to her locker. This isn¡¦t the first place she wants to be in the world. As she opens her locker, she finds something rather interesting. There is a piece of paper inside her locker. It is a red piece of paper. On it says, ¡§You¡¦ll be dead. F4¡¨.
Xiao Ling: A red slip?
Suddenly the locker way becomes dead silent. Noticing the awkward silence, Xiao Ling looks around and finds people staring at her way. From left to right, people are almost identical with the same expression. Those faces send her shivers. There are girls whispering things in each others¡¦ ears. Though Xiao Ling doesn¡¦t know what they are talking about, she is quite confident that they are talking about her because of their stares and finger pointing.
Realizing that something must be horribly wrong, Xiao Ling quickly picks up her books and walks in her quickest pace to get out of the locker room, while holding the red slip in her hand. The looks of the people in the locker room seems like a disease. The looks spread to people as Xiao Ling walk passes them. Near a corner, a few up-to-no-good looking boys stand.
Boy1: I thought school this year is going to be meaningless. At last, there is something fun to do again.
Boy2: I agree. I haven¡¦t play any game for so long.
The conversation seems to be just loud enough for Xiao Ling to hear. Upon hearing the conversation, Xiao Ling picks up her steps and head to her Chinese history class where Ah Liang teaches.
Before entering the school building, Xiao Ling can hear her name being called out. As she turns around, dozens of eggs flew onto her face. Startled at the incident, Xiao Ling have lost her words. When eggs started flying toward her again, she finally starts to react.
Xiao Ling: What the hell is wrong with you people?
Person1: You think you are going to get away?
Person2: Never. We haven¡¦t had so much fun in quite a while.
Xiao Ling: You know that I will report this to the office, do you?
Person 3: Don¡¦t tell me you don¡¦t know. We are only doing this because Dao Ming Si allows it by giving you that red slip. It is no use to talk to the school.
The second the third person finished his sentence, someone flew a firecracker, instead of eggs at Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling let out a yelp and jumps backward.
Xiao Ling: Ahhh! You people are crazy!
Then from above on the second floor, someone calls Xiao Ling.
Person 4: Eh! Miss Xiao Ling, did the firecracker burn you? Here, let me help you cool down.
Then the person poured a bucket of water on Xiao Ling¡¦s head. Xiao Ling is now wet from head to toe.
Hearing the fuss out side the school building, Ah Liang comes out to see what is happening. Seeing that Xiao Ling is all wet, Ah Liang strictly asks who is responsible for this.
Ah Liang: This is still the school area. Who dare to do this prank near my classroom?
Person 2: Mr. Liang, look at her hand first, she is holding the red slip from the F4.
Ah Liang quickly turns soft.
Ah Liang speaks again but this time with a warm smile, ¡§Well, you kids play nice here. Class will start is a minute. See you in class.¡¨
Then Ah Liang turns to return to his room.
Xiao Ling: Hey!!! Don¡¦t go! What kind of teacher are you?!
People start throwing things at Xiao Ling again.
Xiao Ling: I have never done anything to you guys, why are you doing this to me?
Person 1: Don¡¦t blame us. Blame yourself. You are the one who angered Dao Ming Si and now this is the price you will pay. Who told you to upset San Cai? It is too late now to regret. Anyways, school life is becoming dull. Now that you got a red slip, we will have something to look forward to when we go to school.
Finding nowhere to hide, Xiao Ling runs into her Chinese History class. Pranks were already set waiting for her. As she come running into the class, the girl that sits by the door purpose put out her foot to trip Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling falls hard on the ground. Ah Liang sees that his class is being interrupted, but stays in silent.
San Cai, who is in the same class as Xiao Ling quickly stands up to see how is Xiao Ling.
San Cai: Xiao Ling, are you OK? What happened to you? You are all filthy and wet.
Xiao Ling: You again. Stay far away from me. I don¡¦t want to get into anymore of this trouble.
Bai He: San Cai, forget about her. I heard that she did something really mean to you to upset you. Dao Ming Si is just trying to take revenge for you. He cares so much about you. He gave Xiao Ling a red slip all because of you.
San Cai: He what?!?!
Qian Wei: San Cai, forget about that Xiao Ling. Remember? We are the Ying De San Jie Mei (Ying De 3 sisters). Without her, you still have us.
Then Qian Wei gives Xiao Ling a cold stare and walks closer to San Cai to show her ¡§so-call-friendliness¡¨. This pisses San Cai off. Then San Cai walks toward Xiao Ling and help her up.
San Cai: Xiao Ling, you must get out of here now.
Then San Cai pulls Xiao Ling out of the class with her.
Xiao Ling: Where are we going? Let go of me.
San Cai doesn¡¦t listen to Xiao Ling and drags her out of the class. After they left the class, Ah Liang pretends that nothing happened.
Ah Liang: Well, lets continue with the lecture. Where were we up to on the page? Oh yes....it was the time during.....blah blah blah....