July 10, Thursday

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Adult. What does it mean to be an adult? Age was a factor, that's for sure. People who had lived eighteen years or above were usually classified as adults by most people, but Mai thought that that was a stupid generalization.

An adult was, as defined by most dictionaries, 'a person who is fully grown'. If a person was of legal age, did that mean that he or she was automatically 'fully grown'? To Mai, being 'fully grown' was being mature - physically, mentally and emotionally. To be all these things was to be responsible of himself and of his charges.

The orphaned girl thought that age did not define an individual, if it was responsibility speaking. She never believed that all 'adults' were mature, and she never ever believed that all underaged non-adults were irresponsible. Mai, for example, was a perfectly responsible non-adult.

So, why was it that not one employer wanted to hire her? She flitted here and there with her embellished applications, asking for a job from block to block as she endured to keep up the tired smile on her face. They would always turn her down after a quick glimpse at her birth year. It drove her insane.

It wasn't like she was applying for a high-ranked position, or any position at all. Her efforts were all directed at food service and small stores. She was going for a job as a cashier or a server. No way in hell was she going to be a cook. If she was rejected because of her cooking skills, or lack thereof, then she would have understood why she wasn't accepted, but no, she was rejected because of a number. This all happened during the afternoon of the previous day.

Anyhow, before all that, Mai had been terribly depressed. She had obviously wilted because of the anti-pep talk she gave herself before she went to school. She knew that doing good in academics was her best shot, and if that failed, she could work for the tuition instead, but her resolve got blown in the breeze. She couldn't even lift her pencil to take notes.

When noon came, life sprung back into her when a certain arrogant fellow "happened to pass by" her classroom. The two performed their daily routine; first with sickening smiles, second with the underhanded insults, and last with one fuming as the other walked away—the indignant one was most often Mai.

Nevertheless, she recovered her vigor. For all the insulting that guy did, Mai stood back up because of the degrading spats he directed at her. The stubborn girl never liked it when she was undermined. With that in mind, after she finished her semi-duties at the student council office, she ran to the nearest store she could reach with a trail of résumés behind her.

The back-to-back refusals were saddening, but Mai wasn't going to give up easily this time. Although, she was being a hypocrite right now because of the comic book she was still reading.

Mai was utterly relaxed in her seat in bus number 42 as she read her book. She sucked in the words and pictures, those that were entirely not part of the test she was supposed to take later. Dizziness still flew around her head as she did, but she ignored it as always.

The bus drove by the first stop without any new passengers. Mai was disappointed. And relieved. And confused.

Disappointed because… she didn't know why. Relieved because… what? And confused because…

She just realized that the young man who periodically sat beside her only rode the bus every Tuesdays and Fridays. Mai scratched her head, puzzled at the discovery of a strange quirk. Did he get travel discounts on these days? Were his parents even allowing this?

Ah, that's right, Mai thought. He said that he had already graduated.

Mai scratched her head even more. Was he really three years older than her? She couldn't wrap her head around the notion. That guy absolutely looked like he was her age, if not just a few months older.

She could just ask him, really.

No, that would be rude and embarrassing!

Wrestling with herself for the two sides, Mai hopped off the vehicle when it stopped for the third time as the operator called twice. The summer heat pounded on her as she ambled to her destination distractedly, her inner voice jumping from yes and no and yes and no.

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A/N: Curious about the other guy? Muhahahaha. I'm not giving anything away just yet ;) Thanks for reading!

Btw, I read everything again yesterday and just noticed that I've been sneaking in some curse words... Ahaha… Should I change the rating?