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墨書 Inktalez
Monday has arrived. A Fei and I rode our bikes to school, laughing all the way. After we parked our bikes, we walked towards our classroom on the second floor. A Fei had a great time playing NBA 2K yesterday afternoon and achieved a three-game winning streak with the Celtics. "I really like Ray Allen's playing style; it's so elegant," said A Fei. "But Ray Allen is getting old, over thirty now. I prefer Chris Paul because he's about my height and plays selflessly, dribbling past defenders with style." I started mimicking Paul's moves in the hallway. "You weirdo!" Suddenly, I heard a female classmate scold me from behind. Although her voice was soft, I heard it clearly.
"Who called me a weirdo? Who..." I angrily turned around, only to feel my limbs freeze for a moment and my face turn red: a girl about 165 cm tall with a neat ponytail and cute bangs, big eyes, fair skin, a tall and narrow nose, and a delicate mouth that matched her oval face... She reminded me of Akagi Haruko from Slam Dunk, perfectly fitting my ideal goddess's characteristics. "Haruko... No, no, hello classmate! Am I blocking your way upstairs?" My cheeks were burning as I awkwardly stepped aside. "You're not blocking me; you're blocking everyone behind you," she said without even looking at me as she walked past. This must be what they call "cold beauty." "A Fei" smiled as he watched her leave. "You've got a crush! Let's go; we'll be late!" I punched him lightly in the chest and headed towards the classroom upstairs. At that moment, the image of "Haruko" lingered in my mind, refusing to fade away... Wow! Could it be that I'm experiencing puppy love?! But thinking about it, it's quite normal; after all, I'm born in the '90s. A crush is just a crush.
During today's class, I was distracted. When self-study class arrived, the four of us went to the gym for our first basketball training session. As we walked down the hallway, we passed by Class 7 of Year One and spotted a familiar figure through the door. "Come on, look at that!" Pang Hao nudged me while glancing at a girl in the second row of Class 7. "So it's her..." A Fei whispered softly. "I was just admiring a beautiful girl! That's Sha Xiaomei, recognized as the school beauty of Year One this semester; everyone knows about her excellent grades." Shuai Dong added. "Let's go; we'll be late!" Pang Hao urged as he pulled me along. I kept looking back until we turned the corner of the stairs when my gaze finally shifted away. I casually glanced at A Fei and noticed his eyes lingering on the corner for quite some time...
Today's basketball class mainly focused on basic exercises: running laps, frog jumps, and squats. After class, we prepared to head home. After saying goodbye to Pang Hao and Shuai Dong, A Fei and I pushed our bikes out of the school gate and slowly made our way back. "Seventeen-year-old bike and me, waltzing through life like Mozart, my mind still separated by love's river..." A Fei hummed. I asked him, "A Fei, what do you think of Sha Xiaomei?" "What do you mean? Are you talking about her studies? Personality? Or... looks?" A Fei suddenly stuttered a bit. I've known him since childhood; I understand his personality well—he only stutters when he's nervous. "Why are you nervous? I'm just asking if you think she would be suitable as a friend for me," I said seriously. "... She's okay; I've only met her once and don't know much about her personality, but she has this 'heroine' vibe," A Fei thought for a moment. "Right! She has this righteous spirit like a chivalrous woman—kind of like me." I patted my chest proudly. "You narcissist," A Fei said as he hopped on his bike and sped off. "Hey! Wait for me!" I quickly followed after him.
Today, light rain was falling from the sky, making it slightly chilly. "The old man is feeling down again today with that gloomy face," I sighed helplessly. "Xiang Jie, what are you lamenting about now?" my deskmate Yin Long asked. "I hate rainy days; everything is so damp," I replied while turning around. "Today’s second period is PE; we're probably going to change classes again... But it's okay; it's just in time to recharge for our fourth-period basketball training."
"Why doesn't our class have any unique girls like Sha Xiaomei..." I rested my chin on one hand daydreaming when suddenly our homeroom teacher Mr. Zhang called out, "Xiang Jie! Finish reading the remaining text below." "Yes!" I slowly stood up and realized: wait! This is class! And it's our homeroom teacher's class too!
My deskmate Xia Ying pointed at a paragraph in the textbook for me to read: "Start from here!" I glanced at it and began reading aloud, "Very good; sit down!" Phew! That was close; thank you, Xia Ying.
After class ended, A Fei and the others went out to play. "It's still raining; I love listening to the sound of rain," a familiar voice reached my ears. It seemed like A Fei noticed too as he turned his head to look: Sha Xiaomei was leaning over with two female classmates on the balcony watching outside. She was smiling—that was the first time I'd seen her smile—a clean and pure smile... "I didn't expect she liked rain..." said A Fei. Both Pang Hao and Shuai Dong looked at me then at A Fei, saying in unison: "These two are crushing hard." "Go away! You don't understand; this is called appreciation! Hmph! You two are so evil; how could kids understand what it means to have a crush? If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense." I retorted at them both. "Sha Xiaomei, someone is watching you," one of her friends noticed us peeking at them. Sha Xiaomei shot us an intense glare, making us all awkwardly blush and walk away unnaturally. That smile of hers lingered in my heart because when she smiled, she was truly beautiful...
In the blink of an eye, three months of high school life had passed by already. I still saw Sha Xiaomei often but had never spoken a word to her. The weather grew colder as winter relentlessly battered us down. "Ah! The year 2010 is coming to an end soon," I sighed deeply. "Alright already; stop lamenting and get ready for training," said that annoying Shuai Dong, always pouring cold water on me.
Today our PE teacher gathered us together: “Next month we will conduct an assessment for our training this semester; we will have a friendly match against Chengdong High School. Starting today, we will have ten days of testing training sessions where one outstanding student will represent us from Yulin High School. Those who perform poorly will not be part of the basketball team next semester.” There are six students in our basketball club (boys), which means four will be eliminated among many talented students! The intensity can be imagined along with the risk of being cut from the team—“Don’t be scared; just work hard,” said Bing Ge, patting my shoulder.
After eight days of testing training sessions, six students gradually left the team—unfortunately including Pang Hao. He looked very dejected afterward. “Don’t be sad; we’re still here for you; taking some rest is fine,” I reassured him later on when he seemed upset not because he couldn’t play but because he couldn’t fight alongside us anymore.
On day nine, we split into four teams for matches; ultimately under the leadership of Bing Ge, Zhongqi, and A Fei, we won decisively against the team led by Zhang Jun and Wu Zhi Kai. After basketball practice ended and returned home, Mom was cooking dinner while Dad was happily playing cards in another room. “Mom, what’s for dinner?” “Wontons.” “What filling?” “Pork and cabbage.” “Oh,” I walked into my room and pulled out my phone to log onto QQ where ‘Feiling Shengxue’ was online—she's an online friend who feels like a confidante to me; whenever we talk heart-to-heart during tough times she comforts me or shares joy during happy moments—we share all our joys and sorrows together—I call her 'Xue Er', while she calls me Dao Dao (my online name is 'Proud Snow Crazy Blade'). After logging onto QQ, exhausted from training today, I collapsed onto my bed without wanting to move.
“Xue Er, are you there?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m so tired today.”
“Aww poor Dao Dao; make sure to rest well.”
“Can Dao Dao see you? Can you send photos to your space? Let’s video chat later or give me your phone number?”
“No way; I'm not good-looking enough for that; chatting like this is fine.”
...
Every time I want to see her she always comes up with various excuses so we've never seen each other's faces yet—this creates an air of mystery around her in my heart—it feels strange because while I'm eager to meet her I'm also afraid that once we meet this wonderful feeling might disappear.
“Jie! Dinner's ready!” Mom shouted at me.
“Oh! Coming!” I replied back as Dad and Mom asked how school was today during dinner—I said it was fine—and they asked if exam results were out yet—I quickly interrupted: “Mom and Dad! No talking while eating!”
“This kid has even started quoting classical literature now—alright alright—no more questions—let’s eat.” My dad has such a humorous yet calm demeanor which makes him both my father and also a good friend.
Today marks the final day of training assessments—the moment we've been waiting for has arrived! Our morning basketball training session focused mainly on warm-ups but everyone’s expressions were serious—somber—as if awaiting judgment day...
In the last period of afternoon classes, we gradually arrived at the school gym waiting for results announcement time: “Today we will select twelve students to represent our team in the friendly match; those who don’t get selected shouldn’t feel discouraged—try again next year—now I'll read out names of those selected.” The PE teacher spoke seriously while holding that list symbolizing early selection for team participation—it all comes down to this moment! Clenching my fists tightly while closing my eyes—I awaited my fate...
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