Sir Jaime said I should head to school first because he still had something to do at home, luckily, he showed me the way around here. 

He gave me cash for a ride but I decided to walk and enjoy the view. 

I walked passed tons of people of different ages. 

Some walked in groups, and others walked alone  like me. 

Everyone moved ever so slowly, however, out of trauma I guess, I walked faster than the others. 

I avoided eye contact, my hands in my pocket and my head facing the ground. I walked faster and faster, the sound of vehicles and casual conversations, slowly fading as I walked. 

Everything started moving in slow motion every second I move my feet. 

The silence grew and people's faces started to blur. 

I couldn't tell what was happening now. I don't know if I stopped walking, or they stopped moving. 

"Mei! Oi Mei!!!" 

I heard a voice from a distance, gradually growing louder and vivid. 

"Mei! Stop ignoring me!!" 

And then I felt a tap on my back. I felt tiny fingers on my back as it gently tapped my jacket. 

"Sorry, what were you saying?" 

I turned to the person who called my name. 

It was Lia....again.

"Oh, I saw you on the way, so I figured I'd walk with you." 

I raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was pure coincidence, or she stirred something to interact with me. 

"You don't mind, right?" 

She looked at me and gave me the most sincere smile she could give. 

She really needs to stop doing that. 

"Well, it's not like I could do anyt-" 

"yey!, let's go Mei!" 

This had been the loudest morning I've ever had since ages ago. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dammit! I couldn't find my files! "

I searched the whole room looking for a long brown envelope that held test papers and projects. 

I'll be in so much trouble if I lost that shit! 

It was almost 7:20 and I should be heading to work by now! Where the heck did I put it!? 

I was pressured and utterly frustrated. I stopped and tried to remember the last place I've seen it. 

Unfortunately, nothing came to mind. 

It took me a while to choose whether I should ditch it and find it later, or sacrifice being late and find the damn envelope. 

Either way I'll be screwed! If I came late and still didn't find the envelope, I'll receive a long ass lecture from Jasmine and other superior bastards. Then, I'll have to file a report on why I'm late which could affect my grade as a teacher. Not only that, I'll be scolded for being irresponsible for losing such an important file. 

"Damn it! I guess I'll go with option B. "

I grabbed my stuff and headed to work, still worried about the papers I've lost. 

.....

I got there just in time, barely breathing that is. 

Mei spotted me and headed to my direction. 

"Sir, are you alright?" 

"Yeah I'm fine, just had a good... Run." 

I sarcastically said. She looked at me and noticed something odd. 

"I think I'm not supposed to say this but.." 

"but what?" 

"You're wearing your slippers sir.." 

I looked down, could this day get any worse?? 

"Ahh great." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Time skip [3:30 pm] ~

"Mei, will you doing something after class?" 

Lia asked. She's been talking to me more than usual. 

She sure is quite the blabber mouth. Doesn't she get tired of talking too much? 

"I don't think so, why?" 

"Oh, well do you want to join me decorate our hallway?" 

"No." 

"Awww come on... Please?" 

"No." 

"Atleast stay for thirty minutes then? Just accompany me?" 

"No, don't you have friends to bother?" 

"I do but I want to hang out with you." 

What is it with her? She gets really clingy and talkative as the day goes by. 

"I don't want to." 

"But you have nothing else to do right? What's thirty minutes gonna change anyway? 

....... 

She's got a point though. I'll just wait for sir Jaime either way, so why not spend some time right? 

" okay... I'm sorry for ever bothering you. "

She started to walk away. I felt guilty. 

It was the first time someone ever wanted to be with me. It's like a meal I ignore for money. 

"Wait." 

She stopped. Her back facing me. 

"I'm sorry If I neglect your efforts to talk to me. It must be hard,and I'm making it worse when I push you away when clearly, you're just trying to be friendly." 

She still has her back turned. I however, hesitated to say anything more. Afraid of the outcome of this situation. 

" So maybe, I'll give it a chance. "

She finally faced me. The doubt in her eyes. 

" If you only wish to cooperate because you feel bad, then please don't force yourself. I don't want you to talk to me when clearly, you do not intend to entertain anyone.

If I bother you then just tell me, I promise, I won't feel bad. It's better to step out when you don't want to be in certain situations don't you think? "

Even now, she gives me her genuine smile. I couldn't help but feel guilty. She truly does, have a pure soul.

"It was nice meeting you Mei."

She gave me her last smile and walked away.

I stared blankly at the universe, wondering if they're doing it on purpose, or it's fate's little game I somehow stumbled upon. 

Of all the years I could've met someone, why now? 

Why now, when I am not mentally prepared and not physically appropriate? 

Of all the years I could've made a friend, why now, when I'm beating around the bush, lying to myself and believing the fact that I am but no one in anyone's life. 

It pained me to think someone had to meet this side of me. 

If only they've met me years later, or years earlier, maybe then it took a different turn. 

I sat there in silence, the tears that so eagerly wanted to fall, and my teeth that crushed hard together to not let out a whimper. 

My phone buzzed, assuming it was just random notifications, or sir Jaime came to check up on me. 

Ever since that day, we've exchanged phone numbers, and he's been checking up on me whenever he can. 

"Mei, are you alright staying until 6? Or do you want me to call you a ride home?" 

He texted me, it felt so wrong for me to stay at his place, just staying there and waiting for him to come home. I'd rather wait and we'd go together. 

"Oh, I'm alright, I'd rather wait for you to finish. 

I'll be waiting in the classroom." 

I replied, wondering if I should sit down for the whole hour, or wander around the school for a couple minutes and head back. 

I suddenly thought of Lia, the guilt came rushing back. 

I debated, should I let it be? Or approach her? 

It came to mind that maybe, I should loosen up like sir Jaime said. Embrace everything that would crash in my life, may it be temporary or permanent.

Maybe I should give it a shot. Loosen up, and go with the flow. 

After a while, I decided to walk down the hallway, hoping to meet her at some point. 

I've passed classrooms and students, and at a very distant view, I saw a brunette with her hair tied up, standing on the chair to reach the highest point of the wall, placing the poster she had been carrying. 

I walked up to her, still hesitant and nervous. My hands shaking and my legs slowly resisting my command to move. 

She noticed and stopped whatever she was doing, her smile faded, her hands dropping to her sides. 

We stared at each other, the awkwardness grew and the atmosphere tensed. 

"Does your offer still stand?" 

I asked, giving her my faintest smile. 

"Only if you feel like it." 

I stood up on the chair next to her, helping her pin the poster in her hands. 

She smiled and giggled. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I headed to the classroom Mei said she's in. 

I bought her snacks so she won't feel too bored waiting, I thought I'd stay for a short while as well to help her feel at ease. It was a boring afternoon after all. 

I entered and saw nothing but chairs and bags, not a sign of a human. I stepped back and read the sign just before you enter, I was sure I was in the right classroom. 

I walked down the hall, passing by students who greeted me as we met paths, then just a few feet away, I saw Mei... Smiling. But not so genuinely, it was a faint one, but still, she smiled. 

The first time I ever saw her that way. 

She seemed to be enjoying other's company, that was okay. Atleast now I won't always worry about her being alone. One day, she'll surely open her heart to the world, and fly like a beautiful butterfly. 

I giggled and slowly turned back, returning to the faculty.