Hao sat back at his desk, his head buzzing, like a soft electric sound in his ears.Kanghui turned around and frowned at him."You sure you're okay? You look like you're at your limit."
Hao gave a small smile."I'm fine… but tell me, how did you become the vice class leader? Did you bribe them?"
Kanghui rolled his eyes."You're joking already, guess you're feeling better."
Hao squinted and smiled at him.Kanghui smirked."What would I even bribe them with? My charm?"Hao kept squinting at him.
Just then Anqi walked up."Kanghui, teacher wants us in the office."Kanghui stood up."Alright… Hao, you wait here."
The two of them left.Hao dropped his head on the desk. Still one more hour until the end of class. Maybe a quick nap.
His desk mate, Luo Ting, hadn't spoken to him all day.He gave off this cold, "don't talk to me" vibe.Now she just sat there quietly, watching Hao sleep.
—Clack clack clack—High heels coming closer.The classroom instantly fell silent.
A young female teacher walked in."Where's the class leader? Nobody's calling 'stand up'?"
Luo Ting stood up quickly."Teacher, class leader and vice leader went to the office."
Teacher glanced at Hao."Why is your deskmate sleeping?"
"He's not feeling well," Luo Ting said softly.
Teacher gave a small nod."Fine, you do it then."
Luo Ting took a breath."Everyone, stand up! Teacher good morning!"
The whole class stood up."Good morning!"
Teacher wrote on the blackboard: Lin Yiting."I'm your English teacher. This year, let's do our best. Today we'll just self-study. Tomorrow class starts properly."
The students exchanged happy looks. First day and the last hour was free time—perfect.
Just then Kanghui and Anqi came back.Teacher smiled at them."You're the new class leader and vice leader?"
They nodded, introduced themselves.Teacher nodded back."Good. I'm your English teacher. My name's on the board. You can go back to your seats now."
Sunlight slanted through the window.Hao, half-asleep, half-awake, felt everything was both new and old at the same time.