Bloom in Summer(3)

6

As such, everyone thought we were dating.

In fact, this was not the case. We abided by a set of rules. I could stay with him and accompany him.

Moreover, we had lunch and classes together. Occasionally, we also hung out, but we were not a couple.

Josiah was a thoughtful person. Whenever we hung out, he would arrive early. In addition, he would pick the best seats when we went to the cinema and remember my favorite food and drinks. Plus, he would keep his distance from other girls.

It was just that his thoughtfulness was originally reserved for another girl.

I was unsure whether it was because I felt guilty about taking over the role of Tianna, but I could never become close to Josiah.

Josiah did not care, either. Perhaps the mere sight of me satisfied him.

Soon, the summer break was over. When school started again, I was already in the arts track.

As I was the class monitor, the head teacher often made me run errands. After delivering the class schedule, I was ordered by the teacher to get my classmates to hand in their homework.

The class was noisy. It was a merged class, and the seats of the students were not properly assigned yet. A group of students was running around. Upon seeing this, I felt helpless.

However, before I reached the classroom, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me to a corner.

Josiah leaned against the wall and looked at me. His school uniform was hanging loosely on his body.

He did not usually behave normally, so doing so made him look even more like a punk. Other people would assume he was some gangster from outside of school.

He did not even bother to wear his clothes properly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Shh, I haven't completed my homework. The student assistant is collecting our homework, so I hurried away," Josiah answered.

I could not believe he got seventh place in our grade in the placement test.

He grabbed my arms again and pulled me closer. I could see that he was staring at me intently.

"Help me, Lillian," he pleaded.

"How... How many uncompleted homework assignments do you have?"

"Apart from math."

"Apart from math, you've completed everything else?"

"Apart from math, I haven't completed the other assignments."

"You're hopeless, Josiah."

Josiah kept his head lowered and stared at me, and it took me a while to realize that he had been staring at me for quite some time. I was not even sure whether he was listening to me. Just as I was about to ask him, Josiah lowered his head and brushed his cold lips against the corner of my mouth.

Josiah's gesture caught me off guard. I lost my balance, and when I was about to collapse, Josiah stretched out his arm and hooked it around my waist.

When he let go of me, I was still in a daze.

"Aren't you going to help me, Lilly?" he said.

Josiah approached me and pushed the strands of my hair behind my ears. In spite of this, I felt nervous and started to retreat.

At that time, I really panicked.

Meanwhile, he looked at me quietly. I could not see what was in his eyes. The sun was shining, and the rays illuminated the corridor. Half of his face was shadowed, and Josiah's lips curled into a smile.

I realized I was starting to develop feelings for him, despite telling myself not to do so. Slowly, I was turning to mush.

7

Back then, boys seemed to like either basketball or video games the most. I had no interest in both activities, but it was one thing to watch boys play basketball and another thing to watch Josiah carry out the same activity.

Obviously, those who shared the same thoughts were those Grade 10 girls who had just started school.

I eavesdropped on their discussion. The other students were gossiping about Josiah's rumored girlfriends when a glass of water appeared before my eyes.

"Hold it for me," Josiah said.

He looked at me with the rays of light behind him. I could not see his expression clearly. Instead, I only felt how warm and tender his voice sounded, just like the sun that was gradually vanishing below the horizon.

I held the glass and nodded. Then, I heard him laughing gently with his mouth closed. I was about to ask him what else he wanted when he reached out to rub my hair.

I tilted my head and was overwhelmed by a sudden rush of emotions.

After they had finished playing basketball, the sun had already disappeared below the horizon. Shades of red and orange had begun to darken, and the autumn breeze gave us chills.

The street lamps were still lit, and the mini-mart was not closed yet. Several teenage boys were huddled in a group and bought a number of popsicles.

Josiah stood at one of the street lamps, putting his hands on his hips. The cool autumn breeze blew at the short strands of hair dangling in front of his forehead. When he saw me, he smiled.

Somebody laughed at us, while some others placed their hands on their chests to express their surprise. Josiah went up to kick the boy. There was a hint of exhaustion in his voice as if it would vanish in the clouds of autumn at any time.

My home was not far from the school. Josiah and I both walked home. Although he was tall and had long legs, he walked behind me. Perhaps he was really tired from playing basketball today, and he remained silent.

"Lilly." Suddenly, Josiah called me.

"Huh?"

"Stay with me."

"Huh?"

I thought he was acting up again.

After that, Josiah stopped talking. He just took a few steps forward and held my hand.

He led me along the way. I was home by the time the sky was completely dark.

"Goodbye."

I bade him farewell. Nevertheless, he still held my hand. I shook him, and he finally let go and stared at me intently.

"Mm."

When he answered me, his voice sounded low and hazy.

"I don't want to be abandoned again."

A gust of wind appeared unexpectedly, and the leaves of the nearby trees rustled. Both of us were facing each other. All of a sudden, I understood what he was saying.

"Stay with me. Don't be like her and abandon me again."

8

Grade 11 was daunting, and I hardly had sufficient sleep each day. I yawned constantly during the mornings.

The class was noisy. Some students were handing in their homework, while some were copying homework. Meanwhile, I was lying on the table, unable to keep myself awake.

Suddenly, I felt a warm sensation on my cheek.

I looked up with half-closed eyes. Josiah had one hand in his pocket and held a warm glass of milk with his other hand. He was pressing the glass against my cheek and eyeing me.

"Thank you," I said, accepting the glass of milk.

Josiah smiled and pinched my face.

"Didn't you sleep well? You sound exhausted," he asked.

I was used to him doing such gestures in public.

Our classmates were also used to it.

In fact, our teacher was also informed about this. Moreover, I was the class monitor. Therefore, the teacher had repeatedly summoned me to the teachers' lounge.

Josiah and I never dated. Besides, my mother could not control me at all, so the teacher could hardly do anything about me.

As for Josiah, I was not sure, but I guessed his family members could not control him, either. Otherwise, he would not have behaved in such an unrestrained manner.

The first class was math class. I forced myself to stay awake and listen to the lecture. Then, I went to the restroom to wash my face.

However, after washing my face, I did not expect to get blocked by someone when I passed by a small area in a corner.

There was usually no one in this area. The last time Josiah kissed me forcefully, it was here.

I used to hear of Queenie Xander. It seemed like she was not the type of person to be messed with. Students from all grades talked about her, and I had heard some things about this girl.

For example, she was rumored to have attempted to woo Josiah.

I was not acquainted with Queenie. Obviously, she was not here to give me a friendly hug when she blocked my way.

"Hi, is your name Lillian?" she asked.

She had even heard of my name.

"What's the matter?" I replied.

"I heard that... you're dating Josiah?"

She was taller than me and looked down at me with a provocative gaze as she spoke.

There was a moment's silence between us.

After a while, I said, "I don't know him."

She was obviously stunned by my denial.

"You two are in the same class. Don't you know each other..."

"I mean I don't know him that well. Don't listen to rumors. I'm not interested in dating anybody, let alone him because dating will affect my studies. I'm a good student. Will you let me leave now?" I denied everything, replicating what I had told the head teacher perfectly.

Queenie fell silent.

Just as I was getting impatient, I suddenly saw Josiah carrying a stack of test papers in the corner. He seemed to have overheard our conversation.

After glancing at us, he turned around and left.

Queenie looked at me, and I looked at her in return. A moment later, she began to scratch her head.

"Okay, you may leave now," she said.

This girl was a bit slow.

When I was back in the classroom, Josiah was handing out the test papers. As he was transferred here from an elite class, he successfully became the math teacher's assistant.

When I passed by Josiah, I asked, "What did I get?"

I knew he would look at my grades on purpose, so he was in the know. This time, however, he pursed his lips and did not respond.

I was not bothered by this. After all, the test papers would eventually come to me.

As expected, Josiah had finished handing out the test papers. Following that, he came over with two test papers in his hand.

He stared at me and smirked.

"Here you go, 'good student.'"

Sure enough, he had overheard my conversation with Queenie.

I took the test papers. After seeing the horrible "59" on it, I folded it hastily and stuffed it inside my desk.

Josiah was still standing in front of my desk with his gaze lowered. He did not seem to be too happy.

I poked at his waist.

"What's the matter? We aren't even a couple. Why are you such a nuisance..." I said.

"A nuisance?"

He raised his eyebrows.

We looked at each other for a moment. Josiah always stared at people when he looked at them. He always looked like he harbored ill intentions for no reason.

"I'm sorry." I raised my hands and gave in.

Josiah was still eyeing me. When the school bell rang, he finally chuckled and rubbed my head.

I was so confused.