The Bell Rung...
When the bell struck 4:00 PM, the entire classroom erupted into a frenzy of movement. I might prefer sitting at the very back during class, but when it comes to going home, I want to be the first one out the door.
"School's over already? Let me just finish up this last bit, class..."
When the teacher said that, we all had to stifle our collective groan and our desperate urge to leave. My body was still in the classroom, but my heart had already reached home.
"Do you all understand the problems I just explained?"
"Yes, we do!"
The entire class answered in unison. If anyone dared say they didn't understand, she'd start explaining all over again, and we'd be stuck there even longer. At this moment, going home was the only priority.
"Alright then, class dismissed."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Our loudest greeting of the day is always the one we give when school lets out. I'd already packed everything before the bell even rang, so I swung my backpack over my shoulder instantly.
Nyein Min Thaik seemed to notice my unusual haste. He grabbed hold of my heavy backpack. My patience was wearing thin; I couldn't keep being stretched like this.
"Why are you in such a rush today?"
"I just want to get home."
"I have my motorbike with me; I can give you a ride."
"Thanks, but I'm good."
I gently pried his hand off my bag. Nyein Min Thaik probably stood there thinking I didn't appreciate his kindness.
I sprinted toward the ninth-grade building as fast as I could. The sky was unusually dark and gloomy today. When I reached Phue Ngone's classroom, the door was already shut. Did she go home alone?
Still, I waited patiently. As the students cleared out, the school grounds grew progressively quiet. Finally, I was about to give up. She must have really left.
I started walking away from our building with heavy, dragging steps.
"I'm not interested in you!"
Wasn't that Phue Ngone Thit Lwin's voice? It was coming from the bicycle parking area behind our building.
I pivoted and headed toward the back of the building. I'd just been thinking how deserted the place was, so what was she doing in such a secluded spot?
"Why? What's wrong with me?"
I heard a boy's voice respond. From what I could see, the guy looked a bit disheveled. What on earth was she doing?
When she caught sight of me, she looked at me with a sense of desperate longing for help.
Phue Ngone is actually on a date... at such a young age...
My chest tightened with a strange heat as I stood there watching the two of them. I didn't know what to say. After all, we weren't even related. I figured it was best to just turn around and leave.
"Ko Atar Koo!"
She called out, but I didn't answer.
"Who is he?" the disheveled boy asked, staying close to her.
Phue Ngone snapped at him impatiently, "He's my brother, okay!"
I started walking away with long strides, and she came running after me. The boy didn't follow.
"Wait!"
I pretended not to hear her.
"Ko Atar Koo, wait up!"
She grabbed my black backpack so tightly that I couldn't move forward anymore. I stopped under the large rain tree just past the school gate.
"What is it? I'm not trying to disturb you two."
"It's... it's not what you think."
"I don't think anything..."
Truthfully, I was just incredibly worried. The little girl who had cried her eyes out over some lotus flowers was now... with boys like that...
Ah, I really didn't want to think about it anymore.
"He asked me out, and I was just trying to turn him down politely."
"Is that so?"
I said it flatly, but her eyes began to well up with tears. I hadn't done anything besides speak in a normal tone and keep my face expressionless.
"You don't believe me..."
She let go of my bag and hurried ahead of me on her short legs.
Wait... is she sulking now?
So, I ended up being the one tailing her. Who was the one in a secluded spot with a strange boy, anyway?
"I haven't even said anything yet..."
"You're not saying it now, but you're going to go home and tell my mom, aren't you?"
I couldn't help but let out a laugh. She was actually worried about her mom scolding her, with such childish thoughts. Even though she was a teenager now, she still thought like a little kid. At the sound of my laughter, she stopped and looked back at me.
Raindrops had started to fall, clinging to her hair.
"I won't tell. I didn't tell back then, and I won't tell now."
Her tears were now mingling with the rain.
I pulled my umbrella out of the side pocket of my bag and hurried over to her.
"It's raining... you'll get sick if you stay out in this."
I moved past her, but she didn't follow.
"Well... you called me 'brother' earlier, but now you don't want to share an umbrella with me?"
I held the umbrella with one hand and used the other to gently brush the raindrops off her head.
"Come on, hurry... you'll catch a cold." I spoke in my gentlest voice and gave her a smile.
Wiping away her tears, she ducked under the umbrella with me.
This girl is still the same crybaby as always. The child Phue Ngone and the teenage Phue Ngone are exactly the same when it comes to crying.
"You know, you're just like you used to be. You only call me 'brother' when you want something."
"I don't want anything from you!"
Hearing that tone, I knew for sure she wasn't mad anymore.
"I'm older than you, you know..." I teased.
"I used to know a girl who called me 'Ko Ko' once..."
"Really? That girl must have had terrible eyesight," she quipped.
The one with the blurry vision was you...
"She really existed. Her vision was perfectly fine."
"You're so annoying. I'm cold."
"Next time someone confesses to you, let me know, okay?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"So this 'brother' of yours can turn them away so no one dares get near Phue Ngone."
"If you have that much free time, you should spend it studying. It would be more productive."
There she went again, bringing up schoolwork.
We were the only two people on the deserted school road. I realized I'd started to enjoy heading home late... as long as it was with a girl named Phue Ngone Thit Lwin.