5. Encountering Him

looking out of the window, I saw trees sprinting back. Xiang Zhi sighed.

'things went back to 7 years in the past. It is finally starting to feel real.'

I looked up at the sky and a shiver ran through me.

'I didn't question your existence before, god. but, it was not like I was your no. one devotee. So, I wonder why? is it actually god? or... some other power....?

Woah, stop right there, Xiang Zhi, you are starting to overthink now, but it's not like this whole situation is normal' I sighed and closed my eyes.

' Their reactions were funny when I told them to get to know the boy in question. Well, the old me would never even say that.' I smiled.

'It was important anyway because the boy is exactly Lian Huaiwei. And I wasn't aware that we used to go to the same school. Wait, before I died Hui mentioned that Huaiwei loved me since school.' I froze and after a moment I realized that I was smiling.

'wait am I blushing? for what? that Huaiwei loves me or that I am starting to like him.' I took a deep breath and calmed my mind and the beating of my heart who seemed to forget its rhythm.

'I promise you Lian Huaiwei, if you love me at this moment then I won't let you go ever.

wait why am I being so possessive? it's not like he is mine already!' Zhi shook her head but the word 'mine' made ripples in her heart unbeknownst to her knowledge.

"thank you" I step out from the car and gaze at the large gait in front of me.

"Prestigious High school" I read out loud.

I sighed, 'Remind me of the old days'.

I entered the gaits after my driver left.

I would be lying if I said, I didn't miss school. The walk from the entrance to the student's building is 10 minutes. Seeing the nature surrounding this school was a sight. just like its name, the school was for noble families. all kids going into this school were rich and from a family with a background that wasn't simple.

You could see it by the way they conduct themselves. They are not here to just study, they are here for the connections, and making friends, allies.

In the past, when I got into this school, it was not that important to me, but now, the story is different. Now I truly understand the way of the world. I know-how difference could a good ally make. I learned it a hard way.

Not only that, I remember the past too. This will be my first step to my revenge. The wound is still fresh, it will take time to heal.

I took in a deep breath and climbed the stairs.

Slowly but surely, I will heal.

I stood in front of the door of a classroom.

"I think this is the one? maybe?"

I don't remember if this is the room or not!

Not sure if it was the room or not I hesitated.

"Are-aren't you going in?" I heard a meek voice which made me jump a few steps away from the voice.

Placing my hand on my chest, I looked at a certain someone at the place I was before.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I - I am sorry Miss Xiang Zhi." he bowed.

I blinked. once, twice, thrice but couldn't make out the words.

'I am speechless'

I looked at the worried guy in front of me like he has committed a great sin.

His hair falling over his eyebrows and the big glasses he was wearing couldn't hide the blue as dark as the night sky color of his eyes.

His features were also sharp with sharp eyes and a pointed nose. His lips were surprisingly red like a cherry. a strong jaw and his physique were hidden well in his loose shirt but, I had the eyes like a hawk. He definitely does work out. A nerd.

But what caught the eyes of Xiang Zhi was his eyes and voice.

"It can't be...?" I whispered, dumbfounded.

"Miss Xiang Zhi, are you alright? Your face is a little red?" the boy said or asked maybe.

"Lian Huaiwei??" I whispered, ignoring my heart racing rapidly.

I just focused on the boy in front of me whose resemblance is too much for a coincidence with that person.

I saw the guy's eyes go wide with surprise and then a pink hue covered his ears, making my heart go berserk and my mind go blank for a moment.

"oh? Miss Xiang knew my name. I-I am Lian Huaiwei." He said bashfully.

'What. in. the. world.'

"We study in the same class?" I asked.

"Yes! ahem, I mean we are classmates since the second year. You might not have noticed me" Lian Huaiwei said. I could tell the little unhappiness in his voice. It made me heartache.

Is he pouting, now? It made my heart skip a beat. what is this feeling? He's making me feel emotions without him knowing, dam it!! Was I blind earlier? I peeked at the person in front of me. His head was low but his looks are like an aphrodite walking down the earth.

'he is too handsome and hot! is he the person who is supposed to be my fiancee? I can not believe that I left him for that piece of shit.

"oh, umm, I am sorry. I am not too friendly with my classmates and I don't pay attention in class so, I didn't even try to get to know many students which I regret now." I said without thinking and when I looked at him he was frozen.

'Did I say something weird?'

'I-I don't remember what I said!!?! what the fuck. my life is getting chaotic by the second!!!'

"you don't have to apologize! It's not like everyone knows my name or I am famous either and you do know my name, and that is amazing, I mean it is really good yeah, wait-what?. what I am trying to say is that don't worry about it." he babbled.

'Is he trying to be cute? cuz it's working.'.

It made me giggle, for some reason his presence is making me feel happy. I walked to him and then stopped in front of him.

'he is tall' first thing that came to my mind was this. He is 5'10, I guess, I am short. 5'3.

A tough life certainly.

He looked down at me, examining me. I felt my cheeks burn and the temperature suddenly rose for a moment. He was staring at me, but I didn't look away, in fact, I stared back at him.

His dark blue orbs look directly at my dark hazel brown color eyes.

Now that I am looking from closer, it does feel like he is a statue, carved carefully and beautifully.

I felt a small smile form on my lips, realizing that we are staring at each other since earlier, shamelessly.

'he was checking me out too right?' my smile widened. And like a sudden realization hit him, he hurriedly looked away, coughing.

"I apologize for staring, miss Xiang Zhi," He said not meeting my eyes.

'it is making me feel embarrassed now. was I always this bold?' I chuckled.

"It's alright. You can call me Zhi." I said giving him my best smile because I am happy.

'ah! I am starting to feel like a teenager too. haha'

"huh...? what?" he looked at me gasping eyes wide.

huh? what's with this guy getting shocked with every sentence I speak.

"I said call me Zhi, Lian Huaiwei. My friends call me Zhi too. ah, I will also call you Huaiwei from now on too. Is that okay with you, Huaiwei?" I said cutely.

The boy in front of me was beyond shocked. I thought I had to repeat myself but he beat me to it.

"friends? so, are we friends?" he asked me nervously.

'This boy, why is he so..... harmless!? he looks like a puppy. So shy and docile. A kind-hearted man.' I smiled at him assuringly.

"Yes, silly. Or else why would I make you call me with my first name. I only let people close to me call me that. And you are my friend from now on, you are one of them." I said, looking in his eyes, grinning.

"..."

"..."

"Then okay! We are friends from now on...Zhi" He said. he called my name in such a low voice that I almost missed it. But when I did, my heart skilled a beat.

I looked at him, he was avoiding eye contact but his ears were now red and it was a sight to soar eyes.

I inhale and exhale sharply.

'Cute!'

'cAlm down my little heart.' I told myself and couldn't help but grin.

"I-I think we should go inside now," he said still not making eye contact.

"oh, yeah. haha, I forgot about it for a second there. Let's go."

He opened the gate for me like a gentleman he is.

"Thanks, Huaiwei," I said making him blush and I giggle.

I entered the class to silence greet me. I looked up to see all students were staring at me. some were gasping and some were whispering to each other. Then I saw, I was not alone, they were staring at us.

I looked back and saw Huaiwei looking down, nervously.

"Huaiwei? You good?" I asked him and his head snap at me. It made me surprised a little.

I gave him a 'what you didn't expect me to call you Huaiwei? you didn't believe me do you?' look.

He rubbed his back of the neck and smiled at me, apologizing. It made class gasp out again.

'Why is he looking pretty, whatever he does?' I looked away fearing I will stare at him again.

And why are they making a big deal of everything?

I looked back at the class and made my way to the seat I always used to sit on. the window seat. I smiled and put my bag on the table. I turned around to see where did he sat.

"...!?" I looked at the face grinning at me, on the desk right beside mine.

" I've been sitting beside you since the second year, Zhi," Huaiwei said still grinning.

'Did he get comfortable calling me with my name all of sudden? fast learner, I see.'

"oh? ha! I told you, I don't pay attention to my surroundings." I sighed, shaking my head.

"it's alright. I am happy you are paying attention to me now-ah, I mean to your surroundings!!" He corrected himself hurriedly.

I laughed at his adorable self.

"hehe, yeah-yeah, now I am paying attention to my surroundings. to the people around me." I grinned at him.

"You are teasing me, aren't you," he blushed, pouting.

It made me laugh again.

'you are so cute!!!' I said in my head.

I looked at him to apologize but I saw his eyes looking at me intently, with a red face. Even his neck.

Is he sick? was the first thing that came to my mind and I was absentmindedly reaching out to his forehead.

"are you sick?, your face is seriously red, Huaiwei," I said comparing my forehead temperature to his with my hands.

"...you called me cute." I heard him barely whisper.

I widened my eyes and removed my hand to find him staring at me. This was my turn to blush when I realized that I complimented him out loud.

"oh? haha, Ummm. well, that's the truth. you are cute, believe it!" I sat down bashfully.

'aahhhh, what is this. I feel fuzzy in my heart!'