"Start again as friends"

"Feng.."

"(What is he doing here and what's with his strange gaze?)" Ning thought as she gulped and broke the eye contact she didn't even knew she was having with him for the last 30 seconds.

"Hey Feng, what are doing here? Is your cleaning for the day done?" Ling who set her foot out just now asked not really feeling the tension in the air.

.

"I..I need to talk with Ning, would you mind waiting a bit?" Feng said as he looked at Ling who was taken aback at first but then again,

"(It must be related to their practice.)" thought crossed her mind and she just nodded her head and pushed Ning towards him.

.

"Take your time. I will be waiting at the gate." Ling said as she waved towards Ning who was looking at her with pleading eyes screaming *don't leave* *idiot!!*

But Ling couldn't see any of it.

.

"Ning, she is long gone..." Feng said as he looked at Ning who slowly turned her head towards him but her eyes still fixated on the ground.

Feng seemed to notice her nervousness and for some reason he just felt the urge to pat her head but than again Ning wasn't someone who enjoyed skinship, so he clenched his urges and put forward his right hand with held the paper bag Ning gave to him.

.

"You should take this back." Feng said and Ning suddenly raised her eyes and meet with his. Her face showing fear and hurt expression.

"Why?" She asked her voice louder then usual but her hands were still shaking.

And maybe she noticed that too as the very next second her face became flushed and she took 2 steps backward.

.

"Did---Did you not like the snacks?" Ning asked her eyes again at the ground.

"(I didn't know that the ground was more interesting than me.)" Feng thought as he shook his head and answered,

"No they were all nice...actually my favorite but...before having them I wanted to clear some things between us." Feng said his voice serious and Ning on the verge of an anxiety attack.

.

"Ning? Are you listening to me?"

Ning nodded her head and with a sigh Feng continued.

"Ning, I appreciate all that you did but can you tell me why are you sorry?" Feng asked and Ning breath got hitched right at her throat.

.

"(God, Please make me dissaper right now! Please!!)" Ning begged while chewing her lower lips.

"(Stupid! Idiot! Why did I even try to console him? What was the need? It would have been better if he just avoided me! Yeah right I am not a person he should even be close with. I---I don't deserve to be near him. I---I should run away..Yeah I should run.)"

.

While thousands of thoughts ran through her head, a hand gently brushed through her cheeks which caught her off guard and she meet with Feng's eyes which were filled with worry and concern.

"Ning, why are you crying?" Feng asked in a soft tone as he wiped another tear that rolled down her eyes.

.

"(I--I am crying?)" Ning thought as she touched her face which was wet and her eyes were glossy.

"Ning.." Feng called again with the same softness and warmth which made Ning heart more weak.

.

"(Ning run away! You will make a fool of yourself! Run Run Run!!)"

"Run...." Ning murmered as she took few steps back not realizing that their were stairs behind her and she was so ready to fall but luckily Feng caught her or mostly her bags straps and pulled her towards him. Their body almost touching.

.

"Ning! That was dangerous! Can't you think beife you act!" Feng said in an angry tone but his eyes were still full of concern for Ning.

"I am sorry..." Ning said out of a sudden her voice almost cracking in between the three words.

.

"I am sorry for not standing up for you....I am sorry for not listening to you..and I am sorry for troubling you...I am sorry..." Ning said with tears flowing down her eyes against her will.

"(Fuck! I am losing all of my control.)" Ning stated as she sat o through ground and started crying whole heartedly.

.

Feng was dumfounded and his midn was completely blank if not for the loud cries he might have stood there for a hour or two.

"(Was I too intimidating? What should I do? How do I console a crying girl?)" Feng thought with anxious hands and eyes.

.

"(Fuck it!)" He thought and kneeled on the ground with his hand on Ning's head and slowly patted her head.

"Ning..." He called and Ning looked at him, her eyes red and watery, her nose flushed while her lips were cherry red.

It must be a insane and illogical thought but looking at her crying face did made his heart skip a bit.

.

"Cute.." He said out of a sudden making the air awkward.

"(Fuck! Did I just say it out loud?)" He closed his eyes hoping for the earth to eat him alive.

"(Ning will surely think of me as a pervert.)" But unlike what he thought of Ning running away or saying something all he heard was a giggle.

.

He with all the courage looked at Ning who was now chuckling, her eyes almost disappearing and her bunny teeth showing.

"Wow!"

"(Fuck!! I said it again!!)" Feng mentally slapped himself whereas Ning was now laughing out loud.

.

Feng looked at her confused, but atleast she was happy to see her smile and laugh out so loudly because of him.

"Sorry but your expressions was just so comical..I was just unable to hold it." She said fianlly composing herself.

.

"Just like back in the auditorium?" Feng says as he hands her his handkerchief.

"Yeah" Ning says in a monotone while wiping off her tears with his handkerchief.

After that both of them stay in silent for sometime.

.

"So, you felt sorry for me?" Feng asked as he looked at Ning.

"No I felt guilty...to the core." Ning replied her gaze still at the ground.

"But you didn't do anything."

"Thats is why because I didn't do anything...I just let you get punished while you weren't at fault." Ning said with a little anger visible in her eyes for herself.

.

"Hah, Ning but I never blamed you. Yes I did though of you sometimes but I never blamed you seriously so let go of that guilt...and if possible let's start again." Feng said as he looked at her with a smile on his face.

"Start again?"

"Hmm, let's start not as awkward classmates but as friends. Let's work hard for the upcoming sports meet and do our best." Feng asked as he put forward his hands and was about to take it back when Ning didn't move but as he was about to take his hand back Ning held it just on the edge.

.

"Okay, let's start again with no awkwardness...as friends." Ning said as she gave him one of her warmest smile.

The birds chipped their way back home and the golden sunset marked their new bond.