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"Everyone, gather up!" The substitute teacher, Wang Yin-shin, yelled. Blowing the whistle hanging in her neck as she walks over to the center where everybody can see her. Wang Yin-shin eyed the students giggling and gathering around her, a wide smile forming on her lips.
"What activity are we going to do today, miss?" One of the students inquired. Wang Yin-shin nodded and spoke loudly, "Uhuh, so you're pretty excited about the game. Okay, today we will be playing...dun dun dun dunn.." drumming her fingers in the air, "dodgeball!"
All of the students cheered, especially those who correctly predicted the activity for today. As she motioned for the male students she had earlier asked to get the ball to come forward, Wang Yin-shin nodded. After collecting the ball, she raised it in the air.
"Okay, I'll group you into 4. Then we'll have a rock-paper-scissors to know who will be the hitter first. So, have anyone brought a bag? come forward." A few students raised their hands and come forward, Wang Yin-shin pointed at the girl with glasses, "Ning Wan? okay. Get a piece of paper then write your classmate's name, just the last name would be enough. Then tear it and roll it, you, help her okay?"
"Yess, miss."
"We will decide the members by using this method or...do you want to group yourself?" Wang Yin-shin crossed her arms as she eyed the students. She's sure some of them would like to be in the same group with people they are close with or someone who's athletic.
She could see most of them want to group themselves, the rest that are hesitant are those students who usually stay low and quiet.
Wang Yin-shin inquired of the class representative, "How many students are present?" Rong Mayu, the class representative, responded immediately.
"Forty-one are present and three are absents."
Wang Yin-shin nodded and pondered for a few moments before speaking again. "Okay, Listen to me! Group yourself into three ten and one eleven! Give me the list of your group's members if you're complete!" The students' eyes widen as they scatter and group themselves.
"What about this, Miss?" Ning Wan asked, holding up a pad of paper with names written on it. "Ah, just find your own group, dear. Sorry for the inconvenience." Ning Wan shook her head shyly, "It's okay, Miss." Wang Yin-shin smiled before urging her to return.
Wang Yin-shin look at the busy students, talking here and there. The buzzing noises they made would normally give Wang Yin-shin a headache but fortunately, they're in the quadrangle which is an open area.
Zhang Wang Lei who was busy chatting with a friend was suddenly approached by one of his friends, Jang Wei. "Zhang! Let's group together!" He frowned, asking what he meant by that.
"Ms. Wang said to group into three ten and eleven. Class rep already has eleven members, so all we need is ten members." Hearing Jang Wei's explanation, Zhang Wang Lei agreed.
'This is a fantastic opportunity! ' He pondered. This is an opportunity for him to make friends with Charles, and it is a good opportunity to appeal to him! Zhang Wang Lei inquires about Jang Wei's decision. "How many more do we need, and can I recruit?"
"Sure, go ahead; we have me, Ming Wan, Cheng Ning, Xi Bao, Ark, Old Chu, and you; we just need three more." Hearing that, Zhang Wang Lei hurriedly scanned the place and jog towards Charles who was standing quietly in the middle of rushing students.
.
"Charles! Charles!" Charles followed the movements of his classmates approaching one another. His presence was almost unnoticed amidst this scene, he wanted to join but was unable to.
Charles wonders when will the time come he will mingle with other people like that? Like a normal high schooler...
"Charles! Do you already have a group?" Charles was jolted out of his reverie when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulders. He spoke politely while removing his hands. "Hm? Sure. I have." No, he doesn't. But why didn't he say that? He doesn't know either, probably as a reflex.
"Oh, okay. If only you still need one. We're still open... uh...I'll go first," With that said Charles could imagine droopy ears and tail behind Zhang Wang Lei.
Seriously...ha...
Sighing, he looked around and tried to approach one of the classmates he could talk to. He hopes they still have a spot left. Charles scratched his left wrist pissed at his own pride.
"Excuse me, Mai..."Charles poked a short girl with long black hair, the girl turned around and smiled. "Charles! Yes? you need something...wait. If you are gonna ask if we still have a spot.." Mai smiled apologetically at him.
"I'm sorry, we don't have one. Class rep gathered us and form a group, we are already eleven so, we can't accept you even if we want to. Wait, I can ask someone if they still have a spot, want that?" Charles shook his head. He can't implicate others, could he? "No need, I'll do it on my own. Thanks for the offer, though."
Charles sighed as he walk away, approaching another classmate. He hopes he's not in the same group as the Class representative. "Hi, are you in the same group as the class rep?"
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Seeing Zhang Wang Lei jogged back with a girl with him, Jang Wei waved and welcome them. "Yow, you got one? Hey, Cheng Rou." Cheng Rou nodded and accepted his fist bump. Jang Wei patted Zhang Wang Lei's back, peeking if he have another person with him. "I thought you're gonna invite Charles? I saw you walking to him."
Zhang Wang Lei shook his head, his eyes cast down. "He said he already has one, got there too late," Hearing what Zhang Wang Lei said, Jang Wei frowned, a little puzzled. Isn't that a little strange? He saw the class rep's group, so that's out, as are the other groups, which he didn't see Charles in. "Weird, Yuan's, class rep's, and Xiao Fu's groups are already full."
Zhang Wang Lei looked at Jang Wei, then pouted and shrugged. "I'll ask who isn't in any group; the class rep said forty-one are present," Jang Wei said as he went to the other groups, patting Cheng Rou's and Zhang Wang Lei's backs.
"Mai, your teams full right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing, just asking."
"Yuan, is your team's full?"
"Hmm."
"'Kay."
"Xiao Fu! Charles' in your team?"
Li Fu shook his head and said, "Brother Wei. No, we're full. He inquired before though. Ah, he's there." Charles was rummaging through his backpack where the class's belongings were kept. Jang Wei gave Li Fu a grateful nod before jogging in Chales' direction.
"Charles! Man, hey," Jang Wei exclaimed as Charles turned to face him. "We still need one member, do you have one?" Charles paused for a moment before nodding and standing up. Jang Wei and him appear to be of similar height. "That's fantastic! Come on over, they're over there."
Pulling Charles into the group, he slaps Zhang Wang Lei's back and pushes Charles in. "Now we're finished! Old Chu, add Charles' name and pass it to Miss Wang." After writing Charles' name, Old Chu gave Jang Wei a thumbs up and tore the paper off. "Give it with me, Wei." Jang Wei clung his arms around Old Chu's shoulders while walking towards their teacher.
"Ah...The other groups are full," Charles said abruptly, looking at Zhang Wang Lei, who was staring at him. "Ahhh...fine. that's As I mentioned, we still have a spot open." Charles gave Zhang Wang Lei a brief smile and a quiet thank you before returning to silence.
"Everyone, Gather up!"
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A/n; After a few while, I won't double update anymore...T-T. I'm squeezing my brain, as it is. I'll let you know when exctly it is. Release will be sporadic from then on.