During that period of time, I must have been perceived by my classmates as a very reclusive person.
For so long, I had been used to a world where there was just the two of us. I was probably used to spending time alone with Dongyu since I was young. Without him around, Iâd be on the alert once any strangers intruded.
During those tender years, I was overly quiet in class. During class, I would lower my head to look at my textbooks. After class, I would raise my head to look out of the window. Amidst the din, I would silently stare out of the window in a daze. Dongyuâs classroom was on the second floor of the block opposite, it was right across from my class. Dongyu would also lean against the window sill and quietly look at me. Even if we couldnât talk, it kept us happy.
Thus, those few minutes of break between classes became the times of the day that I most looked forward to. A day of classes was the hardest part of my life, so when the bell rang for the end of the day, I would suddenly feel alive and bright all of a sudden. Classes often ran very late in the fourth grade, and I would be let out earlier, so I liked to tiptoe at the windowsill and look around as I waited for him. Over time, Dongyuâs classmates became familiar with me and even teased me.
Sometimes, when I got bored of waiting, I would perform somersaults along the corridor outside the classroom and even do handstands. I would often fall and knock myself about, but I was never tired of it. However, I didnât want to make Dongyu anxious. Every time I fell doing handstands, he would stand up. One time, when the commotion was too much, the teacher aggressively rushed out with a ruler and pointed at me as he lectured, âWhich class is this restless child from? Weâre still having lessons. Go home quickly!â
I was stunned from the scolding. I pinched the corner of my shirt and said, âTeacher, Iâm waiting for my brother to come home with me...â
The teacher turned around to look inside the classroom and asked angrily: âWhat is your brotherâs name?â
I immediately shut my mouth, not wanting to betray Dongyu. However, a thin figure seated by the window quietly stood up.
âTeacher Xue, sheâs my sister.â
Dongyuâs tone was calm.
Teacher Xueâs teaching style was well known in town for being strict and dignified. At that time, he didnât care about the harmony between teachers and students. Physical punishment was a common thing, so Dongyu naturally didnât face a good outcome with this admission. Teacher Xue swung the ruler and gave him a few hard hits on the shoulder, then punished him by making him stand at the classroom door. His school bag was also mercilessly thrown out, but he wasnât allowed to pick it up.
I had never seen such a hateful teacher before. I was dumbfounded. I stared blankly at the books on the floor and cried sadly.
Dongyu looked at me and laughed helplessly. He pretended that it was nothing.
âI was bored during class.â
âYour form teacher is so fierce!â I secretly badmouthed his teacher.
He smiled and said, âEven the seniors are asking for a change of form teacher. They get slapped on the palms of their hands when they make minor mistakes in class.â
I hunched my shoulders and shrank back in fear.
After the lesson ended, the students filed out. Having not paid attention to the ground, they stepped on Dongyuâs textbook until its pages were tattered. Only a few girls carefully moved the textbook out of the way when the teacher wasnât looking.
Without Old Xueâs approval, no one dared to help.
Old Xue didnât ask us to leave. He sat calmly in the classroom, marking homework. Dongyu leaned against the wall with a calm expression, but there was a sprinkling of perspiration across his forehead.
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