The last period on Wednesday afternoon was P.E. The rain stopped just in time so after the bell rang for Math, everyone rushed down the stairs cheering.
The P.E teacher was easy to deal with and rarely stopped them from doing anything; he usually let them do whatever after getting them to run a few rounds.
The class formed a crooked line as the class bell rang. The teacher blew into his loud whistle. “Jog around the field, boys do five and girls do two. Afterward, you are free to do whatever. Go!”
Though the task was nothing demanding, everybody still groaned.
“Teacher— Since the floor is wet and it’s hard to run on, why not give us one less round?”
He blew his whistle again. “It’s only a few rounds, if you continue to dilly dally I’ll add rounds! Now go, you youngsters despise moving around even more than I do!”
A group of girls went up to say something and sat down at a corner giggling after getting his approval. This “privilege” was because they were on their period.
It was true that some people have painful menstruations, but those girls barely appeared unwell at all; they just did not want to run. The pained look they put on was so fake anyone could see it was only acting, but nobody said anything.
The one who genuinely had a throbbing cramp and was visibly pale, Chi Tang, did not even go to the teacher and ran along with the rest. Every step she made the pain became more obvious; she gradually slowed down and trailed behind everyone else. Nobody could tell she was in pain and just felt that she had a bad attitude.
The boys were like peacocks flaunting their tails, starting to race for no apparent reason. Wang JiaoYang and his bunch were among the leading few, quickly starting on their second round and surpassed Chi Tang still in her first.
She was slowly pacing when an overwhelmingly loud clap sounded beside her ear. It was Wang JiaoYang. He ran off after successfully shocking her, laughing proudly.
She could feel her ear ringing, the sudden burst of sound making her head hurt. “F**k,” Chi Tang cursed as she rubbed her ear.
She genuinely hated the climate in Nanlin. It was hot and humid, agitating people to the point they wanted to claw their skins out to breathe properly. Even after taking off her jacket, she perspired. Chi Tang immediately backed away when someone ran past, then realizing that it was You Yu, not Wang JiaoYang.
This roommate of hers had her focus on the track and showed no sign of fatigue. You Yu was serious when she ran, unlike the others, intent on maintaining her own pace. No matter what she did, she was serious. This seriousness, however, was something to be laughed at and mocked in the eyes of the boys and girls of their age.
Chi Tang noticed that You Yu still had her jacket on, the only one in the entire class. Probably because she didn’t want her worn-out t-shirt to be seen, Chi Tang thought.
Her thoughts drifted away from You Yu and after running her two rounds she headed straight for the small provision shop to buy another bottle of iced water.
By her side were two girls buying ice cream, one asked, “Aren’t you on your period? You are still eating cold stuff?”
“I never had cramps, even if I eat cold or spicy stuff,” The other boasted.
Chi Tang had cramps every time, but she still drank iced water when she wanted to. It was such a suffocatingly hot day and she just ran, her back still sweaty, but her hands were cold. Holding the bottle of water made it feel even more like ice.
Chi Tang’s cramps were worse than ever this time so she did not go to eat and instead rested in the dorm. The room at this time of the day was always quiet, with only You Yu eating in front of her desk. She ate quickly, just like when she showers.
Chi Tang drifted in and out of sleep with the small sounds in the room until someone patted her through the blanket.
“Do you want to drink some hot water?”
Chi Tang did not expect You Yu to initiate a conversation, but the surprise was short-lived as her temper has been affected negatively by the pain and she frowned, not bothered to respond.
You Yu must have noticed, as she put down the cup. “I’ll leave it on the table.”
Then she picked up her things and left as per usual, in a hurry to the classroom without any further unnecessary action.
She peered at the glass of steaming hot water and suddenly recalled that nobody has ever done this for her, offering a glass of warm water when she was in pain.
Chi Tang turned and closed her eyes.
But she never needed it anyway.
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