E-book - "Those Years, Our Pursuit of Each Other"

Chapter 1: The First Encounter

The classroom fan squeaked as it spun, threatening to break down at any moment. Ming pretended to focus on the lesson but was secretly gazing out at the schoolyard. His interest in the tedious math lecture had long vanished, and his eyes followed the gentle swaying of the leaves outside. Just as he was about to fully zone out, the sharp creak of the classroom door jolted him back to reality.

“Class, quiet down. I’d like to introduce a new student,” the teacher announced.

The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at the door. Standing there was a girl with a high ponytail, dressed in a simple white blouse and blue jeans, clutching a thick book in her hands. Her clear, bright eyes and faintly shy smile lit up the room.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Ya. Nice to meet you,” she said, her voice crisp and clear like a mountain stream.

Ming’s gaze was drawn to her. He’d never seen such a pure, genuine smile—it felt like a ray of sunlight piercing straight into his heart. “How can someone be this beautiful?” Ming wondered, quickly ducking his head to pretend he was taking notes.

The teacher scanned the room and pointed to the empty seat next to Ming. “Ya, you can sit there.” Ya nodded and walked over gracefully, settling into the seat beside him.

Ming’s heart raced. He stole a glance at her, only to find her looking back. She smiled warmly, and Ming hurriedly lowered his head, feeling his ears burn.

“Hi, I’m Ya. Please take care of me,” she said, her voice light and friendly.

Ming took a deep breath, trying to appear composed. He looked up and awkwardly replied, “Hi, I’m Ming.”

In that moment, something seemed to stir within Ming. He didn’t know if it would change anything, but he was certain that this ordinary morning had become extraordinary.

Chapter 2: Friends and Rivals

Ya’s arrival quickly made her the center of attention in the class. Not only was she academically excellent, but she was also skilled at drawing and singing. During every class activity, her talents shone brightly, drawing admiration from everyone.

Among them, Ming’s best friend, Qiang, was the most proactive in getting close to her. Qiang was a natural entertainer, always able to make people laugh with just a few words. He launched an enthusiastic campaign to win Ya’s favor, whether it was answering questions in class or chatting with her after school.

One day, Qiang brought a box of homemade cookies to school. Striding confidently up to Ya, he said, “I made these myself. Want to try some?” Ya accepted with a surprised smile, saying, “Really? Thank you so much.”

Ming sat nearby, watching as Ya took a bite of the cookie. A twinge of jealousy stirred within him. He didn’t understand why he felt this way—after all, Qiang was his best friend. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of envy.

What frustrated Ming even more was his own inability to express his feelings for Ya. Unlike Qiang, who was confident and witty, Ming didn’t know how to approach her. He could only quietly observe her, occasionally helping with small tasks like lending her a pen or explaining a math problem, but never daring to take it further.

Ya seemed oblivious to all this. She continued to treat Ming as a friendly classmate, occasionally seeking his help with homework or sharing little anecdotes from her life. Ming cherished these moments but knew that their relationship might never move beyond the bounds of friendship.

Chapter 3: Ambiguity and Distance

One rainy afternoon, school let out just as a downpour began. Ya stood at the school gate, hesitating as she looked at the rain. Ming noticed her and thought, “This is my chance!” Without a second thought, he took off his jacket and approached her. “Use this to cover yourself. You’ll get soaked otherwise.”

Ya looked up at him, surprised, then smiled gently. “Thank you, Ming. You’re so kind.”

Ming’s heart pounded, but he tried to act casual. They walked together to the bus stop, sharing the jacket as makeshift protection against the rain. Their shoulders occasionally brushed, and Ming felt his face grow warm.

As they walked, Ya started talking about how she was adjusting to life in the city. She mentioned her love for the mountains and lakes but confessed that she found the weather challenging. Ming listened attentively, nodding in agreement. When she mentioned her passion for drawing, he seized the opportunity to ask, “What do you usually draw?”

“Mostly landscapes, but sometimes portraits too. Actually, I think you’d make a good model,” Ya said with a teasing smile.

Ming froze for a moment before shaking his head, his face flushed. “Me? No way, I don’t have the looks for that.”

Ya laughed softly but said no more. Ming’s heart, however, felt as though it had been gently nudged, leaving a lingering warmth.

When they reached the bus stop, Ya turned to Ming and said earnestly, “Thank you so much for today. I would’ve been drenched without you.” Her gaze was warm and sincere, leaving Ming at a loss for words.

“It was nothing,” he finally managed, though his emotions were anything but calm.

From that day, Ming felt that his bond with Ya had deepened slightly. Yet he couldn’t help but notice how close Ya seemed to be growing with Qiang. Watching their cheerful interactions, Ming’s heart grew heavy, clouded with doubt about his chances.

Chapter 4: Pursuit and Missed Chances

The school organized a spring field trip, an event the students eagerly anticipated. Ming made up his mind: this was his opportunity to confess his feelings to Ya.

That evening, as everyone gathered around the campfire, the atmosphere was lively and joyous. Qiang took the lead, telling joke after joke, eliciting peals of laughter from the group. Ming sat quietly on the sidelines, his gaze drifting toward Ya.

Finally, during a quieter moment, Ming mustered his courage and invited Ya to stargaze. They walked up to a hilltop, where the moonlight bathed them in a soft glow. The silence of the night was comforting.

“Ya, do you like it here?” Ming asked tentatively.

“Of course. The stars here are beautiful—it’s so peaceful,” Ya replied, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at the sky.

Ming took a deep breath, ready to speak his mind. But before he could, Qiang’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Hey, what are you two doing here? I wanted to see the stars too!” Qiang’s arrival shattered the moment.

Ming swallowed his words, watching as Qiang and Ya started chatting animatedly. The opportunity slipped through his fingers once again.

Chapter 5: Memories and Growth

Years later, Ming and Ya reunited at a class reunion. Both had matured, and the awkwardness of their youth had been replaced by a warm familiarity.

“Ming, do you remember that rainy day?” Ya asked with a smile.

“Of course. It’s one of my favorite memories,” Ming replied, a soft smile playing on his lips.

They reminisced about the past, laughing at their younger selves. The unspoken feelings and missed opportunities seemed to dissolve into the warmth of the moment.

“You know, I always thought you were special back then,” Ya admitted, her tone tinged with nostalgia.

Ming looked at her, a mix of emotions in his eyes. “Then why didn’t we ever…?”

“Maybe we were both too afraid,” Ya said with a gentle laugh, her eyes glistening.

Ming nodded, feeling a sense of closure. He realized that while some feelings never come to fruition, the memories they create are precious nonetheless.