(Third Person Mini-Chapter)
Xu Zi Quan eats his food at the dinner table. His mother and father went out, but as much as they wanted him to come with, he ultimately decided to stay at home. He's tired.
Today, Xu Zi Quan had to go to this bubble tea shop for a group project. Now, he's drained from all the people he had to meet. How is it possible to care for people, but also get tired of them? Xu Zi Quan thought, taking another spoonful.
But, not everyone wasdraining... He thinks back to Min Hui. The girl he met in the library. His group mate. And now, after his dad's intervention, his carpooling partner. The one person who asked what he was reading and actually cared. As much as she is cold and formal, he and Min Hui aren't so different. Not too many friends. Too many boring thoughts to be interesting. But Min Hui was interested. She has just as many thoughts. Min Hui knew what I meant when I asked if she ever felt like she was on a different frequency then others. She didn't even hesitate.
But that doesn't mean she's perfect. Today, he noticed how annoyed Min Hui was, but she still tried to work with the others. The effort is what counts. Not that he wasn't annoyed by them too. Xu Zi Quan also wished everyone would do what they were supposed to do without any setbacks. But she doesn't seem to understand them. Not like how he could understand them. Everyone has goals and their own situations. It's a skill that Xu Zi Quan cultivated, to understand the emotions and mind spaces others were in.
However, Min Hui was able to come to a compromise with Fatima so well. So quickly. So efficiently. A bit emotionlessly, but still effective. Xu Zi Quan scrunches his brow. I already know I need to set boundaries with people. I need to prioritize myself as well as caring for others. But, he still messed up, saying that he would do Fatima's work for her. It was only to make Fatima feel better. But Min Hui--she drew the line. Xu Zi Quan takes a sip of water.
After the meet, he had seen how stressed she was--the memory of her kicking the street lamp makes Xu Zi Quan smile--, so, even when he doesn't usually do things like this, he offered to drop her home. Usually, as much as Xu Zi Quan wanted to be there for others, he wouldn't let them get too close to his family. Mostly because his mom and dad would tease him forever. Both of them took life lightly, so it felt like he had to be the parent sometimes. Xu Zi Quan chuckles bitter sweetly at the thought. But still, he offered. For reasons, Xu Zi Quan isn't sure of. He looks down at the pasta.
But him understanding wasn't people didn't go both ways. Most of the time. After he admitted that to her, for a second, he saw Min Hui and she saw him, but it was only for a second. After his dad honked, she became cold again. Is it because she stopped caring? As much as his dad is a handful, he was able to break the ice with his random questions. But if Min Hui stopped caring, then why would she chat so cheerily--well, cheerily for her--with his dad?
Xu Zi Quan takes his dish to the sink, and makes his way upstairs. The math and chemistry test is this week; he has to study. Min Hui's a puzzle he can solve another time. Puzzles like her can wait, but equations can't.