The Time of Having Dreams
Senior year of high school is a youthful term that many have experienced, many have regretted, many have missed, and many have gone through. But no matter what, the past always remains in the past.
Xu Tian sat at his desk, flipping through a newly bought novel while listening to music through his earphones. He looked very relaxed and never felt nervous about anything. Suddenly, a loud shout pierced through the earphones, and he looked in the direction everyone else was staring.
At the classroom door, a boy tightly grabbed a girl’s hand. The girl was Lin Yan, a recognized beauty in Xu Tian’s class. However, her personality was a bit cold and arrogant, spoiled by her family’s pampering.
“Will you let go?” Lin Yan glared at him.
“Didn’t you say we’d graduate together and go to the same university? Why are you breaking up now?” His tone was very melodramatic, like acting in a Korean drama. Unbearable!
“I don’t want to hear it!” She forcefully shook off his hand, and then some boys from the class went up to block him and pushed him out of the door.
“How can you be like this? Playing with feelings, I hate you!”
After the bell rang, everything quieted down. Everyone went back to their studies as if nothing had happened. Indeed, this kind of scene had happened several times before, with boys from other classes persistently pursuing Lin Yan. Xu Tian had never been close to a girl like Lin Yan, not even having spoken a few words to her despite being classmates.
After school, Xu Tian, as usual, packed some food from the cafeteria and returned to his dormitory. This repetitive cycle left little room for other thoughts because senior year was even more oppressive, requiring one to be prepared for a final push to avoid regrets in the end.
The hot September weather was unbearable, and the breeze did nothing to cool down. The campus streets were almost deserted, with everyone either going home or returning to their dormitories. Sometimes things remained unchanged, but people became too lazy to care. No matter how the day went, it was just another day. Some people were happy for some reason, and others were sad for another reason, but who cared?
Xu Tian found himself daydreaming unconsciously until Xiao Yu, sitting beside him, patted his shoulder. He snapped back to reality, seeing Xiao Yu with a big grin on his face. He asked in confusion, “What’s up?”
“Did you see it? Lin Yan caused another scene today,” Xiao Yu twirled a pen in his hand.
“Yeah, so what?” Xu Tian found it quite boring.
“The class is buzzing about it. It’s like she has slain another person yearning for love!” Xiao Yu sighed.
“It has nothing to do with you; it didn’t hurt you.”
“How can it have nothing to do with me? She’s our class beauty! With so many things happening around her recently, how can I not be worried?”
“Come on! We’re seniors now; let’s not talk about such useless things,” Xu Tian said helplessly.
Xiao Yu didn’t say more, sighed again like someone in mourning.
He was Xu Tian’s deskmate and a friend Xu Tian could talk to. Xiao Yu often spoke exaggeratedly and had admired Lin Yan since sophomore year. His grades were average, he had a strong curiosity, a friendly personality, but was a bit eager for love.
I think in every class there are a few unnoticed individuals, a central figure, and some quiet ones.
Time passed neither quickly nor slowly, and Sunday arrived, a day off.
In the late afternoon, Xu Tian received a call from Xiao Yu. “What’s up?”
“Today is Sunday, let’s go out for a drink!”
“Are you alright? Why suddenly want to drink?”
“I just want to see Lin Yan.”
“Lin Yan? Where is she?” Xu Tian asked in confusion.
“She sings at a bar every Sunday. Maybe no one else knows. I found out by chance.”
“Alright, I’ll come find you.” Xu Tian hung up and started changing his clothes.
Everything becomes a memory eventually, like youth, experiencing it once. Even if it’s simple, at least you had it, and it drifts away bit by bit, feeling both real and unreal. The dreams of youth never return, but at least you tried.
At the “Moyan” bar, they found a seat. It wasn’t very noisy, with few people around. They saw Lin Yan on stage singing “I Can Endure.” Her unique outfit made her look nothing like a student, with light makeup, wearing a dress, and high heels, she exuded a strong aura. Xiao Yu didn’t speak, just kept watching her. When she finished the song, there was no applause, only people drinking. She suddenly seemed like a stranger, not the Lin Yan they knew.
The night ended like a movie’s end. The drunk were drunk, the cheerers were silent, the visitors left, and Xu Tian and Xiao Yu also left. On stage, Lin Yan knew they had been there, but they were not talkative, unsure of what to say. In a class, people often pass by each other without knowing someone is watching them, never noticed. Just a simple longing for youth and the one you loved.
Xu Tian and Xiao Yu parted ways at the door. Xu Tian stayed in the school dormitory while Xiao Yu lived at home. On a street, Xu Tian saw Lin Yan, but she was arguing loudly with some boys. One of them tried to drag her away. Xu Tian rushed over, pushing the boy’s hand away. Lin Yan looked at him confused, unable to call his name. The boy angrily punched him. “Run!” Xu Tian told her. She looked worriedly at him but followed his words and ran away.
At the school gate, she waited. Seeing him with blood on his mouth and dirty clothes, she asked, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” he smiled.
They didn’t speak for a long time, just looking at each other. Her heart raced loudly at that moment, the feeling intensified.
She helped him with his injuries, and day by day, they unconsciously got together, simply holding hands, hugging, and kissing. This news spread throughout the campus, and with the college entrance exams approaching, they went through the high school days together and then parted ways.
Xiao Yu’s family sent him to America. On the day he left, he said with a smile, “I didn’t expect you two to get together. Looks like I need to find my true love too. Goodbye.”
Xu Tian and Lin Yan returned to the campus, sitting quietly on a bench, feeling a bit nostalgic.
“I still can’t believe we’ve really graduated,” Lin Yan said sadly.
“But we’re still together, right?” Xu Tian held her hand.
She smiled.
“By the way, why were you always with so many boys at school? I thought you were fickle, but being with you, I don’t feel that way,” he asked seriously.
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yeah!”
“Like Xiao Yu said, I was looking for true love.”
“Is that so!” Xu Tian laughed loudly, breaking the quiet campus.
Even after the college entrance exams, everyone left, and even if those simple things were forgotten, someone might relive your story or life, though you won’t see it. That’s why we miss it. We all had dreams back then, worked hard, persevered, and changed.
Losing something is fine because at this moment, I met you. Even if it’s simple, not beautiful, even if those people left us, at least we truly met.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
