"Who is on my team? Me, myself, and I." - Min Hui
"So, your tests are back!"
I look up from my book to whiteboard. Mr. Johnson, our math teacher, is up there with his all-black suit and varied-color tie. The man wears this everyday. Either this dude has only one outfit or he has hundreds of tuxedos. I have nothing against him as a person, but he doesn't really teach math very well. All he does is tell us the answer with some additional squiggles. Honestly, I'd probably be a better teacher, but then I would have to deal with all the students and their parents, which is way too taxing.
"More than half the class got below forty percent. It's okay to struggle, you know. If you don't understand something, you can always ask me. If not me, your parents and even other math teachers are all at your disposal." His dark skin glowed as he encouraged the students warmly. While he was talking, he grabbed the stack of papers at his desk. Our scores are back after a whole month; he is quite the procrastinator, but he's got a good heart. "Though, as you know, every cloud has a silver lining. A few students did very well. The ability to learn from your peers is a great skill to develop."
Learn from my peers? But all of them are idiots. Ok, I mean be a little dramatic, but all they ever talk about are shallow, dull things. I glance over to the girl on my left. She's crouched over her phone, scrolling, light hair curtaining her face. This is the kid who cried when she couldn't do the test a while back. If you don't know the content they've been hammering into our heads for an entire month, then you've got problems. It isn't that hard.
The girl on my right, the one with large hazel eyes, whispers to her friend, "A few students? Everyone knows the quiet kid got the highest score again." Ah, yes, someone recognizes my greatness. "God, why does she keep on making everyone else look bad? We're not dumb when she's a frickin' evil genius."
Ouch. Genius is one thing, but evil? Just because I don't smile that much doesn't mean that I'm a horrible person. It just means that when I do smile, it means something. These quips used to bother me. But, life has a funny way of changing you. You simply adapt and stop caring so much.
The irony is, these are the same people who die to be in the same group project as me. Why, you ask? Because I am said genius. The reason I'm quiet is because my thoughts are extremely fascinating.
Mr. Johnson takes turns going to each student's desk. Many of the kids around me have been friends for years. Like, since birth. How? Don't they find it boring to live in the same house or town their whole life? But judging by the racket they make each break and lunch time, they seem to be doing great with that kind of lifestyle. I have moved countless times, so I guess I don't get those kind of relationships. But, I'm doing fine now, am I not?
Anyway, each test packet has fifteen pages. That might seem like a lot but they print them single sided. Who does that? All that big talk on Earth Day about loving the planet really was just for show.
My theory is that they make it thick to intimidate students. Apparently they prioritize scaring stressed-out teens over saving trees; the ones happen to make the oxygen we're breathing in order to live. The school system--
"Min Hui" I look up to Mr. Johnson. He hands me my packet, marked with a large ninety-six. Oof, I got stuff wrong, and these ones were easy. God, I hate stupid mistakes so muc--"Try to teach some of your classmates. It can help make friends, too. Being new must be hard."
Hard? He keeps on acting as if I came last week. I actually joined about two months ago in the beginning of the school year. It's just that I prefer my own company (and everyone around me are boring as hell). "Actually, as you can see from my grades, I'm doing just fine."
The bell rings. I grab my already-packed backpack, and slide my minus-four-percent test into my test folder to analyze later. I get up to leave, but Mr. Johnson waves me back over. Ugh. People are so damn needy. Why must I be nice to people? Well, of course because of basic human decency, but that doesn't mean I like it.
He shakes his head. "You're not fine. Academics can take the back seat when it comes to unfulfilled social needs."
Social needs? I'm as introverted as they come. I socialize with myself. And no, I'm not kidding.
Of course, if I told him what I really thought, he'd probably send me to the counselor. Last time I went to the counselor was in my old school. The lady had no idea what she was talking about. I, as someone who really struggles with understanding others' emotions, know more psychology than she does, which is really concerning because it makes your wonder what kind of people these schools are hiring.
I nod to acknowledge that I heard him speak.
"How about, instead of me badgering you to talk with your classmates--" Thank God!--"I make you sit in the cafeteria for lunch?"
Oh, hell no. That place gets so loud I can't even hear my own thoughts. I swear, the way that these high schoolers yell and run around, one would think they'd just come out of first grade. "Thanks, but I usually sit at the back of library."
You know, where I can finally get peace and quiet (mostly because it's just me there).
"How about the front of the library?" He negotiates, his arms akimbo and eyes determined.
I mean, how bad could it be? Slightly louder, yes, but maybe there could be some interesting people. Mom has told me that I should stop shooting down opportunities. Dad does have a point because, it's true: people skills are necessary for most careers. Also, I don't think I can refuse, because then this dude would continue to waste my time, so, "Sure, will do."
I quickly leave the cramped classroom before he takes me hostage again. I join the flow of student heading toward the cafeteria. It is really inconvenient that the library is behind the cafeteria.
Some kid bumps into me from my right, elbowing me in the rib. Ow! My torso throbs painfully. As a reflex, I elbow her back. Hard. She falls against another student, but the crowd is so thick that she is simply bounces back. She gives me a nasty glare. I give her a nastier one. I turn away and go on my merry way. That might be why I'm not the most well loved. It really is just a reflex. Siblings can do that to you.
I somehow manage, yet again, not get trampled by the sea of students. A few doors after the outdoor cafeteria, is the library. It is actually quite sizable. This school is underwhelming in most aspects, but they have a good library.
It's about the size of three basketball courts with shelves orderly separating the library into rows. The right side of the library is the bean bag area, which is also where the gamers sit. Mostly because it's closest to the door. They don't actually give a shit about books. They just kind of huddle together shouting out-of-context violent phrases while bent over their laptops and mice. As I walk pass, I hear another obscenity, "You impaled my liver, you idiot!"
By the back right of the library are the seniors. They're stressed 24/7. Thankfully, I'm just a sophomore, so I have some time. I mean, SATS and college are nothing easy. Though, if you go near the seniors, don't make the slightest sound or else they'll report you for something you didn't do. Real grumpy kids they are. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me, but that's how the rumors go.
Oh, right, front of the library. Now, excluding the seniors and gamers, others who come to the library are simply called nerds. I have long accepted this label, even take pride it. I am a nerd, thank you very much.
There are a handful of couches to sit in. I sit on the one farthest from the door, the left side. Now I won't be disturbed by the gamers' loud noises.
On the couch opposite to mine, a boy sits crisscrossed with a book in hand. He seems familiar. Oh yeah, he and I share a few classes, but he doesn't really join the class shenanigans. He minds his own business. That is a skill that I really hope the rest of my classmates learn.
Huh, I think I've read the book he's reading. It was about the relationship between technology and society. People skills and conversations. The only way to get good at something is to practice. So let's start with something deep. I might not be great at small talk, but big talk is what I'm really good at.
"Um, you know, I think the author is wrong about how society affects technology." I inform him, crossing my right leg over my left. I take out my laptop from my half-empty backpack.
He jerks his head up, looking a little surprised that someone is talking to him. "Wrong? You mean--oh, you mean the book." He sits up, back straight, realizing what I'm referring to. "No, I think he has a good point."--a good point?--"society, as a people, have needs and we do use new technology to fill in the gap."
I stare at him. He seems to be exciting that I'm taking interest, big brown-black eyes gazing back at me. I correct him, "No, it's that technology changes society. Think about it. When they first made automobiles, everyone would use horses and carriages. However, the cars changed how society transports people. Now, everyone uses cars on highways, in cities, and basically everywhere. And car fanatics are a thing now."
"Well, think about it like this," I wonder how he'd reply to that. He leans forward, "Humans want to travel. They innately want to move, explore, trade, and connect. Cars didn't make this desire. And yes, they used horses and carriages to attempt to fulfill their need. But it wasn't efficient to use live animals that are a hard to control variable. So in order be able to effectively do what we need to do, which is go places, we needed an invention that could help us fulfill our desires better. So they made automobiles."
Come to think about it, he does have a point. That actually makes sense. Humans do have built in wants. He's actually really smart, which I define as proving me wrong. Now, I lean forward, hugging my closed laptop to my chest. "Oh. So your point is that because humans have needs, we make technology to better solve them. That does make sense."
His dark eyes brighten. I grin. I forgot how much I love discussing about this stuff. You don't meet a lot of people like this dude. Huh, the front of the library really isn't that bad. "Um, so what's your name again?"
"Xu Zi Quan," With a small smile on his face, he asked, "And you?"
Xu Zi Quan. Nice name. "Min Hui."
The alarm bell ring, leaving me a bit stunned by the loud sound. Next thing I know, Xu Zi Quan is already strolling out the door.
It was fun while it lasted.