INVISIBLE STRING - Duan Jia Xu

EIGHT

Spring, 2022.

HUI YING WAITED ON THE START LINE to begin her performance, she had to admit that she was a little scared. What if the teachers recognized her jump and called her out for it, but a small part of her knew they weren't going to recognize her.

She wasn't a top student, athlete or anything. The teachers didn't know her well, so she had nothing to worry about. But it was always best to worry a little than not.

"You should stretch more," Duan Xu spoke from behind her, catching her attention as she stopped swinging her arms. "that way you won't sprain anything while jumping." He spoke again, his voice softer as his eyes remained on the girl.

Hui Ying hummed, stretching her arms. "I know what i have to do, i've done this before." She commented.

She had done this before, a year ago exactly. She had jumped the 160 meter which was hard but she had done it, so for her 120 was easy. She wasn't going to toot her own horn but it wasn't as hard as people told her.

She could tell her competitors were nervous, she could tell it by the way they were biting their nails or their lips.

Duan Xu smiled, laughing lightly before he stood in front of her. He held out a peace sign as he smiled. It made Hui Ying frown, looking at him as she wasn't understanding why he had placed himself in front of her.

She turned around, seeing how Sang Yan was taking photos with their home camera and Sang Zhi was taking photos with her own her phone.

Hui Ying groaned, taking a step towards Sang Yan as she tried to lower the camera. "No pictures! that goes for you too." Hui Ying spoke directly to Sang Zhi, her eyes squinting at the phone camera.

Sang Zhi sighed, sneaking in a few more pictures until she put her phone back in her pocket.

Sang Yan protested. "Mom and Dad told me to take photos, even if it's from their not-daughter." Sang Yan spoke, shrugging his shoulders as he quickly snapped a few photos with the camera. He didn't really listen to Hui Ying's protests.

"Well do you have to do that when i'm stretching?" Hui Ying asked, her arms crossing as she looked at the two. "At least take some when i look good!" She smiled widely.

Sang Zhi nodded her head, already in her mind she was planning a whole photoshoot. Sang yan scoffed. "Can you do that? Look Good?" He asked, before looking in his camera as he showed her picture where she wasn't looking her best.

Hui Ying gasped. "Oh my god! delete that!" She gasped.

The girl lunged forward trying to take away the camera as she shook her head. Sang Yan only held it higher as he zoomed in on her face. "Oh my god, look at that monster!" He teased her, holding it high enough so that she couldn't reach for it.

Suddenly Duan Xu grabbed the camera, stopping the two from probably attacking each other.

"Stop bullying my best friend." Duan Xu spoke in obvious joking manner, but the whole word made Hui Ying quiet down. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as he tilted his chin upwards.

Hui Ying understood what he wanted to do as she nodded her head. "Yeah, stop bullying me stranger." She spoke, a smirk playing on her face.

Sang yan's mouth opened, shocked at the sight he was seeing. Sang Zhi was laughing, eyeing her friend as she watched the two. "Your best friend? Hey, he's mine." Sang Yan spoke, shaking his head.

"Guess i stole your best friend." Hui Ying spoke, laughing as she wrapped her arm around his upper waist.

Sang Yan looked between the two with a mix of disgust and annoyance, he shook his head at the two as he reached for the camera."Whatever, you can have him." Sang Yan spoke, looking away from the two.