The third syllable: The Weekly Routine
Ok. So school as already officially started. And it has been about two weeks since the day of our ceremony. And currently I still don’t have any friends yet…unless if you count my seating partner as one, though we rarely talk much. The only things we both did together was to share a textbook. The end.
And just for your information, I’m in class 1-3. Hahaha. The third best class and the second worst class, just like all the four years I spent back in secondary. Haha, how nostalgic.
And so far, I guess I can say I’m handling well in my studies? Well, so far no such tests of that sort. Only taking down notes, listening in class blah. But as all of you know, I’m a complete idiot so I do read up a bit during the weekends.
And remember Shunji Myung, the guy who got popular in just a single day for he’s the top student among us first years in school for the O levels? His class is just in front of ours. Hahaha. Again, what a coincidence eh?
And the gardener in disguise? Haha. There was once I was thinking of having a peaceful snack alone at the back of the school building, where there are lovely potted plants and huge lush trees there and a hill that is quite high. Our school is at the foot of this hill and to get up there, one had to climb a few flights of stairs. There’s a mini house-like structure located at the top of the hill and I was thinking of going up there to enjoy my food. But when I’m not even halfway towards the stairs, I ran for my life when I saw Miss Shima, the gardener AND Principal. I know this reaction is such an exaggeration, but I have no idea why I behaved that way. I mean, think about it! You don’t normally see principals in a gardener disguise for fun right? Even if she has her own motives to do so, that’s even more suspicious and the more I don’t want to be involved with her.
Anyway, today’s a Wednesday and every Wednesday, the teachers will arrange some educational programs for us to enjoy. We get to enjoy these programs during our assembly period, which also means that it’s a must to wear the school tie. Our assembly period is our last period of the day and this applies to all classes. Oh yea, I’m so beginning to love assembly. Wait. I’ve always loved them!
And my favorite part is when our last lesson of the day is soon coming to an end and all the students will start tying up their ties. I’ll always get this warm fuzzy feeling inside, like as if all of us are preparing for our graduation! Also, don’t mean to state the obvious, but I like wearing ties. Somehow I feel so formal and wearing a tie will greatly boost my confidence.
Back to the main topic here, there’s assembly today! Yay!
“Alright class. That’s all for today. As homework, please read up the next three chapters of your textbook. We’ve got to move exceptionally fast now because mid year exams are coming up in the next three months! Class dismissed!”
Miss Harrison is our physics teacher. What a nag. Three chapters?! Great, that’s a total of nearly 100 pages. A slacker like me will take quite a while to finish them, or maybe I’ll have to burn the midnight oil. Mid year exams? Sure fail. No think to even think about it.
As we packed up our bags and hastily tied up our neckties, I was the first few students to leave the classroom. Exactly once I’ve stepped out of my class, the first sight that entered my vision was Shunji talking playfully with a group of guys and girls. Whoa, he made this much friends already? Good for you, I thought. And was about to walk past him when he suddenly called.
“Ah, hey! It’s you from before! Long time no see, how’s life in this school?”
“Eh? Ah, it’s okay,” I said with a very blur expression. I’m always this blur especially when talking to people! That’s part of the reason to why many look down on me. Argh! Not my fault, I just can’t help staring blankly at people!
“Really? That’s good to hear,” he said smiling brightly. Ugh, why is he always smiling? I cannot handle cheerful people…
“Yea,” I said, trailing off. “ Well then I’ll make a move first...”
“Oh wait, please! So sorry but…would you mind helping me with this again?” he said holding out to me his hand with a cheeky smile as a slight blush appeared across his cheeks.
I looked into his hand to find the school’s necktie…again horribly tied into a knot.
Is he the world’s greatest idiot in tying neckties?!
I sighed as softly as I could so as not to let him hear it and fluently tied it on my own neck. Then I flung it around Shunji’s neck and did some measurements to it. Then I removed it and tied it up again.
I did this quite a few times. In fact, I retied the necktie about 4 times.
Finally, in my eyes, the necktie was perfectly tied on Shunji’s neck with the correct length at the front and back of it. A satisfied smile appeared on my lips as I said with great satisfaction, “Okay! Finally done. Phew!”
Background effect: GONG
Shunji stood there, eyes wide with great bewilderment, “ Why retied it so many times?”
“Because the length has to be perfect,” I said in a tone similar to a teacher telling a student what’s right and wrong. “The back tail has to be shorter then the front, and the length of it has to be around here,” I said, pointing to a spot on his tie. “ That’s what my father taught me.”
“I see,” he replied, with a high percentage of positive energy emitting out of his body.
Man, I’m beginning to hate handling cheerful people…
“Thanks for helping me! Oh, it suddenly occurred to me that I still don’t know each other’s names. I’m…”
“Shunji Myung? Yea, I know.” I immediately cut it.
“Oh! You know about me? Have we met before?” his eyes wide with astonishment.
“You’re our level’s No. 1 in the O’s,” I said rolling my eyes. What stupid question is that. The whole school will definitely know you, the one who gave a speech for our opening ceremony.
“Oh! I almost forgot about that. Ha ha,” he laughed gingerly. Well, at least I know that the school’s No. 1 is this dumb. Okay, point taken.
“So may I know your name?”
I looked at him for a few seconds before replying, “Risa.”
“I see! That’s a nice name! And it really suits you well,” he complimented, again with that 100% positive energy release smile. “Let’s go to the hall now or we’ll be late!”
I have no idea why, but we walked to the hall together.
I guess we are already considered as friends? Because we had a conversation and we even exchanged names.
The following week, again, Shunji asked for my help with his tie.
“Want me to teach you how some day?” I said with the world’s most bored expression.
“Ok! But it’ll be hard. Because you see, my parents have been teaching me how to wear a tie since I was in grade school. But till now, I strangely still can’t get it right,” he said with a hint of disappointment.
“What?! Can’t be that bad can it? It’s just a tie,” I chortled.
“Really! It is that bad!” he laughed.
“Alright then! Let me, the ultimate one be your mentor in tying neckties! You’ll surely get it in no time!”
“Yes Teacher! Shall we start our first lesson on our way home later?”
“Hmmm, sounds fine for me.”
“Okay! Than I’ll meet you at the school gate after this?”
“Sure.”
“Heehee, so I’ll see ya later!” he said in glee as he hopped straight towards the hall.
