Project
Salient Love
We both strolled into the library, looking around.
Some students snapped their head up to see who entered, but most ignored us. The library was more deserted today, because most of the cohort had extra curriculum instead.
It was nicer this way. The library was just like it was before, but minus the background murmurings in contrast to the tranquil atmosphere, which made it just as annoying as commotion.
Luhan was about to pull out a random chair, when I tapped his shoulder, and pointed to a circular table at a corner.
He silently pushed the chair back in and trailed behind me without any protest.
I set my stuff down on the chair beside me, as Luhan settled down opposite me. I had a small smile on my lips because this was, in my opinion, the nicest seat in the whole library.
It may be in a little corner that people don't really walk pass and slightly dusty, but it was right beside a large window and there was always enough light for me to study or read. Also, we could talk and discuss in our usual volumes since nobody, including the librarian can hear us this far away anyway.
Luhan raised a curious eyebrow to why I chose this seat out of the many available tables out front, but I pretended to not notice because I didn't feel like explaining my decision.
I slipped my laptop out and placed it on the table, before turning it on.
"Okay, so let's first research on the book content. It's almost impossible to read the whole book by next week, so we'll just make do with online summaries," I told him, as I opened the browser and googled for the summary.
Luhan, however, had different ideas. "I don't need the summary."
"Why not? Do you have a better idea?" My voice came out harsher than I intended, so I quickly added, "you can't possibly read the whole 300 pages in a week, so we only have the online summaries to rely on."
"You don't have to read the whole thing," he says impassively, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
What?
It was my turn to frown at his words.
What does he mean by that? We can't possibly finish the report about the whole book if we don't understand the whole content.
I opened my mouth to argue, but closed it again.
Something in me knew innately that trying to oppose him was going to be futile.
He didn't say anything and just left his seat, proceeding to the bookshelves, probably to hunt for the book, To Kill a Mockingbird.
I blew a raspberry. I can't believe he's going to try to read it in 7 days. But I shook my head, and proceeded to read the summary.
It was his own time, and his loss anyway.
5 minutes later, I had finished the summary and had a basic grasp on the whole book's content.
While Luhan just returned with the book he finally found. I couldn't help but feel a small prick of irritation and impatience.
We had more or less 7 days to complete the project and he is going to get us in trouble with the disgusting cow, Teacher Lee.
"Erm Luhan?" I asked carefully. He nodded, his eyes not leaving the book as he scanned the first pages.
"Are you sure you don't need the online summary? It's hard to finish the book by next week," I tried to explain my rationale.
"Finishing it won't be necessary for my part of the report," he says curtly, attention still on the book, without explaining how it won't be necessary.
Because to me, it is indeed highly necessary.
I frowned deeply, trying to bite down the words in my stomach as I stared at the laptop screen but I wasn't actually reading anything.
How do you give a proper book review, much less a report, when you didn't even read the book completely?
Or am I missing out or something? Is there something in the project criteria that didn't need us to finish the book?
I started to frantically search for the project guidelines paper, utterly shocked that I missed such big points like that.
"I meant that, I only need to read the first half, and you just need to know the second half and we can complete the project," Luhan's voice sounded.
On a side note, that was possibly the longest sentence I ever heard his lips formed.
I twisted my lips as my brain processed what he just said.
Something clicked.
Oh.
So that was he meant by not needing to read the whole book for his part.
Duh.
I felt like an idiot.
No wonder it seemed so obvious to him and he didn't see the need to explain his rationale.
And reading half the book by the week was actually possible.
"Oh. Okay. I'll start on my part of the report, and you'll do chapters 1-16," I tried to mask my embarrassment.
He gave a short nod before returning his full attention to the book without giving any comments on my idiocy.
I sighed and started to type away.
It was 7.30pm already. The night was already starting to take over the sky, as the Sun meekly faded away.
I yawned and stretched. I just finished the notes for each chapter and all I needed was Luhan's notes and I could compile it and the report would be complete.
And after, all that was left was the review and the poster. I felt like dying as I thought about the poster.
The review was still easy to complete, but the poster would take up more of our time.
I turned my attention to Luhan.
He was already at chapter 15 and was scribbling onto the paper beside him as his eyes scanned past each word furiously.
Chapter 15. Wow.
He read 150 pages in about 4 hours.
Maybe I underestimated him.
His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration, marking thin lines on his forehead as his pupils slid left and right, taking each word in.
I felt sleepy all of a sudden as I just mindlessly stared at him.
My eyes started to droop, as I rested my chin on my elbow, Luhan's face slowly blurring in my mind.
Everything in the library started to fade away.
His lips started moving just at the moment I was to be clawed away by sleep.
Was he saying something?
I frowned and blinked away my sleepiness, sitting up straight, trying to catch what he said.
I finally heard what he said.
"You're done with your part?" He repeated, his eyes finally snapping up towards me.
"Huh? Oh yeah. I just need to compile my notes-" I masked my yawn, "- and yours, then the report is done. We would be left with the review and the poster," I answered sleepily.
He said something again, but I didn't catch it.
"Wait wait.." I muttered as I shook my head, trying to wake up.
I didn't know I was so tired.
I fumbled around my bag and drank some water, before unwrapping a piece of toffee candy and popping it in my mouth.
Instantly, I felt more awake.
"Yes? You were saying?" I looked at Luhan, my eyes finally not drooping.
His eyes were laced with amusement, but he didn't comment on anything once again.
"I said, that I could finish the review on my own and you're job would be to complete the report. Then we'll finish the poster another day."
I nodded. "Okay.. So are you done with your part and the notes?" I asked him back.
He gave me a short nod before pushing the papers he was scribbling on towards me.
I picked them up and scanned through his notes. His handwriting was surprisingly neat, possibly even nicer than mine.
And his notes were really good.
They were concise and meticulous, grasping only the necessary parts of each chapter.
I involuntarily left my jaw agape as I read it through.
"Is it bad?" Luhan suddenly asked, probably mistaking my reaction as being shocked at its atrocity.
I blinked and finally turned my attention away from the paper. "What? Why would you say that! These notes are really good," I smiled as I turned back and continued to look through them. This would be so easy to compile into the report.
I truly underestimated him, didn't I?
"This really is good.." I couldn't help but say again as I finished scanning them through and put them down.
I met Luhan's impassive eyes before he looked away, clearing his throat. But I didn't miss the slight hue of pink at the end of his ears.
It was a rare sight to behold - Luhan the ice prince being embarrassed at praises.
i almost burst out laughing.
However, the silence that followed shortly after started to turn awkward. Knowing Luhan won't try to start a conversation or anything, I said something first.
"So.. What do we do now? Continue with the report and review?" I asked. To be very honest, I hoped he said yes. It wasn't that I loved his company, because we had only just knew each other, but mostly because I didn't want to go home.
I really didn't.
"Maybe we should stop. You seemed.. Tired just now," he answered, finally looking at me.
It was my turn to clear my throat and look away, cheeks flushed. It wasn't my fault I hadn't had a good night's rest since forever.
It was all the mock test's fault. Not mine.
But ..it was true.
I did feel tired. I guess I wouldn't be very productive from now on and would just waste both of our times.
But ..I still didn't want to go home yet.
"I'm fine if we carried on-" I started, but yawned and I quickly covered my mouth.
Great timing.
"It's fine. I'll pass you the information on Monday," he says, with a slight sharpness in his tone. It wasn't an annoyed or angry tone, but more of a tone of finality, to depict that it's the end of the discussion.
"O-oh okay."
After that, we both silently kept our papers and files. And since Luhan practically brings nothing in his bag, he ended up leaning on the wall, waiting for me.
Which made me realise after a while,
the paper bag is in his bag - Which he opened and closed many times already.
He must have seen it already.
I didn't know why, but I wanted to see if he ate it or threw it away, again.
I stuffed my papers into my bag, flinging it over my shoulder, my mind trying to form words that won't be too obvious I'm curious about the paper bag I gave him.
We had barely taken a few steps when my brain obviously decided to play dumb and I blurted, " I'm hungry. Are you?"
I almost slapped myself.
How did I even say such stupid things like this out of a sudden?
And I realised it sounded like I was asking him out for dinner or something. I was strangling myself inside.
However, despite my inner havoc, I still looked calm as we both walked out of the library.
"Yes," he looked at me, his face giving away nothing.
I nodded and looked away, trying to mask my disappointment.
He's hungry, which means he hasn't eaten anything.
He must have thrown it away.
Hey guys ! :) I finally updated after two weeks ._.
first of all, I am very sorry.
I had test after test, projects after projects for the past weeks and there was no time to update. And even if I did have free time, I went to take naps :b
SORRY :( 对不起.
this chapter was meant to be much longer. And I intend to add a bonus chapter. But I didn't want to make you guys wait too long because I would probably take forever to finish up ._.
So here it is :) p.s. i had to do to kill a mocking bird for my literature lessons too :b
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