”If you don’t mind me asking, Han Zigao,” Ying Sheng trailed off, “Why are you so aloof in school? Does it run in the family–you two want to be out of the crowd?”

Liam and Han Zigao laughed when they heard Ying Sheng’s remark. She grinned at them ear to ear as she felt that her eyes were dazzled by the two handsome men in front of her.

”Being aloof is my choice,” Han Zigao said, looking at his cousin teasingly at the same time. “But Liam here… he’s just born socially awkward.”

”Hey!”

Ying Sheng laughed at what Han Zigao said. At the same time, the alarm in Han Zigao’s phone rang, distracting them from their conversation.

Han Zigao fished his phone from his pocket to stop the alarm. He then looked at Ying Sheng and Liam with a small smile on his face.

”I’m sorry, that’s my alarm for my training regimen. I have to go and keep up, or the couch will beat me up,” Han Zigao said, already standing up to get his things.

”Okay, then. See you at university!”

”Thanks for looking out for her, Han Zigao. I’ll catch up with you when I visit your home soon.”

”Yeah,” Han Zigao waved a hand as he started to jog. “See you guys,” he called out, the two already left alone inside the café.

Now that the two are left alone, Liam couldn’t help but feel awkward. He had been alone with Ying Sheng for a lot of times already, but why does he act so off when they are alone sometimes?

Is being socially awkward a curse?

Seeing this, Ying Sheng propped a hand under her chin, narrowing her eyes at Liam as she felt like teasing him now that they are alone.

”Are you back to being socially awkward, Liam, hmm?”

”Erm…” Liam scratched the back of his head as he furrowed his brows, feeling embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Ying Sheng. It’s my–“

Ying Sheng laughed, “You don’t have to apologize, Liam,” she interrupted, “You’re cute this way. It makes me want to wrap you around my finger.”

Liam grinned, “You already did.”

”Oh…” A soft flush of pink appeared on her face, not expecting what he said. “I see… I already did,” she mumbled, but it was enough for Liam to hear. He smiled at her, changing the topic.

”In half an hour, your sharing forum will come up. Do you need me to wait for you?”

”Yes,” Ying Sheng nodded, “Then let’s grab dinner together, please?”

Liam slightly chuckled, nodding at her.

”Sure. Let’s grab dinner after.”

”Yes!”

With that, Liam had already paid the bill. The two then entered the vehicle, Liam driving to Ying Sheng’s sharing forum for her session to cope up with her depression.

***

The moment Ying Sheng entered the room, she fell silent. She felt quite uncomfortable knowing that she would be joining in this sharing forum wherein people get to share and listen to each other’s experiences.

But then again, since the therapist advised the session, then she would have to go on with it if it would mean helping her. Besides, Ying Sheng would want nothing more as long as it is for her recovery.

Ying Sheng sat in one empty seat. The others also occupied the five vacant seats, then they sat in silence, waiting for their therapist to arrive.

The others gave each other a small smile as they waited patiently for the session to start. Soon, the clacking of heels echoed in the room, making everyone instinctively turn their heads to the sound.

The psychologist sweetly smiled at everyone as she sat on the chair found in the middle of the circle, the others smiling to greet her as well.

”Good day, everyone,” she said, the others greeting her in unison as well.

”Hello, Ms. Ming.”

”For today’s session, we would share what we would like to share. No one is forcing you, don’t worry, this is something to ease what we are feeling inside.”

With that, there was suddenly silence in the circle. The participants shyly looked at each other, as if waiting for someone to volunteer so they could get on with it.

Ying Sheng felt her heart beating fast. She remembered how her life is–and what had triggered her to act in ways she didn’t think she was capable of doing.

The thoughts came to her one by one. Those bad memories that had haunted her even came to visit her mind, confusing her right this very moment.

She suddenly felt uncomfortable, but when Ying Sheng suddenly thought of Liam, who was always there by her side, the ripples of discombobulation in her mind and heart eased calmly.

With that, Ying Sheng slowly raised her hand, getting everyone’s attention as they all turned their heads to look at her.

”Why, yes, Ms. Ying Sheng? Anything you want to share in the group?”

Ying Sheng nodded, “Umm… this is nothing serious, as I still find it hard to open up. However, I would want to speak generally, and I would like to share how I am doing now, hoping it would help me feel happy about myself.”

Ms. Ming smiled and nodded, gesturing her to start.

”Go on, Ms. Ying Sheng. We’re here to listen.”

Ying Sheng heaved a small sigh. She then began talking, everyone attentively listening to her as she spoke her every word.

”As I experienced those bad memories that I had in the past, it made me question my very existence. I know you guys have also felt this way because if not, then you won’t be here,” she said, the others listening to her nodding in agreement.

”I see myself as a failure–like I existed to be a mess. I always thought about that. I even harmed myself a lot of times–even wanting to be dead at most times.”

When the others heard this, everyone felt melancholic as they placed themselves in Ying Sheng’s shoes and sympathized with her.

”I thought I am not worthy to live in this world but then, I met someone who proved me wrong.”

The image of Liam appeared in her mind. A sweet smile appeared on her face as she continued voicing her heart out.

”I was happy when I met him. I felt like a mess, but he was like a perfect lens to let me see an artistic world. He’s like a magnifier that let’s me imagine a mysteriously utopian world.”

Some of the people started to laugh because they thought that she was naive, but Ying Sheng didn’t mind it. She still smiled at them as she continued telling her why she felt better now.

”It may seem like I am exaggerating–maybe I am, but… because of him, even though I felt bad about living, he made me realize that it was worth breathing because the world is indeed scary, but a beautiful place to live.”