7 Again

It was just like all the other summers they had had before. Summer school, cram school, mountains and mountains of schoolwork…

He had tried to make an effort for the four of them to still hang out after class every day, but there was just so much to do that the most any of them could afford was to walk home together. So Wang Zhaoshu made them all promise that they would go to the festival together.

They all agreed readily, of course. But he felt that even going to the festival together wouldn't replace this empty feeling that he felt every day. In the classroom, walking home, doing school work, cleaning the apartment…

The feeling was especially amplified when he was around Chen Shan, Lin Yuxing, and Hua Fu.

They watched the fireworks from their usual place. But even with the deafening explosions, Wang Zhaoshu still felt like that empty feeling was right behind him.

As they rose to leave, Wang Zhaoshu trailed behind, at the end of the dock. It was like he had lost something right here…

"Yo, Wang Zhaoshu, you coming?" Lin Yuxing called. "Something wrong?"

Wang Zhaoshu took one last look over his shoulder. "No, nothing's wrong," he answered, catching up to them.

"Just thought I was missing something."