The morning sun was still sleepy, but I wasn't. I had a mission: get Lin Yue to school without losing my "cool guy" status—and maybe, just maybe, pay her back for all the little victories she'd been collecting over me.
"Li Wei! Hurry up or I'll drag you out myself!" Mom's voice echoed one last time before I practically flew out the door.
Li Na and Lin Yue were already waiting outside, Lin Yue holding her bag like she was preparing for war, eyes scanning the street like a general surveying a battlefield. My sister was bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, already scheming something I didn't want to think about.
"Ready?" I called, trying to sound casual.
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow. "As ready as I'll ever be for a city disaster called… you."
I grinned. Oh, the fire in her eyes. Challenge accepted.
We walked to the bus stop, Li Na skipping ahead, probably imagining herself as the mischievous queen of morning chaos. Lin Yue and I kept a steady pace, silent but both aware of each other. That tension, that tiny spark—it was already crackling like static electricity.
When we reached the bus stop, I noticed the familiar yellow bus rounding the corner. It was the only bus that stopped at our apartment, and I already knew it would be crowded. Perfect opportunity.
Sure enough, the bus screeched to a stop, the doors opening with a hiss. Inside, people were packed like sardines. Only two seats left. Window and aisle. My brain immediately clicked into action.
Strategic move #1: claim the seats.
I grabbed the window seat. Li Na, being younger and all, hopped into the aisle seat without hesitation. Perfect. Lin Yue's face tightened slightly, but she didn't make a scene. Not yet.
Big mistake, Li Wei.
As the bus started moving, Lin Yue's eyes narrowed at me. The calm facade couldn't hide the small twitch of her lips.
"Excuse me," she muttered softly, just loud enough for me to hear. "My legs… they cramp. And… you didn't even give me a seat."
I froze mid-breath. Did she just… perform a drama in small volume?
"Hey!" a voice suddenly called from a nearby seat. "What's wrong with you boys these days? Can't even give a girl a seat for five minutes?"
Another voice joined in. "Yeah! What happened to manners? Stand up, young man!"
Li Wei—me—felt like the world had been flipped upside down. All eyes were on me. My cheeks heated instantly.
"Uh… sure," I stammered, scrambling to my feet.
Lin Yue, of course, didn't move an inch. She smirked just slightly, the kind that made my blood both boil and freeze.
As I bent down to let her sit, I leaned closer and whispered just in her ear, "I will see what drama you can pull in school today."
Her reaction was immediate. WHAM! Her forehead bumped lightly against my chin. "Sorry! I slipped… because of the bus," she said in a perfect innocent tone. Smooth. Too smooth.
I blinked. The bus wasn't even swaying that much. She'd engineered that. I knew it.
I let her settle into the seat, pretending nothing had happened, but my mind was racing. That was definitely payback day, part one.
The bus ride continued with Lin Yue quietly smug in her seat, occasionally glancing at me with those sharp, playful eyes. Li Na, of course, whispered snide commentary, clearly enjoying the chaos.
"Big brother… losing to Lin Yue already?" she whispered, barely holding back laughter.
I shot her a glare. "Shut up. This is strategic. Very… mature."
Lin Yue, overhearing none of it, was silently plotting her next move, I was sure.
Minutes passed. The bus approached the school stop. I braced myself.
"Next stop… Central High!" the driver announced.
The three of us stepped off together. Li Na sprinted ahead like a tiny whirlwind, already disappearing into the crowd of students.
Lin Yue turned to me. "Lead the way… or are you going to get lost?" she teased.
I grinned. "Don't worry. I'm the city's GPS. You're in safe hands."
The school building loomed ahead. My heart raced—not just because of Lin Yue's presence, but also because now, this was playground territory. Time for round two: teasing at school.
We walked into the hall, the chatter of students filling the air. Li Na dashed toward her classroom, waving a hand behind her.
Lin Yue and I stopped in front of the classroom numbers. She looked at me, a little cautious. "So… you're taking me to your class?"
"Yes. But… wait here. I need to hit the bathroom first. Can't have my reputation ruined by bad morning habits," I said, trying to sound confident.
She crossed her arms, clearly skeptical. "Ten minutes better be enough."
I nodded and disappeared down the hall.