Shengliver’s Note: Romance is an indispensable part of a teenager’s growth. However, it is a taboo subject among a lot of Chinese parents and teachers. It seems as if their charges were merely study machines, without emotions.

Last term I was in Class One, the Rocket Class. I had not expected to see a pretty girl in this class since girls easy on the eye are not supposed to be top academic achievers. However, on the first day, I found a good-looking girl, Rosie.

I wanted to make friends with Rosie, but I was so timid that I did not dare to do it. She was in the back of the room while I sat in the front. In some classes, she would move her stool forward, take her books and pen along, and sit in the aisle next to me, so that she could see the board better. When Rosie was beside me, I got so nervous that I found it harder to breathe. In time, the ice was broken and we were on speaking terms.

One evening we were watching a movie in a Chinese self-study class. The lights were turned off. Rosie moved to the front and sat as usual in the aisle beside me. Another girl was just behind her in the aisle. They were close friends. The girl put her arms around Rosie’s waist. This posture is very common among good friends, especially girls. After some time, the girl moved back to her seat. When I put my hands near my friend’s waist, Rosie took them for the girl’s. Absorbed in the film, she grasped my hands and wrapped them around her waist. How excited I was! For quite a while we stayed in this posture. When she turned back, to her horror, Rosie found it was me behind her. She released my hands, red-faced.

This term I am in Class X; Rosie in Class Y.  I miss her very much.