As time passed, Lizza’s status in class had completely plummeted to the bottom. Her name always appeared at the end of the rankings, becoming a topic of conversation among teachers and classmates during breaks. This made her increasingly reluctant to go to school; classes had become meaningless to her. Her once cheerful personality seemed to be eroded by this indifference, turning dull and fragile.
During this stressful time, the only comfort for Lizza was her occasional contact with Mike. Whenever Mike asked about her recent situation, she would always downplay it, not wanting him to know what kind of difficulties she was experiencing. She didn’t want Mike to see her weak side, so she always tried to maintain a nonchalant demeanor.
However, Mike was not so easily deceived by her facade. Although Lizza never mentioned her problems at school, he could always sense the exhaustion and pressure hidden behind her smile whenever they met.
Mike had noticed that Lizza’s emotions had been off lately. Although she always tried to act as if nothing was wrong, he could still feel the heaviness and frustration within her. One day after school, he mustered the courage to say to Lizza, “Are you free this weekend? Let’s go out and relax a bit.”
Lizza was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t expected Mike to take the initiative to invite her out. “Where to?”
“Um, I know a cat café. I’ve heard the environment is nice, and there are many cute cats. I remember you like cats, so you should enjoy it there,” Mike said with a smile.
Upon hearing “cat café,” Lizza felt a slight sense of relief, but she still hesitated. She hadn’t been happy in class lately, and the feeling of isolation made her resistant to interacting with others. She pondered whether to accept Mike’s invitation.
Seeing her delay in responding, Mike suggested, “If you have a good friend from class, they can come too. I don’t mind getting to know more friends.”
Mike didn’t know about Lizza’s experiences in class; he simply wanted to lift her spirits. Hearing the phrase “good friend from class,” Lizza felt a slight heaviness in her heart, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. The only person she could talk to in class was Jiang Lian.
“Then I’ll ask her if she’s free,” Lizza nodded gently, agreeing to Mike’s invitation.
The weekend soon arrived, and Mike arrived early at the cat café to wait. The café was filled with the aroma of coffee, sunlight streamed in through the large windows, and several lazy cats lounged on the floor, enjoying the lazy afternoon.
Lizza and Jiang Lian arrived shortly after. Lizza appeared somewhat fatigued, but when she saw the adorable cats, a hint of relaxed smile appeared on her face. Jiang Lian, on the other hand, was excited, taking photos with her phone.
The three of them found a corner to sit down, ordered some simple drinks and snacks, and began to enjoy this peaceful afternoon. Lizza didn’t order a drink, only a piece of cake, while Mike and Jiang Lian each ordered coffee. Mike noticed that Lizza had little appetite and asked, “Do you want to share this cup of tea with me? I have some extra.”
Lizza looked up at him, her eyes showing a hint of hesitation, but she eventually nodded. “Is that okay? With your straw?”
Mike smiled, “Of course, but you have to leave some for me.”
Lizza smiled slightly, took his cup, and in that moment, the pressure in her heart seemed to lighten a bit.
After playing at the cat café for a while, the three decided to watch a movie. Mike chose a newly released romantic film; although the story was sweet, the ending was quite sad. After the movie ended, Lizza’s mood seemed even lower. She silently lowered her head, and Mike and Jiang Lian didn’t say much either, seemingly lost in their own thoughts.
The three of them took the bus back, and Jiang Lian got off early, leaving Mike to accompany Lizza. When they reached the bus stop, Mike looked at her and softly said, “If you have anything you want to say, feel free to tell me anytime.”
Lizza nodded but didn’t speak.
