The starting gun fired. Evelyn started running with Stella. Soon, Stella pulled ahead. Then Emily passed her too. Evelyn had to find her own pace.
She didn’t have enough stamina. If she sprinted at the start, she’d collapse later. She needed to save energy for the final stretch.
But before she finished one lap, others lapped her. They were already a full lap ahead.
Evelyn felt like a snail racing cheetahs.
The further she ran, the harder it got to breathe. Her legs felt like lead. Still, she told herself to keep going. Push through to the end.
Then she heard someone call her name. “Come on, Evelyn!” A few voices cheered. One sounded familiar—maybe from behind.
Evelyn felt humiliated. She was probably the last one left.
But she had to keep running.
When she finally finished 800 meters, she nearly collapsed. She vaguely heard the referee mutter, “Slowest girl I’ve ever seen. And she’s not even fat!”
Her slowness had nothing to do with weight. It was about stamina. If she were heavier, she probably wouldn’t have finished at all.
At last, she could rest. Evelyn sat down immediately. But Emily and Stella pulled her up.
“You can’t just sit,” Stella said. “Walk it off.”
“Oh,” Evelyn mumbled. She forced herself to walk slowly. Then she hesitated and asked, “Did I pass?”
“Even if you’re last, you still pass,” Emily sneered.
“What? If I didn’t pass, do I have to run again?” Evelyn stopped, staring at Emily nervously.
“I’m joking. Of course you passed,” Emily laughed.
“Don’t scare me like that! You can’t joke about this!” Evelyn protested.
“Running is like killing you, isn’t it?”
“It literally kills me!”
After a short rest, she felt better. The next events were much easier.
Once the fitness test ended, she could finally go back to the dorm. The department meeting was in the afternoon.
Evelyn followed Stella and Emily back. As she walked, she texted Alexander.
“Finished my fitness test!”
A moment later, he replied. “Are you sure the teacher didn’t go easy on you?”
“I passed everything except the 800 meters!”
Her phone rang immediately. Evelyn hesitated, then answered. Alexander’s voice came through. “We’re running tonight.”
“Huh?” Evelyn thought she misheard.
“I said I’ll take you to exercise. I’m free in the evenings now.”
“But I need to sleep early!”
“If you have a problem with that, I don’t mind coming to school right now to discuss it in person.”
“No, no! No problem. Whatever you say. I’m busy now. Bye!” Evelyn hung up quickly.
She felt like if she didn’t, he’d crawl out of her phone.
She shoved the phone into her bag and caught up with Emily and Stella.
“Evelyn, our class is having dinner tonight!”
“Oh,” Evelyn replied.
Then she remembered the department meeting.
“Oh? What do you mean? We have to pay. One hundred each!”
“That’s fine,” Evelyn said with a smile.
“Why tonight, though? Why not wait until graduation?” Stella asked, puzzled.
“They want an early gathering before the ceremony,” Emily explained.
“Is one hundred enough? Next time it might be three hundred! I’m broke this month,” Stella sighed.
“Probably not. But if we drink too much, it’ll cost more,” Emily added.
“Let’s find a restaurant with free drinks,” Evelyn suggested.
“The class monitor can handle it. We just pay and eat,” Emily said with a grin.
Evelyn nodded.
She remembered she couldn’t go back to the dorm in the afternoon. She’d text Alexander to let him know.
The three of them returned to the dorm. Some took showers. Some went online. They gossiped now and then.
Evelyn showered and washed her sportswear. Then she sat at her desk, watching a movie on Emily’s iPad.
“Evelyn, did you pay?” Stella asked.
“Oh, I forgot. Is the monitor collecting? Should we transfer it?” Evelyn turned around.
“Just send a red envelope. It’s easier,” Emily said, walking out of the bathroom, towel-drying her hair.
“Can you transfer for me? I’ll give you cash,” Evelyn said.
“Sure. Stella, what about you?” Emily asked.
“You transfer for me too. I’ll pay cash,” Stella said.
So Emily sent three red envelopes to the monitor.
Later, the monitor complained in the group chat. “You killed me with those red envelopes! I have to withdraw cash now. Can’t you just pay in cash?”
Emily replied, “No cash. Only cards. And my card only has a hundred left.”
Everyone started arguing. Some said internship salaries were too low. Some said life was hard. Some joked they’d have to beg on the streets this month.
The group was noisy.
Maybe because graduation was near, there was a hint of sadness in the air. After all, some people might never see each other again.
After the afternoon department meeting, Evelyn returned to the dorm with some forms to fill out. Later, she headed to the restaurant for dinner.
She texted Alexander: “I’ll be late tonight. Class dinner.”
He didn’t reply. Evelyn wasn’t sure if he was busy, hadn’t seen the message, or just didn’t have time.
She decided to call him later.
The restaurant was a big private room in a Chinese place on Student Street. They offered free drinks.
All the students showed up except one who was on leave at home. Five tables in total.
Everyone chatted while waiting for the food.
The male students grabbed bottle openers and started uncapping beers. They passed the bottles around.
When one reached Evelyn, she quickly waved her hand. “I can’t drink!”
“Just one bottle!”
“One bottle will get me drunk,” Evelyn said, almost in tears.