[Word count: 1,473]

| chapter - three |

\ a conscious so loud, clear and mysterious /

Is - what you'd call 'normal' - human life always this... not to be offensive or anything... boring?

There goes that voice again, right on cue. Ming hua always had an overimaginative mind, everyone always tells her, 'We always have that little voice in our heads, it's called the conscious'. And boy was her conscious loud and clear.

And so, she answers it with: 'Yes, normal, regular, human life, is always this boring. It's nothing new.'

"Hey, Ming!" The boy she first made friends with, hollers, arm motioning her over.

And yet, he seems to never get attached to her nickname, even though she always reminds him of it.

She heads on over, "I told you, just call me, Shuǐ, it's what I prefer."

He gives a chuckle, "Alright, I'm sorry. I keep forgetting, I'm not good with names for the most part. I'll try to remember."

"Flash." She gets his attention, as he looks to her. "If you can call Abigail by her nickname, you can remember mine, and call me, Shuǐ."

He nods with a defeated sigh, "You're right. Okay, you win, I'll do better, I promise."

She gives a victorious smile, "Thank you."

Would you prefer I'd call you Shuǐ as well?

No, you're different. You're a part of me, so it would only make sense that you'd continue with my first name.

Alright, Ming hua. As long as you are happy and comfortable. I am too.

"Can you believe that I got paired up with Arlo, out of all people?" Flash scoffed as he packed his locker with school supplies. "Of course, I wasn't going to show up, can't ruin my reputation with someone who hangs around Parker!"

Ming hua couldn't help but let out a little chuckle, "Meanwhile, I got Liz."

He sighed, "Lucky. Similar to me, Cindy also got unlucky, with Ned." He closed his locker. "Who'd your brother get?"

"Mia Lewis."

Flash looks to her, confused, "Whose Mia again?"

Ming hua shrugged, leaning against the other rows of lockers, "I don't know, some girl he seems to like to hang out with, instead of his own twin." Her head gives a small tilt, "Although, I will admit, the occasional break from your own sibling is kind of nice, every now and again. So maybe I should be thanking her."

Flash laughs, "He's that annoying, huh?"

"I wouldn't say annoying..."

He gives her a look and she smiles, "Okay, so yes, he can be a little annoying."

"Poor Shuǐ, at least Mia gives you a break every now and again." Flash compliments.

And Ming hua feels likes he's finally making progress, after using her nickname that she prefers for once.

It's about time.

I'll say.

***

"So, Shuǐ, my place at six?" Flash sat at the lunch table, leaning an arm on the surface with that smug look he always had. That ugly confidence of his, and a side grin showing teeth.

Which almost reminded her of Flynn Rider from the movie 'Tangled' that she watched that one time, when her twin ended up falling asleep on the part where Rapunzel and Flynn were singing in the boat in front of the castle, and the romance only grew stronger from there.

"For what?" She wondered.

"The test we have next week, of course." He gave the details.

Ming hua gave him a puzzled look, brows furrowed, "Wait, a test, since when?"

"You don't remember?" Now Flash was confused. "The teacher told us about it before we came to lunch."

Her hooded eyes squinted as she wracked her brain for such information, "Yeah... I guess I didn't hear it, I must've been lost in my head."

I heard the information when we were talking for most of the lecture, I am sorry for distracting you and for not telling you about it.

It's okay, but, I'll admit, it would've been helpful if you did.

I figured. Won't happen again from now on.

"No worries, just make sure you don't forget everything you learn." Flash joked. "Otherwise, you'll have to repeat this semester."

Ming hua grinned with a light chuckle, "Yeah..."

"So, my place?" Flash brings the question back up.

She nodded, "Sure. Besides, you can also tell me what the test will be on, since I seem to have missed it."

Flash grins, "You got yourself a deal."

***

Ming hua was glad to be home, she was never the social type. Especially since her mind is so loud, it sometimes made her nervous. She was so sure the voice was her conscience, but sometimes, it felt like it belonged to another sentient being. But she wasn't sure.

"Māma!" Ming hua's thick Chinese accent rang through like smooth honey, she shared the soothing tone with her mother, Yanyu. "Flash is picking me up at six to study for test!"

"Alright!" Yanyu replied almost instantly, as Ming hua's feet were heard pummeling the hallways. "No running in the house, you'll get hurt!"

The girl stopped, "Sorry."

Passing by the doorway of her twin's bedroom, she pauses and sees the same girl who was partnered with him during the project they all had, Mia Lewis. Now, she was sure he had a little crush, the black girl seems to visit a lot more, each week.

And now was her moment of being the chaotic sibling. That's right, despite being one minute older than her twin, doesn't mean she isn't the chaotic one of the family. She very much was, whilst he was more chill.

Ming hua slipped into his room as Mia gave her a glance. She brought a finger to her lips which told the girl with curly hair to stay quiet, Mia pursed her lips, complying.

And before Milo knew it he was falling to the ground with a yelp, as Ming hua pulled his rolling chair out from under him right before he could sit.

"Shuǐ!" Milo complained, voice strained, as he felt embarrassed in front of the girl in his room.

Mia held a hand over her mouth, trying not to burst into tears from laughing. As Ming hua laughed herself, running out of his room.

She could've sworn her conscious laughed as well, but she wasn't fully sure. She didn't pay too much attention to it.

Milo was quick to get up as he shut his bedroom door, now that his twin sister was out of the way. And Ming hua was back to heading towards her bedroom, to get ready for when Flash would pick her up to study, it was late afternoon and six was right around the corner.

She heard the voice of her mother fade away in the background, "Shang, do you think-"

But before she could hear the rest, she closed her bedroom door and gave a subtle sigh. Peace and quiet - well, sort of. The best she could get, anyway.

She had a few sets of clothing lining around her bed, having a hard time choosing. She basically had all of her clothing except for the Hanfu that resides folded up in one of her closet drawers, neatly ironed for its next use. That one was for special occasions and traditional holidays. Yanyu had given it to her as a gift, used to be hers growing up, so it was very much cherished.

her phoned lit up with a text message while she was looking over fashion options. She grabbed the device and saw who it was from.

-

The Fastest Man Alive: I'm on my way.

Gosh, Flash. You're making it more difficult to choose what to wear, give me more time. :Shuǐ

The Fastest Man Alive: My bad, but in my defense it took forever to convince my dad for me to borrow his car, and I succeeded. I wasn't taking any chances of him changing his mind.

It's fine, I was just giving you a hard time. :Shuǐ, sending a face with a tongue out emoji

The Fasted Man Alive: Cheeky, see you in a bit.

See you. :Shuǐ

-

It wasn't much longer until Ming hua figured out her clothing choice, packed everything she needed to help her study for that test that'd be in a week. And she was headed for the front porch.

"Māma, Bàba!" Ming hua let her exit be known. "I'm leaving now, be back in few!" Her accent was clear and strict.

"Okay!" They both answered. "Be safe!"

Ming hua entered Flash's car - or, more rather, his fathers. And they were off, back to his house, to study.

------

Here's chapter three!

What was your favorite part of this chapter? :)

Peep the reference, lmaoooooo.

Sorry it's kinda short, but this was to be expected. Once we get further into the story, you'll notice the chapters gradually get longer and longer. Lol.

Enjoy!

xoxo <3