Basically, the turning point was at the beginning of my second year, a new student was transferred into my class.

"Everyone, this is our new classmate!"

It was the middle school's popular guy.

Honestly, I didn't know how I should feel. One part, I wasn't surprised, he's pretty smart. One part, he was from my middle school life memory.

"Hello everyone, my name's Ryan! Nice to meet you all!"

Ryan smiled and waved his hand. His happy-go-lucky attitude immediately changed the class mood. He looked at me for a second and smiled.

"Yo Jay, how yer doin'?"

I smiled weakly and nodded. I couldn't get myself to say anything. It felt like I lost my words again, my dictionary was empty. Tyler, who had been my desk-mate and best bud ever since my first year shook my shoulder.

"You know him, Jay? He looks like a real asset to our volleyball team! Does he play?"

"I t...think he p...p...layed basketball back in middle sch...school"

Yeah. I think he was the basketball team captain.

During the lunch break, while stuffing myself to get ready for the next class sessions, I spotted Ryan standing with his tray from afar.

"Heyy hey let's call him over" Tyler suggested, and without hesitation, he stood up and called out the popular guy's name.

"Yo guys!"

This table was all volleyball team members, but Ryan's height was impressive just as much.

As they chatted, I knew quite a lot about why Ryan's transferring school. It's because he's chasing a first-year girl who studies here. That was a very Ryan's thing to do, wasn't it?

On the way back to class, others disbanded to go back to their classes, and Tyler went to his girlfriend's class. So I was left with the popular guy.

"Jay, so how yer doin'?"

"G...good I guess?" I replied.

"Nah pal, I think you're doing great! I'm glad you finally broke that stuttering embarrassment" Ryan put a hand on my shoulder, he laughed. His laugh was still the loudest of all people.

Suddenly, he turned to me, with a serious look.

"But I guess middle school's all over now, I hope you are more sensitive of others' feelings"

I didn't know what he meant until I ran into the good-with-dog girl in the park. She had a puppy gold retriever too. I looked at her and wanted to smile a hello. But her eyes turned cold the moment she saw me, and she dragged the puppy away.

Could I... have possibly...?

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Another fill-in-the-blank quiz! Can you guess what Jay thought at that moment?

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