27 Pretty hands

*Flashback continues*

Diana locked herself in the innermost cubicle of the washroom.

She squatted on the floor, wiping the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

She wiped her tears with her elbows, ''They… will be happy…'' she pressed her palm on her mouth to stifle her sobs.

Her parents… will not be disappointed this year.

Her mom…

Diana hugged her knees, trying to calm the tremble in her shoulders.

Her mom won't be angry. She won't be embarrassed in her friend circle nor would she hit her this time.

Finally.

Once she calmed down, she smiled softly.

She stood up and stepped out before washing her face. ''Pulling all-nighters really worked huh…'' she laughed.

''Haish, Maxim is not first this time hmm? What do you think of it?''

Diana's hand paused on the doorknob of the washroom door when she heard the familiar voices from outside. They were her classmates. She recognized these voices.

''In fact, Diana is not that bad herself. She used to be in the first position until Maxim came. He has been the topper for consecutive years while she clinched to her second position.''

''They always hang out together.''

''It happened when we were 7th standard. Maxim was being bullied because of his background and Diana protected him from the bullies. From then on, they have been pretty close. Diana is the only student Maxim talks to. And no one approaches Maxim to bully him like back then because of Diana's family background.''

''So, the princess came to the outcast's rescue?"

''Something similar.''

''Then, don't you think it's fishy? He used to be the topper consecutively but he dropped from the first rank to the second rank in his sophomore year. I can't digest it.''

''Now that you say it like that, I am having doubts as well. They have only a 10 marks difference. That means, Maxim skipped 1 long question's worth of marks. How convenient.''

''Diana took quite some advantage of his loyalty for her,'' the girls laughed, ''Did she feed him money? Or did he sacrifice for their friendship? Which one are you leaning for?"

''Or maybe she had her bodyguards threaten him—''

'Bam'

Diana kicked open the door.

All the girls standing in the corridor were stunned when they saw her stepping out of the washroom.

''We…W-we were just… joking…''

''D-Diana…Please, don't escalate this…''

Diana looked at their faces for a moment before she turned around and walked away calmly.

The crowd of girls dispersed immediately.

Maxim, who was leaning onto the wall at a little distance, glanced at Diana's retreating back.

…

In the school playground.

Diana swayed back and forth on the swing.

''What's bothering you?"

Diana pressed her foot to the ground to stop her movements.

She tilted her head and glanced at Maxim who was standing in front of her, ''Nothing.''

''Really?"

''You know the only one thing that I hate about you?" Diana asked.

Maxim looked at her quietly, seemingly waiting for her answer.

''I hate it that no matter what you do, I can never stay mad at you when I see you. Or when you initiate the conversation despite your 'my words are more precious than mermaid's tears' attitude, I suddenly don't feel angry and upset anymore.''

''Does that means you were mad at me just now? Angry and upset?" Maxim asked.

Diana looked down, avoiding eye contact with him.

''Is it about the marks? Are you upset because I left a long question unanswered?"

''So, it's true…'' Diana mumbled. Those girls made sense then.

''Won't you ask me?" Maxim squatted in front of her as he held the chain of one side of her swing, keeping it in place.

Diana glanced at him, ''You are so pretty though,'' she ruffled his hair.

''Don't change the topic,'' Maxim said, looking a bit disgruntled.

''I am serious,'' Diana blinked.

Maxim sighed, ''Ask me the same question you just answered.''

''What?"

''Ask me what I hate about you.''

''Alright, asked,'' Diana looked at him curiously.

''I hate it when you think so less of yourself. And I most probably hate that you don't stand in front of the mirror all day long,'' Maxim said with a poker face.

Diana burst out laughing, ''I got your first point but what is it about the mirror? Why would I stand in front of the mirror all day long?"

''You need to see how good you are.''

Diana stopped laughing as she blinked.

''I didn't answer the question because I didn't know the answer. I was so busy doing advance mathematics that I skipped two chapters from history. You scored better because you managed to cover it all and you were amazing. It has nothing to do with me. Even if you didn't score better, you are still amazing,'' Maxim's brows were tugged together. He looked like he was coaxing a kid, "I am so proud of you."

Diana's lips parted, ''This must be one of those rare times when you say a lot of words in one flow,'' she laughed, feeling warm in her heart. Proud, he said.

''Can you stop being so insecure about yourself? I never pegged you to have such low self-confidence when you went against half of the class to protect me all those years ago,'' Maxim's face was still as stern and he was not even moving from his squatting position.

''Come on, stand up. If our classmates saw this, they will think you like me romantically or something like that which is why you let me climb to the first position,'' She shook her head.

''Diana," Maxim's eyes narrowed.

Diana lowered her head, ''Fine, I am sorry,'' her bottom lip wobbled, ''I didn't… I thought you really did that for me. I… will try to not overthink like this in the future.''

''Really?" Maxim asked suspiciously.

''I swear on the only Chinese food stall in this vicinity. If I do break my promise, then this food stall will close down.''

Maxim grabbed her hand and pressed a soft kiss on her wrist, catching her off guard.

''What was that for?"

''I think a girl with the prettiest hands should put more trust in herself,'' Maxim stood up, his face as straight as ever.

''I don't have the prettiest hands out there,'' Despite saying it, Diana smiled as she looked at his straight face. If it was someone else other than him, she would have thought that they just made a move on her.

''I think you do. So, you should believe in your magic.''

''That's something only a Disney Prince would say,'' she stood up from the swing.

''Regardless, they say it for the Princess.''

''But, Warner…'' Diana observed his face keenly, ''For a fact… You have never watched those movies.''

Maxim cleared his throat, ''But you keep telling me about them so it's not hard to pick a thing or two,'' he tucked one of his hands inside his pocket as he started walking.

Diana chased after him, ''So…'' she glanced at her hand, ''My hands are the prettiest then?"

''Yes.''

''Oh, Warner! You're boosting my inflated ego by a notch.''

''Not bad.''

''Hey, can you walk a bit slow? You don't have to show off your long legs.''

Maxim looked unhappy about it but he still slowed down.

Diana smiled in victory, ''So, come to my place the day after tomorrow. Daisy is coming over. And I also have a special gift for your 16th birthday.''

''There is time in that…'' Maxim glanced at her.

''I know but I might need to go to Beijing so I guess I won't be around for your birthday.''

Maxim's eyes dimmed, ''I see.''

''Look at your nonchalance. Don't tell me you are feeling happy that no one will be around to annoy you?"

''Maybe.''

''I hate you for that.''

''Oh.''

''I mean it. Really!'' She punched his arm.

Maxim smiled.

*Flashback ends*