I hate group projects. If I'm going to be honest, I don't like relying on people in general. Why depend on variables--emotional humans--when you can depend on something unchangeable and constant like facts and yourself? Well, I'm not unchangeable, but when I do change my mind, I change it because of clear-cut facts and numbers, not because of any flimsy emotions.
Here we are, in the social studies classroom. It's a bit small, but all twenty-ish students can pretty much fit. I quite like social studies. It really forces you to think about how societies change. The way how global powers and empires rise and fall. The way they interact and trade, spreading goods and information, enriching the world. Amazing.
Today's project is about some sort of product that is a significant part of the culture of an Asian country, or even the whole continent.
Our table has four people. Across from me is the class clown, Jacob, who won't shut up for longer than five minutes. He can be funny sometimes, but mostly is just annoying. Jacob's also kind of aimless. He doesn't have any sort of long-term purpose. He really only wants to have a good time.
On my left, is Fatima. She's one of the "popular kids". She knows all the trends and how to talk to people. She's pretty nice and knows everyone's names. Fatima's that person who asks if you're okay if you're hanging back from the group. I'm doing great, but her caring is cute. A bit intrusive, but her intentions are in the right place. But her grades are a little unfortunate. Even with all the wannabes who try to help her, it's hard to help someone who simply doesn't care, a special, calm indifference to her academics. We all have our priorities.
On my right is the elusive Xu Zi Quan. We've spoken a few times since that day of the library a few weeks ago, but its mostly just us sitting opposite to each other in the library while we do our own things. And by "spoken" I mean mostly monosyllabic answers about what time is it and what's next period. But it's a comfortable silence.
I've also been observing him from afar in our classes. He always dresses in an immaculate manner. Never without his perfectly ironed khaki pants and collared shirt, as well as his well-kept dark hair. In our other classes, he, like me, doesn't speak much. But that doesn't mean he isn't paying attention. I've even snuck a peak at his notes. They look like something I'd present to the gods.
"Let's make our project about tea," suggests Fatima, organizing her colorful pens and other useless things in her pencil case. All her stationary looks like a unicorn vomited on them. I don't understand the need to overcomplicate simple things. All I need is black, red, green, and blue and I'm ready to go.
Jacob, nodding enthusiastically, agrees, "There's this really good bubble tea place near my house. When we meet up for the project, we should go there."
I look over at Xu Zi Quan. He's fiddling with his pencil, spinning it between his fingers. How does he do that? I should search up how later. Just then, he raises his gaze to me. I softly jerk my head to Fatima and Jacob, wondering if he's cool with the tea idea. He gives a small shrug. Guess he's fine with it. I nod slightly to show that I'm fine with it too.
What's funny is that my entire family loves tea, except me. My father and mother drink a cup or two daily, and my brother also has some from time to time. I don't know, but tea always seems to leave a weird taste in my mouth. My family is great but we're all pretty different from each other. My dad is the most like me--analytical, intense--, but he is more overbearing. My mom is a caring clean-freak with a clear idea of how to do things. My brother is opposite from me in nearly every way, but that doesn't mean we don't get along. I might not like tea personally, but I do know that tea has a long history, starting all the way in China to basically everywhere. Tea has made an impact on trade, cultures, and even wars.
No time for daydreaming. As much as I hate group projects, I still need to practice my leadership skills. Whether I like it or not. Someone has to step up and organize this chaos. We have deadlines to meet.
"So tea it is, right?" I ask. Everyone nods. "The instructions say we need four points--"I pick up my black gel-pen and write in my notebook as I speak--"What the topic is, how it came to be, its global impact, and the visual aids."
"I can do the first one," Fatima announces. Good. It's the easiest, so she shouldn't have any problems. On her laptop, she starts doing the research. Her fingers fly over the keyboard, almost like she's hacking into some secret vault. Damn, texting your many friends does help with typing faster than the wind.
Jacob theatrically peruses the list a few times before declaring, "I can do visual aids. My sister has a proper camera and everything. Other than the bubble tea place, I can probably find other places serving different kinds."
Google can do that way faster and far more efficiently. Whatever. If he really wants to make life harder for himself and I still get results, what do I care. Jacob starts searching up different types of teas to showcase.
Xu Zi Quan leans over the list, reading over the last two options solemnly. After a beat, he just says, "You pick what you want. I'll take what you leave behind."
He wants the topic that I don't want. Why would he do that? I almost argue for him to pick first, but the way he looks at me is... I can't seem to figure it out... It's fine. He's probably just indecisive. "Fine. I'll do global impact."
For a few seconds, he steadily maintains eye-contact, making me a bit uncomfortable. As if he's trying to analyze me. One, I've probably misread this, because of my clear lack of understanding of social cues and two, only I know what's going on in my mind. Xu Zi Quan nods, looking satisfied with my response. "Then I'll do how it came to be."
Strange. Fatima and Jacob both clamored to pick their topics before all the easy ones ran out. But Xu Zi Quan let me pick. Eh, I like global impact anyway.