The Game Warrior
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Chapter 4: Genius and Mental Illness.
That’s why!
That’s why everyone started distancing themselves from him and saw him as odd .
“You think we didn’t know? We know you went to the mental health clinic every week . You think we are all crazy like you?!”
“Shut up!” Ling yelled, cutting off Zhuang from saying more . “School bus, follow order, stop!”
The bus pulled over with a creak .
Ling nudged the three guys to get off the car, leaving Dugu with his words .
“You’re wrong . A neurological disorder is not the same as a mental disorder . ”
“A neurological disorder is a kind of neuropathy, but mental illness is a breakdown, when the brain is not working correctly . ”
“I’m mentally ill, not crazy . Remember not to get it confused next time . ”
“What the hell . . . ?” Zhuang seemed angry .
“Don’t!” Ling shouted, nodding at Du . “Sorry . ” Then she dragged them away .
Under the rising sun, shadows of the three young men and one young woman stretched on the ground, resembling a goodbye .
Ling’s shadow blurred in Dugu’s eyes until it was a black and white photo, no different from others .
He wiped away a tear . So this was heartbreak; even the mentally ill could feel pain .
He immediately began to think . Did the tear come from instinct or something the brain controlled?
This was a problem he liked to ponder .
At the back of the bus, a girl in glasses watched Du with sympathy .
****
“Listen, we can’t let you fill out the college major preferences this way . ”
“Listen, we can’t let you fill out the college major preferences this way . ”
The teacher adjusted his glasses while looking at Dugu . In his hand was the form every high school student had to fill out before taking the college entrance exams .
“Why not? Going to which college is our decision, right? Why does the school want to stop me?”
“But every major is a specialty . Since junior year of high school we have made some students science majors and some liberal arts, and you’ve always been a science major . You’ve never studied political science or any foreign languages, so you can’t apply to the liberal arts college . Listen, Du, I know you have—”
The teacher’s words were stopped by Du . “You know I’m mentally ill and do things weirdly?”
“Yes, oh . I mean, no . . . ” The older man started to sweat .
“Wouldn’t that be great though? Everyone says philosophers are either crazy or mentally ill, so I’d be perfect . ” Du turned to look at the other students in the class .
“I know there are some unflattering rumors about you, but you really shouldn’t obsess about them . . . ”
“Fermeboite! J'enassaz, tes betisent!” Dugu blurted the words, stopping his teacher .
The older man was shocked, but unable to reply . He knew it was some kind of language, but didn’t understand .
“Shut up, I’m tired of your nonsense . It’s French,” a shy voice solved the confusion, which further mortified the teacher .
“Shut up, I’m tired of your nonsense . It’s French,” a shy voice solved the confusion, which further mortified the teacher .
Dugu looked at the girl in the glasses with surprise . “Danke!”
“Nichts danken! He was thanking me, and I said ‘You’re welcome . ’ It’s German . ” The girl was skinny and short, and rather geekish . She wasn’t one of the pretty girls, nor did she have the best grades .
“Usted tienegran talento!” Dugu continued .
“I don’t speak Spanish, but I understood you . Thanks . ” The girl blushed, but didn’t translate the words . Du said, “You’re talented . ”
Dugu seemed on a roll, however, as he kept talking . “Zoon vaijfje! Figlioun femmina! Filho cadela! できそこない! Mierda! Какое бесстыжее лицо! Бесстыжие глаза! Бесстыдник! Cho may Ma-Cao! You think you know so much? What else do you want to know? I’ll tell you!”
The girl in glasses ran out of the class, crying .
She didn’t understand every word, but knew enough to know they were curses .
Dugu turned back to the teacher . “What else do you want to know? Should I recite the poli-sci textbook from front to back, or from back to front?”
“Report reading a write . Period . Materials philosophical and cultural related collected, comma, experiences personal with combined . Period . Both between relationship the discussing essay an write to . . . ”
A few students realized he was reciting the political science textbook word for word, in reverse order .
If some people had watched him as if he was crazy before, now their gaze was more like watching a genius .
If some people had watched him as if he was crazy before, now their gaze was more like watching a genius .
He knew a dozen languages, remembered everything he read, recited textbooks from front to back . . .
If he wasn’t a genius, then what was genius?
There really was a thin line between genius and crazy .
Some of their looks almost held admiration .
But the admiration was quickly turning to awkwardness, as Dugu watched them with apathy .
“Now you know I was seen as crazy because I’d rather be with a bunch of morons than be treated as a genius . "
“Now I know it’s better to be among your own kind . Genius with genius, moron with moron . I should have picked a better circle . ”
"See you for never!"
“It made me unhappy to know all of you . I hope I never have to see any of you again! See you for never!” Du left the classroom .
He couldn’t feel happy, but this was the first time he felt vindicated for his illness .
.
That’s why! That’s why everyone started distancing themselves from him and saw him as odd . “You think we didn’t know? We know you went to the mental health clinic every week . You think we are all crazy like you?!” “Shut up!” Ling yelled, cutting off Zhuang from saying more . “School bus, follow order, stop!” The bus pulled over with a creak . Ling nudged the three guys to get off the car, leaving Dugu with his words . “You’re wrong . A neurological disorder is not the same as a mental disorder . ” “A neurological disorder is a kind of neuropathy, but mental illness is a breakdown, when the brain is not working correctly . ” “I’m mentally ill, not crazy . Remember not to get it confused next time . ” “What the hell . ?” Zhuang seemed angry . “Don’t!” Ling shouted, nodding at Du . “Sorry . ” Then she dragged them away . Under the rising sun, shadows of the three young men and one young woman stretched on the ground, resembling a goodbye . Ling’s shadow blurred in Dugu’s eyes until it was a black and white photo, no different from others . He wiped away a tear . So this was heartbreak; even the mentally ill could feel pain . He immediately began to think . Did the tear come from instinct or something the brain controlled? This was a problem he liked to ponder . At the back of the bus, a girl in glasses watched Du with sympathy . **** “Listen, we can’t let you fill out the college major preferences this way . ” The teacher adjusted his glasses while looking at Dugu . In his hand was the form every high school student had to fill out before taking the college entrance exams . “Why not? Going to which college is our decision, right? Why does the school want to stop me?” “But every major is a specialty . Since junior year of high school we have made some students science majors and some liberal arts, and you’ve always been a science major . You’ve never studied political science or any foreign languages, so you can’t apply to the liberal arts college . Listen, Du, I know you have—” The teacher’s words were stopped by Du . “You know I’m mentally ill and do things weirdly?” “Yes, oh . I mean, no . ” The older man started to sweat . “Wouldn’t that be great though? Everyone says philosophers are either crazy or mentally ill, so I’d be perfect . ” Du turned to look at the other students in the class . “I know there are some unflattering rumors about you, but you really shouldn’t obsess about them . ” “Fermeboite! J'enassaz, tes betisent!” Dugu blurted the words, stopping his teacher . The older man was shocked, but unable to reply . He knew it was some kind of language, but didn’t understand . “Shut up, I’m tired of your nonsense . It’s French,” a shy voice solved the confusion, which further mortified the teacher . Dugu looked at the girl in the glasses with surprise . “Danke!” “Nichts danken! He was thanking me, and I said ‘You’re welcome . ’ It’s German . ” The girl was skinny and short, and rather geekish . She wasn’t one of the pretty girls, nor did she have the best grades . “Usted tienegran talento!” Dugu continued . “I don’t speak Spanish, but I understood you . Thanks . ” The girl blushed, but didn’t translate the words . Du said, “You’re talented . ” Dugu seemed on a roll, however, as he kept talking . “Zoon vaijfje! Figlioun femmina! Filho cadela! できそこない! Mierda! Какое бесстыжее лицо! Бесстыжие глаза! Бесстыдник! Cho may Ma-Cao! You think you know so much? What else do you want to know? I’ll tell you!” The girl in glasses ran out of the class, crying . She didn’t understand every word, but knew enough to know they were curses . Dugu turned back to the teacher . “What else do you want to know? Should I recite the poli-sci textbook from front to back, or from back to front?” “Report reading a write . Period . Materials philosophical and cultural related collected, comma, experiences personal with combined . Period . Both between relationship the discussing essay an write to . ” A few students realized he was reciting the political science textbook word for word, in reverse order . If some people had watched him as if he was crazy before, now their gaze was more like watching a genius . He knew a dozen languages, remembered everything he read, recited textbooks from front to back . If he wasn’t a genius, then what was genius? There really was a thin line between genius and crazy . Some of their looks almost held admiration . But the admiration was quickly turning to awkwardness, as Dugu watched them with apathy . “Now you know I was seen as crazy because I’d rather be with a bunch of morons than be treated as a genius . " “Now I know it’s better to be among your own kind . Genius with genius, moron with moron . I should have picked a better circle . ” "See you for never!" “It made me unhappy to know all of you . I hope I never have to see any of you again! See you for never!” Du left the classroom . He couldn’t feel happy, but this was the first time he felt vindicated for his illness . .
