Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020 | Page 25

Hong Kong Young Writers Awards 2020
The Greater Bay Area Adventure
Singapore International School, Xu, Ruofan Paul – 11
I gasped for breath as I wiped my brow. I had been running from the police for the last
three hours. As I hid behind the large bin, I gathered my thoughts. Yes, I had stolen some
food from the local store, and I had been caught in the act, but did the police really have to
chase me from Hong Kong all the way to Shenzhen? I peered out from behind the bin. To my
relief, I saw that the police had run past me without noticing my hiding spot.
Ever since the Greater Bay Area had been created, more and more people had become
rich. Unfortunately for me, this category did not include me, since I was an orphan. My hand
tightened on the loaf of bread that I had stolen. I heard a sound behind me and spun around,
finding myself face to face with a tall man. The man eyed me, and asked, “Were you the one
running from the police?”
I did not move. The man sighed. “Look, if you tell me the truth, I may be able to help you.”
Thinking that this man was tricking me, I got up and slowly moved backwards.
The man sighed again. “If you need me, just find me at this address, OK?” He handed me
a business card. I considered, then shook my head.
“I’ll come with you,” I decided, “You don’t seem like someone who would lie.”
As we started walking towards where the man lived, I told him my story. The man then
introduced himself as Jack. Jack told me that he studied law before, and now as long as I
returned the food would be fine.
“Really?” I asked. I was glad that I would not have to worry about going to prison. “Let’s
go return the food, then!”
I told Jack the address and Jack hailed a taxi. He told the taxi driver the address, and we
got in the car. I thanked Jack profusely. “But why would you do this for me?” I asked. Jack
just shrugged and looked away.
The journey took much less time, according to Jack, because now all of the cities were
connected. “Before, it took us nearly a day. Now, it only takes you an hour. You’re so lucky.”
Jack said. I, though, secretly hoped there would be more time so I could prepare for the
coming event.
Once they had returned to the shop, I immediately hopped out of the taxi and raised my
hands. Then, slowly approaching the shopkeeper, I held out the bread to the shopkeeper. “I’m
sorry for stealing your bread.”
The shopkeeper looked at me angrily and took the bread from me. Before he could say
anything, a police officer appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me by my hands. In a blink of
an eye, the police officer had locked handcuffs around my wrists.
A few minutes later, Jack and I were riding in the police car. I was trying not to cry and
Jack was trying to comfort me. “It’s going to be OK, remember? You returned the bread to
shopkeeper.”
After half an hour of riding, the car suddenly braked and the driver unbuckled his seat belt.
“Get out,” a police officer told me. I did so obediently and we were brought to a large
building with the words “THE HIGH COURT OF THE GREATER BAY AREA” printed
in large letters. I gulped.
86