Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020 | Page 73

Hong Kong Young Writers Awards 2020
Slightly irked, I continued, saying, “I said no interruptions you two.”
“What happened that day, was that it was the day I met your grandmother.”
That day, was the day that I was exploring my new surroundings, where I was venturing
through the busy Iao Hon market at night, looking through the rows and rows of fresh
food on display - but was more distracted by this alluring lady on the balcony of the second
floor. Intrigued by her, I walked to the outside railing, standing next to her, gazing over this
small community.
“What might someone like you be doing here?” Said the unknown lady at the time.
“Just walking around, exploring this place a little,” I replied back - inching closer to the
perch she was standing on. “What about you?”
“Same reason here. I wanted to get away from home.” She muttered, “Then, would you
like to have a chat?”
“That’s no problem for me.” I answer back, “Don’t mind me asking but, why is someone
like you visiting a place like here? There’re not many good things at a glance for people here.”
“Ah. I was just visiting here. Not sure for how long, but I’m here with my family.
However, I could say the same about you. What are you doing here?” She responded back.
“I didn’t have much choice but to move here for a job - but I’m liking it so far. The
community and everything, they’re wonderful, if you’re up for it, I’d love to explore the place
with someone around here.” I told her.
“That would be lovely. Would you mind explore now?” she asked me, taking her hand
out to shake my hand.
“By the way, I’m Ka Ming.” I replied, taking her hand.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Siu Mei.”
And so started our little adventures together.
Things started off slowly - we only did just start to get to know each other. What started
off as simple walks around the Iao Hon Market - talking about everything from small talk to
delving into our pasts - our conversations were always fruitful and full of life. The small little
lunches we had at the local cafe, where we had small bits of each others food, the fun times
we had strolling through the busy night markets, always looking at stuff we wanted, but never
buying them. Unknowingly, these days spent together would cultivate a strong connection
between us. We started sharing more personal information with each other - but it never felt
forced, it always felt natural and right that we both were able to trust each other wholly. We
went from strangers to friends, and then friends to something special.
The time we spent together blossomed into something indescribable and unforgettable.
It was in a worn-down park nearby, in the darkness and sereneness of the night, where
we both lay on the too-dark grass, gazing into the stars - except barely visible due to the light
pollution - but nonetheless, did not ruin the moment. It was there where we drifted off to
another place in time - it was a moment in time that was shared by no one else but us - and a
moment where we first said our “I love yous” and finally admitted what we felt to each other.
The feeling that night was so sublime - while our spirits were flying freely in pure joy.
However, what I thought was going to be everlasting, disappeared into thin air.
Out of the blue, Siu Mei left without a trace.
With no explanation and no clue on what happened - I spiralled into a pit of lethargicness
and sorrow.
But, I had to go back to cleaning on the streets, except that now, I was less whole than
before. Every trip to the market now felt emptier, as if the earth lost its moon. Every time
I went to the park, I couldn’t help but wonder - what went wrong?
134