Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 248

A Journey to the West
St Paul's Convent School, Chan, Andrea Hoi Ching - 13
“Y
2007 ; Roseate Kindergarten, Hong Kong
ou look lonely. Let's be friends." the five-year-old held out his chubby hand for the blonde
haired girl in front of them.
The blonde blatantly rejected him, but the thick-skinned boy refused to accept
rejection ― he took her pinky and shook it with his.
He announced, "We'll be friends forever and ever, Maia Dawn. Tomorrow, same time, same place.
Be there or be square."
Maia remembered her mom's advice, telling her to be more "open", and reluctantly agreed.
Luca was over the moon, and his eyes sparkled like the stars.
Maia gazed into those pools of melting chocolate; she was officially trapped in those mesmerizing
eyes.
Both of them didn't know that this childish "proposal would affect their lives
27 th February,2018 ; Luca's balcony, Hong Kong
"Happy 16 th birthday, Mi." Luca spoke softly, taking out a perfectly iced cake.
"Mmm, passionfruit." Maia muttered with her mouth full, spilling some crumbs on Luca.
"Yes, Mi. I made it by myself." Luca said proudly, waiting for Maia to praise him.
But, Maia looked at her battered watch, and rushed away with the cake in her hands; she had class
in fifteen minutes.
"She'll praise me tomorrow." Luca thought.
28 th February, 2018; Hong Kong International Airport
"Yes, Luca, I'll take care of myself in England." Maia beamed in excitement; she had been
dreaming of the mesmerizing Big Ben, the crowded Piccadilly Circus and meeting One Direction on the
chilly streets since last night.
Luca's eyes were narrowed and his brows were frowned, as he was rather worried about Maia ―
she was too dependent on other people, and the whole fee scholarship from Cambridge University was too
good to be true.
Maia glanced at her battered watch, and squealed "I'll FaceTime you every night, Luca. Bye!" while
skipping to the Departure Zone, with a large smile that showed her pearly whites.
Luca felt as if something was missing as he watched Maia's back disappear into the crowds. Perhaps
he was a teensy bit missing his bratty friend.
7 th March, 2018 ; Luca's apartment ; Hong Kong
Luca was deep in thought, walking to and fro in his bedroom. It has been a whole week, and Maia
has not contacted him nor her foster parents. They were all worried sick about Maia, as she does not make a
promise that she does not keep.
"Ring....." The telephone rung noisily, and Luca grabbed the phone immediately. "Maia?" He
inquired.
"No, it's Mrs Dawn, Luca." Maia's foster mom, Elyse muttered softly.
"Have they found Maia, Mrs Dawn?" Luca spoke anxiously.
Elyse Dawn sobbed hysterically on the phone, and hiccupped."They've found her body-hiccup-
inside the-hiccup-Cambridge University-hiccup-'s library. She was murdered."
Luca dropped the phone. His best friend was dead. Gone. Flashbacks of Maia and him appeared in
his head, making him clutch his nose in pain. He screamed in agony, "Maia, you could have stayed in Hong
Kong with me and your parents. Why did you go to the West? Is it because of One Direction, Big Ben or
Piccadilly Circus? Tell me!"