Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 148

The Tales of Magnolia
Leung Shek Chee College, Liu, Carolyn - 16
2000,Shanghai.
U
nder a gigantic magnolia tree, two gravestones were embedded into the soil, standing next to each other.
Surrounding them were numerous blooming magnolias, representing the Shanghai city and the pure love
between the two.
1946, Shanghai.
A girl was on her way to her new home. She was engaged to a man and was ready to start a new life with him.
"Camellia, are you on your way now?" The man's voice came out from the rotary telephone. "Yes, I'm nearly
there." Camellia hanged up the telephone handset and saw that a magnolia had fallen onto her hand. Surprised,
she realised that on her left was a gigantic magnolia tree. Looking at the sparkling engagement ring on her left
hand, a myriad of emotions flooded over. "It'd been ten years since ..." She knew, that it was time to let go of
those memories. Slowly, she stepped out of the telephone booth and sat under the magnolia tree, ready to recall
these bitter-sweet memories one last time and then bury them in the deepest part of her heart.
1936, Shanghai.
"Please? It's fun! I promise! Joining the Book Club's my lifelong dream! Come on, join it with me, will you?"
Camellia wasn't a girl who loved reading, but since her friend Yelena begged her so hard, Camellia had no
choice but to join the Book Club together with her. However, she regretted this decision as soon as she found
out that the activities were nothing more than reading.
"Who promised that this is fun?" she groaned and glared at Yelena, who was reading beside her.
"Try grab a book and you'll know how enjoyable reading is!" Yelena smiled.
"You know that I hate reading!" Camellia howled angrily.
"Sorry!" Yelena giggled and ran off. Having nothing to do, Camellia could only sit and wait for the reading
period to end. Meanwhile, she saw a boy at the corner, reading quietly just by himself. She wondered, 'He looks
really hooked onto that book. Is it really that good?' She was really curious and couldn't stop giving the boy
sidelong glances.
The boy wasn't handsome at all, but since he looked so focused and serious when he was reading, Camellia
couldn't help being deeply attracted by him. Every day, Camellia just stared at the boy fixedly and did nothing.
Finally, their eyes met.
Carrying the book in his hands, the boy walked towards Camellia. "Are you ... one of my fans?" he asked, with a
puzzled expression.
Camellia's face went bright red. "N-no, I.I..I'm ju-just...t-there's a mosquito on...on y-your face s-so..." she
stuttered.