Regrets
Roda Me
was once a warrior, a warrior of China. I cared for my country and my wife, Ailing. But that was the past
and everything has transformed in a different way, all because of one tragic incident.
My
star
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i Bernas Bargo, Group 4: Fiction, St. Margaret's Co-educational English Secondary & Primary School
wife and I were just newly married and had decided to move to Beijing in a tiny rural village as a new
t of our life. We had a little boy and I worked in a farm to make a living. We were all satisfied and
py with having an average life.
I
One day, the emperor of China, Emperor Zen, came up with an idea of creating a Great Wall to protect the
people from intruders, especially the Huns. So he ordered all the men in China to build his wall and only giving
a few peddles as their payment. We couldn’t refuse his orders and at the same time, I didn’t want to leave my
family. So I promised my wife that I’ll be home after completing this task. But years passed and not a single
person has left the construction site of the Great Wall.
It was a stormy and windy day. When the weather was unpredictable; Emperor Zen was looking around
and checking out on our progress. Then a huge brick was going to fall on him but fortunately, I was able to save
him by doing my imperturbable karate moves. Everyone was impressed and I even gave Emperor Zen a good
impression on me. He said, “Why thank you young man! As a reward, I shall announce you as one of my
warriors of China!”
So I took the offer and I was overjoyed. Ever since then, every day was a like a dream come true. I didn’t
have a single concern to worry about. No bills to pay, had a huge house all to myself, and especially, I had
money, lots of money. I began to be so full of myself that I had forgotten about my family and everything else.
Finally, the Great Wall was completed and every man was so overjoyed to go back home. Some even
had tears of joy, but not me. I was devastated. I didn’t want to leave this heavenly place. I wanted to stay; I had
food everywhere without even having to sacrifice anything! I even got stronger and the spotlight was on me! If I
went back, no one would remember me. My money would fly; my big house will turn back into a dusty old
place. I just wanted to stay-so I did.
Ten years went by so quickly, and I was still living a happy-go-lucky life. I was living my life like
there was no tomorrow. Then the day came, when the Huns attacked China. We didn’t know what the reason
was, all we knew was that we needed to protect our country and its people. I rushed to join the battle and at the
corner of the street, I saw a man saving his wife with his child. He did whatever he could just to keep his family
safe. There it came back to me, the images of my family. How stupid of me to have forgotten!
I rushed back to my hometown, which was an hour away from the capital. Everything was burnt,
almost everything. I saw my house, but couldn’t find my family. I ran and panicked searching for them. Loads
of questions were running through in my mind. What if they had died? What if they had moved? What if they
were kidnapped? Are they in a good state right now? Where are they? I was worried, really worried. Then I saw
a shadow, a very familiar face shape. I was suspicious so I went close to take a look. It was actually my son! I
didn’t notice him at all! He wasn’t young anymore; he was so different like he was a different person! But next
to his shadow was a much larger shadow, it was a Hun, an enemy!
In my whole life, I had never seen a Hun. He was as huge as a tree, as buff as an ox and as angry as a
hungry tiger. I was scared and terrified, but I had to do something for my boy! When I was about to snatch my
boy from them, they put a gun right above his ear. My boy was crying, crying for help. He was scared and didn’t
want to die. Of course he didn’t want to die; he was too young to die! I, too, was terrified. I was shaking with
fear. I would do anything to get my son back! So they told me to pass on the key of the Great Wall that the
Emperor entrusted me with. That was key was the key to open the secret gates of the Great Wall. I’m sure they
wanted the key so they could enter China and take control of the entire empire. But I had to choose between my
son or my country. That was one of the hardest choices I had ever had to decide. I decided to choose my son as I
didn’t want to lose all the years that I missed out with him, so I gave the key.
The Huns let go of my son, seeing him running towards me with happiness led me joy as well. But
when we almost reached each other, the Huns shot my son and he went down on his knees—dead. I didn’t
understand. I gave them the key already! I followed what they requested to do! We had an agreement, hadn’t
we? Why did my boy just die? Questions ran through my mind again, seeing my son died almost made me
insane! I could feel the anger running through my body. Without thinking, my body moved by itself and tried to
stab the Hun. But something unexpected happened.