Hate U
Eirene Kar Lam Woo, Group 4: Fiction, St. Mary's Canossian College
nce upon a time, we swore not to say goodbye
Something got a hold of us and we changed…”
Ethan took off his headphone gradually, staring at the Great Wall through the window of a
tourists’ coach; the Great Wall in Beijing glistened grandly as the sun rose above its stone
horizon, showing its pride of having been so stable and solid for more than 2000 years. The stations stood static,
as if they were soldiers on guard shoulder to shoulder, keeping a watchful eye over invading hordes. Its dignity
and firmness were so breath-taking to Ethan, dumbfounded and transfixed. He couldn’t look away, for the wall
had held his gaze in a stony stare…
“
Let’s go up to the Great Wall now!” He exclaimed after all teens had left the coach. As an experienced
guide of the study tour, he introduced the history of the Great Wall in great detail as if he was a Chinese history
professor, “The Great Wall is built to… defend… the Chinese Empire against the invasion by nomadic groups.
Originally, only several walls were built; they were joined afterwards and became bigger and … stronger…”
The whole group of adolescents looked at him with growing wonder, carried away by the possible reasons
behind the frown so visible on his face and the twitching at the corner of his eye, which he was trying to
suppress upon saying the words “defend” and “stronger”.
After regaling the students with the wall’s long and glorious history, he gestured them to take a time off to
appreciate this amazing piece of architecture freely. Meanwhile, Ethan started walking along the stairs. When he
picked up his headphones and listened to his favourite song, he was utterly overwhelmed with memories…
***
Many years ago, Ethan paid a visit to Beijing as a young student. When he was on the way to the hotel, he
was extremely worried; “How come mum wants me to stay here for a month without friends?” His desperate
murmur was responded with a light laughter. Suddenly, there was a hand waving in front of him. Before he
could respond, somebody said, “Hi, neighbour, I’m Wylie. Don’t worry. We’ll have a joyful time here!” Ethan
stared at the one sitting next to him with mixed emotions: surprise, embarrassment, uncertainties … Suddenly,
something popped into his mind and he slipped on the edge of the flight of stairs. The pain brought him back to
the hidden memory.
“
Oh! Are you Wylie?” He screamed.
Wylie burst out laughing, “Of course! I’ve just told you!”
“
No! I mean – did you study in the Sunshine Kindergarten?” Wylie nodded.
“
Were you in K1B?” Wylie nodded again, but with little bewilderment this time.
“
Ethan! Don’t you remember me? The kid that took the seat next to yours in K1! Don't you recall it?” His
sudden enthusiasm scared Wylie off, until the childhood scenes flashed in his mind after so many years …
“…
I know! We were ‘neighbours’ for the WHOLE year! We scribbled on the tables and got a good scold
from Miss Anderson!”
“
How can I possibly forget your special name? Wait… what does it mean actually?”
“
It means SMART! How about yours?” “Well… ‘Ethan’ means strong…” “Wow! Your name suits you best
—
no wonder you have grown so muscular!” He poked his chest playfully.
The “great wall” between them melted with their glowing passion about this new voyage of friendship
setting sail …
***
Finally, they arrived. Since everyone was required to carry their own luggage to the lobby, Ethan and Wylie
parted to complete their tasks. When Ethan was off for his baggage, he heard a distant melodious voice calling
from his back, “Wait … You’ve dropped your flick knife …” He turned around to see a girl running hurriedly
towards him. She was another student participating in the same tour, though Ethan did not notice her. How he
could have missed her!! Her smooth hair radiated perfectly under the sunlight, as if there was a halo above her
head, that of an angel’s; her milky rosy cheeks held him spellbound …
Ethan’s feet stopped moving as if they had been turned steel. The closer she was, the more obviously he
heard his rhythmic heartbeat. “Here it is.” The angel-like girl smiled with him remaining speechless. He did not
want to take the knife back. He just wanted the whole world to pause long enough to let him admire every fine
feature of her face. “…Thanks…” Sheepishly, he took his life-saving knife from her tender creamy hand. When
“
O
Shortlisted