He has angered Mother Nature. The sky turns immediately. The moon, so bright and pure just moments ago, becomes dark with fury. The clouds blot out the sun as he runs recklessly down the moss-covered steps with the water-lady. She tells him to be careful. '小心路滑!' But he heeds her not. The wind blows so hard that the bamboo leaves rustle up a storm. He's not even sure if it's already raining. The foliage is this thick.
As they both risk their lives, she recounts her life to him. The life of a poor peasant woman. Of a poor family of farmers. So poor that she had to forgo her education. So poor that she can't even travel around her own country. So poor that even the most sought after thing in a peasant girl's life, marriage, becomes a mere bond to another family.
As they approach the foot of the hill, the foliage clears and they're both drenched within seconds. At the bottom, he glances back at the lady who's clambering down the last few couple of steps. He runs for the nearest shelter and when he looks back, she's already disappeared in the veil of the rain. Thus, does his guardian angel protect him.
His shelter turns out to be the kitchen of the already closed outdoor cafe. There, he gets to know a local girl who works part-time for her aunt, the owner of the cafe. She speaks fluent English after eight years of learning it in school. Fresh out of high school, she now awaits her parents' decision on her tertiary education: either a 2+2 in Vietnam or bribe the Chancellor of Guangxi University. She wants to major in Japanese and tells him that she's being discriminated for admiring the Japanese.
The rain stops within an hour and he hops once more on to his mountain bike. He grips the handles like a racing bike and cycles recklessly back. He overtakes two motorcycles. Tempts Fate who's already had two chances today. One of the motorcycles overtakes him back but he pushes himself even harder and overtakes it again. His shoes drip with mud and water although his shorts are already dry. His body aches but he's loving every bit of it. This is how his forefathers took over the world. If they could do it, so can he. The adrenaline pumps through his head, making him slightly delirious as he approaches West Street and the place where he has to return the bike.
As they both risk their lives, she recounts her life to him. The life of a poor peasant woman. Of a poor family of farmers. So poor that she had to forgo her education. So poor that she can't even travel around her own country. So poor that even the most sought after thing in a peasant girl's life, marriage, becomes a mere bond to another family.
As they approach the foot of the hill, the foliage clears and they're both drenched within seconds. At the bottom, he glances back at the lady who's clambering down the last few couple of steps. He runs for the nearest shelter and when he looks back, she's already disappeared in the veil of the rain. Thus, does his guardian angel protect him.
His shelter turns out to be the kitchen of the already closed outdoor cafe. There, he gets to know a local girl who works part-time for her aunt, the owner of the cafe. She speaks fluent English after eight years of learning it in school. Fresh out of high school, she now awaits her parents' decision on her tertiary education: either a 2+2 in Vietnam or bribe the Chancellor of Guangxi University. She wants to major in Japanese and tells him that she's being discriminated for admiring the Japanese.
The rain stops within an hour and he hops once more on to his mountain bike. He grips the handles like a racing bike and cycles recklessly back. He overtakes two motorcycles. Tempts Fate who's already had two chances today. One of the motorcycles overtakes him back but he pushes himself even harder and overtakes it again. His shoes drip with mud and water although his shorts are already dry. His body aches but he's loving every bit of it. This is how his forefathers took over the world. If they could do it, so can he. The adrenaline pumps through his head, making him slightly delirious as he approaches West Street and the place where he has to return the bike.
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