<7 years ago>
Cherry blossom petals fell in soft, heavy swaths on the path leading to Nanyang High School as students walked towards the building with smiles. It was that time of the year again, when students would approach the gates either with excitement or heavy hearts for the last time.
A banner hung high above the entrance gate with big capital letters: ‘GRADUATION DAY’
The morning began with students’ parents, relatives, or other significant persons in their lives slowly filling an empty auditorium. Many carried bouquets full of colorful flowers as they took their seats. Their faces reflected a range of mixed emotions.
Since today was the last day for the third-year students. Even the infamous Lee Junting, who rarely attended class, was in the classroom to say his goodbyes and express his gratitude to the teachers. Yet, even on this joy-filled day, some felt something was amiss, and Junting was one of them.
As the students started lining up to enter the auditorium where their loved ones were waiting, Junting felt a light tug on his sleeves. He turned around and saw another student he recognized as Lili. Her face was filled with worry.
"Junting, have you seen Qinyang?” her tone was anxious, “She isn’t here. I didn't even see her this morning."
Junting shook his head. An uneasy feeling began to form in his heart.
The young man realized at that moment what had been missing in spite of all the commotion surrounding the morning: Qinyang’s presence. Whenever she wasn’t around him, he felt insecure. Junting had hoped to meet her before the ceremony started, but she never showed up—not even her shadow. He had planned something special for her and was now worried he would lose his chance to speak the words he needed to say to her.
"I tried to call her but she didn’t pick up,” Lili bit her lip anxiously, “She normally wouldn't do something like this. She was so excited yesterday. Did she say anything to you recently?"
She attempted to call again, but still, it went to voicemail.
Junting again shook his head no. His eyes darted towards the entrance gate, hoping that she would suddenly come running in any minute now with a sheepish excuse for why she was late.
Afternoon came and the students entered the hall one by one, yet Qinyang was still nowhere to be found. The teachers had noticed her absence too and began asking if anyone knew where she was, worried that she would not make it in time for the ceremony. Their efforts were in vain, however, and the ceremony ended without her.
Junting rushed out of the hall in search of Qinyang. Did she really not come on such a special day? Despite how earnestly he scoured the school grounds, there had been no sight of her or her presence anywhere at all. Lili followed him, also hoping to meet her best friend. When they arrived at the entrance gate, they found a little girl with pigtails standing there, looking around as if she had been waiting for someone.
The girl peeked at them from behind the wall of the entrance gate when her face lit up in recognition. She ran towards the pair and stunned them with her question.
"Are you Brother Junting and Sister Lili?"
Both of them nodded. Were they supposed to know this little girl?
Shen then pulled out two envelopes from her backpack and handed them to Junting and Lili with a grin.
"Sister Qinyang told me to give this to you this morning," the little girl announced proudly.
Junting’s heart quickened as he gazed at the baby blue envelope in his palm with uneasiness.
Lili took the letter from the girl’s hand and lowered herself so that the girl wouldn’t have to strain her neck from looking up.
"May I ask how do you know Qinyang? Do you have any idea where she is?”
"Sister Qinyang is my neighbor, but I don't know where she is,” the girl shrugged and blinked her eyes innocently. “She asked me to give you these earlier in the morning. She had a big bag beside her and said she was going on a holiday.”
Junting then knelt down on one knee to face the girl, "Can you take this brother to her house?"
"Sure! You can play with me after since sister is not home!" the little girl smiled and grabbed his hand as she started running down the street.
When they arrived at a rundown-looking house that the girl said belonged to Qinyang, they noticed the front gate had been left open.
The little girl then ran into the house and began shouting.
"Sister Qinyang! Oh, wait, I forgot she went on a holiday."
As soon as Junting stepped into the house, his nostrils were greeted by the strong stench of alcohol. He frowned as he looked around at the various bottles and cans sprawled all over the living room floor. Carefully, he made his way upstairs to find Qinyang’s room.
Junting noticed that her room was the cleanest in the entire house. He opened the drawers only to find all of her clothes missing. Looking further, he caught sight of bloodstains on her bedsheets and the floor. His chest panged at the sight.
‘What happened here?’
He felt his heart begin to beat heavily. Deep down, he had an idea in his heart as to what had happened, but he didn't want to face it. He then heard a shout from outside, knocking him from his thoughts.
"Lee Junting!"
The young man hurried downstairs and found Lili kneeling on the floor, crying.
"She went away,” Lili sobbed, “She left us."
Her words caused Junting’s mind to go blank. What did she mean? He froze on the spot. Lili scanned the letter she had received from the little girl once more before handing it to him in tears.
After reading the paper, a surge of unknown feelings spread like fire within him. Junting crumpled it as he gritted his teeth.
‘Are you kidding me, Zhou Qinyang?’