Beyond - 小欢喜续写
☾ 阿姨希望，整个苍穹都是你的。而你，就是夜空中最亮的那颗星星。☽
Under a twinkling night sky, five locks hung peacefully on the back fence of a certain apartment in a certain busy street block.
They were not ordinary locks. For they were blessed with sweet childhood wishes and dreams. The fragrant smell of jasmine lingered in the air, giving the night a magical touch. Five young fellows stood by the fence. One by one, they faced their designated lock and murmured silent prayers to the faraway star. The friends slowed down and froze time even in the haste of preparing for the ever more stressful college entrance exams. 6 years of the exhausting high school marathon was all in preparation for that one faithful day in the approaching week. Now that the strains of the last few meters of sprint were over, the five good friends had a hearty laugh. Good lucks were uttered jovially and genuinely.
They were the fireworks in this velvet dark, the blaze that dared to light up the sky.
孩子的人生是他们自己的，我们不能替代他们，该他们走的弯路一条都少不了，该他们装的南墙挨个都得撞。
Violet rested briefly on the sofa, having worked tirelessly all afternoon packing bags and listening to the endless biddings of her royal highness mother Helen. She knew very well that her mother was utterly out of concern and worries of her going so far away to university. Yet she still felt uncomfortable under the scrutinising eyes of her royal highness. On the other hand, her dearest daddy Bob hadn’t been helping. Since when did he become so much of a servant to Helen? Violet wondered. Well, he must have changed his ways. After all he wouldn’t risk losing his wife again. Violet thought of her parents' reunion her greatest reward from year 12. Yes, she did smoothly get into her dream uni, but the little family pleasures can even overweigh Violet’s up-until-now greatest personal achievements. This had been a magical year, as Violet successfully reunited her 6 years divorced parents. The little family could not have been more contented. Each day they felt like living in one of those happily-ever-after fairytales in the story books.
As Violet was just about to doze off on the sofa, thinking tender thoughts of her parents and what future had in store for them, she straightened her back at a yell from the kitchen “Violet, are you ready? You are due to depart very soon! Your dad called a taxi to drop you off from the airport and you are to catch the 8 o’clock flight to Nanking! Upon my word, why did you choose such a late flight? Well, but that can’t be changed now, so hurry up!” Violet instantly broke off from her reverie. Oh yes, my luggage, handbag with identity card, backpack with laptop, phone fully charged, 500 yuan pocket money, all set!
For the last time Violet positioned herself in front of the bureau mirror, checking her appearance. Usually she didn’t care much about her looks, but as her uni experience was about to start, she wanted to look fresh and at her best. Makeup was minimal, reserved to a sweep of mascara. Too much tumbleweed hair, but what else was new? Lips could use some gloss. Violet licked her bottom lips, giving it a wet shine. She couldn’t be described as traditionally beautiful, yet her features were in every way perfect. When she smiled, it created slight but sweet dimples beside her glowing lips, suggestive of an introversive yet thoughtful interior. But to close acquaintance, Violet was always the loud know-it-all, the brain and core of the society. Being milk bottle white only gave her an extremely ethereal quality that glowed out of her near translucent skin.
At a last glance, Violet walked away from the mirror, gathering her things. Mum and dad were already at the door. The moment Violet was dreading for the entire summer was about to come. Having to say goodbye to her friends earlier was difficult enough, yet she couldn’t help but shudder at the mere thought of having to part ways with her parents. Despite all her parents’ shortcomings, it didn’t make her love them less.
In the face of her mum’s extreme and protective measures over last year, Violet repelled. Although her mum’s extreme possessiveness and protectiveness were the contributing factor of her choosing Nanjing University in the first place, Violet no longer felt the same way. Indeed, time was a strange thing. It smoothed peoples’ tempers, relaxed their nerves and brought out a shining, brilliant side of them that was unshed before. Violet could hardly believe what her mother had became in two months time. She was far changed from the aggressive tigress Violet associated her with months before.
However, Violet didn’t regret her decision of choosing Nanjing University. It was about time that she had some independence. All these years she felt controlled and possessed by her single mother. Although circumstances were different now, she needed time alone to regain control of her life. Throughout year 12, she made so many bad decisions, yet it was inevitable that she made these decisions there and then, as Violet was so madly in love with the concept of freedom in decision-making at the time. Even though she hadn’t the freedom then she was determined to break through. Now she would have time to think everything over. Another little voice in Violet wanted to impress her parents in Nanking and to grow and thrive into what she had always dreamed of in a place where the seeds could be planted. Perhaps there was even a tiny bit of Violet that wished to be in the same city with her playmate and long-term bickering companion, Mike. But this idea was nipped off from the bud. Nanjing University was and had always been the first in astronomy in the entire country. She knew that’s where she belonged.
Violet approached her parents, suddenly feeling timid. At a loss of how to express herself, she grabbed both parents into a hug. Helen stroked her chin lovingly, while Bob patted her back. Nothing was said, yet so much was passed around them. Violet felt a sudden urge, to lean on Helen’s shoulders and have a good cry. However, she thought better of it and resolved to be cheerful.
“I will call you guys often and I will come back every holiday. Enjoy your time together, your newlyweds. You will have little Kitty roaming around after she’s born. Don’t sleep too late at night and don’t get angry with your students mum. ”
“Now who is the one bidding endlessly?” Bob said playfully, as he sniffed. Helen hugged Violet once again.
“Hey Henry, I wonder if we will ever have time like this when we go off to uni?” called Mike across the room, as he lied comfortably on the sofa, scanning through his text messages.
Henry was sitting straight in front of a book of electromagnetic waves, his favourite topic in the entire universe of physics. When excited, Henry would nudge his glasses up a little higher on his nose. He probably thought those midnight rims ought to sit up and pay attention too. He and his glasses were a team, silently focusing together. “I dunno cousin. I bet not though, cuz we’d be real busy, right, with all the projects and essays.” Henry mumbled. Although the exams were finished and he was successfully accepted into Tsinghua Uni, he was as much his old self as ever.
“Of course, of course. What was I thinking to ask you? Although the exams are over, you haven’t changed one bit. But what the hell had gotten into Violet? I mean she worked even harder than before this holiday, studying day and night. Yet her parents are not setting pressure on to her at all. Now she’s going to that stupid studying camp early. Uhhh, I thought she would use this bit of time wisely with us, having fun. I really don’t understand the mentality of you smart people.”
“Oh my god cousin, can you have a little bit of tact?” Henry was forced into the conversation once again. This time he abandoned his book completely, feeling the need to defend for Violet. “This is exactly what Violet has always wanted, attending a uni where she can study astronomy with the top students in the entire country. It’s kinda like a dream come true for her. Of course she has to work hard. She is aiming for the highest at the starting point of the uni marathon. The study camp is the perfect opportunity for her to demonstrate what she already knows by competing with peers before the official start of term. Besides have you noticed that Violet has spent all her other time with us?”
Mike grimaced. “I know, I know. Sorry for being so inconsiderate and tactless but can you not be so harsh on me?”
Henry signed. “Sure. Soon you will be gone as well. How dare you leave your junior here, young and unattended to. Cousin, if only you can be a bit more talented, then you won’t have to go all the way to Nanking to study theatre and performance.”
After awhile, Henry started again, furrowing his brow. “Hey cousin, I just discovered something important.”
“What?”
“You like Violet. You miss her the moment she’s gone, and you regret not seeing her off at the airport.”
Mike instantly grabbed Henry’s ear and held on to it until Henry let out a scream of despair. “Cousin, cousin! Ahhhh! Sorry, perhaps that was a false observation. Let go of me!
“I need to get some sense into your head. Moi like Violet? The universe must be upset down.” Mike groaned as he left miserable Henry.
Henry gathered up his book, attempting to seek some refuge among the lines. Mike turned restlessly on the bed, letting Henry’s words sink in once again. Finally, he inwardly relented and admitted that he might have missed to have someone to bicker with.
Buzzt…Mike looked at the message. It was Emma in the group chat.
Violet, are you at the airport now? Have a nice flight. Sleep as much as you can. Text me when you arrive. I am gonna miss you so much… Nanking is really far away. Don’t forget us, especially me, while you busy yourself with your new life. Ehhh, I feel like saying goodbye all over again. Anyways, take care of yourself.
Buzzt… Another message came in from Oliver. Mike didn’t see it. He already sank deep in his reverie.
Why do we ever have to grow up? Mike pondered. He was stabbed again by a fresh sense of melancholy. The bittersweet parting with his friends from a few days ago had drenched all emotional energy from him.
That night, Mike fidgeted restlessly in his bed. As he closed his eyes, a river came into view. He was a small boat in the boundless water. The scenery from the shore was a blur as he rushed along. When he encountered a storm and broke his vessels, someone would jump up and mend him, accompanying him a short way. Yet most passing by would simply continue on their way. When the water was still, he would take in his surroundings. The river lied across the land in smooth seductive curves, beautiful in the dim light, cool and innocuous. During those times, so many would try to board the boat, trusting him to take them to the end of the far-stretched horizon. Unbeknownst to them, the river hid a myriad of dangers, its swift undertow being the least of their concerns. Just yards around the next bend would be the largest waterfall in the region. As soon as the waterfall emerged, all passengers got off as quickly as they came, except for a young boy who admitted that he didn’t belong anywhere else. The boy and the boat had no choice but to follow the stream. Before they realised what was happening, they fell, alongside a series of rocky outcrops, into the abyss of emptiness.
Mike broke out a cold sweat. Swing himself awake, he stared off into darkness.
Beep, beep, beep… In a different bedroom in the same apartment block, Oliver was woken up by his sharp morning alarm. It was 7:20. Breakfast was ready. A note came beside it.
We are going to the mall to buy some essentials for you when you go off overseas. Your uncle will come in later to discuss the plans. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold. There is porridge on the stove. Mum.
Mike felt an overwhelming warmth swarming inside him, despite the chilly wind blowing outside. Now he knew, so very deeply, that no matter how far away he would be separated from this home, his parents would never be far away.
“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence… and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content”
