Wearing a white sports cap and dressed in sportswear, Hana was obviously out for a run, her breath coming in short gasps. But I still blurted out the most stupid opening question the world might have ever seen.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqfyNh4Eyg
"Hana, are you... running?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYLMxZageu
"What a 'smart' question!" She laughed and replied, "Otherwise do you think I am eating right now?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX0AAwasUU
"Oh, right, of course." I stuttered, "Um, were you, you you... okay today?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x5XIya8WW
"I... I... I... was fine!" She looked displeased. "I got insulted for no reason and was called 'a spoiled child', which made me mad, so I had to go for a run to blow off some steam."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfw5QeXcbg
"I'm sorry." I apologised sincerely. "I was way over the top and I didn't actually mean it."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJga88E08C
"Oh just forget it." Hana smiled. "I'll think it over. What you said actually makes some sense. Sometimes I'm just too eager for instant results and quick wins."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UCMixFaE7
With that, she took a deep breath and reached out her hand to me.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNa6vIc5sK
"Let's call it even now."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I9IGk1hSa
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I cautiously extended my hand and shook hers to make amends.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlij0CiHEr
Was it because she had just finished running? Her hand was damp with sweat, yet warm and gentle, giving me a sense of security.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIX06dQp5S
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Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat, and I completely forgot to let go of her hand.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4r4Ij4yR2
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After a few seconds, she forcefully pulled her hand away. Her cheeks glowed rosy, and she looked shy and unlike her usual self. An awkward silence pervaded the air.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhesaDr0pD2
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"Do you..." I tried to break the silence. "Do you live in Shatin too?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7lr0ZMsuq
"Yes, just across the river." Hana pointed to the other side of the Shing Mun River.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NDIuBej6p
"Oh, do you often go running by the river?" I asked.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAvvzIiVtH
"Yeah you could say that." Hana replied. "Actually, I only started running again a few months ago. Before that, I spent a lot of time studying and didn't have much time for exercise."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfujNYmt7e
"I see." I chuckled. "So, did I interrupt your run just now?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOsyc6qty3
"Oh, of course you did!" Hana rolled her eyes. "So let's say goodbye now, okay?"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskMshxfK0X
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With that, Hana made a cheeky face and stuck out her tongue mischievously.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqc6MtHeR9
We looked at each other and laughed, the spell of awkwardness completely gone. We walked and talked along the river. As I explained the reason for my outburst in the meeting earlier, I also dared to ask her about the reason for her "showing off". And I wondered, why being called "a spoiled child" had such a big impact on her.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoBYPp9uFs
"When I was very young, my father died in a traffic accident." Hana said. "The driver was drunk. Although he was sentenced to prison and my mother received compensation from the insurance, it couldn't compensate for her emotional pain and the financial impact on us. That's why I resent(?) care so much about being called 'a spoiled child'."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSqVIQNtTE
"I'm sorry. I was being such an insensitive person." I apologised. "And it must have brought back painful memories for you."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XugLDykOt
"It's okay. It's been years." Hana replied.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6uRGbJWEM
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Hana's gaze was stubborn and unyielding.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx63eIApN0
After taking a sip of water, she continued.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi100ZBueg
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"After that, my mother and I depended on each other. We were from a grassroots background, and our living conditions were quite difficult. My mother took care of me while working outside to support our living. I didn't have much entertainment as a child. One of the occasional best moments was going to McDonald's and sharing a filet-o-fish and a cola with my mother. That would made me happy for at least a week."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gtIEsm1Zs
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Thinking about how I often wasted food, I felt very guilty.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIJySV3TtU
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"Maybe because I was aware of my family's struggling from a young age, I seldom moaned, was very sensible and worked hard at my studies." Hana continued. "But my grades weren't very good. Fortunately, I happened to be good at computers, and programming came naturally to me, so I got accepted as a Computer Science student at a university."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOnY0zQ2Ol
"In those days, that wasn't a mainstream choice anymore." I interrupted.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaF4XZ0fBF
"Haha, you're right. I think that's why I was accepted." Hana smiled wryly. "I knew it but I didn't mind that at all. What I was most concerned was to repay our debts as soon as possible and make my mother's life better. So after graduating from university, I immediately started working at a software company and earned a decent salary. But good times don't last, and I was laid off after a few months. I don't know the real reason why I was laid off. They just said it was a 'restructuring of the company', but I think it was simply because I didn't work hard enough and thus was surplus to requirements! So when I joined this company, I made a promise to myself that I must be aggressive right from day one, and seize every opportunity that I can to show my values.'220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VSwZTzH7O
Hana finished speaking and looked at me earnestly. By this point I was well relieved and understood the reasoning behind her 'betrayal'.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf49WkSqC2
I nodded, indicating that I understood her reason for striving.
"I understand," I responded. "Don't worry, I'm well-known as a good supervisor! Especially when you perform well, I'll make sure you get good rewards."220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3SCNH7Fmg
These words were sincere. In addition to "working together and complementing each other's shortcomings," my other motto was "each person takes one more step forward - all for one, one for all."
Although in practice, there are often situations where I was the only person taking that step forward with everyone else taking one, or even a few steps back, resulting in me being the only one to complete all the work. But somehow, after listening to Hana's sharing, I developed trust in her and felt that it was feasible to apply this motto to her.
"Okay, I believe you," Hana said.
Hana showed her signature mischievous smile and extended her hand to me again.
"Once again, please teach me more and take care of me, Brother Janny!"
I responded with a smile and shook her hand for the second time.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qL7UnqLMI
This time, I remembered to let go.
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