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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSVyJXYD80
"Hana, are you... running?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdByE689DS
"What a 'smart' question!" She laughed and replied, "Otherwise do you think I am eating right now?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2AkJlIzxz
"Oh, right, of course." I stuttered, "Um, were you, you you... okay today?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYC4ozvkue
"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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcmWHjD0si
"I'm sorry." I apologised sincerely. "I was way over the top and I didn't actually mean it."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojoOFqvGpn
"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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq2XAXo7HG
With that, she took a deep breath and reached out her hand to me.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs1N2pRyUn
"Let's call it even now."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAphcLaigFx
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I cautiously extended my hand and shook hers to make amends.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlEkXAzgSa
Was it because she had just finished running? Her hand was damp with sweat, yet warm and gentle, giving me a sense of security.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Szma4dHL
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Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat, and I completely forgot to let go of her hand.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwr0XwWI7U
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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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKAC04FHKH
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"Do you..." I tried to break the silence. "Do you live in Shatin too?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCuYYXpSB5
"Yes, just across the river." Hana pointed to the other side of the Shing Mun River.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w4mae8fcF
"Oh, do you often go running by the river?" I asked.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNfRZXko3y
"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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkPY7Ykh42
"I see." I chuckled. "So, did I interrupt your run just now?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZDJFCV2Gr
"Oh, of course you did!" Hana rolled her eyes. "So let's say goodbye now, okay?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8CtHMwo1f
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With that, Hana made a cheeky face and stuck out her tongue mischievously.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2FUhAL8l5
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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR69TSDb6Wk
"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'."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs2a6YVFe9
"I'm sorry. I was being such an insensitive person." I apologised. "And it must have brought back painful memories for you."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RguzZDB7X
"It's okay. It's been years." Hana replied.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS54NeaPkv
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Hana's gaze was stubborn and unyielding.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch7JxksDwz
After taking a sip of water, she continued.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv1yqHJ5jA
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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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls6d70LR4N
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Thinking about how I often wasted food, I felt very guilty.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV6j2NX2cw
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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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTmWtIeUax
"In those days, that wasn't a mainstream choice anymore." I interrupted.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94FwJ5tt3f
"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.'228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaKRsGS6so
Hana finished speaking and looked at me earnestly. By this point I was well relieved and understood the reasoning behind her 'betrayal'.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn1fF93gK7
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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRAHcWq5vA
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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyteM7n8dK
This time, I remembered to let go.
