Da Tian Ting walked into Gu Wen’s primary school. It looked the same like it did sixteen years ago. She remembered her childhood memories clearly as though it happened a day ago.
It was a Sunday, there were a couple of teachers working on the weekend but no sighting of students. Da Tian Ting’s fondest memories happened at the primary school.
During primary school, Da Tian Ting’s mother prepared a lunch box for her to bring to school every day. After school she walked home, and her mother gave her a welcome home hug. Her father picked her up from school on his days off work. Her family home was near the primary school, but she was always happy to have her father walk home with her. During that period of her life, she felt like she lived in heaven.
Da Tian Ting walked around the playground, and reminisced about her primary school days. She sat on the popular swing. Back then if she didn’t come to school early, she wouldn’t get to sit on the swing. She looked at the monkey bars that she fell off many times. Then there was a phase when she went through a badminton and a wall climbing craze.
Da Tian Ting walked around the primary school garden. She used to lie on the gra.s.s, looked up at the sky and dream about the future. In the garden there was a rose bush she planted.
Da Tian Ting wrote all her beautiful childhood memories in her diary. Her precious diary was stolen by someone she secretly took care of. He was someone she fought every day, they were fire and water. He was her little monkey, sixteen years ago he disappeared without a trace. If he didn’t steal her diary then she would have filed him under her fond childhood memories category.
Da Tian Ting used to snuck food and drinks into little monkey’s school bag so he wouldn’t be malnourished. She secretly took care and protected him, but he stole her diary. If she was honest with herself, she would admit she missed the thieving little monkey.
Da Tian Ting remembered little monkey was mature for his age. She thought it was because of his poor background. He was quiet and rarely smiled or played with their cla.s.smates. It made her want to make him smile, and have fun. She would pick fights with him and have bets with him so he wouldn’t be lonely.
Da Tian Ting walked to the patch of gra.s.s where she used to fight with little monkey.
‘Little monkey, it’s been sixteen years,’ Da Tian Ting said to the patch of gra.s.s. ‘Are you healthy, and living a good life?’
Sixteen years ago, Da Tian Ting ran to little monkey’s home to take back her diary. But his neighbors told her that his father came to take him back to the city. Since that day she didn’t see him or her diary again and she stopped writing her memories in a diary.
‘Hateful little monkey!’ Da Tian Ting said. ‘I took care and protected you, but you stole my diary.’
Da Tian Ting didn’t notice her little monkey followed behind her, and remembered their childhood memories too.
Feng Kai Ze had a happy childhood because of Da Tian Ting.
‘Fierce apple!’ Feng Kai Ze called.
Da Tian Ting snapped out of her childhood memories. She turned around, and couldn’t believe who stood behind her.
‘Why are you here?’ Da Tian Ting asked. ‘Are you little monkey?’
Was Feng Kai Ze and little monkey the same person? Da Tian Ting thought they had to be, because little monkey gave her the nickname fierce apple.
‘Yes,’ Feng Kai Ze said. ‘I’m little monkey.’
Da Tian Ting understood why Feng Kai Ze stalked her, lied to her about pursuing her, gave her a makeover, bought her luxury goods, took care of her and played with her feelings. He wanted to take revenge on her because he was little monkey.
Da Tian Ting punched Feng Kai Ze’s face.
‘Ah!’ Feng Kai Ze cried out. He covered his bruised face. ‘Why did you hit me?’
‘Does it hurt?’ Da Tian Ting asked.
‘Of course it hurts,’ Feng Kai Ze said.
‘Good,’ Da Tian Ting said. ‘It means I’m not dreaming.’
‘How can you be dreaming in the middle of broad daylight?’ Feng Kai Ze asked.
‘I don’t want to dream, I want to hit you hateful little monkey!’ Da Tian Ting said. ‘You dare appear in front of me. I want to beat you to death.’
Feng Kai Ze protected his head, and he let Da Tian Ting hit his body.
‘Hey,’ Feng Kai Ze said. ‘Stop hitting me.’
‘I’ll stop hitting after I’m satisfied,’ Da Tian Ting said. ‘I can forgive you for picking on me when we were kids. But I can’t forgive you for playing with my feelings. I want to hit you until your face turns into a pig’s head so you won’t dare to play me again. I hate you.’
‘Stop hitting me,’ Feng Kai Ze said.
Da Tian Ting wanted to punch Feng Kai Ze’s face again, but the bruise on his face stopped her. Her hands and arms ached from hitting his body. Was he little monkey? Little monkey was scrawny, but Feng Kai Ze was tall, broad and strong.
Feng Kai Ze felt overwhelmed to see Da Tian Ting again. He hugged her and kissed his fierce apple. She pushed him away, but he held her and showed her how much he missed her.
Da Tian Ting lost. She stopped denying her feelings toward Feng Kai Ze, and the pain he caused her.
Da Tian Ting stole Feng Kai Ze’s heart sixteen years ago. He thought it was only fitting if he got to steal her heart in the same place she stole his heart.