What I choose
Qu jun! Hurry up we are late....
.....
Qu jun rushed to meet her friend Wang.
It's actually been years since these two became friends, summer night, qu jun was sitting outside because of the chaos from inside, her parent were fighting again as usual. She often wonder how her mother ended up with such a man. Maybe her life would have been better if she had a better father. She often wonder why her mum won't report him to the police.
Even when he was arrested she pleaded with them to free him, that he didn't hit her.
Oh; what was the reason for the chaos inside?
It's simple, her dad had used all of her mum savings for a business and he got into debt that he had to use her ID to loan some money to pay back.
Qu could feel the slaps landing on her mum face.
She stood still, that was when she saw a car approaching. It was Wang mother's car. She wondered why a car owner would love to live in such a messy neighbourhood.
Kwan neighborhood is the most poorest neighborhood with high rate of criminal activities as they beat up cops and even get away with it, everyone is scared of Kwan neighborhood.
The kids there are ruthless.
Qu grew up there but she wanted to be better, studying everyday to prove that you can be better even in a messy environment.
Her mother works multiple jobs like cleaning toilets, cooking and Washing, she knew she made a wrong choice but won't let that choice affect her daughter.
Once Wang saw qu from the car she shouted that is my friend.
Came out and handed her some sweet. Although qu tried to avoid her but she insisted. And that was how they became friends.
Oh! Wang? Wang is a famous girl from the classy j estate. She lived in luxury and often choose luxury lifestyle but things changed after her dad was sent to prison falsely and her mum had to quit her job because of the humiliation. They lost their house due to the law suit.
Wang saw something in qu eyes, she wanted to be her friend and be close to her.
When did they first meet?
Fourth grade.
....
At tenth grade something happened.
Qu always wanted to make money and help her family, she grew up in a hustle to fight neighborhood. She avoid fights but no matter how much you try you still end up fighting in Kwan neighborhood.
Wang on the other hand prefers to run away and hide.
Qu knew Wang was in a situation. Situation of fight? No
Situation of life? Yes
If her dad hasn't been in prison she would have been in the states studying. Unlike her, she was born and brought up In that place.
Oh! something happened at grade ten, qu had always been interesting and intelligent, aside from her naturally beautiful body she has a sharp brain. She beamed with smile as she held her result in her hands. First position. Her father have told her to quit school and make money that she would only end in high school. Qu knew what she wanted. She wanted education, she wanted relevance. Wang wasn't all that intelligent but with a brilliant bestie she knew she would climb to the ladder some day.
Math was a problem for her. She often skip lessons.
She didn't even look at her card.
She was sure what was inside was certainly not a success.
Louis high school, known for producing the best
A public school in China. People say it was named after an intelligent professor from the famous Harvard university who graduated from Louis before gaining a scholarship to Harvard. Then it was just a cheeky government school that have blossom over the years.
She heard a gun shot.
She stood still, fear written all over, it came from the kitchen.
Her card fell off from her palm and without thinking she raced to the kitchen only to find her mum in a pool of blood. Her dad was still holding the gun.
He pointed it at her, she didn't care, she ran towards her mother and screamed at the top of her lungs.
She pulled her close to her chest.
She will never understand why people make wrong decision.
She heard a siren.
It was the cops, they barged in, slowly took the gun from her dad, he was handcuffed and taken away. Her mum was taken in an ambulance.
Why! Why! Why do people make the wrong decision. Her life was already a mess. She looked at her friend who had been standing still. If only she was born into a wealthy family, maybe it won't be this messy.
Wang and her mother followed them to the hospital.
The two women have become friends over the years.
Wang mum work as a cleaner. That was the only job she could get. Wasn't she educated? Of course she is. It turns out , people will always judge you base on what they choose to judge you.
Her husband was falsely accused and sentence to jail. She had to quit her job because of humiliation, bully and threat.
Finding another job isn't that easy. Even in this age and erra, people still choose to be bullies because they choose to believe the lies than see the truth.
At the end..... The law itself it's corrupt, made by corrupt men to suit their corrupt interest.
What was her job again.... A persecutor.
Qu. It will be okay. Wang said reaching out her hand to her.
The operation was successful but the doctor said that qu mum had a brain injury and because of that she won't be able to speak or walk for some time.
Qu testified against her father in court and he was sentenced.
Wang mum wanted qu to stay with them but she refused, she didn't want to be a burden to them.
Qu had to work , delivering food. The manager couldn't afford to employ someone else because of the meager salary he offered so he had to employ a minor. Although he knew he was at a risk if anyone would find out.
Qu often look at her mum in wheel chair hoping that someday things would get better.
Wang mum was worried, she wondered how Wang would survive if something happen to her. She stared at her daughter as she falls asleep.
Come live with us qu. Wang said one day while they were walking .
Qu smiled and ran away, Wang ran behind her.
During the mid summer break, Wang visited her father in prison, he was happy to see her especially to see how grown she was.her mother couldn't accomply her because of her tight shift.
Wang came out and saw qu smiling at her.
We are the same she said approaching qu.
Your father is in prison, mine is in prison. Wang said.
We are not the same Wang, my father is a beast, yours was wrongly accused. Qu said.
What ever you say, what ever you say . Wang said as they walk away.
....
Although qu was good at a lot of things, she wasn't good at choosing a course. Smart at both science and art subject but she didn't know what she wants to do.
While Wang choose art, she struggle to know exactly what to do.
During a sleepover qu asked what she should choose and Wang responded that she was good at a lot of things.
Qu wouldn't be a doctor sthe site of blood scares her. Wang wanted to be a persecutor.
Qu wasn't sure yet what she wanted to do but still choose to be a science student.
It turns out that she isn't Soo good at a lot of things like choosing what she would be.
During twelve grade, Wang failed her exams. When qu result came out, she failed too.
Wang knew her friend has failed on purpose because of her but she didn't want that.
Qu wanted to study pharmacy, would be better, especially since her mum is sick.
She wanted to take the board exam, but she needed to pass her twelve grade exams first.
She started tutoring Wang. At first when both Wang and qu failed their exams Wang mother was not having it. She scolded them, threatening to do something if they failed again. She knew qu was intelligent but how could she fail.
After much touring, Wang and qu both took the exam again.
Results came out and they both passed it was the board exam that was remaining. Qu and Wang spent sleepless nights studying together to get a scholarship to university.
After the exam, they highlighted somethings .
Not smoking
Not drinking
Not sleeping with men
No kissing
No fighting
No parties
No gangs
Be good.
They each wrote it down in their dairy.
.....
Well, things do not always go as we predict.
Results were out and qu failed.looking into an empty space, thoughts filled her head, emotions, words but the only thing she could do was cry. She felt like the world had ended. The salty taste of her tears rolled down and she could feel it.
Maybe there was a mix up somewhere, she couldn't possibly fail. No not now. Wang was scared to open her own. She held on to the brown envelope. They worked day and night, sleepless, how could they had failed. She didn't bother opening the envelope. She walked slowly like someone whose life have been drained from her.
Met her mother cooking, she struggled to say the word, we failed again. Her mother without hesitation opened the envelope. She smiled and pulled her to herself.
You passed!
Wang couldn't believe it, she saw it. It was her name. She had passed and was offered admission with a full scholarship.
No it wasn't right. She couldn't possibly leave qu behind. It was not fair!
Her mum knew miracles like this are rare to happen. She wanted her daughter to claim her spot.
It isn't right mum. Wang said as she stormed out of the house.
Qu couldn't understand how on earth she had failed. She marked the correct answers.
Wang came in, tears rolling down her cheeks.
I'm sorry qu, I passed, I'm sorry for passing qu. She said kneeling down.
Qu wiped off her tears and embraced her, I'm happy for you. She said.
I'm not going to take it, let's take the scholarship exam again next year.
Are you stupid? Atleast one of us get to go to the university this year. You will go. Qu said all the tears.
They cried even through the night.
Wang was off to campus the next day. Both mixed emotions of sadness and happiness.they were at each other's arm. They waved even as Wang entered the bus.
Wang mum was excited that her daughter have gotten scholarship.
The neighborhood was quiet, not that there were no body but her friend. Her only friend was far away.
She kept working and studying.
She applied for a lesson job and got it. Even with a high school certificate, she was very intelligent and how she failed the scholarship exam is a different misery entirely.
Wang had gone to the office requesting they check the results as she was aware of her friend intelligence.
One day when qu was coming back from her lesson job she encounters some group of girls, they called her names.
Qu just walked away.
Wang mum has always been a helper to them.
As she came across to their house she saw a delivery guy. He was well dressed. He had a package with him and he gave it to her. She wondered who and what was in it .
When she opened it, it was filled with med, her mum medication. Doctors were coming to check up on her mum as well, she didn't know who was behind it. A mysterious helper. Named anonymous.
She was glad her mum was getting help.
Soon Wang mother got a job, at a law firm. It was the help of this anonymous.
She live in a society of give and take, Soo what could this anonymous want from her?
What ever it is, she was glad her mother was going to be fine thanks to this anonymous.
....
Wang had changed, she wasn't responding to her messages or returning her calls does adulthood make you loose friends.
It was Wang twentieth birthday. She had just received her salary and decided to surprise Wang since it was the first time since she came back from school. She got her her favorite and a pink dress since she love pink.
Happy birthday Wang. She said smiling and stretching out the bag of gift she had bought with love.
To her surprise, Wang threw it on the floor calling her poor and smelling. Her mum scolded her and she went inside.
Qu picked up the gift and Wang mother apologize, she collected the gift from her and went inside.
Qu walked into the house, saw her mum on the wheel chair, took her in for a bath, went inside her room after making sure her mum was asleep. Like a cat that lost something Precious she burst into an uncontrollable tears. Her best friend in the world had rejected her. She stared at the book, tossed it to the floor and kept crying.
Next day she woke up early trying to talk to her but Wang just ignored her. Someone burst into laugh. It was the street gang. She had wanted to beat up Wang a couple of times but qu stood for her.
The wife has broken up with her. Oh him. The street gang said as they walk past them.
Qu ran back, she ran and cried at the same time, her friend was no longer her friend. She was filled with regrets and anger.
Anger for her, no, for herself. If only she had passed.
I will talk to her. Wang mother assured her.
She once asked Wang mum why she hasn't moved out from the neighborhood since she got a good job now but her response was that she was looking after her.
What would happen to her mum after she took the exam and go to school. Her mum certainly needed someone to help out. At such a young age she suffered what even adults couldn't manage. She knew qu was such a confident young lady and will definitely make a good life.
There's no need staying here
Why. Wang mum asked
I'm not taking the exam. Qu said
Why. She asked again looking stormed by the previous response.
School changed Wang. I don't want it to change me too . Qu said.
That's why you need to be there. Wang need you. Wang mum said.
She seem like she got plenty of new friends now. Qu said rather in a sad tone.
No one can understand Wang better than you qu. Wang mother said Holding her hands.
.....
Preparing for the exam wasn't so easy she had to study like never before.
Results came out, she allowed Wang mum check it out and she passed.
She was super excited. Full scholarship to study pharmacy. It was a miracle. One year wasn't wasted. She didn't want to live her mother but she couldn't take her along even if she wanted to. Anonymous had stopped helping but Wang mother had assured her that she would take care of her.
She waved at her mum as she lifted her bag, she knew it was a new phase in her life. A bigger city, a new opportunity and new life to try out.
She wasn't going to let things go sour.
She was in the bus.she kept thinking how she would behave if she saw Wang. She had purchased a new set of clothes and shoes and bags. Maybe Wang won't be ashamed of her if she changed a little bit.
She was still lost in thought about all the things she hope to achieve when she doozed off....
.....