LINK: May Issue 2018 by English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U.

'Cause you're the last of a dying breed Write our names in the wet concrete I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me I'm here in search of your glory There's been a million before me That ultra-kind of love You never walk away from You're just the last of the real ones

CONTENTS L I N K M ay

3 Fo r e w o r d 5 Ab ou t Us

I N

R ET RO S PE CT

12 In au g u ra tion Ceremony 13 Ma squera de B a l l 1 5 E n g l i s h Fe s t i v a l

LO V E

18 Eros 30 Phi lia 41 Phi lau tia 48

R E COM M EN DAT ION S

FOREWORD he decision in theming this issue of LINK around love was not a mere choice of simplicity, but of conviction. A simple word bears a heavy concept. When the world is plagued with senseless acts of tragedy, we must keep in mind that love is alive and well. It screams louder than violence, stands taller than oppression and it is strong, much stronger than hate. It is potent in nature, existing in all forms of life to mend hurts and build beginnings. The idea is to present this energy for the sake of remembrance and hope, and I believe we have succeeded. LINK as our Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newsletter has always been a piece crafted with nothing but love. As we connect readers and writers, love has always been the motive, the process and the product. I am humbled by the impeccable works generously shared by the talented writers of HKU. Thank you for your moving words and sincere emotions, for they were inspiring to us and will be to many others. I must also thank all my Executive Committee Members who have provided immense support through the making of this issue. Everything we have put into this has paid off, and I know you are as proud as I am. May this issue of LINK bring you closer to our Society and give you joy in reading about the many thought-provoking ideas from all who have contributed to the success of this newsletter. May it also fill you with the conviction that with every breath of life we breathe, we breathe with love; and with every breath of love we breathe, we live.

n Lea

Publication Secretary Editor

g n a s T a n a i b i B

Chairperson

The only times I write self-introductions are when I am preparing for an interview. So this is a pretty rare opportunity to talk about myself the way I want to. And with an opportunity as precious as this, I am dedicating a short passage to poetry writing - my favourite leisure activity, that could help define me. People who know me will know that I am an introvert who loves to spend time alone. It’s actually not that bad. Solitude gives me time to reflect and well, write. The thing about poetry is that it is an aesthetic that could be understood as a complementary quartet of wit, stories, emotions, and musicality. To me, it is one of the most complex art forms, and often the most explicit in describing experiences and feelings. In a less idealistic sense, poetry is a comfort to its writers and readers. Perhaps this is why many of us - our editors and writers - seek comfort in writing.

Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & Mu s i c External Vice-Chairperson

“Special is subjective.”

Phebe Chung

I had no idea what to write about when we were first told to submit a paragraph of ‘something special about ourselves’. Looking at Crystal’s introduction, I only got more confused. I mean, I do eat hamburgers. But on second thought, I have plenty to say. I hate sesame; I like having acrylic paint on my hands after I draw because it makes me feel more like me; I bark to attract dogs whenever I see them (And I am so good at it that it actually works!). I can never tell lies because I am never able to hold my laughter or stifle a smile when I do; I clatter my teeth when I am cold which makes me get laughed at very often in winter... Yeah, I know. I am weird.

That is when I realized we are all one of a kind. And university is where individualism is cherished, where we can all find our own place to which we belong, where our weirdnesses can fit in. Last semester, I have chosen to become an Executive Committee Member of English Society and so far my university life has been fruitful - just as how I wanted it to be, and I know there are only more opportunities that await me. Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : L a n g u a g e a n d Com m u n i c a t ion & Ps ych o lo g y

Internal Vice-Chairperson

Crystal Tam

I guess a lot of us have played the game “Two Truths One Lie” in Orientation Days and Camps. Not having anything interesting to say, I looked at the classic brown McDonald’s paper bag on the floor and said, “I’ve never eaten a hamburger in my life.” In fact, I have never been big on food, hamburgers just happen to be one of the many freakish pet peeves that I have. My introverted nature makes me find the start of the university life that everyone dreams of and about quite uneasy, if not challenging (just like how scared I am of minced meat). Getting used to a whole new environment with new people and new routines is hard, but the fun that comes along is definitely worth the try. Up till now, life in university has blessed me with amazing experiences and nice people. So I guess I will just enjoy the wait to having my friends force me to take the first bite of a hamburger, something new for my taste buds.

Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & T r a n s l a t ion

General Secretary

Derek M

I didn’t know who Ed Sheeran was when a classmate commented this on a 2014 Facebook profile picture of me in a red flannel holding a guitar. I didn’t see how the two of us looked alike, but even though he’s not really a heartthrob or anything, I thought it was still pretty cool that I am compared to a musician. Four years later, I still don’t see how we look alike, but I’ve become a massive fan of the singer-songwriter, to the point where I’ve got a hold of two of his signature guitars, physical copies of all his albums and EPs, and a loop pedal just so I could play the way he does, even though I’m broke. I never thought anyone at university would bring this up but apparently, they did, and I’m not complaining; it might be exactly because I kinda look like Ginger Jesus and somehow can’t speak Cantonese very properly that attracted some attention and helped me make new friends in this new environment, and at the end of the day, being called a lookalike of your favourite artist will always be a cool thing.

Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & Jo u r n a l i s m ( M i n o r) 6

Financial Secretary

SAMMI TUNG

“Loud, crazy, embarrassing and loud.” Some notable features of me: loud, crazy, embarrassing and loud. It won’t be hard for you to spot me in a party (though I never go to one) or social gatherings (yup, I never go to any as well). I love talking to and getting to know new people, asking them questions ranging from what their Starbucks order is to the meaning of life. For me, talking to more people and learning about people from different walks of life were the reason why I came to university. A lifelong goal of mine would be to live in as many countries as possible. Although I love living in a city where everything is within a 5-mins walk, I would love to go out of this little place I call home and explore. P.S. I’m keeping this self-intro short and sweet, just like my personality *wink**wink* Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & G lob a l C r e a t i ve I n d u s t r i e s

Promotion Secretary

RACHEL LI I live in Shek O. It only takes me 5 minutes to walk from home to the beach. Shek O is not so “Hong Kong”- there are no MTR stations, no McDonald’s, no skyscrapers, no Seven Elevens nor Circle Ks. It may not be a perfect place to live in since it’s so far away from the city, especially when your lesson starts at 9:30. People sometimes ask me why I don’t move out, and at times, I don’t know either. Nonetheless, I simply shrug every time. A psychology study finds that the place you live in actually means a lot to you. The little park right beside the beach is where my childhood buddies and I spent most of our summer breaks in when we were little. At the crossing, there is a cafe that serves the most delectable milk tea and toast. Houses here are colourful and enlivening. Shek O is far away from the dramatic and dazzling city lights at night. I’m alright though, the stars accompany me when I go home.

“I just love the place that I am living in.” 7

Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & Ps ych o lo g y

Promotion Secretary

PRISTINA TAN

Publication Secretary

LEANNE HONG I often find my mind screaming, “Who are you?” during the late hours of the evening when the world is silent and the night envelopes us like a giant thinking tank. I plagued myself with the question night and day, hoping to find out where I stand in this giant breathing machine. I never got an answer until I was in secondary school and founded my own band with three other confused young girls. When hobby became passion and passion became my life, the moment I sang my first song I knew I was a singer. That realization is problematic because the world is a STOP sign. It strips dreams and crumbles ambition into ashes. However, exactly because of this, I am all the more ready to fight against it. What’s the fun in living without a challenge?

I share the same name with the capital city of the country Kosovo. I was given this name as the Kosovo War ended by the time I was born (and of course my mother found the name special and liked how it sounded). My birthday is on one of the Hong Kong public holidays. I like to travel a lot even when I run out of money, especially to places where you get to enjoy beaches and sunshine. Visiting Kosovo is definitely something I want to do before I die. I crave pizzas and all unhealthy fried food. I love going to the movies and I’m a Marvel fan. I’m also a dog lover who owns three dogs. I am terrified of spiders and insects. I have a belief that our destiny is written in the stars since we are born. I also believe things happen for a reason and people who appear in your life either give you a lesson or a blessing.

Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & Ps ych o lo g y

So I urge you, dear reader, to do the same. Fight for your own passion, because

“When you own it, you’re home.” Pr o s p e c t i ve m aj o r s : E n g l i sh S t u d i e s & Ja p a n e s e S t u d i e s

Wallace Lee

Academic Secretary

Prospective majors: Translation & Language and Communication Eating, sleeping and singing rank the top three of my hobby list. I am so blessed that my hobbies do not cost much time and money. I am currently trying to expose myself to more pop songs and other music genres, so feel free to give me suggestions if you have any! I love almost all kinds of music. I also have a Youtube Channel for my song covers, just search ‘WallLee’. (Sorry for the self-promo!) I have hated candies, both hard and soft ones, ever since I was born. This always seems to shock everyone. I also don’t play games like LOL and other popular video games. To be honest, I have quite a lot of spare time. University life abounds with buried vitalities and surprises as well as challenges and failures. It awaits our discoveries. I hope you all have made and will make wise decisions. More experiences and opportunities are out there waiting for you. Good luck! I hope this book can bring you insights other than being a time-killer. Please do support us in future events. Remember to subscribe to my channel.

Peace!

Social Secretary

Cherry Wong

Hello people! I’ll let you in on a fun fact about my name: I hate it when people call me by “Cherry Wong”. It sounds strange to me even though it’s my actual name. (I set my Facebook name like that though.) Just call me Cherry or by my Chinese name when you see me in person. Whenever people call me Cherry Wong, I pretty much do not respond to them at all. I just hate people calling me in this way. It’s a pet peeve, I guess.

However, don’t get me wrong, I love my name! I know this is weird and I admit that I’m a weird person, but how weird you are doesn’t really matter. As long as you are being the real you, that is totally fine.

“So don’t be afraid to be your real self!” Prospective majors: English Studies & Global Creative Industries

Marketing Secretary

Joyce Wu

“Students! Talk about yourself!”

“Just be yourself, right?”

Aghhhhh. I hated it.

The first word that pops into my mind is awkwardness. YES. That is the reason why I hate it. Isn’t it awkward to say I am awkward? Well, I guess even if it’s not, this word is neither going to sound pleasant nor impressive while people around me are saying how passionate they are in some kind of artsy pieces of artwork or sports. All I could tell about myself are the embarrassing moments with my social-awkwardness. In the past three months, I was trying to get rid of the sense of weirdness within me. But you know what? I gave up. My friends let me realize that this is the character which shapes me; this is the reason why they started their first ever conversation with me. True. Keep scrolling your Instagram feed and pretend you are busy with your social media if you are uncomfortable with the people around you! You don’t have to be sociable Programme Secretary if you are not born to be. Just be yourself, right? Well, I hope this doesn’t sound too cringy to you.

Jonathan Tang

Many people questioned my choice of being an Executive Committee Member of the society. My family was worried about my GPA, while my friends warned me about the mock campaign. There were indeed a lot of uncertainties prior my choice of joining the Society. However, I decided to ‘embark to see the beauty in the uncertain’.

Prospective majors: English Studies & Fine Arts

After joining the core group of the Society, I did pay quite a lot of effort and gave up quite a lot of my own time. Nonetheless, the rewards I gained outweigh the costs. I have found joy and friendship among my cabinet members as well as the memories of burning our lives up for a common goal. English Society has made my first year of University regretless. Apart from the Society and my studies, I am also passionate about basketball, reading (including comics), drawing and debating. All these interests construct the life I now have, which for me, can’t be better. I also enjoy solitude. When I am alone, I can reflect on myself, think about life and be closer to God. I am not a sociable person, so being part of the core team of the Society is definitely out of my comfort zone, but

“I am glad I have made that choice.” Prospective majors: English Studies & Translation

En gli sh So cie ty A .A .H .K .U.S.U.

In Retrospect 2 0 1 7 Nove m b e r | 2 0 1 8 Ap r i l

2 2 No v e m b e r, 2 0 1 7

The Inauguration Ceremony E m b a rk t o s e e t h e b e a u t y i n t h e u n c e r t a i n . The Inauguration Ceremony has marked the official installation of English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U., Session 20172018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Embark to see the beauty in the uncertainâ&#x20AC;? is the motto of our cabinet. We wish to enjoy both the contentment and hardships throughout the session and there is no better way to start than having the Inauguration Ceremony as our first exciting destination. We would like to give thanks to people who have contributed to the success of the event. Firstly, the previous cabinet provided us with a venue as the foundation for the organization of our ceremony and we are grateful for their support in joining us at this memorable event. Secondly, we would like to give thanks to Dr. Ho, our guest of Honour, for her fascinating speech of congratulation and encouragement. Next, our heartfelt gratitude also goes to our generous sponsors who have kindly provided us refreshments for the cocktail and refreshment sessions. Special thanks also goes to the helpers who facilitated the smooth running of the ceremony. We are also honoured to be able to play host to other societies including those from other universities during the occasion. Last but not least, a huge thanks goes to our cabinet members, who put immense effort into the preparation of the event.

We will always remember the memories we have made since the beginning of our journey. And with these few words, we wish to, once again, thank everyone for being there at our commencement.

9 Fe b r u a r y, 2 0 1 8

Masquerade Ball

Nocturne

Love look s not w i th the eye , bu t w i th the m i nd , a nd there fore is w i n ge d Cupid pa i nte d bli nd . — A Mid s um mer Nigh t’s D re am , Wi l li am Sh ake s p e a re

The night of February 9 held English Society’s Masquerade Ball: Nocturne. With masks covering our faces, the night was unforgettable to all. The theme of our ball aims to remind people to look beyond the superficial and appreciate the beauty that lies within every soul. With beautiful people, perfect music, and toothsome food, the night was flawless. Our guests were initially reserved but they quickly immersed themselves

the

romantic

atmosphere upon the first dance. The atmosphere was hyped up by the first live band performance from an all-girls band named The Faulty Royals. Following them, Asyndeton gave a superb performance with songs written by the band members themselves. Their originals were a remarkable proof of them being one of the most polished young bands in Hong Kong. 13

The night did not die there, for our disco session brought Nocturne to its highlight. With colourful lights scattered across the room and bouncy music blasting through the speakers, guests stepped onto the dance floor and had the time of their lives shuffling along to the beats amidst wildness and laughter. Our Masquerade Ball closed as a memorable evening, our wonderful memories captured and saved in the instant photos taken at our photo booth.

English Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Masquerade Ball: Nocturne was a success thanks to our participants. The night was truly incredible.

1 9 M a r ch , 2 0 1 8 - 4 Ap r i l , 2018

English Festival The English Festival 2018 had brought our participants fantastic weeks between late March and early April. Fantasy fiction, as the main theme of the English Festival this year, led a series of four events, including the Book Fair, Academic Dialogue, Film Appreciation and Academic Talk. The kickstart event of the Festival was the Book Fair. We sold books from Swindon and Booksmart (a second-hand bookstore in Sai Ying Pun) along with donations. We were glad to see students and even professors visiting our booth to purchase books. Classics like The Lord of the Rings were extremely popular. We hope the Book Fair has aroused readers’ interest towards Fantasy Fiction. In the Academic Dialogue, our guest speaker, Dr. Eric Sandberg, shared his views towards fantasy fiction and raised questions like “is the genre realism or escapism?” We also had an intriguing time discussing how he dislikes Harry Potter as a popular series of young adult fiction. Participants shared their favourite fantasy fiction writers and asked questions on the writing styles of different renowned writers before Dr. Sandberg analyzed some critical viewpoints on the nature and function of fantasy fiction. It was a relaxing and fruitful night. 15

As for our third event, the Film Appreciation immersed participants in a fantastic experience through Midnight in Paris. Not only was the plot fascinating, the score, as well as the stunning cinematography of the city of Paris, made it an outstanding piece. We went through days when renowned writers like Hemingway created their literary masterpieces. The romantic plot between the protagonist and his fiancée was also thought-provoking. Timeless love is definitely the highlight of this film, and it was unforgettable and inspiring. Our closing event, the Academic Talk, was delivered by Dr. Jessica Valdez. She addressed some points about the adaptation of fairy tales by Walt Disney, and raised critical questions like whether it is ethical to alter the original plot of fairy tales and whether violent elements in fairy tales should be kept in order to preserve the originality of stories, for us to ponder through. She also compared the original endings of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella with the magical optimism in Disney’s adaptations. We all had a great time listening to the talk, and it drew this year’s English Festival to a perfect end. “I think you’re a fairy tale. I think you’re magical, and brave, and exquisite. And I hope you'll let me be in your story.” — Laini Taylor, Strange the Dreamer.

Everything has an end, but the journey through fantasy fiction in our English Festival has certainly been magical and exquisite. 16

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Can not be KILLED, or swept ASIDE. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Li n Ma nuel M i ra nd a

Eros

R om a n t i c L ove

omance is not fulfilling expectations. It is the unexpected spark that eventually finds its way to showing you all the beauty of the world. It is the excitement whenever a name is mentioned, the blush across the cheeks at the thought of a person, the search for someone in the crowd, and perhaps, just a reminder of a simpler past. It is difficult for me to explain what love is because it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something words could define. But it is true that there is no turning back and no such thing as to not love once the sweet fruit of love blossoms. It could be broken by distrust, heartlessness. It can be misguided but never gone. Loving a person opens your eyes and introduces you to a whole new world. All of a sudden, your senses heighten and you notice the gentlest breeze and the obscurity of the seasons changing. Everything else is black and white and all focus is on the person who somehow inadvertently became your entire world. Sheer as it is, when it comes to love, giving is joy because no matter what you are giving, it is the time spent with the person that brings a smile to your face. And that can never be traded with anything else. Not even time itself. Then there is courage. The courage you get from love will make you feel as if you are on the top of the world. It is so strong that you become unstoppable. And it is simply because when you love, you love completely.

B ib ia n a T sa n g

To me, romance has two periods: Dating and the ambiguity that comes before. Sadly, I haven’t experienced the former (hopefully in the near future); but the latter is common to all of us. It is the frustration, uncertainty and thousands of feelings that you could never accurately describe. For me, I try to put my thoughts towards romance under an ideal light. (I mean, who wants sorrow and miserable love?) Romance begins with a sweet smile and grows through giving. A smile does not only indicates happiness, but also other indescribable feelings. Comedy can amuse you with humor, but a ‘romantic smile’ (I named it) appears when you miss and care about someone and when you feel connected with someone whenever they’re near. Then, it grows into the act of giving, expressing your feelings physically such as gifts or good morning messages. They are all spontaneous and unintentional. During the period of ambiguity, romance to me is something catalyzing and dizzying. Both parties are willing to sacrifice without concrete commitment, be it time, energy, money, effort, just to maintain and make the relationship sublime. When you receive affection from them, you truly feel where the romance blossoms. Of course, perfection doesn’t exist. In most cases, romance involves a series of sorrows and lows. It is nothing but a torture. It really is. But if you could live through it, you will look back and know that he or she is the one. When you do, go ahead! Let the romance of ambiguity spread and flourish. Who were you thinking of while reading this? They are the one!

Wallace Lee

dmittedly, I have been in a few relationships. I am no veteran, but they allow me to show a more genuine side of romance from my own experiences.

First things first, relationships change you, one way or another, for better or worse. I am very fortunate that I have met some amazing guys who treated me well. My relationships with them had immense impacts on me. Little things were starting to play mahjong, bigger things were to have learned to control my temper. Foremost, they taught me how to love unconditionally. If the two of you are reading this, thank you for making me a better person. Some of my friends are not as lucky. They went through tough times. Unrequited love, miscommunications and mistrusts led to nasty break-ups. Romance can break, burn and end in awful ways. There is always a chance that your heart could be broken into pieces. Nonetheless, to quote Wizard of Waverly Place, ‘Think of it this way. You are just one broken heart closer to happily ever after.’ (What? I’m a diehard Disney Channel fan.) I am a firm believer in the platitude that people come into our lives for a reason. And so, there has to be someone you are destined to be with. Here comes your part, Karus. (Sorry, he craves attention.) When you meet the one, everything begins again. You have faith again despite the hopelessness you experienced; You are confident even when you have no makeup on and slacking in your pajamas because your imperfections are perfect to them. Likewise, they become your kind of beautiful; You look at them day and night without getting bored. And finally, you anticipate the day when you will never have to say ‘goodbye’, but only ‘goodnight’. These little things add up and become your own unique romance. And here is to my boyfriend, I just want you to know, our picture is my favourite. I have never been more certain that you are the right one for me. I love you. It really doesn’t matter what you go through, you will eventually find the right person for you. How would you know? Don’t worry. Trust me. You would know. All the best.

Ph eb e C h un g

Confessions

To the one s who se t ou r he a r ts a fi re.

Obsessed Kiss me soundlessly. Or kill me in your sleep. I've drowned in your madness. And dived in too deep. Touch me lovingly. Or thrill me with your lips. I've bathed in your venom. Darling', it no longer piques. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a.g

Tending Gardens I snipped names to flaws Strewn courts with their decadence You, too, an error. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Gabrielle Tse

Movie Nights I said it was for passing time. I held onto your arm as we breezed through the narrow aisles and dark corridors of the picture palace Your careless chuckle echoed in the theatre, crispy clean as you deemed that naming A misnomer – too grand for your liking. I said it was for passing time. As the blinding lights dimmed and converged to a minuscule spot, you fixed your eyes on the silver screen and whispered how it was going to be exceptional. I, in turn, saw the ivory, ethereal glow on your profile, your features prominent and your smile coy – I concurred. I said it was for passing time. It was just a short flick: unsurprising jumpscares, loose plot, ridiculous scenes and limited artistry But that silver light cascading on us – the airy illumination, the unfathomable aura pieced together the full picture I never saw. I said it was for passing time. The narrator droned on, the reels continued turning. We both know that the pictures would continue flickering the characters would continue their aimless pursuit of unworldly values and it would come to a close – happy or not. I said it was for passing time. And ineffective mantras turn heartaches to heartbreaks. Don’t look me in the eyes and deliver your lines, When all I could do is improvise – I can’t discern kindness from affection, nor can I sense if your words hold weight. We could have paused the curtain call, the rolling credits; but why did we haunt the past when there is no rewind? — Kelly Chan

Easterling My l ove r she c ame on s i lve r s ai ls From a c ro ss t he s e as , t he f a l l i ng s e as By w hite st st arl i g ht and te mp e st g a l e s She c ame f rom t he l and of E aste rly No We st i ng e ye ha d ye t b or ne such g race He r angel -g u i l d nor s of t sy m me t r y ; Ne it he r te nde r l ips nor f ai re r f ace Cr af t w it h ge nt l e r hands of ar t ist r y Oh, a stor m bre w i n t ho s e e ye s o cc u lt! And he r hai r bi l l owe d i n i n k l i ng wave s; He r l ashe s we re g l a z e d w it h cr y st a l s a lt A spi r it f re e : To none w as she sl ave ! And not man -sp aw ne d tong ue nor man-w roug ht sp e e ch C an c aptu re my l ove r ' s l ove for me For she w as t he s ong t he si re ns’ sung P u re as t he bi rds f l ow n f rom E aste rly But t he s e We ste r n shore s we re isl e s of me n Whe re t he s ands are c o ars e, t he f l owe rs p a l e T he ai r shu dde rs t he n , and t he n ag ai n As t he s i ck ly sk i e s and s e as e x ha l e And i n t his pl a c e w he re t he e ar t h is g l o am ; Whe re no st ar su r v ive s t he bl ack of ni g ht My l ove r, b e i ng s o f ar f rom home B e g an to f a de w it h t he f ai l i ng l i g ht T hus , a s i ng l e ye ar my l ove di d dwel l Ti l l a l as ! a l as ! she c ou l d not st ay ; S o she bi d me f ai r, she bid me wel l And re t r a c e d he r home w ard o ce an way Now, w he n ‘c ro ss t he s e a , t he f a l l i ng s e a T he st ar-s ow n bi rds c ome si g h i ng , si g h i ng I l o ok to t he E ast and t hi n k of she My l ove, my on ly, my E aste rl i ng . — Je ss i c a Wong

For the Dawn of Peace The winds in Shanghai pick up some more. Above, vanity and vice hide in the vast vail of the starry night sky. Shanghai slumbers in the façade of peace. But some of her peculiar inhabitants stubbornly refuse to give in to this illusion, insisting to fight till the first appearance of dawn. The 76th Bureau isn’t too far away from the office of the head economic advisor. On a clear night, the lights from the two buildings wave affectionately at each other, whispering little secrets through the lonely, long night. But tonight, the road connecting these two buildings is destined to be quite long. Two figures, one man, and one woman are held between the mercenaries of the 76th Bureau and the Japanese “peace” police. The woman stumbles slightly and is met immediately with several dark gun points. “Madam, I’d suggest you to not play any tricks,” one of the Japanese warn darkly under his voice. The woman bites her lip and didn’t speak, but it was the man who replies, “Sir, I hope you have a good reason for this. What happens to me doesn’t matter really, but if Madam Yasumi hears that you’re taking her favorite student to the inquisition chambers…” He leaves the threat hanging. The soldier noticeably stiffens somewhat and gives the man a considerably harder-than-necessary push forward. Bright, flaring neon lights flash angrily at them in the inquisition chamber. Strangely enough, the Japanese police disappeared as soon as they arrived in the 76th Bureau. Even the agents from the 76th Bureau, known for their merciless and unscrupulous ways, didn’t make things too difficult for them, leaving them alone and unbounded in the room. The woman blinks and raises one hand to block out the flaring lights as her eyes slowly adjust. She looks around, noticeably confused. “Cheng, “she turns toward the man and asks, “what.... why...?” Cheng shakes his head slowly, a look of concern propagating gradually into his dark eyes. Seeming to notice his worry, the woman places a hand soothingly on his back, “Don’t worry Cheng, Madam Yasumi should be coming back to Shanghai in three days’ time.” Turning her face towards the locked door that the people from the 76th Bureau just walked away from, a deathly glint enters into those doe-like eyes, “They’ll pay for this.” But Cheng didn’t seem to hear her last statement. Ever since the woman said the words “three days”, a look of alarm immediately replaced the light worry. Three days.... Cheng feels as if an icy cold hand is choking the life away from his heart. Three days.... if the message hidden in his office does not get delivered tomorrow then— His eyes close. He’s seen that type of carnage before. Blood from the bodies of thousands of men seeps into the desolate earth until even the thirsty ground can carry no more. Unable to leak in, it mixes slowly on the surface, forming an amalgamation of grief, destruction, and hopelessness with the smoke fuming above. Bodies, twisted and turned from the unnatural devastation of deadly chemicals, lie in the blood—a war lost before they had a chance to fight.

For their enemy is unseen, untenable, and unconquerable. He can’t let that happen again. He can’t let that kind of biochemical weapon take away thousands of loyal fighters again. He will stop it at all costs. He spares a second to look at the woman next to him, a plan slowly forming in his head. But... should he trust her? He met her first in Paris a little less than two years ago. Or, more precisely, he found her first in the University of Paris—library left wing, between the fifty-six and fifty-seventh column. She held the Iliad under her nose, and ugly black glasses obscured the rest of her face. Oleander, age eighteen, the former student of Madam Yasumi who works for the Japanese intelligence network. Not a surprise that the people back at Chong Qing told him to keep tags on her. Not at all good looking, he thought to himself. But, with the Iliad just under her nose, there seems to be a sort of natural harmony about her. So he was quite shocked when he saw her again, many years later in Shanghai, working as Madam Yasumi’s closest confidant. She looked vastly different: hair pulled back to a bun, eyes flashing on a perfectly shaped face. Beautiful yes. But the sylvan feels that had just made his heart skip a quarter of a beat…gone. No book, no glasses, and he suddenly realized that he had never really known her. Cheng shakes his head. There is no second choice. He doesn’t know how, but the 76th Bureau must have somehow caught hold of intelligence that information regarding the composition and time of usage of that secret weapon has leaked out. They aren’t sure if it is him, but there’s no way they’ll be letting him out. What a smart move. Cheng thinks as he clenches his fist. If he isn’t an agent from Chongqing, then all the better. A sincere apology from the 76th Bureau and he would not have much more reason to retaliate. But if he is from Chongqing then—he won’t be able to deliver the message, the weapon will devastate their frontline, and without knowing the reason for his failure, Chongqing will treat him as a traitor. The 76th Bureau won’t need to do anything: his own people will kill him first. There is no other option. He can only hope that this Oleander in Shanghai still had that trace of compassion and kindness he saw so clearly in that Oleander in Paris. When Oleander took the small paper slip hidden under the third tile in Cheng’s office to Chongqing’s underground headquarters in Shanghai, she only raised one condition. She asked them to get her to Sweden. Not because she was afraid that the retribution of the Japanese will be harsh—though naturally, it will be. But because she can no longer stand to stay in China or Japan. She can’t face the disappointment of her teacher, Madam Yasumi. She can’t face the disappointed look on her face when she says, “Oleander, you have failed me and your country.” But she also can’t face the Chinese people—now that she knows what the empire is doing. She can’t face the blood and sin that will always be counted on their heads.

And, she can’t face the place where Cheng died. She met him first in Paris. She was in the very corner of the library, holding a book that covered half her face. Thick, square glasses covered the other half. Very different from a few years later, when she would be known as the flower of Nakano School in Tokyo. She didn’t think he’d notice her. After all, he was tall, dashingly handsome, smart—the kind of guy who would send off a wave of giggling wherever he goes. She peaked at him from behind the book: feigning nonchalance, but secreting wishing that he would notice her. Many years later, she would hope that he never saw her. She would hope that she didn’t hold the Iliad. She would hope that she never went to Paris. “Go yourself and sit behind him, abandon the gods’ way, turn your feet back never again the path of Olympus, but stay with him forever, and suffer for him, and look after him.” He suddenly stepped close, whispered in her ear, flashed her one of those trademark smiles, and left her dumbfounded as he recited the precise part she was reading. Oleander hates war. She hates herself even more for hating war. She did graduate from Nakano with top scores, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed what they taught her to do. Her loyalty to the Japanese Imperial Army is steadfast, but she can’t stop her stomach from turning itself upside down every time somebody’s blood spills on her hands. So, a year ago, she implored Madam Yasumi to allow her to come to Shanghai where she can work more on restoring the floundering economy. Of course, there is another reason… It wasn’t hard to find out who he is after all her training at Nakano. And he works in Shanghai. The only piece of warmth in her long life of darkness.... That night in the 76th Bureau, she used her own hands, her own mouth, and vanquished the only light in her life. “Oleander, you must listen to me,” Cheng’s hands gripped her shoulders tightly, the urgency in his eyes penetrating deep into her soul, “the Japanese is planning to use a new biochemical weapon two days later.” Her eyes twitched slightly. She’s heard of those kinds of weapons before and abhors it form the bottom of her heart. “Chemical weapons are terrible but it’s on the battlefield. Casualties are going to happen no matter what....” she tried to keep her tone nonchalant. Her eyes suddenly narrowed suspiciously, “How did you know?” Cheng shook his head, dismissing her question, “It’s not just the battlefield. According to our intelligence....” She held a hand out to interrupt him, “Our intelligence? Cheng, what do you mean ‘our intelligence’?” Shock, disbelief, and betrayal were written all over her face. The person that she loved, the person that she thought loved her back—all a lie. They were never on the same side and him.... she would be a fool if she did not guess his intentions in getting close to her.

“It’s not important anymore!” the hands on her shoulder tighten some more, “The thing is, we know where the Japanese are going to use those weapons! It’s not just the battlefield! It’s in one of the most densely populated areas, full of powerless, innocent people!” Oleander’s mouth fell agape, “No... our empire won’t do that....” But even as she denied instinctively, she really never doubted him. And so, she did exactly what he told her to do. She told the 76th Bureau that Cheng was the Chongqing agent “Midnight” they had been trying to find all along. It was hard to doubt the words of Oleander—prized graduate of Nakano, Madam Yasumi’s favorite student, future of Japanese Imperial Intelligence, the expert in economics. When they found the radio transmitting devices in Cheng’s house, it was then impossible to disbelieve her. After all, what she told was the truth—the complete, and unobscured truth. And those are the lies that nobody can see through. “There’s something under the third tile in my office. Somebody will be waiting for me under the Swiss Bank tomorrow at 3 o’clock. Ask him the weather, and if he replies that there should be rain at night, give that thing to him.” Oleander walked out of the 76th Bureau unscathed. The morning has come already, but for her, her light was gone. “Thank you Oleander, and....I....I’m sorry.” 1945, August 15th. “Thank you,” Oleander nods to the little kid selling newspapers. Handing him a few coins, she didn’t wait for the change but instead grabs the newspaper and hurries away towards the train. She is running late and the next train won’t come until an hour later. The Red Cross headquarters is quite a distance away from her house, and she’d hate it if she’s late again to work. So it wasn’t until comfortably seated on the train, did she take a precursory glance over the day’s newspaper. And breaks down. Ignoring the weird looks from around her, she capriciously allows the tears locked for years inside her eyes to all drop. She doesn’t know quite what she’s feeling—a mixture of shame, relief, grief.... Tears dropped onto the newspaper, marring the word “surrender” behind her country’s name, but left another word all the more clearly. Peace has finally come.

— Xu Wan

A Night in Oz Cascade of fire doth burn my brain haywire; Head full of hay, Fiyero’s no dismay. Bewitching crescent molten heart reigns o’er; Chest of tin plate, iambic music play. Pluck! Heartstrings tucked when fingers form a ring. Pluck! Heartstrings tucked then Lion goes insane. With vivid colours in dream blue birds sing. Your earthly colour my dreams which you paint. The world goes clear. From head booze does clear. Sing my friends ‘cheers’, the best night of the year. It’s crystal clear my heart bolts like a deer. Doth my friends see the fond sight held so dear. A Night in Oz. No way it’ll be forgot. A Night in Oz. The way my soul has lost. — Vincent Chu Before Brushing Teeth The sun shines soft, above the hills, I watch it from the window sill: Winds carry in the winter’s chill, I breathe it in, as time stood still. I turned around and see you there, Your nose, long lashes, soft bed hair. I swell with joy, it's clear as glass, I lie with you, on quilted mass. My eyes, they kiss, till they are done Your face, those freckles, till there’s none; It’s at this time, I come undone, In our home, beneath the sun I see your eyes, heavy with sleep, filled with mirth seven oceans deep: They take me in, gaze ghosting skin, Breaths still sour, our day begins. — Alyssa Arielle Noelle Yap Ong

Philia

T h e lo ve o f f r i e n d s h i p a n d fa m i ly

sk me what the most important thing in my life is and I would immediately answer ‘friends’ with zero hesitation. Then people start judging me for not putting family first. Some may even question what kind of love I feel in friendships that makes it so much more special to me. To most people, a friend is someone you can rely on, someone you hold nothing back from, and someone who you are comfortable being yourself with. That is totally true. Only friends mean a little bit more than that to me. A true friend is romance. Lovers can deal with any challenges ahead as long as they have each other. Their

flaws are perfect imperfections. They make sure that each other knows that they are powerful even when they are vulnerable. And I am comfortable exposing my weaknesses to my friends as long as they accept me and have faith in me regardless of my past or present. A true friend is family. Let’s be honest, does your family know you the best? As we grow we stop sharing our deepest thoughts with our families because they may not understand. Sometimes, they are the reason why you are bothered. Using ‘independence’ as an excuse, you start drifting away from the people who are supposed to be your closest ones. Your friends become your

ultimate backups. A true friend is self-love. They remind me of who I am by being silly with me, sharing the ups and downs with me, and sometimes, scolding me. A true friend reminds me of who I am through not only words but also actions. They are mirrors, if not magnifiers, for me to explore both the beauty and flaws in myself. They help me be honest with myself and help me appreciate me. They allow me to accept, trust and love myself. It is through friendship that I find meaning in the three other aspects of love. How can I not put friends at the top of my list?

Crystal Tam

think the love between friends is sometimes seriously overlooked. Maybe it works differently for girls, but guys usually shy away from the word ‘love’ (at least among my group). The truth is, though, friendship is a really important and valuable kind of love. By friendship, I don’t mean the hey-how-you-doing-good-kay-bye friends, but the type that you could share a laugh with (and sometimes a drink with, in my case) and share deep ideas with; the type you could play video games with and study with; the type you could stay distant for a while and still remain tight with. When it comes to friends, we might want more sometimes and look to expand our social circles and gain a larger number of friends. I’ve been there in the first semester, but eventually, I’ve really come to realize that ‘quality not quantity’ really applies here. Call me an introvert, but I feel much more comfortable being around a select few people who I can really connect with. I’m not saying that other friends – hi-bye friends, fun friends, friends who you only get along with when you’re in a group – don’t matter, but no number of these ‘other friends’ could beat spending quality time with a genuine friend who understands you through and through and is practically your family. Sometimes we might not want to admit that we ‘love’ these friends, but once in a while, it’d be nice for us to stop and think about just how much they mean to us, and simply appreciate them.

Derek Mak

ove is a word taught to all since kindergarten but has never truly been defined. For emotions between couples, we call it love; for emotions in families, we also use the word love. Yet, when it comes to friends, we tend to say â&#x20AC;&#x153;friendshipâ&#x20AC;? instead. To me, it is the extent of emotions that matter. Only extremely strong positive emotions can be regarded as love. Does it exist among friends? I will say, without doubt, yes. Most people do not relate friendship to love because they believe friendship is never mutually exclusive. People meet plenty of friends at different points in their life: at school, jobs, church... While there are important friends, there are also some that matter less, such as random kids that you meet in class. Our lives are not affected without them, which leaves no love between us. Even for friends that were

important at certain points in our lives, we drift away as we grow up. Our primary best friends may be strangers now, the squad in secondary school may vanish. Friendship is vulnerable, so vulnerable that some deem it as loveless.

Although friendships could seem vulnerable, they can be long-lasting if we pay effort in keeping them. Indeed, we meet many people on different occasions, and the bonds among us could be ephemeral. However, it is the mutual memories that tie us

together and keeps our bond strong. Even if we rarely see our best friends in secondary school, when we meet, there are always things to share and to laugh at. Of course, if we do not keep in contact with our friends, the connections among us will eventually be lost. In contrast, if we take the initiative to spend time with our friends, the bond is strengthened and always growing. Friends become passersby when we let them go. When we put an effort into every relationship, love appears in every single one. Throughout our lives, there will be many important people. Our families are our shelters, our partners take our hands, our friends walk by our side. However far, however near, among all of us, the aroma of love always permeates the air.

an Jonathan T

You don’t have to like someone to love someone. Have you ever thought why the phrase “I love you” is so much more powerful than “I like you”? As children, we were always taught to say “I love you”, but did we really mean it? As I grew older, I began to realize how much more meaning the phrase “I like you” holds. Friendships, romance, colleagues, classmates... every relationship starts with a connection. Relationships blossom when there is mutual liking. Yet, this is never how families build their relationships. Indeed, we are born to be someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, cousin, aunt. However, this connotation comes from the necessary. Confucianists often regard the importance of respect and filial piety, but are we just trying to check the boxes or do we truly love them? Love and like do not equate. When we love someone, we don’t always like them. But we don’t have to like a person to love them. They are, family. My biggest hurdle has been identifying with my parents and my siblings. I didn’t feel connected to them. There was only a sense of familiarity, living under the same roof all my life. I know how each of them rings the doorbell, I know who is walking through the corridor by listening to their footsteps, I know their favourite food, their bad habits (which I have to tolerate). I know that I am safe with them but that was it. I didn’t know what goes through their minds, what happened in their day. I didn’t know their past, their hopes and their fears. These people I spend the most time with are those I knew the least. It scared me, and I tried to rationalize our behaviours. Was it face, was it just how Chinese families work, what was it?

SAMMI TUNG

ove means being loved. Indeed, it sounds selfish. But isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it how all we started our lives and began to share our love? Before we learned to do so, our parents have already given us the biggest love of all. We are pampered, educated and supported no matter how clumsy, ignorant and naive we might have been. Even when we are adults, our parents still see us as children who have no clue on how to take care of ourselves. They still cook us dinner, wake us up in the morning, take good care of us when we fall ill and worry about us at all times. I am also blessed enough to have a sibling who thinks like me and acts like me as if she was born to be my friend and my partner in crime. Regardless of how many times we murmur about each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuisance, I know there is always someone having my back. My family is always my best harbour where I can rest my boat anytime and anywhere. And also the shelter that I would like to love unconditionally.

Joyce Wu

The love of family begins the second we take our first breath. It is the warm touch of a mother’s hand, the soft humming of a lullaby, movie nights, and bedtime stories. It lives subtly, and sometimes we forget about it, but it’s always there. Our families are the closest people we have. While not all families are perfect - and there are damages and hurts that stem from family - a healthy family contains the people who have seen you at your worst, knew you before you knew yourself and the people whose internal dictionaries do not comprehend abandonment. With the same name coursing through your same blood, you are tied with the delicate fate of the universe. Of all people, you met them. Familial love is the easiest love to feel among all. I see it every moment. It rejoices in my grandma’s soup, floats in the cup of tea my mother made for me at 1:30 am and dances even in my father’s yellings for my safety when I come home late. The point is, this sort of silently loud love is the thread that goes through our lives, giving us certain people you can rely on with no conditions. The love of family doesn’t end, never, not truly. When the touch of a mother’s hand goes cold, the soft humming of a lullaby fades into silence, when movie nights and bedtime stories become memories, love remains alive and well. We pass it on, to our children and theirs, even when we are gone.

Leanne Hong 36

Departures One Sunday evening I met with some friends Some at the start of great tidings Others towards with time bidding Expected to have a lot of fun I did Meaningful discourse left and right Drinking games all around Among people then lost now found Cans scattered, cups a mess The night came to its rest Hugs and promises made Praying memories don't fade Down I feel, curse myself For losing myself to attachment yet again But look straight I do, move abreast The feeling I rejected comes to my chest Scoff one may at my rejection of amour Especially for clinging to all souls known Hypocrisy in its finest, I quickly realised What I felt was love, I then surmised A feeling pure for human beings Deciding I would move forward in life Walk up betting on my fate I will This time I found myself up on top of a hill â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Rohit Jumar Verma 37

So Let the Deluge Come

To a.g., and all the clichés that suffice. Here lies the Ocean’s haunting question: Is it a curse or a gift to be who I am? Who are you then? Soft touch suffices to smother. Songs that scream with thunder. Hidden depths enough to drown. Through the sound of the waves Swashing, breaking, stilling... The answer of the Earth dawns In resounding cadence: A storm is but another name for baptism, And the Gift of Life I embrace. — Elicia Hurst

ode to the grand the heart races as the ears await your voice half-undressed and mid-way to the bathroom door I knew before anything else I had to call my cardigan hanging stiff not quite touching the floor and let the eggs you scrambled the cheese you made the toast you baked come running out of me and lead mere thoughts into becoming the sandwich carelessly chewed stoutly swallowed in the cold morning light where my time there was unwillingly scheduled for early flight will live on after you and me it is waves piling in and out and a messenger in disguise words come unstuck between my teeth and so I ask about your night in the countryside â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Emily Wong

Dear brother, Hey man. It’s been a while since we’ve talked, but things have been rough on my side. I would’ve called you personally, but I’d rather not bother you again. I’m in deep shit, but I just needed to get something out there to you. I know I’ve always been inclusive and passive with my feelings, so now would be a good time to, for once, stop being passive and be real with you. I wanted to thank you, was all. I know we’ve had our differences since we were little, and I haven’t been the most agreeable brother or likable person either, but I guess it all goes to show why you’re a good brother, and I wanted to say thank you. My life hasn’t been the smoothest but you’re one of the few people who supported me and gave me hope. Even in the old days when I was young, disliked you and pushed you away for deciding to be a doctor, you still helped me whenever I needed you and unconditionally watched my back. I was jealous then, with your doctoral degrees and all that, but that was stupid; I’m proud of the success that you’ve found now, you deserve it. We might’ve parted ways physically in recent years, but whenever I ran into trouble and felt hopeless, you’d spend hours talking to me and giving me hope. When everyone else has all but given up on me, even when you became frustrated, you never gave up. A depressed person is fucking difficult to deal with, but at least in this unsympathetic world, you care. And that means a lot. I wish I could do something to make it up to you, but I can’t even take care of myself. I guess just taking care of myself would be enough to make you happy for me, and it would feel like a ‘repayment to your kindness’ for me, but I don’t know anymore. You of all people would understand that I couldn’t just make myself improve the state of my life. So, I’ve decided that removing your burden is better for both of us. You’ve made me feel loved and cared for, and I just wanted to express my gratitude and to say that I love you too. Don’t worry about me, brother, and don’t go searching for me. Thank you for loving me as family. I’ll see you soon, I guess. Yours, Little brother — Eliot Figg 40

Philautia

T h e love of se l f

hat comes to your mind when you hear of love? Most people think of romance. However, to me, love travels far beyond lovers. To me, self-love is the most important one among all kinds of love, the one that we all deserve and will support us at all times. No matter if you are single or taken, your relationship status should include ‘self-loved’. Self-love is the hardest ‘love’ to learn in life, yet it is the foremost one we should learn. For many, self-love is often overshadowed by their otherhalf, families and friends. How ironic it is that this often neglected love is essentially the foundation of loving others? We can only give love after we learn to appreciate, support, and love ourselves. We only deserve love when we love ourselves first. It is difficult when we look into the mirror and all we see are flaws, but they make us who we are in the most perfectly imperfect way. Loving ourselves is a life-long lesson, so hey, take your time. Everything is temporary except you. Lovers may abandon you, families may leave you, friends may ditch you, but YOU will always be here. If you don’t cherish yourself, who will? Self-love never disappoints, it will be that something to help you get through life, following the tides, high or low. My relationship status has always been ‘self-loved’, what about you? From today, love yourself a little more.

Cherry Wong

e all want to be liked but let’s be honest, not everyone we meet will like us. We say things in hopes of getting recognition and keep controversial thoughts deep in our minds; we ban bold and new ideas because we are afraid of what other people might think; we try hard to integrate ourselves into new friend groups even though we feel that we do not fit in. Especially with social media at our fingertips, we share “likable” moments and feel depressed with the lack of numbers beneath our Facebook posts and Instagram photos. We behave as cordial as we can. However, the most cordial character can be not so cordial sometimes. Blueberries are healthy and many people like it, but not my father though. He does not like the taste and texture of blueberry, no matter how juicy, fresh, fragrant, luscious the blueberry tastes. Neither my father nor blueberry are wrong, it is just that they do not match. Human is surely more sophisticated than a little blueberry. We can find diversity within a single individual. A person can be smart, good-looking and diligent while also be intolerant, stubborn and grumpy. The former may sound more endearing but there must be someone who considers being smart as being crafty and calculating. So why hide the real you and compel yourself to be a people pleaser that in fact is impossible to become? Of course, I am not promoting arrogance or narcissism. You should not neglect everyone’s advice and deliberately offend others. It is ludicrous to feel ashamed for wanting to be liked when our desire for love is inborn. Yet, it is equally ludicrous to strive to be liked by people at the expense of our happiness. Whenever you feel like you need to give yourself some more love, there are perhaps more options than going crazy shopping or eating sinfully tempting food.

Rachel Li

used to think that self-love is equivalent to narcissism. I thought selflove was about being so obsessed with yourself to a point that you forget everyone else in the world. I would even be embarrassed to say that “I love myself ”, because why should we focus on ourselves when there are more important things to focus on? As I grew up, things started to change. I met people who always asked for help but never thanked me or appreciated my effort; I thought this was the kindness and generosity that I should possess in order to be a ‘good’ person until I discovered they took my help for granted. I realized I neglected myself when I kept on accommodating others. I received criticism and comments from people that don’t matter; I listened to them and coerced myself to become someone I was not until I discovered those judgments wouldn’t stop even though they were meaningless. I realized I lost myself when I cared too much about what people thought about me. I stressed myself out because of all the pressures from people and work; I thought it was always worth it to work that hard and blindly until I discovered my deterioration in health was the consequence I had to bear. I realized I let myself down when I pushed myself too far. So I understood, the real question is why do we not focus on ourselves more when there is way too much that can hurt in life? Not until I learned that I forgot about myself all this time did I know the true meaning of self-love. Self-love is to embrace our strengths and weaknesses, be ourselves and at times, to put ourselves first. No one is born perfect and the first step of loving ourselves is to accept our own boundaries and personalities. We shall not ignore our own feelings and needs when we are at the same time caring for people and work. YOU, yourself, shall no longer fall to the bottom of your priorities.

Pristina Tan 44

a distant feeling eyes, face, body, talent we compare and compete slip compliments in between strained smiles with eyes of envy Comfort is a distant feeling that our bodies no longer recognise fantasize about what it's like to be her, to be him, To be them. I'll be damned for it seems like, I have long forgotten who I am. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; .caladeth Infallible Love How I prayed fervently for a love that shall make myself holy, whole, and sacrificed me to the devil I forged from fire. A home more than a house, The kiss from The One. Mending schism between two minds. When I stopped praying for such doomed ambitions, and started looking inward, I find in me my Deliverance: My home. The love of my life. Harmony of the head and heart. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Elicia Hurst

in the quiet. Among the silence, The colour of your soul remains pure as cotton. You've found me, you've found yourself. Who you are. Alive. Beautiful. In the quiet Heed drums on your heart Steady, powerful, gentle You've found reality a reason for breath Becoming you once more. Healing. Remembering. Roads of solitude Meets the twinkle in your eyes You've found peace and you sing a tune so forgiving Forgetting hurt or pain. Smile laced lazily on your lips You've found you. I've found me. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; .caladeth

Question Sometimes I ask myself Where I was born Was it unto this world Because I’m just so forlorn Yes, I’m cynical about Society Fed up with the norm Of men engaging in fondling Forgetting how they were borne Why wasn’t I conceived on the Enterprise Or maybe to the destiny of the Force Sometimes I feel disappointed in myself To infinity and beyond, that’s what she said I wake up in the morning sometimes Consumed with the thought What if I were Master Yoda Or if I were Star-Lord Then I snap out of my dreams With the mirror, mirror on the wall Why the heck am I here? Why on Earth was I born? But you guys know, and so do I Perhaps no fantasy lies beyond our sky No wonder I’m so damn torn — Rohit Jumar Verma

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before Trilogy - Jenny Han Lara Jean writes love letters for her crushes and put them in a box to get over her feelings for them. When the letters were mysteriously sent out one day, letting the five boys know about her feelings, Lara Jean must face them and fix the situation herself. Romantic novels are uaually about the lovey-dovey romance. What makes this trilogy stands out is the element of multi-relationships, making the story realistic. Other than romance, familial relationships, as well as friendships, are also addressed. Instead of focusing solely on romance, these books also show all-rounded character growth. These books are not your typical tales of romance. The diverse characters add to the storyline and provide dynamics. If you are looking for something meaningful to read, this trilogy would be a great choice. X+Y (2014 Dir. Morgan Matthews) Romance often comes to us when we least expect it. X+Y is a film that follows the life of Nathan, an autistic boy who joins a Math competition and tries to find the formula of love after he meets a girl in Taiwan. While the film covers a variety of themes, romance is conveyed in a very inspiring way. It shows the power of love in which it can overcome any hurts and give a new beginning to a person. It reminds its audience that to love someone, we must heal our self in within. When you find a love so potent, never let go.

M RENT

(Playwright: Jonathan Larson)

As one of the most iconic Broadway musicals in history, Jonathan Larson’s RENT is a bittersweet story depicting the friendship among 8 young people who face their own struggles from battling AIDS to being a drug addict. “Let’s celebrate remember a year in a life of friends.” With the catchphrase La Vie Boheme, the musical embodies the acceptance, love and union of true friendship. Despite the hardships faced by each of the characters, the show conveys a bond with no judgment and the unconditional love among broken people who managed to find hope in one another. These characters gave their all to overcome heartbreaks, loss and hopelessness together. Memories follow them as life goes on, and the friendship they have harvested is for life. Brother - Kodaline Though we don’t share the same blood You’re my brother and I love you, that’s the truth A person doesn’t have to be your sibling to be your brother (or sister). If you have a best friend, or a friend who’s particularly close (platonically), you should be able to relate to that. This song from Kodaline celebrates this special bond between friends who look out for each other and stand next to each other through thick and thin. Give it a listen, and if it sounds right, share it with a friend to show what you think of him or her.

Coco

(2017 Dir. Lee Unkrich)

The protagonist Miguel has always aspired to be a musician, albeit his family’s strong disapproval. The movie conveys a message through Miguel’s adventure that nothing is more important than family, and that in the end they will always support you as you follow your true passions. The story illustrates unconditional familial love. The tradition of ‘putting up pictures of late relatives’ creates connections between the living and the afterlife, emphasizing how the eternity of familial love. To quote the movie’s theme song, ‘For even if I’m far away, I hold you in my heart.’ Coco’s message is one that everyone could resonate with.

Supermarket Flowers - Ed Sheeran So I’ll sing Hallelujah You were an angel in the shape of my mum From the perspective of the singer’s mother, this piano ballad mourns the passing of Sheeran’s grandmother as it narrates the events following her death and commemorates the virtue of this angelic mother and grandmother. As you listen to this, you might be reminded of the inevitable loss of the people you love, but also of the passion and the love of the person that stays with you even after his or her physical expiration. Perhaps Supermarket Flowers will reinforce the beauty of family and the importance of treasuring the ones you love, and not overlook them as if they were objects in a supermarket aisle.

Wonder

(2017 dir. Stephen Chbosky)

August Pullman is just an average 10-year-old kid other than having an unusual appearance because of genetic anomaly. The friends who used to play with him left him after looking at his face; even his sister has at one point wanted to cut off their connections because she does not want to be known as the girl with a facially deformed brother. When it comes to strangers, bullying seems to be something pathetically predictable and expected. Nonetheless, bullying stops when you start accepting and loving yourself. Only then will others look past the superficial appearance and find your inner beauty. Meet Yourself in the Mirror - Ashley Wylde Powerful and direct, Ashley Wylde’s slam poem reminds all to realize the importance of self-love through the persona’s experience with rendezvousing with her reflection in the mirror.

It’s easy to list out things we love in life. The poem delivers a revelating question of how long can we think about the things we love until we consider ourselves to be one of them. Passionate and inspiring, the poet argues that in order to say “I Love You”, there must be the implied foundation of “but I love myself first.” Only then can we spread love completely with sincerity, from within ourselves to the people around us. We will be ready for any hardships or heartbreaks and they can never destroy us. The moment we find self-love, we are unbreakable.

T A K E PA R T

Publisher: English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U., Session 2017-2018 Editor: Leanne Hong [leanne.hkuengsoc@gmail.com] Cover Art: Pristina Tan [pristina.hkuengsoc@gmail.com] Cover Photography: Sammi Tung [sammit.hkuengsoc@gmail.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HKU.English/ Instagram: hkuengsoc Email: engsoc@connect.hku.hk Address: 2A01 (1), Fong Shu Chuen Amenities Centre, the University of Hong Kong, 90 Bonham Road, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Disclaimer: English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U. does not own any of the graphics (except original photos and poster) used in this newsletter.

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