Slow and Steady [Also Known As: Hyacinth]

Mo Han walked alone along the bustling street. People laughed and joked in the crowd, filling the air with cheer. In a shop window by the roadside, a purple hyacinth quietly bloomed. Before she knew it, her thoughts had carried her back many years.

He was the most popular boy at school, adored by girls from all over campus. But he was aloof, turning them all down. He felt guilty toward her, though, and secretly watched her from afar. Most of the time, their disagreements only grew worse, until...

Beneath the peach blossoms that year, he bit his lip, his naturally hanging hand gripping the seam of his trousers. Then, abruptly, he said twice, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”