First Encounter

The day is sunny and a bit windy. The preparation for the 35th inter-university sport's competition is going in full force. This year competition is held in University of P. Everyone is rushing here and there to make sure everything is ready before the open ceremony tomorrow morning.

Shouts and laughters can be hear from every direction in the sport's centre. There are banners in different colours hanging from the balustrades. Some students who registered to be the volunteers are running here and there, transporting some sport's equipments for every courts and fields. They needed to ensure the equipments are in good condition. Some others deliver drinks and foods for the volunteers while some was resting on the centre's lounge to take a break.

Several booths are installed in front of the student's council for registration and information inquiry. The booths are divided according to the category of the sports being competed. There are twenty category of the sports. So the booths are full, as there are about thirty universities and colleges participating in the competition. Several buses lined up at the roadside near the council for transporting every teams to their respective accommodation.

"Team's name?"

"University of K."

"Name?"

"Lin Dan."

"This is your registration number and you may proceed to the big blue camp at the right to wait for your representative finished registering your team's accommodation. There are some free foods and drinks available."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Next!"

..

"Wait for a while. I've an emergency," she said and smiled apologetically to the next participant and looked around. She smile when she see someone.

"Wang Hua..Wang Hua..Hua'er..Hua'er..," the girl shouted.

The person that being called looks around, searching for someone who shouted her name.

"Here..here..," the girl rose from her chair and waves her hands up high and beckoned her friend to come over.

Wang Hua waves back and strode in fast pace towards her friend aka dorm mate. She has a broad warm smile on her face. Her short feathered bob crop hair bounced according to her steps. She greets everyone that she knows along the way.

"LinLin." Wang Hua amiably greets her friend.

Her friend, LinLin beckoned her to come closer. She steps forward and LinLin pulled her head closer. She placed her palms on the table to stabilized herself as she slightly leaning on the left side of the folding table.

"I need to change my pad. So could you replace me for a while? I can't hold the line for so long," LinLin whispered.

"Sure. Just go on. Don't forget to eat first before you come back. Drink more warm water. I'll cover your job until you came back," Wang Hua whispered back.

She goes behind the table and waiting for LinLin to pack her sling bag before she sit down.

"Thank you so much. You're my life saviour. I love you.. muahhh..," LinLin blow her a flying kiss.

"Hahaha..go go go go..."

She pushed LinLin gently. LinLin pouted.

"Hahaha..off you go..I love you more," she winked at LinLin.

LinLin hugged her and promised to be back as soon as possible. Wang Hua assured her it's okay and she can take a longer break. They bid each other goodbye.

Wang Hua still had a lingering smile on her face.

"Team's name?"

"..."

"Team's name?" She slightly raise her voice.

"..."

She frowns when she did not get a reply, thus she looks up to see if the other did not hear her clearly. But she was startled when she saw the young man dazedly staring at her. She touches her face in case there's something stuck on it. When she realized there's nothing wrong, she blushed.

She cleared her throat and snaps her fingers in front of his face.

"..Mr? Mr?"

The man snapped from his dazed mind and awkwardly clearing his throat. He embarrassedly look away.

"...Umm..University of P.."

Wang Hua gaped at him.

"You're my university mate?

He nodded his head and looks at her.

"Oh. Name?"

She bows her head and flips through the papers until she found the list name of participants for University of P.

"..Hua'er.."

"Yes?" She skimmed the list.

"..."

"Name?" she asked again.

"..Hua'er.."

"Pardon. I think I can't hear you clearly," she stares at him.

"..Umm.." -he cleared his throat - "..it's Dan..Danial Li."

Wang Hua bows her head quickly to hide her flushed face. She skimmed and checked his name. She flips the registration numbers and found his number before she pass it to him.

"This is your registration number. You may proceed to the big blue camp at the right side. Free foods and water are available."

She looks up again when he did not pick up his number.

"Mr Li? This is your registration number."

She waves the number tag in front of his face.

He was startled. He embarrassedly take his number tag and thanked her before he quickly walked away. Wang Hua stares at his back for a while before she turned to the front and smile.

"Team's name?"

.....

"Hey man. Where are you going? We had wait for you for an hour. Come, let's eat something nice. I'm starving."

Danial smiled foolishly. 'Can't believed he just staring at her like a lovesick teenager. But she's so cute. She has a nice name too, Hua'er.'

"Hey, what are you smiling for? Hey..hey.."

"I think I'm in love."