5 Her end is a new beginning

<7 years ago>

The cherry blossoms fell heavily on the path of N high school students as they walked with a smile. It was that time of the year again where students who went to school either felt excited or has a heavy heart.

The banner hung high at the school entrance gate with big capital letters.

GRADUATION DAY

The morning started with the empty hall slowly being filled with the student's parents, relatives or someone important in their lives holding bouquets of flowers as they took their seats.

Since today was the last day for 3rd-year students, even the famous Lee Junting, who rarely attended class, was in the classroom to say his goodbyes and express his gratitude to the teachers.

But even on this joy-filled day, some people felt something amiss and Junting was one of them.

As the students start lined up to enter the hall, Junting felt a light tuck from his sleeves. He turned around and saw Lili with a worried face. "Junting, have you seen Qinyang? She is not here. I didn't even see her this morning."

Junting shook his head.

Actually, that was what Junting felt missing. Her presence. Whenever she wasn't around him, it made him feel insecure. He was hoping to meet her this morning but she never showed up, not even her shadow. He had planned something special for her and was worried he would not be able to say it.

"I tried to call her but she didn't pick up. She normally wouldn't do something like this. She was so excited yesterday. Did she say anything to you yesterday?" Lili bit her lip.

Junting denied again. His eyes looked towards the entrance gate hoping that she would run in here right now with an excuse of why she is late.

Afternoon came and the students entered the hall one by one, yet Qinyang was still nowhere to be found. The class teachers noticed it too and asked around, worrying that she might not make it in time for the ceremony. But their efforts were in vain, the ceremony ended without her.

Junting rushed out of the hall to find her. However, there was no sight of her anywhere at all. Lili followed him hoping to see her best friend and when they arrived at the entrance gate, a girl with piggy tails on her was standing, looking around as if waiting for someone.

When she saw Junting and Lili, she ran towards their direction. Both of them were stunned at the girl's question, "Are you Brother Junting and Sister Lili?"

Both of them nodded.

The girl then pull out two envelopes from her backpack and handed it to them with a smile. "Sister Qinyang told me to give this to you this morning."

Junting's heart paced looking at the baby blue letter in his palm.

Lili then asked, "May I ask how do you know Qinyang, little girl? Do you have any idea where she is?"

"Sister Qinyang is my neighbour, but I don't know where she is. She asked me to give these earlier in the morning. She had a big big bag beside her. She said she is going on a holiday," the girl replied innocently.

Junting then knelt down on one knee to the girl. "Can you take brother to her house?"

"Sure! You can play with me after that since sister is not at home." The little girl smiled and grabbed his hand as she started running.

When they arrived at the Qinyang's rundown house, they noticed the gate was left open. The little girl then ran into the house and shouted, " Sister Qinyang! Oh wait, I forgot she went on a holiday."

Junting stepped into the house and the smell of alcohol greeted him. Junting frowned as he looked around the beer sprawled living room, but knowing she wouldn't be there, he went upstairs to find Qinyang's room.

He noticed that her room was the cleanest in the whole house. He opened the cupboard only to find all of her clothes were gone. Looking further, there was a stain of blood on her bed sheets and on the floor.

'What happened here?' His heart began to beat heavily. He had an idea in his heart but he didn't want to face it. He then heard a shout from outside.

"Lee Junting!"

He walked downstairs and found Lili kneeling and crying. "She went away. She left us."

She read the piece of paper given by the little girl and handed it to Junting.

After reading the paper, Junting crumpled it as he gritted his teeth. 'Are you kidding me Zhou Qinyang?'