Shengliver’s Note: Is this a ghost story? Is the girl a spirit?

This term I do not reside in the dorm. After evening classes at 10 pm, I exit the campus and make my way back to the lodgings. In the deserted lane, there is no reason to feel alone because of a warm drink in my hand.

It has been three months since I came across the milk tea girl at a drinks shop. One day 4 evening classes over, I was parched. It was around 10.30, and all the shops were closed at the hour in the lane. Having combed the neighbourhood to no avail for some time, I gave up any hope of quenching my thirst. Just before I turned the corner, a drinks-shop on the other side of the lane came into view. To my joy, it was still open.

With eager anticipation, I strode across and entered the shop. At the time there was no other customer around. Behind the counter stood a young girl serving drinks. She asked me what I wanted. With some hesitation I ordered a cup of milk tea. Nodding with a smile, she started preparing the drink expertly. Promptly a cup of milk tea was presented on the counter.

As I was drinking standing there, the girl asked me tentatively why I was still hanging around alone at such a late hour, for she was going to close for the day. I explained that I was a YYHS student and that my evening class was over at 10 pm. Our chat started.

From the conversation, I learned that the girl used to be a student too, but she quitted school because something had befallen her family. She had to find a job and start working to contribute to the family income. About the same age, we found it easy and comfortable to relate to each other. Before I knew it, we had shared a lot, talking about our hobbies and childhood memories. It was not until 11 that we bade each other farewell.

“Please wait for me every evening around this time,” I said jokingly. “I will be coming in for a drink.”

The girl was silent, a smile on her face.

To my wonder, from that evening on, the girl was always there in the shop as I was heading home from school. I dropped by and she passed me a drink she had done. Most times, it was just her and me. Occasionally, there were a couple of others drinking and socialising at the tables. Some nights, I offered to wait for her to close the store before we went back to our accommodation together. We were bantering and laughing all the way until we parted at a crossroads. It was a heavenly time.

One day a week ago, evening classes done, I made a beeline for the stopover as usual. The girl was not there. Where could she have been? I asked the young man serving behind the counter, but he had no idea at all. To my bewilderment, he said they had never before had such a girl working for them. I could not believe my ears. Whatever, the sweet girl has never ever reappeared in the shop since then.

Every time a cup of milk tea is in my hand these days, I cannot help but reminisce about the girl. She is a true friend, although I haven’t got her name and nobody seems to know her whereabouts.