大輝，還是叫佢Taif，聽落比較convincing。Taif份人好正經對人好好，但佢冇預兆咁就偷偷失戀。人人都話”佢唔想俾人知呀，你唔好講出黎”，但冇人ever question佢消失的女友去左邊。究竟仲有冇人未知？我有偷偷地暗中觀察佢有冇唔開心，佢似乎係唔開心時段會匿埋果種人，每次出現都談笑風生，完全冇問題wor。
Taif轉工距離佢失戀隔左幾個月，新工係佢dream job但相當harsh。同佢唔願提失戀一樣，(對住我)都唔太提新工嘅辛苦野。
Ku突然同我提起Taif。佢地快閃約飲茶。
(我要聲明，Taif失戀唔係Ku話我知的)
於是就有左以下對話(有經過節刪同重新排序)
*** *** ***
Taif is a serious and concerning guy, though still he broke up with his lovely girlfriend without signal. Friends around all saying “Faif wants to keep it low key, just dont tell anyone his breakup!”. Yet no one has ever questioned where his disappeared girlfriend go. Luckily Taif seems to be ok, every time he showed up he’s the talkative Taif as usual.
Taif recently found his dream job, few months after the breakup. The work must be harsh cos we start hearing him scattered complaints. Like he tries to keep his breakup low key, he doesnt talk much about his work.
Ku suddenly talked to me about Taif, he said they had a quick lunch earlier.
(It’s not Ku who told me Taif’s breakup)
This is our entire chat history. (has been trimed and rearranged)
(K=Ku, D=me)
K: I talked to Taif last week, he still very critical of many groups of ppl
K: I think only girls have the ability like, to avoid unhappy issue, or to avoid thinking about it
D: that’s called dismissive avoidant, it’s a technique
D: but what unhappy issue you referring to? Taif being single?
K: not. he always chat with girls, which is unsurprising, and I am not gonna say wow
D: where’s his critical point
K: he attacks rude PE major ppl from Ied; attacks uncultivated ppl in general
D: isn’t it normal? I wanna complain the trashy kwun tong delivery guy put his goods in mid passenger way, blocking my way
K: it’s not that specific as you do
D: like what?
K: Taif attacks his new Ied colleagues not know the famous painting “Wanderer above the sea of fog”
D: he’s so caring about other ppl, even the nearly stranger
K: why describe as caring
D: that he wish ppl know about great things in life
D: you did complain sth similar I remember
K: my attack goes beyond that, I do irrational ones, not attempt to base on facts
D: ok, so what’s your feedback to Taif
K: I said it’s normal most ppl doesn’t know Wanderer above the sea of fog
K: if given more time I would further explain
D: so you try to calm him like a girlfriend
K: how? no
K: I mean the spread of education will certainly leads to popularization of culture, which could mean the decline of taste
D: lol
K: but it’s a good thing that education spread
K: It’s a paradox
K: If everyone can read then serious literature will certainly fall in popularity
D: turns out it doesn’t sound like a girlfriend’s calming words
K: I’m not a girl who put skinny hands around Taif’s neck, ok?
D: what’s wrong with the skinny hands? girls do think seriously before offering their hands
K: ?
D: nvm, but I like ppl with strong opinion and personal preferences
K: I think the persons that seems easy going on appearance could be evil passive aggressive person in heart
D: is it Taif you referring to? sounds not the Taif I used to know
D: I remember you once mentioned Taif reads a thick book, like “the basis of politic” sort of things
K: I only observe he still chats with his former girlfriend on daily basis
D: you said you didn’t expect Taif read that kind of book, and he read it so secretly you think only you notice
D: you said it feels like you 2 grew your friendship upon that book
K: Fractured time? It’s a book about 20th century culture
D: nooooo
K: what the book was about
D: it’s like history of sth serious
K: so general
K: The end of history and last man? Francis Fukuyama?
D: I didn’t read any of books you mentioned. I can’t simulate Taif’s mind
K: what he actually said, was telling me he draw a picture at back cover of his journal
K: he said no his uncultivated colleagues from Ied don’t recognize it
K: he really dislike Ied, which is fun
D: I didn’t know Taif draws
K: it’s just primary school level drawing
D: he even showed you?
K: why not
K: he at least attack Ied 3 times
D: he’s like you
K: what, I don’t attack institutions
D: …… you 2 are enthusiastic with those civilization things
K: girls probably find it cute which they did
D: reasonable guess
K: he attacked a park we walk past too
D: never seen Taif raging
K: he probably won’t attack at all with girls
D: only you witnessed he got mad, if 1 more witnesser I would believe
K: not like get mad, he didn’t try to torn down the park, or burn Ied
K: he probably will discuss girls if other male friends come
D: so…. cos he sees you as a gay, he doesn’t discuss girls with you
D: is it probable?
K: I think if I ask him who are all these girls in your phone he will answer
K: but I just don’t want to ask
D: so… you can’t deny
K: deny what?
D: Taif sees you as gay
D: I’m logically right
K: what? but very few ppl talk about girls with me
D: oh~~~ we better stop here, I wanna back up our conversation
K: I need to tell what happened actually
D: ok
K: when we were at MTR he showed me his journal with a logo he designed for his squad on cover, and a drawing on the back
K: but he actually can’t recall the title of the painting too
K: I pointed out it’s Wanderer above the sea of fog
K: he said no one know that in his company, as they are redneck brutes from Ied
Notes:
1. “Ied” refers to Hong Kong Institute of Education. It’s an institution dedicated professional teacher education in Hong Kong. In 2015 it’s qualified as a university and later changed its name to the Education University of Hong Kong.
2. Taif graduates in the University of Hong Kong, the first and the best university in Hong Kong.
(Jan 2019 update: I asked for the mentioned drawing from Taif, click here to view)