When I was 18 years old, after graduating high school... My new journey began.
After graduating high school, Hawkins went back to his family's house in Vietnam to celebrate. His family and relatives all came to attend the celebration. Hawkins felt warm and proud as they were welcoming him and accepting his choice to go to university in Canada, or maybe this was due to his first big decision, the first step towards his future. A new, strange, and unfamiliar journey that might be the most terrifying experience of his life, the prospect nevertheless made Hawkins' eyes glisten with excitement.
I've never thought that I'd get such a chance to learn in a different culture. Not in my wildest dreams. But after what happened, it was something I hadn't expected...
When he was alone, sitting near the bed, thinking and listening to the raindrops fall against the window while staring at the picture. He was looking at his family picture, where all the members were wearing black clothes, sitting and smiling happily. The watch, which is considered part of the family's quirk that all the members wore, is a unique handmade wristwatch made out of bronze with intricate symbols of dragons, phoenixes, and ancient script carvings. With a vintage face, simple hour and minute hands, a tanned leather strap, and weathered bronze finishing.
...something that was out of the ordinary.
In the airport station, before he went to be on the plane to go to Canada, his dad gifted it to him as a part of his family. He hugged his dad, and tears flowed down his cheeks, knowing that this would be the last time seeing his face.
After all, I've been through it. I've always had questions about my past. About my family. About myself. How everything happened...
He embraced his family, who escorted him to the gate, where his adventure would begin. At the doorway, he turned around to say, "goodbye," but was stopped in his tracks as they all waved and smiled warmly, showing off their watches.
Everything that happened changed my life forever...
He kept staring at his family until the door closed.
...so as my mysterious partner.