Princess Catherine: A Brand New Life

 
十八年後 何文田 石鼓街
18 years later,  Shek Ku Street.
 
教堂前有個小小的前園，種著一棵大櫻樹；可惜由於現正為盛夏，樹上並沒有鮮豔無比的櫻花，但相信明年春天賞櫻期來臨時，我定能在此歡賞到最美的景致。
In front of the chapel is a front yard with a cherry tree planted. Such a pity that it's Summer now, the tree doesn't have colorful cherry blossoms grow all on it. But when Spring comes, I believe I will see the best scenery here.
 
我走進這會堂，才發現這裡居然還有電梯，這地方真是先進呢。按下4字樓，這裡整層都是體育場。十多位身穿白袍的學員正在練習，大家的腰帶顏色都是以紅和黑為主。
I walk into the hall and find out there is an elevator. How advanced! I arrive at 4th floor, a sportsground in which tens of students are practicing taekwondo. Most of them are in red and black belts.
 


走進體育場的最深處，一位年約四十的男人正指導著一位女學員踢沙包，看來他就是這裡的館主了。我懷著輕快的心情向他走去。
Walking into the end of the sportsground, a man in his forties is instructing a female student to kick a sandbag. He is the Master, I presume. I walk towards him merrily.
 
這位師傅轉過身來面對我，我才得以看到他腰上的帶除了是黑色的之餘，上面還繡了五條金黃色的粗線和「蘇文豪」三字。
The master turn towards me, then I am able to see his belt. Apart from being black, the belt has five golden stripes and with the name “So Man Ho” embroidered.
 
我禮貌地說道：「蘇Sir你好啊，我係以前起大埔跟梁Sir既學生，佢叫我轉黎呢到架。」
I greet him politely, “Hello Master So. I am a student of Master Leung from Tai Po. He referred me to here.”
 
「梁Sir差唔多五十先攬黑帶五段，呢個蘇Sir睇落咁後生都係五段，睇落唔野少。」：我心想


“Master Leung has five stripes on his belt and he’s about 50 years old. Master So looks so much younger but his belt also has 5 stripes. This guy must be talented. ” I think.
 
蘇Sir和藹地微笑說：「係啊，梁Sir有同我講過。阿銓啊可?我地近排起到分組練習，換完衫之後出黎同呢組練啦。」
Master So smiles at me, and says, “Oh that’s you. Master Leung talked about you with me before. You are Vergil, right? We are doing some group practice currently, you can practice with this group after changing.”
 
蘇Sir指著他旁邊的一組人，那位踢著沙包的女學員轉過身來看著我，對我嫣然一笑。一頭烏黑色的秀髮被紮成一個髻，秀麗的臉容、健康的膚色，為這美女傾心的男孩應該大有人在。
Master So pointed at a group of people next to him. The girl that is kicking the sandbag turns her head back and looks at me with a smile.
 
我尷尬地對她回以一個淺淺的和笑，然後便到廁所更衣。我穿上袍子，自豪地繫上新的紅黑段帶，看著鏡中的自己，我感到充滿力量。新的段階，新的地方，新的開始!
I smile awkwardly in return and head to the washroom to change my clothes. Looking into the mirror, new belt, new place, it’s a brand new start!


 
我回到那組中開始熱身練習，我的旁邊是一位戴著眼鏡的「文青型」男生，他腰上和我一樣綁著紅黑帶，我對面便是那位剛才對我笑的女孩和另外一位女學員，她們的腰帶是紅色的。
I start warming up myself. A boy with glasses is next to me, he’s also wearing a red and black belt like me. The girl who just smiled at me stands opposite to me, her belt is red.
 
「啪!」的一聲，那位女孩一下旋踢踢中我們中間的沙包，我旁邊那眼鏡男說道：「哇!踢死人咩，嵐姐。」
The girl kicks the sandbag with full strength. The boy beside me says “You’re too powerful, Nam!”
 
那位叫阿嵐的美少女無視了眼鏡男，只是看著我問道：「啱啱聽到你同蘇Sir講野，你起大埔transfer過黎架?」
Nam ignores the boy, she looks at me and says “I heard your conversation with Master So just now, so you just got transferred here from Tai Po?”
 
我答道：「係啊，我本身係住起洞梓既山區原住民，近排搬左屋重投社會。」
I answer, “Yes, I was a savage living in Tung Tsz. I just returned to the modern society.”
 
阿嵐立即被逗得噗哧一笑，她甜甜地微笑看著我，說道：「你好啊山區原住民，我叫何玥嵐，我地點稱呼你啊?」
My joke makes nam giggle, she smiles “Ok then! Hello Mr. Savage. My name is Ho Yuet Nam.”


 
「啊，我地同姓三分親，叫我何兄弟得啦。」：我裝作正經地答道
“Ah, we are from the same family. Call me Brother Ho.” I pretend to be serious.
 
阿嵐忍著笑說：「何兄弟，你講野好幽默啊。」
Nam managing her emotions, and says, “You are humorous, Brother Ho!”
 
眼鏡男對我說：「何兄弟你好，我叫阿楊。」
The four-eyen man informs me, “Hello, Brother Ho, I’m Yang.”
 
大家都是志趣相投的青年，我們很快的就打開了話題，我們一邊握靶幫助對方練習各種動作，一邊快樂地聊著，時間很快便過去了，這節課也來到了尾聲。
It’s much easier to find topics when we have similar interest, we click! We hold the target for each other and chat happily. Time goes fast and the lesson is about to end.
 
在課程臨完結時蘇Sir指示所有學員走到場館的最後方，靠著牆壁排成一字排開。所有學員看著蘇Sir。蘇Sir誠懇地看著大家，問道：「你地黎學跆拳道，係諗住只係冇野做消磨下時間，定係想真係認真學好佢?」
Master So have us stand beside the wall in a line. He asks “Students, do you come to taekwondo to chill or to learn skills?”


 
「認真!」：大家一致答道
“To learn!” All students answer with no hesitation.
 
「大家搵你隔離同性既學員pair up」蘇Sir指著對面的盡頭，喊道：「揹住佢來回跑三次，然後交換!」
Master points at the other side of the sportsground, and yells “Pair up with a person of your gender around you, you carry him/her on your back, run back and forth for 3 times, and then change!”
 
哇，這麼新奇的訓練方法我還真是從沒試過呢。我和阿楊看了看對方不知所措，阿嵐卻毫不猶豫地背起了她旁邊的那名女生向前跑起來，我笑嘆道：「黎啦，男人老狗!人地女仔都唔縮沙!」
Well, that’s really new! Yang and I look at each other and know not what to do. Nam however, has already started working on this with her partner. I sigh “Come on! Even girls are doing that, what are we afraid?”
 
我們輕快地背起自己的夥伴走體育場中奔跑著，氣氛十分歡樂，但這同時對我們來說的確是一項強度十分高的體能訓練。
Yang and me carry take turn to carry the other person and run. It was very exhausting but  joyful.
 
完成這訓練後，我和阿楊笑著握了個手，慶祝我們的成功。
After finishing this special training, Yang and I shake our hands with smile to celebrate our little success.


 
下課後，果然有幾位男生有意無意地走來向阿嵐搭話，看來這美人真的相當受歡迎。
The class is over. Quite a few boys come up to talk to Nam, it seems this pretty girl is indeed popular.
 
「啊何兄弟，你住邊架?」：阿楊問道
Yang asks “Where do you live, Brother Ho?”
 
「沙田，你呢」：我問道
“Sha Tin. And you?” I ask.
 
「咦，咁啱key，我住大圍架啵。咁一齊搭170啦，等埋何玥嵐啦，佢住九龍塘。」：阿楊說
“Oh, nice! I live in Tai Wai. Let’s wait for Sister Ho and take bus 170 together. She lives in Kowloon Tong.” Yang says.
 
哇，住在九龍塘的女孩，有錢就是任性呢。
Nam lives in Kowloon Tong?! Her family must be very rich then.


 
阿嵐別過了其他學員後到更衣室換回自己的衣裳走到我面前，使我眼前一亮。烏黑的長髮被放了下來，她穿著一身灰色的裙子，頸上戴著一條精美的項鍊，腳上穿著一雙白色的涼鞋。她明顯是位懂得打扮自己，擁有獨到潮流眼光的女孩。
After class, everyone leave and Nam goes to the changing room. She changes her dress then meets me. I am impressed by her excllent taste in fashion. Her hair falls beautifully on her shoulder. The grey dress, the elaborate necklace, and the sandals wearing on her feet are matched together nicely.
 
走進電梯，我好奇地問道：「比起我以前番開既大埔果間，呢座教堂真係大好多，成四層樓，做咩架?」
Walking into the elevator. Curiously I ask “This chapel is way bigger than the one I usually go to in Tai Po. 4 floors! What’s that for?”
 
阿楊答道：「地下係門廳，二樓係開會既禮堂，三樓係玩既文化廳同擺雜物既地方，四樓就係體育場。」
Yang answers “The ground floor is just a foyer. The 2nd floor is the meeting hall. There is a cultural hall and some storage rooms on the 3rd floor. And then of course, the 4th floor is a gym.”
 
走出教堂來到前園，阿嵐突然輕快地走前了兩步，在那櫻樹上輕輕地摘下了一小朵花，一臉滿足地嗅著那尚未盛開的櫻花，之後更是把那朵花帶上巴士，還不時將它戴在自己頭上。
Walking out of the chapel to the front yard. Nam steps swiftly forward to the cherry tree, picks one of the blossoms. She sniffs at the flower still await for its blossom. Then she even brings it along to the bus. Sometimes she wears it on her head.
 
昨天整天都在忙著搬家，算起來我有超過三十小時沒有捉弄人了，此刻看著阿嵐和阿楊，身為「整人專家」的我頓時心癢難捺。
So busy yesterday I was. It’s been over 30 hours since the last time I pranked someone. Looking at Nam and Yang, as a “Prank Specialist”, I can't stand anymore.
 
我用一腔鄉音對阿嵐說：「難囡啊，你知唔知朵花就咁摘落黎有虱架，我見到佢起你條頸到跳啊!」  
I speak to Nam with a country accent, “Naaam Nui, do you know da flowa u pick has louse? I see it jumpn’ on ur nack!”
 
阿嵐立即驚訝地把頭上的櫻花拿下來，愕然道：「下?邊到啊?」
Nam immediately takes the flower off from her head, asking in shock, “What? Where?!”
 
我在阿嵐的頸旁裝作拍虱子那樣，隨便拍了一下手，然後指著她的後腦說：「跳左去呢到啊!拍佢啦!」
I casually pat her around her neck, pretend like I'm trying to kill the louse. Then I point at her head, “There! It jumped onto your head! Kill it!”
 
阿嵐蠢蠢地拍了自己的後腦一下，但當然什麼都拍不到；她驚慌地掃著自己的秀髮，問道：「仲起唔起到啊?」
Nam really pat her head once. But of course she cannot kill anything. She combs her hair nervously, asking, “Is it still there?”
 
我指著她的頭頂，急道：「跳左去頭頂到啊!」
“It’s on the top of your head!”, I speak in a hurry, and pointing at there.
 
阿嵐再拍了一下自己的頭頂，問道：「好似拍唔到啊，點算啊?」
Nam pat where I pointed again, “I feel nothing, what can I do?”
 
我捧腹大笑說：「點算?你點拍自己個頭都拍唔好架啦，上深圳買啲腦輕鬆食啦。哈哈哈哈......」
I laugh, “What to do? Patting your head doesn’t work, right? Go to Shenzhen and buy some pills to cure your stupidity, ha ha…...”
 
玥嵐聽後呆了兩秒，然後收起了自己驚慌的神情，黑著臉瞪著我。但她出奇地斯文，
沒有打我之餘，連罵也不罵。在另一旁看著書的阿楊則是忍笑忍得很辛苦。
It takes Nam two seconds to understand what I’ve done. She stops panicking, instead she looks furiously at me but remains polite. She doesn’t hit me or shout at me. Meanwhile Yang is trying hard to not to laugh.
 
「笑咩笑?!」：阿嵐捶了阿楊的大腿一下。
“Shut up!” Nam punches Yang’s leg.
 
「啊!痛啊!」從阿楊的叫聲可知阿嵐的那一拳並不輕。
“Ouch! It hurts!” From Yang’s wail I can know that Nam used full strength.
 
「下一站係：映月臺。」：巴士響起廣播。
“The next stop is: Moonbeam Terrace.” The bus announces.
 
「我到啦，落車先啦。」：玥嵐語氣平靜，沒有絲毫生我氣的意思。
“I have to go now.” Nam’s being calm, not even showing a slightest clue of anger.
 
在她站起身的同時，我把她座位上的背包提起來，微笑著交給她。她只是對我嫣然一笑，然後停在原地幾秒，不知有什麼話想跟我說還是在等什麼……
As she stands up, I pass her backpack to her, smiling at her. She smiles at me back, stands there for a while. I think she has something to say...
 
「唔該。」結果她也沒說什麼特別的，便靜靜地走下樓梯了。
“Thank you.” That’s all, and she walks down the stairs, getting off the bus.
 
呵呵，這女孩脾氣真待我友善呢，我捉弄完她後居然不用受打罵，不需承受任何後果，只是阿楊被她打了幾拳。
Oh wow, she is being kind to me. I don’t have to bear any responsibility even I pulled a prank on her. Instead it was Yang who received a few punches.
 
遙望出車窗外，不遠處的歌和老街上豎立著一座氣勢莊嚴的白色建築物，一尊金色的天使像站在建築物頂。我呆呆地看著那地方，看得出神，只可惜暫時還沒有一位女孩能與我共赴這地方。
Looking out of the window, a grand white building stands beside Cornwall Street not far away. A statue of an angel is situated at the top of the structure. I stare at there, thinking about my future. Unfortunately I don’t have anyone to go there with yet.
 
「喂啊何兄弟，你信唔信催眠架?」：阿楊的聲音把我喚回來。
“Brother Ho, do you belive in hypnotherapy?” Yang’s voice pulls me back to the reality.
 
「催眠?」我望向阿楊手上的書，發現書的標題就是有關催眠的。
“Hypnotherapy?” I look at the book in Yang’s hand. It’s a book about hypnotizing.
 
阿楊興奮道：「係啊，唔只係拎隻錶郁下講下野果隻，仲有啲特定頻率既聲都可以幫你做到呢個效果。」
Yang exclaims, “Yes! It’s not only about swinging a watch in front of you, beats with specific frequencies can also give you the those effects!”
 
阿楊續道：「催眠好爽架，可以幫助失眠既人訓教，可以幫人忘記傷痛，有啲甚至便秘都可以靠催眠通便!」
Yang continues, “Hypnotizing is really cool! It can make people sleep better, forgetting their pain, even healing constipation!”
 
「……」我尷尬地說：「咁你學成之後，得閒搵人試啦。」
“Erm…”, I stutter “You can f-find someone to-to try that if you have learnt it…”
 
催眠?現在這究竟是什麼情況啊?好奇怪的感覺啊，難道我此時已經不知不覺地被你催眠了嗎?
Hypnotizing? What kind of sorcery is this! That is utterly strange. Or am I being hypnotized already?
 
「下一站係：大圍鐵路站。」
“The next stop is: Tai Wai Railway Station.”
 
「我撇先啦。唉!聽日要返學。」：阿楊收拾好東西，站起身來走下樓梯。
“I have to leave now. Urgh, Schools tomorrow.” Yang packs his things, stands up and leaves the bus.
 
沒事，我應該沒有被催眠。
Everything is alright, Vergil, it’s all right. You are not hypnotized, apparently.