a story.

Him:

university student, first year

life science, med-student-wannabe

living away from home

trying to pay tuition and residence fees to take the burden off his mother (who is a single parent, may/not be suffering an emotional disorder since the divorce)

works a part-time job as a bus driver

Her:

university student, first year

just want to roll by with passing grades

parents are overseas, earning big money in the Chinese entertainment industry (or real estate)

alone in an apartment overlooking the most luxurious downtown streets

has an elaborate wardrobe

switches between identities as a hobby

has acquaintances from various groups (punk rock scene, Asian karaoke group, origami club etc) but no one knows who she is

afraid of getting too close

self-sufficient, or believes she is / pretends to be

does not eat but drinks like crazy

expert at make up; minimum 7 layers

pretty on the outside but just a plain girl with the powder removed

Story:

first meeting -

he is working the night shift, driving from suburbs to downtown

bus is empty

she is in her punk/goth get up. tries to scrape by without a ticket (just to fulfill her character role).

heated argument for fifteen minutes but he lets her on for whatever reason

second meeting -

downtown supermarket, Thursday before easter weekend

he buys a half-priced cake to bring home to his mother, whose birthday is coming up

she buys an elaborate cake

at the cashier, she realises she forgot her credit card

he offered to pay

she was in her fashionista get up

she tells him fake name #1: edene

third meeting -

some obscure life science lecture hall

small class

last class of the year

she comes and sits in the only available seat next to him

casual get up, make up?

he noticed something on her that he’s seen before; realized that she looks strangely familiar

she chats to her “life sci” group about how screwed she is for her test, etc etc etc

“oh <sally>, where were you? we see you like once in a blue moon”

“I’ve been skipping these lectures ’cause I thought they’d be easy, right? ’cause you know those 3rd year courses I’m taking, they’re burying me alive and I don’t have time for anything else. I thought this would be a bird course but WHO KNEW…” etc

coincidentally he knows some people in her group, get involved in the chat

learns more about <sally> from her friend’s pov, but he knows that she’s not who she says she is

intrigued, asks her out to find out more about her…

umm…

the observer problem

plot?

she is the victim