“See you in the 8-5-2!” – Him “Yup! See you!” – Me He leaves my dorm room. “What’s the 852?” – My roommate “I have noooo idea.” – Me My roommate and I continued packing our things. Her, leaving the room for winter break, but me? I was would not return to Bentley the next semester, but would experience my next semester at the University of Hong Kong in the School of Economics and Finance. Little did I know, it would be the most memorable 6 months of my life. Fast forward six months. It was a rainy and humid evening in Hong Kong. I jumped on the Star Ferry to cross the Victoria Harbor into TST. I usually didn’t take the ferry. I’d pay the extra few cents to take the underground subway, the MTR, through the harbor, but oh no – he said he’d meet me at the ferry station on the other side… so I did… without an umbrella. “HEY YOU!” I flipped around and was mildly impressed. The dude that always lounged around in t-shirts with stupid-funny sayings and busted jeans cleaned up in a a full suit, tie, overcoat and what’s more? HE HAD A BIG UMBRELLA! He took me to Aqua, a posh little restaurant overlooking the Hong Kong skyline. I told him that I finally understood what 852 meant. It was the Hong Kong area code. He laughed and asked me how long it took me to realize it. I plead the fifth and scurried the conversation onto another topic. It was a fantastic dinner, with un-pronouncable appetizers, lobster pizza and possibly one of the best molten chocolate cakes I’ve ever had. He was from Hong Kong, so this was his native stomping ground. He and I wandered the city for the rest of the night and for the first time in our friendship, we talked… like really talked. I got to know him as more than a goofy guy that randomly hung out in my dorm room. It was fun – reallyreallyreally fun. and it still is.
