Page Chen, G11 陈沛铨

After several sleepless nights and stressful days buried in my laptop and books, I desperately needed a break from my schoolwork. When I received a call from my best friend Robin, I decided to grab a coffee with her. I wanted some peace — even if it was for just a few hours.

Waiting at the square, watching the sun sink behind the mountains, I wandered aimlessly, not realizing I was missing one of the most beautiful sights that nature had to offer.

Robin arrived soon after. We had no plan — because that is how we are: impulsive. Wondering where to go, we ended up walking into a shopping mall. There, we stumbled upon a game station. But just as our excitement peaked and she paid, it malfunctioned. It did not even register the payment.

A light laugh broke the silence. Her first reaction was not to complain but to joke about how ridiculous it was. She tried contacting customer service but could not get through. “I’ll laugh about this and never forget how funny it is,” she said, turning to me with a smile.

Despite the sweltering 38°C heat, she still agreed to my invitation for a walk downtown. We grabbed a cup of juice, chatted about life, and shared some laughs.

As we walked, the tension I had been carrying started to dissipate. It was as if the simple act of wandering without a destination allowed my mind to unclench and breathe. Robin’s easygoing nature reminded me that sometimes the best moments come not from plans or achievements but from simply being present.

It was not until that very moment that I truly noticed how beautiful the sunset was. Maybe it had not changed at all. Maybe it was never about how it looked — but about how we saw it. And in that moment, we chose to embrace it with appreciation.

Perhaps that is what life is: not something we need to plan perfectly or pursue with rigid purpose, but something we feel — fully, deeply, and with heart. In the quiet glow of the fading sun, I realized that those little, unplanned moments are what fill life with true meaning.