Written by Yan and loosely translated by Justin's mom. Yan is one of Karena's classmates in university and is part of the wedding party.
文/ YAN (嘉寶大學同學，姊妹團之一)

At the risk of sounding like an old-fashioned love song, where do I begin to tell the story of how great a love can be… the true love story that, with the help of technology, transcends time and space — three years in time and thousands of miles in space? Karena and Justin told their story to me over dinner one night in the hopes that I, as a third person, could chronicle their love story of laughter and tears.

三年零幾個月，遙距而短速發展的愛情故事，也許本就並非筆墨能深刻形容。於是由他人書寫屬於他們的段段往事，男女主角在一頓飯的時間道來，旁人也被哭過笑過的經歷感染。假如愛是天意，能走在一起編寫故事，又是否幸運而純屬巧合。

The story begins with both our hero and heroine on assignment to cover the annual Book Fair in Wanchai. The setting was July 23, 2012 when Justin, back from Canada for the school holidays, was snaking through the crowds with his trusty DSLR camera in hand. As part of the protocol of greetings between fellow journalists, Justin proffered his business card to a young lady intern and introduced himself. Her name was 'Karena'. Nothing would have come from the meeting itself had there not been the technology of WhatsApp.

It wasn’t until they began to exchange WhatsApp messages that Karena started to make an impression on Justin. "After we chatted on WhatsApp for some time, I thought to myself, 'we get along quite well, she's pretty genuine.'  I think that’s how the feelings came into being," Justin reflects. In fact, the feelings gradually developed into a conviction in Justin’s heart that he had stumbled onto a treasure when he met Karena. 

連主角也沒想過，將同偕到老的人，會在那個又趕又忙跑新聞的日子出現。那是2012年暑假的香港，加國留學回港放暑假的他，7月23日這天 ，獨自提着單反相機穿梭會場，灣仔書展這種人來人往的採訪場合，行家碰面打聲招呼，他初見這報館實習女記者，向她遞上卡片自我介紹。之後幾次在採訪中碰上，寒暄幾句便無下文。直至whatsapp上邀約，變得有意思。

Gradually, Karena came to realize that Justin was very serious. Despite the 12-hour time difference between Hong Kong and Toronto, he kept up the long-distance connection on a daily basis through a range of means from text messages and voice memos to Skype conversations.

The 12-hour time difference meant that Karena had to get up in the middle of the night in order to speak or chat with Justin, or vice versa. They took turns to stay awake at night to maintain the relationship and the connection. In the end, their long-distance relationship transcended the constraints of time, as they learned to become completely oblivious to the topsy-turvy caused by the 12-hour time difference.

However, even though the relationship transcended time, the distance between them was still a problem. When Justin asked Karena whether she liked him, the answer was an undecipherable "I don't know". At times, Justin chose to interpret "I don’t know" as words Karena repeated as a matter of habit. At other times, Justin interpreted the words as doubt and took up the pretense of rationalizing by drawing up a table to compare himself against his rivals for Karena's affections. Not one to accept defeat, Justin always came out ahead in the table. Ultimately, the objective of the analysis was to convince Karena to accept that the relationship could also transcend distance or space. 

But the distance between them caused Karena to hesitate and kept her from moving forward in the relationship. "I don’t want to meet only once a year for a minimum of 3 weeks, or at maximum of 3 months during summer," Karena said to Justin with sadness and frustration. That was when Justin replied, "I have bought an air ticket for return to Hong Kong in mid-December." Karena asked with surprise and elation, "Really?"

但漸漸發現，這個「鬼仔性格」的先生確實十分有心，晝與夜十二小時的相隔，他也要保持每天聯絡上她，由電話文字、語音訊息，到撥號skype的通話，越洋一字一句來往。終於到後來，白天漸懂夜的黑，身在香港的她，也會半夜爬起牀，聽他的電話，或輪流不眠，把自己的黑夜當白天，換來對方的十二小時，維持通話，說說各自的生活瑣事，說着說着，一夜之間，這地球對他們來說，似乎再無時差的概念。

日復一日，時間與地域，即使地球不再公轉與自轉，卻始終跨不過大洲與海洋的遙遠距離。問她「你喜歡我嗎？」，答案一直是難以解讀的「我不知道呀」，有時他寧願相信「不知道」是她的口頭禪。又試過(扮)理性分析，為她畫個圖表，分析自己與情敵(們)的強弱項，輸打贏要填些分數，最終目的，還是希望她接受這段分隔兩地的戀愛關係。但遠遠的戀愛，她一直猶豫踱步，不敢再踏前或想像，「我不想一年見一次，最長是暑假三個月，或最短的三星期。」她帶着失落的語氣，同時也沒那種遙距苦戀的勇氣。

After 122 days, the long-distance pursuit ended in December that year with a mutual promise to commit to the relationship. They met again at the movie theatre where they had their last date. In the darkness of the theatre, Justin surprised Karena with a gift of a necklace, which he very clumsily tried to put on her neck. "Are you done yet?" Karena asked impatiently as Justin fumbled with the clasp. "Don’t open your eyes, don’t open your eyes yet," Justin commanded. After great struggle, Justin managed to get the necklace — a token of his love — on Karena. Fondly recalling the event, Karena laughs, "He actually hit me on the forehead and the nose in the process of putting on the necklace in the dark."

「我買了12月中的機票回港。」隔着螢幕傳來她既興奮又驚訝：「真的嗎！？」異地傳情112天後，這條感情線真正繫上，是在同年的寒冬。他與她相約上次餞行的那家電影院，漆黑的劇場裏，請她閉上眼睛，從褲袋掏出一條紐結千絲的頸鏈，手忙腳亂地解開再解開，想親手為她繫上。

「得未呀？需要我幫忙嗎？」

「妳不要張開眼睛。妳不要張開眼睛。」幾經解下，笨拙地為她戴上老土的定情信物，「但撞到我的額頭和鼻子，弄了好久，才掛到頸上，哈哈哈。」場面令人失笑，女主角說罷卻一臉幸福。

From that point onward, the relationship developed rapidly as they met every day. Although it took three hours to travel from the southern part of Hong Kong Island to the western part of New Territories, three hours was a small inconvenience for this couple who had gone through the trials and tribulations of a long-distance relationship.

During Justin's condensed three-weeks back in Hong Kong, they met each other's parents, attended gatherings with each other's family, and were introduced to relatives — all the necessary steps for an advanced relationship. But before long it was time for Justin to leave for Toronto again and for sad goodbyes at the airport. 

劇情之後快速發展，天天見面，港島南到新界西的距離，對Long D的情侶，算得甚麼，三小時來回送她回家，三星期便完成見家長、家庭聚餐，甚至介紹妳識親朋戚友等等步驟。至他的寒假要結束，要再次離開，重逢後離別，也在機場這個悲喜之地，臨別不捨如戲劇情節，入閘前相擁而哭那刻最難受。

Hong Kong and Toronto are 12, 500 kilometres apart. More importantly, when it is day in Toronto, it is night in Hong Kong, and vice versa. Most people (except those in such a relationship) would agree that a long-distance relationship with one person in Toronto and the other in Hong Kong would be very tiring.

"This kind of relationship is not easy. Body and heart are tired. You have to have determination," Karena advises. "Sometimes you see couples in the street, or you revisit a venue you've been to together, but there's no one beside you and you are all alone. Or when you need him the most, you are alone. There’s nothing but a cold computer screen, and you ask yourself 'why am I doing this?'"

Justin recalls, "It seemed that, during most of the time we were in the relationship, there was unhappiness or suffering." At times, Justin thought to himself that, if he hadn't been so determined to pursue Karena, there would be someone else in his place to comfort Karena in her need. "I was not a satisfactory boyfriend, because I couldn’t even fulfill the most basic requirement of being there." Feelings of frustration and self-admonition are understandable when you are helplessly looking through the screen as the other person heartbreakingly cries, unable to even pass her a tissue to wipe away the tears.

When Karena's small pet died, it highlighted to her the fact that many things in life were impermanent, but Justin tried to convince her that permanence could be found in their relationship. Justin reasons, "Everyone going into a relationship is taking a risk. No one knows how it will end. Distance is only one obstacle." He adds, "Long distance is a very good excuse for breaking up. No one is going to blame you for it. But if you really like someone, you will be determined and go through any challenges. At the end when you are together, the relationship will be lasting." For a guy who was generally not very good with words, this sounded pretty convincing. Karena couldn’t help but smile, "Justin rarely expresses his feelings. At least I don’t often hear him do so."

香港與多倫多，逾一萬二千五百公里的距離，日夜顛倒的時區，不分晝夜維繫相戀，旁人或覺很累，亦只有當事人會秉着永不放棄的精神，堅信愛情是強大的。「這種拖不容易拍，身心都很累，要有好大決心。」有時在街頭望見一對對親密情侶，或重遊那次約會的舊地，身旁卻無人；有時最需要他的時候，卻仍是孤伶伶看着冰冷的螢幕，等待遠端回應，詰問自己「為何要自討苦吃？」

「那時覺得，她與我一起，好像多是受苦和難過。」Justin曾想過，若當初不堅持，她選了別個，如今遇上生活低潮，她身旁便有人擁入懷安慰，「我不是稱職的男朋友，因為連最基本陪在她身邊都做不到。」的而且確，隔着螢幕的無助與自責，是連遞上紙巾給對方拭淚，也無法做到，只是靜靜的看着另一端的傷心痛哭。

嘉寶為小寵物離開傷心，生命與生活本是無常，Justin 常逆向思維地說，「其實投入每一段感情都在 take 一個 risk，也是無人知道結局會怎樣，所以距離只是其中一個障礙，而已。」然後又補多句：「Long D 是個很好的藉口和理由，隨時講分手，無人怪你。但如果你真的好喜歡一個人，你會好堅持，go through (逾越)任何挑戰，到最後便能在一起，這段感情便更 secure (堅固)。」

According to Karena, Justin is not the romantic or caring type. However, he is able to show sensitivity with his camera and photographs. If there is a need to show feelings, for him, producing photographs would work a lot better than using words. So even when he proposed marriage to Karena, it was not a carefully planned event, with no ring, no flowers and no kneeling. The proposal came out naturally, and because it was natural, it was heart-winning.

In the summer of their graduation, Karena flew to Toronto and joined Justin in Canada. After three weeks of being together happily, it was again time to separate. On the night Karena was packing to leave for the airport to return to Hong Kong, they were heavy-hearted in anticipation of the goodbyes. It was in the confusion of saying goodbye that Justin ended up proposing marriage.

Justin recalls, "At the time, our futures were uncertain as I was not sure where I would be working, in Hong Kong or Canada. And she was going back to Hong Kong. Actually, I don’t remember exactly what I said. I think it was something like this, ‘For as long as we have been together, we have been separated by great distance but have kept our relationship alive. No matter what happened, you were always at my side, never leaving, at my side giving me your support. I cannot imagine surviving without you because you are a very important part of my life.' I think I ended it by saying, 'No matter what our paths will be like, I hope that you would continue to be by my side.' At that point, we were both in tears, and she nodded quietly as a sign of 'yes.' She said to me, 'I am crying because we have gone through so much together but have still survived.' The more old-fashioned the circumstances, the more impact it makes – more devastating than even… teargas."

一向不擅辭令的這位先生，突然認真地連番剖解愛情，連坐在身旁的她也不禁笑了，「因為他好少這樣深情剖白，至少我好少聽到。」她口中的鬼仔性格先生，不像偶像劇的窩心暖男，不太懂噓寒問暖或製造浪漫和驚喜；對相片和影像卻十分敏感，要他表達愛情這件事，請他以一輯圖片故事來解釋，應該勝過千言萬語。所以就算是求婚的一幕，也非精心預備的場合，沒有戒指、鮮花和下跪，不經意的隨心說出，卻更打動人。

二人大學畢業那年的初夏，嘉寶飛到多倫多，與他同遊楓葉國，依舊相處三周的快樂時光便又準備再次分別，出發到機場的晚上，收收行李，離愁別緒湧在心頭，他說着中英夾雜的離別話，自己沒想到，話說到末句是求婚。

「那時我們前途未明，我在加拿大或香港也未找到工作，而她又要回港….其實我也忘了那刻跟她說了甚麼，只覺得『咁耐以來，我們相隔咁遠的distance，都keep到，而且無論發生何事，妳都像在我身邊無離開過，在旁支持我，我唔可以imagine I can survive without you，因為妳在我生命裏佔好重要的位置』，大概是這樣，講到最後一句：『日後的路不知道會如何，但希望妳能陪我走下去』。」二人其實已淚流滿面，無聲點頭意會答應，「哭是因為想起我們經歷過很多，仍然survive到。」愈老土的愛情，似乎就愈感人，催淚彈也沒這級數。

In the eyes of Justin, Karena is a simple and easy-going person in the habit of saying "I don't know", happy to live an unexciting life, without demanding much, material or otherwise, from life. Justin reflects, "She would let me do what I want to do.  For example, during the Umbrella Movement, I was always photographing. After being separated for so many months, although I was back in Hong Kong, I still didn’t stay by her side. To me, the amazing thing was that she didn’t complain at all."

Despite being unromantic, from Karena's point of view, Justin's affection for her and his commitment to their relationship manifest themselves in things like waiting for her to get off work every day, no matter how late or how long is the wait, and then tightly holding onto her hand when they finally meet at the end of the day — it's these things that bring them closer together.

After everything — the complaints to friends about the agony of being in a long-distance relationship, the countless times they asked themselves "wouldn’t it be better to end the relationship with short-term heartbreak instead of continuing with long-term suffering?" or simply "why are we doing this?", the countdowns to when they would meet again, living in the memory of fleeting moments spent together — after all this, Justin has found his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in Karena, and Karena has found contentment in being able to live a mundane life as long as it is together with Justin.

Yes, we have come to the end of the story about a (previously) long-distance relationship. However, the sequel to that story is about to begin.

那個口頭禪「不知道」的她，在他眼中，是簡單隨和，願意平平淡淡過也好，對感情或物質不強求，「她會讓我做自己想做的事，例如雨傘運動那段時間，我一直去了影相。我那時想，大家分隔多月後，我即使在港，也沒立即時常陪她，但她都亳無微言，對我來說，好難得。」

那個不擅浪漫的他，對她來說，是平淡的美好。情意或承諾，不曾亦毋須驚天動地，簡單到每天等她下班，風雨不改或加班工作，都甚麼鐘數了，等到天荒地老，他依然在這裏。然後握緊對方的手，感覺最近的距離。

幾多次互向朋友訴苦，覺得捱不過這段遙遙無期的苦戀，卻又堅持着甚麼；幾多次以為戀情或要告終，覺得長痛不如短痛，卻又倒數着何時能再見；幾多次把每晚反覆惦念，寄存在那個重邂的日子，故事再續，有人如獲瑰寶，有人覺平淡幸福便滿足。

是的，這是一個 (曾經) Long Distance的愛情故事，劇情揭至新一章，是你現在看到的畫面。