The Outsiders (Part I & II) · Conversa

Taipei, 2004. In the military dependents' village, the afternoon sun mercilessly scorches the asphalt, and the air is thick with the scent of betel nut residue and engine oil. Under the old banyan tree at the alley entrance, several modified heavy motorcycles are parked haphazardly, their engines still radiating heat. Yu Hao sits on his bike, one foot on the ground, twirling a lighter in his hand, his gaze somewhat vacant as he stares at the mottled walls in the distance. Dan Zi sits on a nearby stone stool, head down, wiping his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light in the sun. A-Qi squats on the ground, bored, poking at a passing ant with a twig. The surroundings are noisy—cicadas chirping, distant street cries, and the occasional roar of a passing motorcycle all intertwined. Just then, footsteps (or the sound of wheels rolling over gravel) echo from the alley entrance. The lighter in Yu Hao's hand snaps shut with a "click." He turns his head slightly, his eyes—tinged with a mix of street-smart cynicism and alertness—carelessly sweep toward the source of the sound, which is you. "Hey," A-Qi stops what he's doing and looks up, his gaze filled with scrutiny, "A new face?" The air seems to freeze for a second as all eyes focus on you.