A teenage boy rushed up the stairs of a high building, wielding a stick. He stopped at every floor and smashed the window before running up. When he reached the 13th floor, he leapt out.
Residents of Yanshan area of Beijing still cannot forget the shocking scene on July 2.
The boy, Jin Min (alias), was later found to have stabbed a classmate, Li Yang (alias), four times before committing suicide.
Li survived and recently agreed to be interviewed by reporters in hospital and out came the story of a tragic, teen love triangle.
They were both in love with a former classmate, Zhang Hui (alias). But Li decided to back out because "we were brothers", he said.
However, Jin heard a rumor about his girlfriend and Li and confronted Zhang on July 2. He yelled like "a crazy person" and threatened to kill himself, Zhang said.
The girl was scared and persuaded Li to talk to Jin.
It proved a mistake. Jin and Li started to quarrel after a few words. Amid name calling and jostling, Jin suddenly took out a dagger and stabbed Li before fleeing.
Zhang Hui, who was also present, hailed a taxi and took Li to a hospital.
They did not realize that Jin was going to commit suicide. "He must have thought he killed me," Li said.
The tragedy has turned the spotlight on teenage love. When a reporter asked their classmates what being boyfriends and girlfriends meant to them, students answered: "Going out together. Dating."
Maybe it's not as simple as that for some teens.
(China Daily HK Edition October 21, 2002)
