Teenage girls were best friends

Citizens hold a candlelight vigil for the two Chinese teenage victims of the Asiana plane crash in a park in Jiangshan, Zhejiang province, on Monday. Huang Shuifu / for China Daily

If not for the airline crash in San Francisco, two Chinese senior high school students — Wang Linjia and Ye Mengyuan — would be enjoying their summer camp in the United States.

The accident took the two very good friends from their parents, classmates and teachers.

"They were as good as one," said Mao Shisi, a classmate and friend of the pair. "They had been friends since junior high school and did almost everything together," she said.

Mao also ate and hung out with Wang and Ye, but Wang and Ye shared the closest friendship.

"I used to envy them for their good relationship, but both of them were nice to everyone. It was hard to really get mad at them," she said.

Mao said that she still could not believe that two of her good friends had passed away.

"Now they are in heaven together. I wish I could have the chance to be friends with them again in the next life," said Mao.

"They were versatile and so good at studying. They were supposed to make a difference in the rest of their lives," said the 17-year-old, with tears in her eyes.

In the community where Wang lived with her family, everything was as calm as usual. Only the closed door of this once happy family tells of the tragedy and sadness in this neighborhood.

Xu Liqin, a 52-year-old neighbor of Wang, said the outspoken girl was adored by the neighborhood.

"She was polite to everyone. She offered more than once to help me carry my groceries. I could tell this girl was very kind-hearted," she said.

"It is a pity that she died so young," Xu added.

There is a small square in her community, where residents come to dance after dinner every day. But after the sad news came to the community, people stopped the dance in a move to mourn Wang.

The two girls were not only adored by their neighborhoods, they were also popular among classmates and teachers.