Chapter 5 — After Breaking Up, I Just Learned How to Love You

When I got home, I collapsed on the sofa, staring at the ceiling in a daze. The phone rang, it was Lam Mieu.

"What's going on? How's your vision?"

“It's shattered.”

"Huh? Why? Is Chu Huc not handsome?"

“Beautiful,” I said lazily, “but was interrupted by Tham Ngo.”

I recounted the story in the emergency exit.

"Oh my God!" Lam Mieu shouted on the other end of the line, "He kissed you?! Does this not count as getting back together?!"

“It doesn't count.”

"Why?!"

"Because," I turned over and looked up at the ceiling, "he didn't say he liked me, didn't say he wanted to come back, just said sorry. Lam Mieu, what I need is not an apology."

“So what do you need?”

“I want him to take the initiative,” I said, “I want him to be like I pursued him before, to pursue me himself.”

"Ha Linh," Lam Mieu was silent for a few seconds, "someone like Tham Ngo, you force him to chase you? He probably doesn't even know what chasing is."

“Then learn.” I gritted my teeth, "If you can't study, then you'll be single for the rest of your life."

Monday morning, I was woken up by the doorbell. Dreamily opening the door, in front of him was a shipper wearing a yellow shirt, holding a large bunch of sunflowers in his hand.

"Miss Ha Linh, right? Your flowers."

I bewilderedly received it, inside the bouquet was a card. The handwriting is sturdy and strong. 【Good morning. —— Tham Ngo】 I stared at those three words for a whole minute. What is this? Good morning greeting in the style of a work report? But I must say, sunflowers are also really beautiful. I put flowers in a vase, took a photo and posted it on my personal page. 【Someone's way of apologizing, a bit straight, but acceptable.】 Only for Tham Ngo to see. Ten minutes later, the phone rang. 【sy: It's okay if you like it.】 【Me: How do you know I like sunflowers?】 【sy: You said it before.】 I paused for a moment. It seems that's true. When we first met, I once saw a sunflower field and casually said "so beautiful, even more beautiful than roses". Yet I still remember. 【Me: Captain Tham has such a good memory, no wonder he can be a police officer.】 【sy: Only remember your story.】 I looked at those five words, my heart skipped a beat. This man, since when did he know how to say nice things? Before he could reply, he sent another message. 【sy: Are you free tonight? I invite you to dinner.】 【Me: Not free, have to livestream.】 【sy: So tomorrow?】 【Me: Not tomorrow either, have to record a video.】 【sy: The day after tomorrow?】 【Me: The day after tomorrow…】 I deliberately paused for a few seconds, then answered: 【can consider.】 【sy: Okay, I'll come pick you up. me.】 On Wednesday, I put on especially careful makeup and wore a white dress that flattered my figure. Tham Ngo appeared at my house on time, leaning against a black off-road vehicle, wearing a simple black T-shirt and jeans. His body is even better than the guys in the video. He opened the passenger door, his hand covering my head. The car drove onto the highway, I casually asked: "Where to eat?"

“You'll know when you come.”

I pouted, still pretending to be mysterious. Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a hot pot restaurant. Old restaurant, simple decoration, but very standard taste. Tham Ngo had clearly booked a seat in advance, the location next to the window was quiet and discreet.

“Have you been here before?” I asked.

“Yes,” he poured me tea, “this past half year, many times.”

"Alone?"

“I always thought that if I had a chance in the future, I would take you to try it.”

My hand holding the cup of tea paused slightly.

“Ha Linh,” he suddenly said suddenly spoke up, "In this half year, I've learned a lot of things."

“For example,” he raised his head to look at me, his eyes serious, “how to love someone.”

I was stunned.

"Before, I always thought, giving you a good life, keeping you safe, that's loving you." he said, “but I missed it, you need more than that.”

“I need to be by my side, I need to feel appreciated, I need words of love to be spoken.”

He smiled bitterly, "I didn't understand these things before. But in the past half year, I've thought a lot more clearly."

“So,” he took a deep breath, as if making an important decision, “I want to pursue you again.”

“Not because you asked, but because I wanted to.”

“I want you to know, although Tham Ngo is not interesting and clumsy, I am trying to learn how to love you.”

I looked at him, my eyes a little teary.