Chapter 30 — After Divorce, I Am a Real Angel

“Why did you come here?”

“I miss you.” He replied frankly.

My face felt hot, I averted my eyes.

“Only good at talking.”

“True words.” Pho Kinh Nghien took a step forward, bowed his head and looked at me, "To Nghien, I've thought about it carefully. You don't need my wife anymore, pay it all to grandpa, let him handle it. I still have some savings in my hand, enough for us to live. Let's go to a place where no one knows us, and start from the beginning, okay?"

I looked at him and said nothing.

"Or, you can stay in Giang Thanh if you want. I'm with you, wherever you are, I'm there." He continued, his tone hasty, "To Nghien, give me a chance, let me use the rest of my life to make it up to you. I swear, I will treat you well, better than anyone. I will love you, cherish you, protect you, and not let you suffer a single bit of self-pity. Trust me, just one last time, okay?"

The night wind blew past, blowing my long hair. I looked at Pho Kinh Nghien, looked at the man I had loved for 3 years and hated for these 3 years, and suddenly discovered that hating him had become a very tiring thing. For the past month, I've been burying myself in work and life every day, trying not to think about him. But late at night, I still remember him, remember the way he held the knife for me, remember the way he said "I love you". Maybe, I never stopped loving you. I just don't dare admit it.

“Pho Kinh Nghien.” I spoke softly, "If you forgive me, it's not because you're forgiving, but because... I don't want to hate anymore. Hating someone is too tiring, I don't want to waste the rest of my life on hatred."

Pho Kinh Nghien's eyes lit up.

“So you are…”

“But I need time.” I interrupted, "I need time, to re-understand you, to re-understand the relationship between us. Pho Kinh Nghien, there is too much hurt between us, too many lies, too many bad pasts. We can't pretend like nothing ever happened, nor can we heal overnight. We need to slowly, little by little, reconnect the broken thread. Can you wait?"

Pho Kinh Nghien smiled, a smile like the brightest star in the night sky.

"Maybe. Waiting all my life, I've been waiting too."

He held out his hand, palm up, as if waiting for an important promise. I looked at his hand, hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly lifted my hand and gently placed it in his palm. He immediately tightened his grip, the force was very light, but extremely determined.

“To Nghien, thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

"Thank you for still willing to give me a chance." He looked at me, with stars in his eyes, "Thank you for still being willing, letting me love you."

I laughed, but tears fell again.

“Idiot.”

“Yes, you're an idiot.” He nodded, reaching out to wipe my tears, "So don't criticize me."

“Criticism, extremely criticism.”

“Criticism must also be endured.” He pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on the top of my head, his voice gentle, "To Nghien, in this life, I have beaten you."

I leaned against his chest, listened to his steady heartbeat, and suddenly realized how beautiful this night was. Perhaps it is true that broken mirrors heal again. Perhaps, every wound will heal. Perhaps, after going through the worst suffering, we can still hold hands and look towards the future together. Because love, can heal everything.

“Deputy Kinh Nghien.”

“Yes?”

“Let's go home.”

“Yes, go home.”

Under the moonlight, we held hands and walked towards the brightly lit place. Stepping towards that, a new beginning, belongs to us alone. (End)