Chapter 2 — After the Cracks, I Become Myself

It was so good that that year, almost the whole class assumed that the two would be together. This story was told to her by Pho Hanh Chi himself. At that time, On Nhuoc Van still smiled and asked:

"So why don't you two get together in the future?"

Pho Hanh Chi said:

"No feeling."

As light as nothing. Wen Nhuoc Van believed. At that time, she believed everything. The sound of water in the bathroom still echoed. On Nhuoc Van hung up his coat, went back to bed, and turned off the light. After Pho Hanh Chi walked out, he picked up his phone to look at it for a while. The room was very dark. Only the light from the phone screen shined on his face. He typed something in reply, but On Nhuoc Van couldn't see it. She closed her eyes, kept her breathing even, pretending to be like someone who was fast asleep. The next morning. Pho Hanh Chi said that there was a project appraisal session on the weekend and he had to go on a business trip to Hangzhou for two days. Wen Nhuoc Van was pouring food for the cat, her hand slightly stopped. She only said one word. Pho Hanh Chi looked at her, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he still said nothing. He took the car keys and left the house. The sound of the door closing was very quiet. On Nhuoc Van squatted next to the cat, looked at the orange cat that had followed her for eight years bowing its head to eat, then gently stroked its back.

"Dau Bao, now it's just the two of us."

The cat paid no attention to her. Wen Nhuoc Van stood up, took out his phone, and booked a train ticket to Hangzhou the same day. She didn't know why she wanted to follow. Perhaps he wanted to prove that he had thought a lot. Maybe... Just wanted to see it with my own eyes. After arriving in Hangzhou, she silently followed Pho Hanh Chi to the hotel. He's on the sixth floor. Wen Nhuoc Van rented a room on the same floor at the reception desk. That afternoon. She stood at the corner of the hallway and saw a woman dragging a small suitcase toward room 6018. She was wearing a light-colored coat. Slim figure. On the suitcase hangs a small blue whale-shaped keychain. On Nhuoc Van recognized that keychain. There is also an identical key on Pho Hanh Chi's key chain. She once asked. He said he just conveniently bought it online. The woman stopped in front of the door of room 6018. The door was opened from the inside. On Nhuoc Van could not clearly see the face of the person who opened the door. But she saw a hand. Familiar. That hand received the suitcase. The door closes. On Nhuoc Van stood in the hallway until one o'clock in the morning. That door never opened again. After returning from Hangzhou, Wen Ruowan took three days to make a decision. Don't make noise. Also no questioning. She downloaded the divorce form online, filled out her portion, and then printed out two copies. One copy is placed on the tea table. Keep a copy for yourself. The written agreement is very simple. No disputes over common property. There are no child rearing problems. Both sides volunteer. She doesn't need the house. That small apartment was originally where Pho Hanh Chi paid the initial deposit. She doesn't need a car. She didn't even take the wedding money that year. She only brought her clothes, a salary card, an orange cat named Dau Bao, and a box of pottery tools that she still couldn't bear to throw away. Before leaving the house, she cleaned up once again. Outdated items in the refrigerator are thrown away. Garbage is emptied. The cat litter tray is also washed and placed on the balcony to drain. When she did those things, she was very calm. Jar calm as if completing a very normal housework. Finally, she stood in front of the door, looking back at the place where she had lived for two years. The sofa in the living room was chosen by her. Gray blue. The betel pot on the tea table was taken care of by her. On the bookshelf there is also a row of her specialized books. She hesitated for a moment. Then don't take it. Not just heavy books. She hugged Dau Bao on the train. The cat was in the transport cage, meowing all the way. Wen Nhuoc Van inserted her finger into the crevice of the cage, and then it calmed down, gently rubbing her fingertip with its small head.

"Be good, you'll be fine when you get there."

Actually, she herself didn't know where "arrival" was. Finally, the train stopped at a southern town called Loc Khe. When buying tickets, On Nhuoc Van did not look closely at the destination. Only choose the furthest trip that day. When I got off the train, it was just six o'clock in the morning. In the air there was the faint moisture of grass and trees. In the distance there are mountains. Nearby there is a river that is not too wide. The town is very quiet. On the square in front of the station there are only a few three-wheeled vehicles waiting for passengers. Wen Nhuoc Van pulled her suitcase, hugged her cat, and stood in the middle of an unfamiliar street in a small town. The sun has just risen. She took a deep breath of fresh moist air, then said to herself:

"Let's stay here then."

First month. She rented an old house with a small yard in town. Monthly rent is 800 yuan. The landlady is an elderly woman in her sixties, surnamed Phuong. Everyone in town calls her Mrs. Phuong. Seeing a young girl wandering alone, hugging a cat and dragging a lot of luggage, she couldn't help but look a few more times.

"Are you alone?"

"Alone."

"Leave home?"

On Nhuoc Van smiled slightly. She did not deny it. Ms. Phuong did not ask further. Just give her the key.

"Pay your own electricity and water bills. The cinnamon tree in the yard will lose a lot of leaves in the fall, so remember to take care of it."

That evening. Wen Nhuoc Van opened the suitcase, took out the silver ring, and placed it in the bedside table drawer. Then she lay down on the unfamiliar bed. Listen to the sound of unknown insects coming from outside the window. Finally... She also burst into tears. She cried for a long time. Crying so much that the whole pillow was soaked. Dau Bao jumped onto the bed, lying on her chest, his tail gently sweeping across her arm as if comforting her. Since that day. Wen Nhuoc Van started a new life in Loc Khe. She didn't tell anyone where she was. Change phone number. Stop updating your friend circle. In WeChat, only my mother and a close friend from college remained. She needs some quiet time. To pick up the pieces of myself.