Chapter 3 — After the Day You Betrayed, I Found Myself

I turn on the music. Connect Bluetooth to your phone. Set to random play mode. The first song that rang out... It was the same song that Chu Minh Hien and I used to listen to together. I immediately changed the article. Change to instrumental playlist. Through Lo Dinh. The altitude above sea level begins to gradually increase. At noon, I stopped by a roadside restaurant. Order a bowl of beef noodles. The shop owner is over fifty years old. Skin is red from the highland sun. She smiled gently and asked:

"The girl went alone? What a big gut."

"I went out to relieve myself."

"It's a good distraction."

She brought me another bowl of hot soup.

"The air where we are is very fresh. The sky is so blue that you won't get tired of looking at it forever. If you have something bothering you, just raise your head and look at the sky for a while, and you will automatically feel relieved."

I took a sip of soup. Suddenly I saw what she said... The phone rang again. This time it's To Dao.

"Where to?"

"Coming to Khang Dinh."

"Can you bear to drive so far alone?"

"Okay, why not?"

I ate noodles and laughed.

"In the past, every time I went anywhere, Chu Minh Hien always complained that driving was tiring. I always took turns driving with him."

"Now hold the steering wheel myself..."

"I feel much more relieved."

To Dao sighed softly.

"Nhuoc Tinh..."

"What are you going to do anyway?"

"Do you keep avoiding it like that?"

I was silent for a long time. I looked at the road ahead and said softly:

"I'm not hiding."

"I just want to take some time to think carefully."

"Think about it... what do you want in the end?"

"What else is there to think about?"

To Dao's voice immediately rose.

"What's wrong with breaking up! He's already registered his marriage with someone else, can you still stand it?"

"Of course we have to break up."

I calmly replied.

"But how to break up..."

"I need to think clearly."

The other end of the line was silent. After a while, To Dao sighed.

"Alright."

"As long as you know what you're doing."

"No matter what, I still keep the same sentence."

"I'm always on your side."

I paid and left the shop. In the afternoon, I went to Khang Dinh. I was in no hurry to continue my journey but drove around town for a while. The Zheda River flows through the city. The water rushed forward, the sound of water hitting the rocks echoed throughout the streets. Old men wearing Tibetan robes walked slowly, turning prayer wheels. In front of the shops, colorful scarves and combs made from cow horns are hung. I stood on the riverbank and took a photo. Post to your friends circle. Just two words: Less than a few minutes later. Chu Minh Hien liked it. Also leave a comment:

"The scenery is beautiful. But remember to pay attention to safety, wife."

I looked at that comment. I almost laughed out loud. So what did he call Lam Tu Vu? Also a wife? Or called... The day two people registered their marriage... Have they ever called each other that? I put my phone in my pocket. Keep walking. In the evening, I stayed at a homestay. The owner is extremely enthusiastic. Seeing me going alone, she even gave me a pot of butter tea. I sit in the yard. Just sip hot butter tea. Just looked up at the starry sky. The sky above the plateau was bright. Thousands of stars fill the night sky. Sparkling like someone just sprinkled a handful of crushed diamonds into the dark sky. At that moment... The phone vibrated again. Chu Minh Hien video call. I immediately press decline. Then text back:

"I'm having dinner with colleagues, I can't answer the phone."

He replied very quickly:

"Yes, then let's get to work. I miss you."

I looked at three words...

"I miss you."

Suddenly I felt my stomach churn with nausea. When sending this message... Is he next to Lam Tu Vu? Where are the two of them living? Have you moved in together yet? The house he and I are renting... Will he come back again? Or actually... He was no longer there. Only occasionally do I stop by to see if I'm still there obediently waiting for him? I stood up. Return to room. Close the curtains. Then sat quietly on the edge of the bed for a long time. Finally, I opened the notes app. Type a line of text. Chu Minh Hien. I still have the key to the house we rented together. But my heart... From today, you will forever no longer have the key to enter. I looked at the screen for a long time. Then erase every word. It's not time yet. The next morning, I left Khang Dinh and continued towards Tan Do Kieu. Passing through Zhet Da Pass, which is more than 4,000 meters above sea level, the wind was so strong that the Kinh flags fluttered in the wind, emitting endless buzzing sounds. I stopped the car. Put on a life jacket and step down. The thin air makes every breath a bit difficult. But the scene before my eyes... It was truly majestic. Snowy mountains continue to the horizon. Clouds pressed low on the mountain top. Sunlight filtered through each gap in the clouds, ray by ray falling into the valley, like golden ladders connecting earth and sky. I took out my phone to take a few photos. At that moment, a middle-aged man standing nearby smiled and started talking.

"Girl, did you drive all the way here alone?"

I nodded. He gave a thumbs up.

"That's really good. I've been driving for more than twenty years and every time I go on this road I still feel nervous. Remember to be careful, there are some winding mountain passes ahead with very sharp turns."

"Thank you, uncle."

As soon as he finished speaking... The phone vibrated. It's a message from Chu Minh Hien.

"My mother is hospitalized. When will you come over to pay the hospital fees?"

I stared at the screen. The corners of the lips slowly curled up. Wait eight days. Finally... I've been waiting for this sentence. I opened the chat box. Consider every word. Then slowly type:

"Let my new wife play."

I put the phone on the roof of the car.