Chapter 8 — By the time he regretted it, I had stopped looking back

"Miss."

She suddenly raised her head.

"There's something."

"This morning Tham Yen Bach sent a private email."

"Not sent to Chinh Hang."

"And send it to..."

"Send it to me?"

"Sent to your personal mailbox. It's the Gmail account you registered with a fake name."

I took the laptop she gave me. Emails are very short. No greetings. No signature. Just one sentence.

—— "I need to meet you to talk face to face. Not as President Tham Thi. But as myself."

I stared at that sentence for five seconds. Then return the laptop to lawyer Lieu.

"No answer."

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes slowly looking out the window. The rain is getting heavier and heavier. The paved road is covered with a thin layer of water, reflecting the shadows of the buildings opposite. The surface of the water moved constantly, like a broken mirror. He said...

"On my own behalf."

What status? Ex-boyfriend? The person who sent me to a detention center? A person suddenly realizes that he has lost a treasure whose true identity he never knew, so he frantically wants to find it again? Either way... It's too late. I'm not something he lost. It was me who took the initiative to leave. Those are two completely different things. In the hotel room. After showering, my hair was still wet, falling over my shoulders. While sitting on the edge of the bed drying my hair, my phone vibrated. A WeChat message. Coming from someone I've removed from my friends list, but never blocked. Tham Yen Bach. He sent back a friend request. I do not accept. Five minutes later. Another news. It's still him. This time he changed his ways. Use the phone number to send a text message directly. 【Duong Duong, sorry.】 Duong Duong. That's what he used to call me. But only call in very private times. For example, in the middle of the night... When I was about to fall asleep in his arms. His lips gently touched the top of my hair, calling vaguely.

"Duong Duong..."

Those two words... Like a needle. Gently pierced my heart. Just one. I delete the message. Continue drying your hair. The buzzing sound of the dryer rang out. Covers all other sounds. I closed my eyes. Let the hot wind dry your hair from wet to dry. From heavy to light. It doesn't hurt anymore. Friday. Uncle Tien called.

"Miss. Tham Yen Bach is coming to Zurich."

"Come again?"

"This time it's not on behalf of the company. The plane ticket he bought was a personal ticket. It will arrive tomorrow afternoon."

I was silent for a while.

"He knows which hotel I'm staying at."

"Yes. Last time the two sides negotiated right there."

"Changing hotels."

"I've already made arrangements. I've booked you another hotel. You can change this afternoon."

"Miss..."

Uncle Tien hesitated a bit.

"You really don't want to see him?"

I looked out the window. Today the weather is very beautiful. On the surface of Lake Zurich, there are white sails blowing in the wind. Under the deep blue sky, they swell with life.

"No see."

"What's the point of meeting him?"

"To hear him say sorry?"

"Or to hear him explain why he sent me to the detention center?"

"Or to hear him say that on the wedding day... did he ever remember me?"

"Those things..."

"I don't want to know."

"I only need him to know one thing."

I took a deep breath deep.

"Every single thing he does..."

"You all have to pay the price."

"He locked me up."

"The price is Tam Thi."

"He chose Hua Nhuoc Tinh."

"The price is losing me."

"That's enough."

"Other things..."

"I don't need it."

Uncle Tien didn't say anything more.

"I got it."

I started packing my luggage. Furniture is not much. A suitcase. A handbag. Half of it cleaned up. I suddenly saw an item left on the dressing table. A necklace. The gold wire is very thin. The pendant is a tiny leaf. Gift from Tham Yen Bach. The first year we fell in love. After returning from a business trip, he took it out of his pocket.

"That day I chose for a long time."

He said smiling.

"Finally found this one that looks like you."

"Not very outstanding."

"But very persistent."

I picked up the necklace. The yellow color of the metal has dulled slightly. Because I've been wearing it for more than three years. Rarely taken down. The day he was sent to the detention center. When personal belongings were confiscated... It was also put in a plastic bag. Until the day of release. They returned it to me. I always carry it with me. All the way to Zurich... It also followed me here. I don't wear it anymore. I held the necklace tightly. Standing still for a long time.