Chapter 6 — Change players in the final match

On the table there is still a photo of me and Giang Nghien Tu together - taken on my sixteenth birthday. He stood next to me, looking awkward, his hands stuffed in his pockets, but his ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed. How beautiful it was back then. Liking someone is a star hidden in the eyes, not a knife in the hand that makes people bleed. I placed the photo frame face down. The next day, I deliberately arrived at the stadium half an hour early. Unexpectedly, Tham Tinh Ha arrived even earlier, instructing his teammates to warm up. Seeing me, he immediately ran over:

“So early?” – His eyes were bright, his forehead was covered with sweat.

“Fear of traffic jams.”

“So thoughtful.” – He took out a paper bag from his backpack –

“I bought an extra sandwich this morning, do you want to eat it?”

I accept:

“Thank you.”

“Small matter.” – He smiled, revealing his perfectly white teeth –

"You can sit first, I'll go change."

I went to the stands, it was quite crowded today. Pedagogy and Polytechnics are fierce rivals, even though it's just a friendly encounter, the atmosphere is as tense as a string. As soon as we sat down, the girls next to us were chirping and chatting:

"The captain is in great form today! Did you see that three-point shot just now?"

“I heard he's in a good mood lately, is he in love?”

"It can't be? Who is it? Who is it?"

I bowed my head and took a bite of the sandwich, suddenly feeling strangely delicious. Five minutes before the match started, the entrance to the stadium suddenly became noisy. I raised my head, my heart seemed to stop beating - Giang Nghien Tu appeared. Don't go alone. Next to him was a middle-aged man wearing a neat suit. The two of them walked and talked, their aura was outstanding, attracting everyone's attention. Giang Nghien Tu wears a dark gray shirt, his hair is neatly combed, and there are faint dark circles under his eyes, but his entire personality... is different from before. Colder. Deeper. It was as if overnight, all of my youth had been drained away. His eyes scanned the stands, then precisely stopped at me. The moment our eyes met, I lost my breath. He walked straight towards me.

“Thu Nguyet.” – His voice was calm, without ripples.

“Come to watch the ball?”

“Um.”

“Alone?”

I did not answer. Giang Nghien Tu didn't ask anything else, just quietly sat down next to me. The distance was not far, not close, just enough for me to smell the cool cedar scent on him - the perfume his father still used.

"That person is General Director Vuong," - he suddenly spoke up - "a partner of my company.

My father is hospitalized, I temporarily take care of some things for him." I immediately turned to:

"What's wrong with Uncle Giang?"

“Heart disease, just an old disease.” – His voice was calm as if he was telling a stranger's story.

“Need to rest. But the company cannot be left empty.”

The stream of comments suddenly erupted: 【Big alarm! Giang's father is seriously hospitalized! The Jiang family is about to change!】 【Jiang Nghien Tu canceled his plans to study abroad! But don't tell anyone!】 【He's trying hard! Last night I sat alone crying until three in the morning in the office!】 I clenched my fists.

“When did this happen?”

“Last week.” – He said – “The day you argued with me, I was at the hospital.”

My heart felt like someone had hit me with a hammer. That day he blocked me, and I cried all night in the dorm. He was at the hospital, holding the hand of his father who was in critical condition. And I... am still blaming you why don't leave a message.

“Why didn't you tell me?” – My voice trembled.

Giang Nghien Tu finally turned to look at me. His eyes were deep, like a bottomless ice lake.

“Speaking for what?” – He said softly.

“Let me cry with you? Fear with you?

Lam Thu Nguyet, I'm used to protecting you... not becoming your burden." The opening whistle sounded. On the field, Tham Tinh Ha waved at me, smiling brightly. I responded mechanically, my fingers cold.

“Are you two very close?” – Giang Nghien Tu asked.

“Ordinary friends.”

“The way he looks at me is not normal.”

His voice was light, but sharp.

“Lam Thu Nguyet, you're late... aren't you?”

I didn't answer. The match begins. Tham Tinh Ha was in extremely good condition, scoring two consecutive points at the start. The stands burst into tears. Giang Nghien Tu sat still, his eyes looking at the football field - but it seemed like he couldn't see anything.

“The night my father had an emergency,” – he said – “I held his hand... and suddenly realized something.”

I held my breath.

“For twenty-two years, I've always tried to learn how to treat you well... but every way has been wrong.”

He looked down at his hands.

“I think blocking you is to punish you, actually I'm punishing myself.

I thought giving the ticket to someone else would make you jealous, but unexpectedly it would only push you further away. He turned to look at me, eyes shining with tears:

"Thu Nguyet, if I just start studying now... will it be in time?"

On the field, Tham Tinh Ha faked a perfect move and went to the basket to score. The applause sounded like thunder.

“Giang Nghien Tu,” – I heard my voice echo –

“You don't need to learn how to treat me well.

What you need to learn is how to love others without losing yourself.” He was stunned.

“Your father is seriously ill, you're sad, you're scared — I understand.

But you didn't tell me, instead you chose to block me and be cold towards me to vent your anger. That's not love, that's destroying yourself and hurting others.” I took a deep breath:

“Love is sharing weakness, not acting strong.”

Giang Nghien Tu pursed his lips, his lips began to tremble. During the break, Tham Tinh Ha ran over. Seeing Giang Nghien Tu, he paused a bit, then walked in front of me.

“You played very well.” – I said.

“Because you came to watch, I played well.” – He smiled, naturally took the water bottle next to me and took a sip –

That's the water bottle Giang Nghien Tu just bought for me. Giang Nghien Tu's eyes were immediately cold as ice. Tham Tinh Ha didn't notice and continued:

"We're having a party tonight, will you come? At the hot pot restaurant behind the school."

“She's not going.” – Giang Nghien Tu spoke up.

The air seemed to freeze. Tham Tinh Ha raised his eyebrows:

“Are you deciding for Thu Nguyet?”

“I'm just telling the truth.” – Giang Nghien Tu stood up, his height brought obvious pressure –

“She doesn't like hot pot.”

“Who said that?” – I suddenly spoke up –

“I like it.”