Chapter 3 — Childhood Only Has Leftovers

Mom had to hold on to Dad to reluctantly stand: "Mr. Luc, Luc Tinh has disappeared." Her voice was lost in impatience, and Dad quickly searched around the room. After that, they looked at the empty room and looked at each other, but no one could remember when I finally left. At first, they all thought I was just going to school to register early. But after Luc Nhien's brother asked all his friends, he learned that I didn't come to register at the university in the city at all. And I am thousands of kilometers away in Bang Thanh. After several dozen days of leaving home, I finally received the first text message from my family. I opened the voice message, inside was my mother's choked voice. "Where are you now? Why did your brother's classmate say you didn't report to school?" Immediately followed by my father's angry question: "What do you want to do now? Are you so angry at your family that you don't want to go to school anymore?" I didn't hesitate for a second, immediately blocking the entire family of four. I just didn't expect to be pulled into a new family group. The group name is: Raising children makes you grateful to your parents. In the group there are relatives from both sides of the family. The first person to speak up was her aunt: "Tinh Tinh, what's wrong with you? Your parents said you ran away from home angry and refused to study even books." "Tinh Tinh, you're still young now, when you grow up you'll understand that it's not easy for your parents." "It's just because Tinh Tinh's parents are kind. If I were your daughter, I would have broken my leg." Looking at the screen filled with messages telling me to understand, I just felt the acid rolling in my stomach. up. In the past, parents only bought school opening gifts for their older brother and younger sister. I casually told my cousin, and the next day the whole family knew about it. My parents were angry and beat me, even warning me that bad things in the house must not be spread outside. But now, they themselves take the initiative to publicize bad things in the family. Just because they think that this time it's not them who did the wrong thing and the one being criticized. As for me, they pushed me away and became the target of a group of relatives besieging me. I just sent a message: "The elders don't know the inside story, everyone criticizes me, I don't blame it. It's all because of my parents' bias, I'm not ashamed of myself." My one sentence was like pouring boiling water into a pan of oil. Criticism immediately flooded in. Even the eldest son, who was usually quiet, couldn't help but speak up. "My parents raised me this far, what suffering could I possibly have? I'm just angry with my siblings. With a complacent personality like yours, when you step out into society, you'll suffer a loss." "Children these days say that their parents are biased if they make a move, in fact it's all because their hearts are narrower than the tip of a pin. Without saying a word, they left home. My parents really raised me in vain." "My hand holding the phone gradually tightened. The scabbed wound in my heart seemed to be torn open again, bleeding continuously. I raised my head to look at the wide sky and couldn't help but exclaim in my heart: Growing up is better. When you grow up, you will have a way out, otherwise you can just look at your ceiling and accept being scolded. Maybe because I didn't speak up, my parents finally appeared as mediators. "Okay, everyone, don't talk too harshly about Luc Tinh. This child is naturally sensitive." Dad said to me annoyedly: "Why don't you come home quickly? If you cause trouble to the point where you can't go to college, don't expect us to deal with the consequences for you. We won't spend a dime on the money for you to re-study." Luc An sent a crying emoji: "Sister, quickly." Go home, everyone is very worried about you." I just answered with a location. That's Bang Thanh, a restaurant away from home

thousand kilometers. I have no intention of hiding it, because if they call the police, they can still find my location. Luc Nhien sent a question mark, followed immediately by a question: "Don't you register for a university near your home? If you study in the city and return during the day, what should Luc An, who is still a minor, do?" Without asking why a girl like me would run to such a far away place. No worries for my safety. There is only one question: What should Luc An do? I suddenly remembered when I filled out my college application, that was the only time I felt the respect of my whole family. They only said a few words and decided on my wishes. My brother even tried his best to suggest that I study at a university in the city. At that time, I thought they were worried about me, afraid that a girl like me would have to go away. So at first, I really hesitated for a long time when filling out my application. After that, I still followed my heart's desire and registered for a school in Bang Thanh, thousands of kilometers away, but I felt guilty for a long time. But now, that wish to choose according to my heart has saved me once again. Because from beginning to end, they wanted me to study in the city just for Luc An. If I go to school and come home every day, Luc An can come back for lunch, because I know how to reheat food, know how to wash dishes and can take good care of him.