Chapter 5 — Do I Give Myself a Home?

The roommate pretended to be plaintive and sighed: "Sigh, single people like us are really making ourselves miserable." I smiled softly and didn't answer anything. Actually, I was looking forward to that day — After all, it was my first birthday since I left home. Co Son Thach and I have discussed for a long time: For my birthday this year, he will take me out for a barbecue. That afternoon, there was no class. As soon as I walked out of the library, I saw Son Thach standing under the building waiting for me. In his hand he also carried a large box of birthday cake. "Happy birthday." — He smiled, giving me the cake box. I received it, looked at the box in surprise, a bit worried: "This is too big... how can we both eat it all?" He laughed, signaling me to open the box. Inside is a 5-inch cake, decorated simply but sophisticatedly. “It's okay,” I thought for a moment and then smiled and said, “I can bring it back to the dorm to share with everyone.” He reached out his hand, gently brushed some of the wind-blown hair from my forehead, and smiled gently: "First, let's go eat barbecue and cake back to the dorm and then we'll figure it out." We have been looking for this grill restaurant for a long time. We heard from Son Thach's roommate that there are many dishes, cheap prices, and good taste. After ordering, each plate of meat was brought up one by one. The piece of meat is placed on the grill, grilled until the fat boils, emitting a sweet aroma. I couldn't wait, quickly picked up the piece of pork belly that had just been grilled, rolled it in lettuce leaves, dipped in a little sauce, and brought it to my mouth. As soon as I took a bite, the sweet and fatty taste melted away. I widened my eyes and blurted out: "So delicious!" When I was a child at home, meat was always my brother's portion. I was so hungry that my stomach was in knots. Every time I finished washing the dishes, I secretly licked the bottom of the bowl clean, just to taste a little bit of the remaining meat. At that time, I always thought... "If one day I can eat meat freely, it will definitely be the greatest happiness in my life." Unexpectedly... today, it really came true. I looked at the plate of meat on the table, each skewer piled high like a small mountain, the corners of my lips could not help but curl up, happily pouring myself another cup of drink. On the way back to the dormitory, passing by the most luxurious restaurant near the school, I saw the front door lined with cars. Lo Vi Vi wore a light-colored princess dress and had just stepped out of a luxury car. Co Son Thach next to him seemed to unconsciously move closer to me, looking cautious, as if he was afraid that if I saw him, he would feel uncomfortable. But I just held his hand tightly, gently pulling him to go faster: "Let's go, go home and share the cake with your roommates." Returning to the dormitory, as soon as I opened the door, I saw a bustling atmosphere. The roommates immediately rushed over, laughing and joking: "Birthday is here!" “Turn off the lights, let's sing happy birthday!” This was the first time in my life that many people surrounded me and sang me a happy birthday song. I cut the cake, divided a piece for each person, and finally took my own share, sat in a small corner, and ate each piece slowly. From then on, the dormitory formed a new habit — Whenever someone had a birthday, everyone would contribute money to buy a cake, then sit around to eat, laughter filling the small room. 13 Days passed like that, and in my third year of university, I decided to take the civil service exam. When I made this decision, the first person I informed was Co Son Thach. “I… want to have a stable life.” I finished listening not at all surprised, perhaps already expected: "Okay, if you want to take the test, just take the test." From that day on, I started diving into studying: reviewing for multiple choice tests, learning general knowledge, memorizing essay samples... every day I was immersed in books. When Lo Vi Vi heard the news, she especially ran to find me and sneered: "Lam An, do you only have so many dreams in your life?" "Ah, that's right, people like you, even if you try your whole life, you'll never be able to catch up with the Lo family." She showed off cleverly, shaking her wrist wearing a limited edition bracelet - a gift from her brother: "Look at you, if you graduate, you'll be able to intern at my father's company, no need to work so hard like me." I didn't answer, just bowed my head and continued flipping through the notebook. She saw that I didn't react, probably felt bored, so she turned around and left. Later, I successfully took the civil service exam. Co Son Thach also found a good job. The day I graduated from school, I was still the last to leave. Before anyone leaves, I seriously congratulate each person: "I wish you happiness and prosperity, and a peaceful life." After that, Co Son Thach and I went to a new city and started a new life. We rented a small room, the two of us worked together little by little. In the evening, we walked hand in hand to the park. On weekends, go to the market together to buy cooking supplies. In summer we eat ice cream, in winter we eat hot pot. Thanks to our daily efforts, we finally saved enough money to buy a small house. For the first time, we had a place of our own — a real home. 14 Life is probably too full, no longer like before, every day you have to struggle to live, so in an instant... six years have passed. One afternoon, my biological parents came again. My mother held a tissue, her voice choked with tears: "Lam An, something happened to your brother." “He needs a kidney transplant, and there is only one suitable one.” Lo Vi Vi was also present. {Read in full at Van Ha's love page} She glanced at me, her eyes seemed to bestow a favor, her tone was lofty and superior: "Lam An, I know you hate us." “But you are innocent… I ask you to donate a kidney.” “As long as you agree, we will let you return to being a member of the Lo family, how about that?” I laughed softly, my eyes cold: "Do you think I'm missing those things now?" Lo Vi Vi's face stiffened, then curled her lips and smiled faintly: "If it's not because of jealousy, then what is it?" “Jealous because I grew up with my parents, jealous because I have all the things you don't have.” “Now I give you a chance to make up for it, but you still pay the price?” I shook my head slightly, my voice calm: "You think too much." At this time, my father finally opened his mouth, his tone was cold as if he were discussing business: "Okay, stop pretending to be noble." "As long as you agree to donate, I will give you as much money as you want." I looked straight into his eyes and replied firmly: "I don't donate." "Lam An, don't let your feet get in your way!" — my father's voice suddenly became so high-pitched, so angry that he trembled. “If anything happens to your brother, I will absolutely not forgive you!” I raised my eyebrows, my voice cold: "No forgiveness? What are you going to do?" "I'm a state employee, are you planning on finding a relationship to fire me?" My father's face turned red, he raised his hand and pointed straight at me, so angry that he trembled: "Cold-blooded you! Raising all of you!" I looked straight at him, the corners of my lips curled up into a smile He smiled bitterly: "I was born but never raised me for a day." “Now you want to take half my life to save others…” “Cold-blooded… it's you guys.” Having finished speaking, I turned and left, not wanting to have anything to do with them again. 15 After that, the Lo family's parents came to me no less than a few times, even going to Co Son Thach's company, trying to force him to persuade me to make concessions. But Co Son Thach just calmly ordered the security guard to see them out of the gate. Seeing my stubborn refusal, they finally gave up temporarily. Half a year later, I heard news about them. It turned out that Lo Vi Vi was originally Lo's father's illegitimate child with another woman. She also had a successful test and the kidney was suitable for transplant. Father Lo immediately wanted to force her to donate her kidney. Unexpectedly, Lo Vi Vi turned around on the spot and screamed: "On what basis do I have to use my health to exchange his life for him?" Afterwards, my brother found out about it and ran to seduce Lo Vi Vi. During the struggle, the two fell down the stairs together - dying on the spot. My parents were heartbroken for a month, then a new child appeared in the house from somewhere unknown. Everything is just like in the past: They can easily throw away a child, just because it does not meet their expectations. In their eyes, children were never family… …just tools to satisfy their needs. What will happen to the Lo family in the future, what will be the fate of the child brought back... All of that no longer has anything to do with me. I just remember, many years ago, in the small dormitory of the electronics factory, Ms. Ly Quyen held my hand, smiled and said: "I hope you achieve what you wish for." At that time, I didn't even know what my wish was. Now, I know. And more than that… I got everything I wanted. That's enough.