Chapter 7 — Easy Goodbye, New Meeting Again?

"You know full well that I will be heartbroken, but you still think that just a few words of coaxing will be enough."

Tran Van Tu opened his mouth, but could not utter a word. My father carried the box and walked past the two of us. He did not curse, just coldly left a sentence:

“If you still don't understand after saying everything, don't ruin my daughter's life.”

Tran Van Tu stood still by the door, watching me move each box of things away. During the next week, I was much busier than I imagined. Cancel the engagement party, handle the deposit, return gifts from relatives, apply for a job transfer at the company, and rearrange your own life. I thought I would fall. After all, 9 years is not 9 days. But when I get really busy, I realize that the next days of life can still move forward step by step. At seven o'clock in the morning, I woke up and ate a bowl of noodles my mother cooked. Mom sprinkled me a big handful of green onions. Previously, when I was with Tran Van Tu, green onions were rarely found on the dining table. He doesn't like it. Luong Kieu also criticized the strong, "unluxurious" smell of onions. Over time, I almost forgot that I actually really liked the fragrant smell of onions. Now, the heat was rising. When I took the first bite, my eye sockets suddenly turned red. Mom thought I remembered Tran Van Tu again, so she quickly sat down next to her: "Nim Niem, if it's too uncomfortable, just cry." I shook my head.

“It's not that I'm upset.”

It's just that I suddenly realized that being allowed to like a bowl of noodles with lots of onions can also make people want to cry. Tran Van Tu texted me every day. At first, he still had an angry attitude. 【Have you stopped being angry yet?】 【My parents forced me to apologize.】 【Luong Kieu already knows his mistake, you don't have to keep biting and not letting go like that.】 After that, his tone gradually softened. 【Nien Niem, today I passed by the cake shop you like and bought you a cake.】 【I just knew you don't like white roses.】 【You said before that you like sunflowers, right?】 【Was I really bad before?】 9 I didn't reply to a single message. There are late discoveries that are inherently meaningless. Ten days after breaking up, Luong Kieu came to find me. That day, as soon as I parked my car, she was standing under the company building, her face looking somewhat haggard. Seeing me step down from the driver's seat herself, she paused slightly.

“Now you dare to drive yourself to work?”

I locked the car. "YES." She pursed her lips. “Really good.” I looked at her, not answering. Luong Kieu was silent for a few seconds, then finally opened her mouth: "Nim Niem, today I didn't come to advise you and Van Tu to go back."

“So what did you come for?”

“Sorry.” Her voice was very small. “That meal, I really shouldn't have come.”

I looked straight into her eyes. “Just that day?” Luong Kieu's face turned slightly pale. She did not immediately refute like before, nor did she say any conciliatory words to appease. After a long while, she spoke: "Not only." The wind blew and she tucked her hair behind her ear.

“I know you always care about me and Tran Van Tu keeping too close a distance.”

“I also know there were times when I clearly could have stayed away, but I didn't.”

She smiled, a somewhat self-ironic smile.

“Honestly, I quite enjoy that feeling.”

“Obviously he's your boyfriend, but still take my advice.”

"You're not happy, he came to ask me how to comfort you."

“At our engagement party, he also asked me what color would be beautiful.”

“I know it's not good, but I can't control that feeling of superiority.”

Finally, she told the truth. I wasn't as angry as I imagined. Maybe because I no longer care who is worse between them. Luong Kieu looked at me, her eyes were slightly red.