Chapter 8 — Eight Stolen Years

My voice was calm as if I was returning an item that did not belong to me.

“You should take a closer look.”

“The person I love — the so-called ‘top’ that year…”

“What does it look like in the end?”

Luc Xuyen's whole body stiffened. He slowly... Bowed his head to look at the photo in my hand. In the photo, that girl full of spirit and light is me. As for the woman standing next to him now... Just an unwilling imitator standing in the dark. He reached out and used two fingers to grasp the photo. It's like touching something dirty. He didn't look at the photo. Don't look at me again. Just dragged Tham Nguyet, didn't turn around and left. I looked at their backs. Knowing that the castle built with lies for eight years... Has begun to collapse. When I got home, I received a phone call from Tham Nguyet. There was no more screaming or questioning on the other end of the line. Only the suppressed, choked voice remained, pleading.

“Le Le… let's talk.”

“Is there anything left to talk about between us?”

I laughed coldly.

“I beg you…”

There was desperation in her voice.

"What do you want? Money, house... I can give it to you. Just... just stop talking about those things to Luc Xuyen."

I suddenly felt interested.

“How much do you feel your marriage is worth?”

“One million!”

“I'll give you one million!”

She said frantically.

“One million?”

I laughed. Laughter full of sarcasm.

“Tam Nguyet…”

“Did you forget?”

“Eight years ago, I was the valedictorian of the entire province.”

“Do you feel… the life of a provincial valedictorian is only worth a million?”

I stopped. The voice cooled little by little.

“What I want…”

“You can't pay it.”

Having finished speaking, I immediately hung up the phone. I won't take her money. What I want... Is for her to be completely ruined. The next morning, I received a text message from an unknown number:

"Tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, Starbucks on Kien Hoa street. I'll wait for you."

Do not sign. But I know. It's Luc Xuyen. Judgment moment… I arrived at Starbucks on Kien Hoa Street half an hour early. Choose a corner location close to the glass door. The entrance could be seen, but the person who just entered wouldn't easily detect me. Today I dressed very neatly. Even sprayed a little light perfume. This is not a meeting to cry and pray for pity. A ritual handing over the truth. At exactly three o'clock in the afternoon, Luc Xuyen's figure appeared at the door. He was even more emaciated than last night. The dark circles under the eyes were very dark, the whole person seemed to be drained of spirit. As soon as he entered, he immediately glanced around. I raised my hand towards him. He saw me then walked straight over and sat down opposite me. Just overnight… This man seemed to have aged ten years. He took out the thick file bag I had sent from his vest pocket. Place on the table. The file bag has been opened. Clearly the contents had been viewed over and over countless times. His voice was hoarse, his breathing heavy as if he hadn't slept all night. I didn't answer his question. But ask the opposite:

“What do you want to ask?”

“Is asking why she stole my files…”

“Or ask why you were deceived for eight years?”

What I said was cruel. It was like sprinkling salt on his bleeding wound. Luc Xuyen's body shook strongly. He closed his eyes in pain. He wants to talk something. But not a single word could be uttered. I continued speaking for him.

“That year the person I liked… was the girl who ranked first.”

“I feel like she's smart, brilliant, and has light in her body.”

“So on the graduation trip, I confessed my love to her.”

I looked at him, my voice calm.

“I don't even know…”

“The person who received your confession at that time was carrying my name, my score, my glory.”

“From the beginning…”

“The person I love is just a false illusion.”

Luc Xuyen's fist under the table was terrifyingly tight.

“Back then… I didn't know…”

His voice was torn.

“Of course I don't know.”

I smiled faintly. The smile had no temperature at all.

"Because after the university entrance exam, my parents locked me at home because I lost my documents, and I wasn't allowed to go out even once."

“And her…”

“With my status as valedictorian of the whole province.”

“Wear a nice dress.”

“Appeared on the graduation tour.”

“Appear before me.”