Chapter 3 — Eight Years Change One Time Letting Go

"She did something for me. Is it okay if I buy her a gift? Do you have to be so petty?"

“I didn't say anything.”

“This cold look of yours clearly has an opinion!” He angrily loosened his tie, "That's a colleague. When we go to work, we look up and see each other's heads bowed, so what if I take care of you a little?"

"You're really considerate." She stood up, not wanting to argue anymore.

“Han Mo Tuyet!”

He called after her.

"I've been tired all day, can you understand a little? Don't make me go home and have to look at your face."

Understand the story. She has understood this for the past eight years. Therefore, she swallowed back her tears, without turning back, walked straight into the spare bedroom.

"I'll sleep in this room tonight, you should rest well."

The next two days, Han Mo Tuyet followed the plan and packed her things. The potted betel plant with split leaves in the living room was bought by her and she gave it to her neighbor's aunt. The rocking chair on the balcony was her choice, she called the old furniture collector to come and pick it up. Tham Bach Chu completely did not realize that the house was gradually losing furniture. He just felt that her silence lately made him very satisfied.

“Wouldn't it be better if I stayed like this from early on?”

On Friday morning, he sat at the dining table, eating a plate of frozen dumplings she cooked.

"Today is Van Chieu's birthday. Tonight, some colleagues in the flight crew are having a dinner party. Please come with me."

Her movement of wiping the table stopped.

“What are you going to do?”

"Don't you often complain that I don't take you to meet my colleagues? Coincidentally, everyone is going today, so you should go there and get acquainted."

His tone was as if he was granting a favor. Previously she begged him to include her in his circle of friends. He said: "We're all pilots together. I don't understand what you're talking about. Traveling is just boring." Now he took the initiative to ask her to go because of Trinh Van Chieu's birthday.

“Okay.” She agreed.

She wanted to see for herself what position Trinh Van Chieu held in the eyes of his colleagues. At 8 p.m., they arrived at the Japanese restaurant they had booked. The door to the room opened, there were 6 or 7 people sitting inside. Trinh Van Chieu sat in the center, wearing a long white French-style dress, with a familiar necklace hanging around her neck. That was the item in the gift box she saw on the tea table the other day.

“Mr. Bach Chu, sister-in-law is here!”

Trinh Van Chieu stood up, smiling brightly to welcome.

"Hello sister-in-law, I heard Mr. Bach Chu talk about you a long time ago, but I just met you today."

She seemed friendly and was about to pull Han Mo Tuyet's hand. Han Mo Tuyet dodged.

“Happy birthday.” She replied nonchalantly.

The atmosphere in the room became awkward for a moment. Tham Bach Chu pulled her down and warned in a low voice: "Don't show your attitude towards me today." At the banquet table, everyone talked about flights. Which flight route has strong air turbulence, which control tower's air traffic controllers are hot-tempered. She really didn't understand, and didn't bother to listen.

"Let's say it again, Bach Chu's landing was really smooth."

A co-pilot smiled and raised his glass of wine.

"Ms. Van Chieu is the clearest, as long as it's Mr. Bach Chu flying, Ms. Van Chieu in the back compartment holding a cup of coffee won't compare a single drop."

Trinh Van Chieu covered his mouth laugh.

"Of course, Mr. Bach Chu's techniques are famous throughout the company. Last time flying to Narita, there was thunder and lightning, I was so scared that my limbs were weak. Mr. Bach Chu in the cockpit texted me saying 'I'm here, don't be afraid', I immediately felt reassured."

The whole table burst into laughter.

“Oh—— I'm here, don't be afraid!”

Tham Bach Chu laughed along and did not deny it, his eyes even carried a bit of tolerance. Han Mo Tuyet lowered her head and took a sip of tea. The tea had cooled down and was a bit acrid. It was thunderous.