Chapter 2 — Eight Years Is Not Equal to One Betrayal

To Tri Yeu quickly put down the glass of water: "I will leave now, Ms. Van Tinh is sorry, it's all my fault, don't argue with Nghien Tu, today he was busy from early morning to late at night, he didn't even eat a mouthful of rice, all of mother's hospitalization procedures were taken care of by him." Having finished speaking, she put her hand on her backpack and staggered as soon as she took a step. Luc Nghien Tu instinctively stepped forward to help her, his voice filled with sadness: "If you're not well, don't try." To Tri Yeu's tears threatened to fall down her cheeks.

“I don't want to make Van Tinh sad.”

Luc Nghien Tu turned to look at me, his eyes full of awkwardness.

“Van Tinh, her mother is still in the intensive care room, let her stay here for the night, tomorrow morning I will take her to the hospital.”

I laughed out loud: “Do I have to agree?” He didn't hear the sarcasm in my words at all, he just thought I had given in.

“Thank you.”

Those three short words make my heart ache more than fierce arguments. That night, To Tri Yeu moved into the spare bedroom. This room was originally planned to be my flower arranging office, the table next to the window I had planned to use for displaying flowers and marking homework. Now, the table is filled with her makeup bag, medical bills, and thermos. She cautiously explained to me: "I'm afraid that leaving things outside will annoy you, so I'll just leave them here for now. I'll definitely clean them up tomorrow." Luc Nghien Tu brought a bowl of hot soup from the kitchen: "Van Tinh, eat first. Your stomach is not good, don't let your hungry stomach sulk and hurt your body." His voice was natural and peaceful, as if today was just a normal couple's argument. I sat in front of the dining table, looking at the two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table. Luc Nghien Tu froze for a moment, turned around and went back to the kitchen to get the third set of bowls and chopsticks. To Tri Yeu spoke softly: "I won't eat, you two go ahead and eat, I'll go back to my room." Luc Nghien Tu frowned tightly: "I have low blood sugar. If I don't eat, I will get dizzy. Sit down and eat together." She glanced at me awkwardly and slowly sat down. During that dinner, I didn't move my chopsticks, nor did I eat a single bite of rice. 3 Seeing that I hadn't moved my chopsticks, Luc Nghien Tu picked up my favorite piece of shrimp and put it in a bowl.

"I always liked to eat this shrimp before."

To Tri Yeu lowered his head to sip soup, the phone suddenly rang.

“Nien Tu, my mother is awake, she wants to make a video call to see us.”

The chopsticks in Luc Nghien Tu's hand stopped in mid-air, I also raised my eyes to look over. To Tri Yeu bit her lower lip, tears filled her eyes again:

"I know I shouldn't bother you anymore, but the doctor said that the time my mother is awake is very short, I'm afraid she will fall into a coma again."

Luc Nghien Tu was silent for a moment, pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands clean.

“Pick up the phone.”

The video connected, on the screen the old lady was wearing an oxygen tube, her voice was weak and vague.

“Tri Yeu... where is my son-in-law?”

To Tri Yeu turned the lens towards Luc Nghien Tu next to him. Luc Nghien Tu leaned close to the screen, his tone was gentle and gentle: "Miss To, I'm here." The old lady showed a weak smile, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

"Good, that's good... I can rest assured when I leave Tri Yeu to you."

Luc Nghien Tu's throat moved: "You can rest assured and recuperate." I sat to the side, like a lost outsider. To Tri Yeu suddenly raised her hand frantically, her fingers were empty.

“Mom, look, I'm wearing a wedding ring.”

The old lady's eyes were blurry, still trying hard to stare at the screen: "Ring... To get married, you must have a ring." To Tri Yeu's whole body stiffened. Luc Nghien Tu instinctively turned to look at me. In the main bedroom nightstand drawer, quietly lies the pair of engagement rings that we prepared in advance.