Chapter 2 — Emotions That Never End

5“I can explain.” He said, "On the way to buy cake, the medicine fell into the gutter, and the phone fell apart and couldn't receive messages." The space was silent. I looked straight at him. Tong Nguyen frowned tightly, raised his hand, somewhat roughly unbuttoned a shirt button, took out a cigarette and lit it. I have advised him many times to quit smoking before, but he never listened. That's right, you don't take what I say seriously. It wasn't until the smell of mint faded that I heard his hoarse voice: "Sorry." "If that 'sorry' is because you left me to go find her... then I don't accept it." I said softly. Tong Nguyen was somewhat stunned. This was the first time I saw the look of defeat clearly on his face. "After all, she is... my college friend." "Just a college friend?" I tried to adjust my emotions and kept a calm tone as I asked him. Tong Nguyen was silent for a long time before speaking: "A few days ago, her parents called me, telling her to buy a plane ticket to come here by herself. If anything happens, I don't know how to tell her family." "Man Man, I never thought I would get back together with her, I—" Before he could finish, I gave him the message and photo that Tham Bang just sent him. see. He was slightly stunned. "I went to look for her, why are her hair and shirt all wet? What happened between the two of you?" "If you really don't want to go back, then why did you tell her that you never touched me as if you were showing loyalty?" I tried to suppress it, but my voice still couldn't help but carry a bit of choking. "Tong Nguyen, what exactly do you see me as?" Looking at his pale and silent face, unable to refute, I suddenly wanted to laugh. In that moment, countless details that I had intentionally overlooked suddenly became clear. At that time, Tong Nguyen actively pursued me. He moved to headquarters two years ago. We worked on several projects together and coordinated very well in our work. Because of that, they often worked late into the night together, and the relationship between the two gradually became ambiguous. So when he proactively confessed his love, I didn't think too much and quickly agreed. After knowing each other for a year, in addition to being quite cold, he actually treated me very well and never tried to hide his past. I know he has an ex-lover who was in love for five years - his first love, and broke up a year after graduating from college. It would be a lie to say you don't care, but if you do care, it's like you're making things difficult for yourself. I once asked the reason for the breakup, Tong Nguyen answered very simply, his tone was also very calm: "You and her are not compatible." At that time he said: "Duong Man, I think you and I are very compatible." To be fair, he said that very seriously. But my heart cooled down almost immediately. Obviously "matching" is a good thing in love, but at that time I felt unreasonably uncomfortable. Do you really like me? Or did you just choose me because it felt "suitable"? Perhaps he sensed that I was uneasy, at that time he didn't say anything more, just sighed softly, lowered his head to kiss my lips, and gently said: "Man Man, don't think too much." At that time, our breathing gradually became heavy, I naturally wrapped my arms around his neck. But Tong Nguyen suddenly pushed me away, his eyes lowered, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long time, he clumsily reached out and patted my head, "Man Man, we still have a lot of time ahead." At that time I didn't think much. I think it's because he respects me and wants to save the best for after the engagement. Until Tham Bang appeared. Obviously all the signs had appeared before. It's just that I love you so much, so love made me automatically ignore everything, making me wrong

thought he loved me too. But sometimes... even "like" is not there. It just feels "right". When I realized the truth, I just felt like I was stripped naked, humiliated to the core. This feeling of humiliation was brought on by his ex-girlfriend, but the knife that stabbed me... was personally given to her by Tong Nguyen. I don't even dare to imagine, what kind of person will Tong Nguyen next to Tham Bang be? Will he be as cold and arrogant as he was towards me? Probably... not the same. 6I calmly texted my best friend, telling her that Tong Nguyen and I had broken up, asking if she was free to come pick me up tomorrow. It could be seen that she was very surprised, but didn't ask much, just sent a "hug" emoji. Then texted: "Wait for me to come pick you up." As soon as I put the phone down, my body was suddenly lifted off the ground - Tong Nguyen picked me up horizontally. I was stunned for a few seconds, then my face immediately turned cold: "I was going to—" Tong Nguyen interrupted, his voice firm: "My leg is injured, the sofa is too small. Go to the bedroom." I pursed my lips tightly, looking at him with wary eyes. Tong Nguyen's eyes wavered slightly, but quickly covered it up, "I'll sleep on the sofa tonight. I... won't do anything to you." I was slightly stunned. Suddenly I realized that my reaction just now was funny. Tong Nguyen has never liked me, this time of intimacy was only because after reading that provocative text message, he was angry with Tham Bang. My precautions seemed completely pointless. “Let me go, I can walk on my own. Thank you.” I looked into his eyes, his voice was strangely calm. The moment our eyes met, I seemed to see a flash of hurt in his eyes. I think I must have seen it wrong. Tong Nguyen didn't say anything more and quietly put me down. I didn't look at him anymore and limped into the bedroom. The moment the door closed, I heard his hoarse voice behind me: "Man Man." I stopped. Tong Nguyen was silent for a moment, then took out a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a small, delicate women's ring. "Shen Bang threw it into the gutter. At that time, it was raining heavily, there were no street lights, and the phone fell out. I searched for a long time, and my body was all wet. Because I was afraid that you would think nonsense, I went to the hotel to dry my clothes." Tong Nguyen stopped for a moment, breathing heavier. "She kept frantically asking me if I was planning to propose to you, asking why I was touching you. At that time, everything was messed up. I don't even remember how I answered." He pursed his lips tightly, his voice was hoarse, but I could still hear a slight regret in it. "Tham Bang's personality was completely different from me. It was like that when I was in school - impulsive, strong, not willing to destroy other people's worlds." Back when I was in school... That phrase made my heart clench. That was a time that I could never touch - a world that only belonged to the two of them. "I just deleted her WeChat and blocked her number. Tomorrow I will explain clearly to her parents. From now on, no one will mention her to me anymore." I raised my head, looked into his eyes, listening to every word he said: "Man Man, the thing between me and her is in the past." Maybe because I never heard my response, my eyelashes opened. Tong Nguyen trembled slightly, his lips also turned a little pale. After a long time, he softly said: "You should rest." I didn't answer, just silently watched him close the door. Lying in bed, even with my eyes closed, I still couldn't sleep. My heart is as tangled as a thread. Hearing all those words, seeing that ring, it's impossible to say without any emotion. But in my mind two scenes kept appearing together. One was when Tong Nguyen was driving me home, he suddenly grabbed my hand and smiled

His cold eyes suddenly softened, then he seriously asked me if I wanted to know him. Second is the moment he abandoned me without hesitation and ran to find Tham Bang. Really... can it be called "past"? Even though it was really over between them, in my heart — could I get over it? 7 The next morning, when I woke up, I walked out of the bedroom and immediately saw a tube of ointment placed quietly on the table. The medicine tube... came too late. I lowered my eyes, ignored Tong Nguyen's somewhat complicated eyes, and walked straight towards the door. Just as my hand touched the handle, the door suddenly opened. Tham Bang's beautiful and arrogant face suddenly appeared right before my eyes. Tham Bang did not come alone, there was also a man next to him. She held his arm, gently, seductively, smiling brightly, the two looked extremely intimate. The man's eyes looked back and forth between me and Tong Nguyen, then smiled: "Hello you two, I'm Ha Tuc, Tham Bang's new boyfriend." Tham Bang comfortably held his hand, intertwining ten fingers together. I reflexively looked at Tong Nguyen. He just looked at them quietly, without any waves in his eyes, nor did he show any discomfort. "What are you doing here?" On Tham Bang's face, there was still an innocent smile like a child: "I texted you last night to stop bothering you. You always listen to me, so today I brought my new boyfriend here to say goodbye in person." Seeing Tong Nguyen silent, the smile on Tham Bang's lips became even deeper. She pulled the man next to her and walked in, sitting straight on the sofa as if this were her home. "Isn't anyone going to sit down?" Tham Bang's eyes glanced at the tube of ointment on the table - still unopened. She winked at me: "Isn't your leg injured? Haven't applied the medicine since last night? Tsk, that's pathetic. If you keep standing like that, the wound will be hard to heal." My eyes immediately sank, I turned around to leave but was called back. "I just arrived and you already want to go, what's wrong? Can't play?" The last few words, Tham Bang said slowly, with a cold voice, full of sarcasm.