Chapter 5 — End of Seven Year Relationship

13Later, Phi Tu Hanh accidentally learned the truth about Bach Thanh Nguyet being beaten. Without my initiative, he appeared before me on his own. He stopped me downstairs in the dormitory. "I misunderstood you, Chieu Chieu, I was wrong..." Then suddenly he pulled my hand up and tried to hit me in the face. I frowned and withdrew my hand. "Are you sick?" He still looked at me stubbornly, "You can hit me as many times as you want." Pursing his lips, he whispered again. "As long as you can forgive me." "No way." I refused emphatically. "Fei Tu Hanh, the damage you caused me is irreversible." "The scar on my back is not directly related to you, but every time the weather changes, when it itches, I think of the scene where you abandoned me that day." I smiled to myself. "I really can't let it go." Pushing Phi Tu Hanh away, I left. But his voice rang out behind him again. "Vu Chieu." "I know saying this now will only make you hate me more, but I still want to say it." "Over the past time, I've been going back through every page of your diary, trying to remember every moment between us. The times when you were moved by me, actually I was too, but I didn't understand, I thought it was just special care for my sister." He said not very confidently, but each word was so clear. "Actually, I've liked you for a long time, I just didn't realize it." No, he didn't. No one likes another person that way. He only felt guilty and regretful, and when he learned that I had liked him for so many years, he was touched. The mixed emotions made him mistake it for like. But I don't want to continue messing with him. As if I hadn't heard, I walked away without stopping or glancing. But Phi Tu Hanh was especially persistent. The boy who was once considered a source of pride now seemed to be entering a late stage of rebellion. I left my studies behind and began to immerse myself in bars, always carrying a box of cigarettes in my pocket. 14 That day, my roommate pulled me out to the schoolyard. Seeing the solemn confession scene and the eyes of many people focused on me, I realized it. The person being confessed to is me. As for the person who confessed to me, it was a junior that I don't even remember clearly. He held a large bouquet of Bulgarian roses, his face turned a little red, and hesitantly confessed his love to me. The cheers around grew louder. The refusal stuck in my throat. If he refuses now... it will probably make him lose face in front of everyone. I looked at the bouquet of flowers in front of me, raised my hand in confusion, and suddenly someone grabbed my wrist strongly. Pull me out to a hidden corner with no people. Phi Tu Hanh smelled strongly of alcohol, but his eyes were clear and cold. He grabbed my wrist so tightly that it hurt, not giving me a chance to pull away. His eyes were fixed on me, the words he spoke were full of thorns. "Vu Chieu, don't tell me you intend to accept his offer." "Are you changing your heart so quickly? Your so-called liking me says letting go is letting go, right?" As soon as he finished the last sentence, I didn't hesitate to slap him. "Bastard." Phi Tu Hanh tilted his head, put his hand on his cheek, and smiled sarcastically. He moved slightly, pulling me closer, so close that our noses touched. "Vu Chieu, what do you want me to do to forgive you?" "Say, I can do anything for you." The corners of his eyes turned red, tears glistening. The mouth uttered the weakest words, but the actions were still rough and stubborn. "Please, Vu Chieu, don't treat me like that..." Looking at the boy in front of me, now completely different from before, I calmed down again. "Fei Tu Hanh, you abandoned me three times because of Bach Thanh Nguyet." "If you can make those three times never happen, I will forgive you." Between me and Phi Tu Hanh is a deep gap.

deep. And he was trying to build a bridge across it, completely in vain. He looked at me disappointedly, with nothing to refute. I finally managed to pull my hand away. Without waiting for him to respond, I turned and walked away. After walking for a while, I suddenly remembered something and turned around to look back. Phi Tu Hanh still stood in place, looking in the direction I left. It seems that, since he found the diary, everything has turned upside down. The one left behind became him. But that doesn't make me happy. On the contrary, because of his clinging, I only feel tired and annoyed.15This winter seems to last especially long. Before and after the holiday, the parents' purchase was almost completed. We will move out of the old villa. Finally, a little further away from Phi Tu Hanh, I found true joy. I was even so happy that I didn't realize when he stopped appearing around me. Until I received a call from his mother. She sobbed, "Chieu Chieu, can you come visit A Hanh? I really don't know what to do." Phi Tu Hanh was injured. Burned. She said that half a month ago, when passing through a residential area, he saw a third-floor apartment on fire. There's a girl trapped inside, can't get out, and the firefighters haven't arrived yet. At that time, he seemed crazy to rush to save the girl, but he himself suffered severe burns on his entire arm. "Chieu Chieu, A Hanh is always in my heart because that time he couldn't save me in time during the fire. Surely at that time he was thinking of me, that's why he risked his life to save a stranger." Her voice was urgent. "Please, help me once, come visit A Hanh."I hate Phi Tu Hanh, but I can't ignore her, who always treats me well. When I met Phi Tu Hanh again, my feelings were extremely complicated. He was half-lying against the headboard, looking weak and haggard. "Chieu Chieu, now I finally understand, it's really painful." The scar stretched from his arm to his neck. Phi Tu Hanh smiled faintly. "The first few days, in the middle of the night, the toqw was so painful that I couldn't sleep. Then it finally healed, then it started to itch, like thousands of worms crawling on my hand." That's right, at that time I also experienced that feeling. "Sometimes I think, maybe I should just cut it off." He looked down at his arm, his voice calm as if he really meant it. I tiredly rubbed my eyebrows and sighed. "Fei Tu Hanh, stop doing things that will touch yourself like that." "No matter how many people you save trapped in the fire, it has nothing to do with me. Can you make my scars never exist?" "So what should I do, Vu Chieu?" He looked at me blankly, "Tell me, what should I do?" I looked out the window, the sunlight shining in was a bit warm. After a few seconds, I slowly opened my mouth. "Phi Tu Hanh, to like someone is to make that person happy, right?" My eyes turned back, we faced each other. "But what you did didn't make me happy, on the contrary, it made me feel uncomfortable. This feeling is too distorted, if you continue, maybe I will have to consider quitting school to avoid you." "I'm not the one who has to pay the price for your regret." Hearing the word "drop out of school," his body He stiffened slightly, his hand unconsciously tightening the edge of the blanket. Phi Tu Hanh bowed his head and nodded slightly. "I won't bother you anymore, and will also try not to appear in front of you." "Vu Chieu, can you not miss school?" He asked cautiously as if he had humbled himself to the end. I don't like seeing him like this. It makes me feel like he's the one getting hurt. I turned my eyes away and did not respond. Just emphasized one last time before leaving. "Really, don't bother me anymore." Phi Tu Hanh: "I understand."

When I stepped out of Phi's villa, I breathed a sigh of relief. The feeling of sadness in my heart gradually disappeared. The warm afternoon sunlight shone on me, dispelling some of the cold. I raised my hand to feel that warmth. The cold waves are finally about to go away. This winter. Looks like it's finally over. (Full text)