Chapter 3 — Farewell Message Deleted

I don't answer. He pulled out his chair and sat down: "The match just ended, I have to catch the last bus back to school. You rest well, I'll come visit next time." He stopped, softened his voice and said a few more sentences: "Don't think too much about what happened on the football field today. That's just my instinctive reaction. You've gotten thinner lately, remember to eat and drink properly. If you have any problem, text me, I... will respond when I see it." If it was before, just these few words would have been enough to help. I swallowed all my self-pity and continued to wait for another "next time". But right now, listening to those words, I only feel that each word is light, like dust falling on water, too lazy to even create a ripple. I nodded, my voice calm: "Yes." He waited for a moment, saw I didn't say more, his lips moved slightly, and finally stood up and walked out the door. Walking to the door, he turned his head to look at me. There was some hesitation in his eyes, as if waiting for me to hold him back. I spoke up: "Go back and look at the message I sent." He paused and nodded: "Okay." The next day, the phone was still silent. He promised to look at the messages, but still didn't reply. I pressed and held the chat frame and then selected delete. Then pack up your luggage and buy a ticket to the beach. 5I rented a homestay by the beach, white walls, blue windows. Just open the balcony door and you can step straight onto the sand. The first three days, I did nothing, just lay down and listened to the sound of the waves, sleeping until I woke up. If you're hungry, go to the alley to eat a bowl of seafood noodles. Warm sunlight shines on the instep of my feet. I placed the phone on my stomach. As soon as the screen lit up, Giang Tri sent a sentence: "Are there big waves today? Don't go out into the deep water." Before I could answer, another message jumped out: "Okay, you didn't listen." "I've looked at the tide table. From two o'clock to four o'clock in the afternoon it's safe, wait until then to go into the water." I froze, bowed my head and typed: "Do you still look at the tide table?" "Yes. I'm going alone, I don't feel secure." Outside the door. Out the window, layers of white waves rolled to the shore. I looked at that line for a long time, feeling like my heart was soaked in warm water. In the past, I sent messages to Tham Chu, sent ten sentences to wait for a "yes", sent a photo to receive a "yes", sent sadness and only received an emoticon. I used to think that love was like that, quiet, slow and needed to wait. I took a photo in the afternoon and sent it to Giang Tri: "Look, share with you." He replied immediately: "Beautiful. I'll come see it tomorrow too." I wrapped myself in a blanket, curled up in the chair, listening to the sound of waves near and far. I felt the sea that had been tightly twisted in my heart finally relax. …… One month later. In the self-study room, An Du looked at Tham Chu and asked in a low voice: "The day after tomorrow is my birthday, have you thought about how to celebrate it? I've booked a restaurant, and I've made an appointment with everyone..." Tham Chu took off his headphones and interrupted her: "I'm going to find Manh Gia." He stopped: "This time I'm going alone." An Du's fingertips paused. She lowered her eyes, her voice gentle: "So... are you planning to surprise Ms. Manh Gia? Or give her an hour's notice, what if she has other arrangements that day?" Tham Chu shook his head, his voice firm: "No. It's been four years, every year she's taken the high-speed train to come find me, order a cake, choose a gift, and be on time to send her wishes." He remembered his eyes that suddenly darkened during the last video call, frowned slightly: "Last time." In return, I will go find her." An Du tried to hold back her tears, then smiled: "Okay. Then let me go choose a gift with you, my eyes are not good." After class, the lights in the shopping center were blinding. An Du took Tham Chu's arm, her steps light: "Choosing a gift for Manh Gia cannot be sloppy." She stopped in front of an accessories store and picked up a pair.

metal tassel earrings, shaking gently under the light: "This pair is beautiful, outstanding enough." Tham Chu frowned: "Normally she doesn't wear such an ostentatious style." An Du clicked her tongue slightly: "Girls like to try new styles, you have to let her change a little." She put the earrings in the shopping basket, pulled him to the clothing section, and chose a cashmere scarf. "She definitely can't bear to buy this brand. I gave it to her, how can she wear it?" Tham Chu touched the fabric: "It's okay, just the color is a bit light." "Light colors are easy to match." An Du smiled, folded the scarf, but her eyes darkened: "Besides, she's normal like that, too much color won't suit her." She remembered Manh Gia's always quiet eyes, and her heart suddenly choked. What's good about Manh Gia? Why is it worth Tham Chu specifically running to find him? She turned away and picked up a shiny handbag: "Take this too. Girls never complain about having many pockets." Tham Chu hesitated for a moment then nodded. An Du watched him receive each item, his fingernails quietly digging into his palm. Every dish she chose was something Manh Gia wouldn't like. But Tham Chu didn't realize it at all, and smiled at her: "Sure enough, you still understand these things better."