Chapter 3 — Five Missed Registrations

Those two days I lived like a soulless body. Co Dien Chu still texted me good morning and good night every day, still appeared under the building when I worked overtime, carrying my favorite Duong Chi Cam Lo sweet soup. I smiled and took it, stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, saying, "Thank you, husband." When I uttered the words "husband", my tongue felt bitter. At nine o'clock on the evening of Tuesday, Luc Tu's message was sent. 【Luc Tu: Niem Duong, can you answer the phone?】 I was washing my face in the bathroom, when I saw this message, the water flowed along my wrist and into my sleeve, so cold it made me shiver. Convenient to answer the phone. It's not about sending results directly via text message, but about calling. My heart felt like it was being strangled by someone. I dried my hands, walked out to the balcony, and closed the door. The phone rang once and it was connected. Luc Tu's voice was very deep, carrying a caution that I rarely heard from him.

“Nien Duong, I found it.”

“You say it.”

“Co Dien Chu, married.”

Those three words hit me right in the ear. It's not that I don't understand. It's that the brain refuses to process this information.

“…What?”

“The marital status displayed is 'Married', the registration date is six years ago. In other words, before knowing you for two years, he had a legal marriage."

“Until now, there has been no divorce.”

I stood on the balcony. The May night wind blew, the leaves of the hydrangea tree rustled. Downstairs someone was walking a dog, and the dog barked twice. The neighbor's house echoed with the sound of a TV series — it seemed like some sweet dialogue, someone was laughing. Everything is very normal. Except that I, inside and out, was frozen into stone. Married. Six years ago. Not divorced yet. Meaning — During the four years he and I have known each other, he has always been a married man. As for me — an unknown third party.

"Nien Duong? Are you still listening?"

Luc Tu's voice sounded as if from a far away place.

“Still.”

I heard my own voice, terrifyingly calm.

“Information about his wife… can you look it up?”

“Looked it up.”

Luc Tu stopped for a moment.

“Are you sure you want to hear it?”

“You say it.”

“His legal wife —”

“My name is Bach Linh.”

—

【Chapter 3】 Bach Linh. Bach Linh. I have to call this name dozens of times every day.

“Bach Linh, what do you want to drink?”

“Bach Linh, help me look at this facade.”

“Bach Linh, do you want to eat together tonight?”

My best friend. My colleague. The person to whom I tell everything. Every time I failed to register my marriage, he was the first person to comfort me. She is Co Dien Chu's wife. I couldn't hear clearly what Luc Tu said on the other end of the line. I just remember him saying, "Nien Duong, calm down", saying, "Do you need any help?" I said no need. Then hung up. I stood on the balcony for a long time. It's been so long that the hydrangeas have dew, so long that the dog walker downstairs has gone home, so long that the lights in the apartment opposite have gone out. Then I went back to the living room. Tonight, Co Dien Chu worked overtime at the company and texted to say he wouldn't come home.

“Please go to bed early, tomorrow I will bring you your favorite croissants.”

Accompanied by a kiss icon. I stared at this message, A rusty smell rose up in my throat. Don't want to cry. It's nausea. I sat on the sofa, placed my phone face down on the coffee table, and began to remember. Recall each frame one by one. Meeting Bach Linh was on my first day working at the design institute. She took me to get used to the environment, poured me water, smiled and said, "I'll cover you later." At that time, I still did not know Co Dien Chu. It was introduced by Bach Linh.