Chapter 11 — Fluent in 9 foreign languages, I just want to be a normal employee

From French... To Russian... Then German... Japanese... The conversation continued without a pause. We talk about French art. About Russian literature. About German philosophy. Then we discussed the Japanese business philosophy. With the confidence emanating from me... Making all the guests conquered. Tran Mac is always by my side. As a partner. He doesn't talk too much. Just quietly handle everything behind the scenes. So that I can fully concentrate on the reception. I know... His eyes are always following me. Therein lies admiration. Have pride. There is also a feeling that is increasingly difficult to hide. After the party ends. It was still Tran Mac who took me home. Familiar soft music sounded in the car. All the way. We talk a lot. About the future of the International Business Sector. About upcoming plans. About the ideal that both of us pursue. The more we talk... The more we realize. Their views are surprisingly similar. The car stopped below my apartment building. I was just about to unbuckle my seat belt when I heard his voice behind me. I turned my head. Tran Mac's voice carried a rare bit of tension. He took a deep breath. As if gathering all the courage of a lifetime. Then looked straight into my eyes.

"I like you."

Each word was said very slowly. But extremely certain.

"Ever since I was still a girl sitting quietly in the corner of the office, reading a book every day..."

"I already like you."

"I know..."

"Now I stand in a very high position."

"And you..."

"Maybe it's still not enough to be on par with you."

"I still want you to know my feelings."

That moment. My heart seemed to skip a beat. The car compartment is quiet. Even the sound of my heart beating... I can hear it clearly. Look at Tran Mac's sincere and nervous eyes. A very strange feeling suddenly arose in my heart. There is vibration. There is confusion. There was also a bit of embarrassment that I didn't even realize. During the days when I walked alone through the darkness... There was always someone. Silently standing in the back. Quietly looking towards me. A ray of light that never left. I won't answer you right away. Just quietly looked at Tran Mac, then smiled.

"This weekend... are you free?"

"I want to take you somewhere."

Tran Mac paused for a few seconds. Then nodded vigorously. I'm not taking you to the mall. Don't choose a luxury restaurant either. The destination is a peaceful university campus located on the outskirts of the city. Both sides of the road are lined with green trees. Somewhere, the sound of students reading books was heard. We stopped in front of a building for lecturers, the red brick walls were colored by time. The person who opened the door... was a middle-aged couple with an elegant temperament. They are my parents. Two top prestigious linguistics professors in the country. There is no luxurious furniture in the house. All four walls are filled with ceiling-high bookshelves. Thousands of books in all languages are packed into each compartment. The air smelled faintly of old paper. Mixed with the familiar smell of ink. I introduced Tran Mac to my parents. Don't mention your position. Just gently say:

"This is a very important person to me."

My parents did not look down on Tran Mac because of his background or status. The two enthusiastically welcomed him. Let's talk with him about work. About life. About future plans. What surprised me was... In that house filled with academic atmosphere. Tran Mac did not appear confused at all. He is calm. Sincerely. Every answer is correct. I silently looked at my parents. In their eyes... It's all satisfaction. Afternoon. Tran Mac and I walked around the lake on campus. The lake surface sparkles in the sunlight. Every gentle breeze carries the scent of grass and trees gently passing by. I stopped walking. Quietly looking at the water. Then speak softly.

"Now..."

"Do you understand?"

"Since I was a child, I grew up in an environment like that."

"For you..."

"Knowing nine foreign languages has never been anything special."

"It's like..."

"Breathe like that."

"It's so natural that there's no need to even try."

I smiled softly. But that smile carried a bit of helplessness.

"But..."

"Everyone considers me a genius."

"A different person."

"Go where..."

"I'm also bound by that aura."

"I can no longer live like myself."

"I'm so tired."

"It's really tiring."

"So..."

"I just want to find a place where no one knows me."

"Live peacefully."

"To breathe."

That's the secret I've kept buried deep in my heart for many years. Finally... Say it out loud. Tran Mac did not interrupt. Just listen quietly. Wait until I finish speaking. He raised his hand. Gently hold my hand. That hand...

"I understand."

He looked at me. His eyes are so gentle that they make people's hearts flutter.

"The person I like..."

"Not just Deputy General Director Lam Khe."

"Not just someone who can speak nine languages."

"Not just someone standing in the spotlight."

"I still like..."

"The girl always likes to sit in a quiet corner reading a book."

"I like to take care of each small pot of succulents."

"Like to live slowly."

"Like the peace."

"In my eyes..."

"No matter which Lam Khe it is."

"It's still me."

"All lovely."

"Everyone deserves to be loved."

The corners of my eyes immediately stung. How many layers of camouflage? How much strong. How much toughness... In that moment. All completely broken. I finally met someone. Not only do I love the aura on my body. But I also love the girl who always tries to hide from that spotlight. I squeezed his hand. Gently nodded. Shortly after. I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass door in the Deputy General Director's office. The morning sunlight penetrates through the transparent glass, gently covering my shoulders. The stone lotus pot placed on the table, after many months of careful care, is much larger than before. Green leaves. Full of life. The phone rang. It's a call from Madrid. I smiled. Calmly pick up the phone. Then use fluent Spanish to discuss a completely new collaborative project. Confident voice. Full of strength. From now on... I will no longer have to live in darkness. There's no need to be afraid when standing under the light. Because I know. Finally... I have lived exactly as I wanted. Have enough capacity to stand firmly in the vast world. Have enough freedom to choose your life. And there is also someone... Ready to hold my hand. Walk with me all the way ahead.