Chapter 4 — From A Joke To A Love

8 Although Hua Nhien was not very happy, she still forgave me in the end. I breathed a sigh of relief, left space for the young couple, then turned around and couldn't help but rush to find Co Tran Nien. But the doctor told me that Co Tran Nien had already left. I was stunned: "He's gone? Is he not injured?" "Yes!" The doctor was also impatient: "The two boys fought so hard, no one showed mercy." “Just blinked and he was gone.” I hurried back home and knocked on Co Tran Nien's door. His mother — Aunt Ly — just returned from a business trip this morning. Seeing me, she opened the door and smiled: "Dao Dao, why did you come to see me?" I asked: "Auntie, is Co Tran Nien at home?" “Yes.” Aunt smiled: "I'm in my room now, probably sleeping." "Just came back not long ago, his face was all bruised. He said he fell off his bike, he didn't know where he fell..." I looked at my aunt in shock. Feeling a bit uncomfortable inside. Aunt Ly has always been a carefree person, rarely paying attention. A simple lie from Co Tran Nien, she had absolutely no doubts. It was the same before - Co's aunt and uncle were too busy and often neglected their son. In kindergarten, there was a time when my aunt forgot to pick up Co Tran Nien, he was the last person left at school. I was afraid he was lonely, so I kept begging my mother to let him come home with me. When he was in elementary school, Aunt Ly and Uncle Co forgot to give him money for breakfast. Co Tran Nien didn't say anything and just fasted every morning. Then, I found out. I was still young at that time, but I had a lot of "spirit". One morning, I mustered up the courage to stand in front of Aunt Ly who was rushing out the door, telling her that Co Tran Nien went to school hungry every day. I brought my mind back to the present, glancing at the door of Co Tran Nien's room. My aunt said he was sleeping and I was afraid to bother him. When I got home, I picked up my phone again - Co Tran Nien still hadn't responded to the message. Maybe... actually sleeping... I haven't felt at ease all day. While I was worried about him, I also felt like I had caused trouble. Feeling confused and uncomfortable. In the evening, my mother finished cooking rice, put a portion in a box, and prepared to leave the house. I asked: "Mom, where are you going?" “Auntie Ly went out again in the afternoon, Co Tran Nien was home alone.” "She said he seemed to have a fever. She asked mom to bring him some food and help keep an eye on him." I immediately jumped up from the chair: "Let me bring it to you!" I grabbed the lunch box from my mother's hand and rushed out the door. I knew the password to Co Tran Nien's house. This time, because I was in a hurry, I didn't bother knocking on the door, I just carried the lunch box and walked straight in. “Co Tran Nien, you have a fever and still…” “…are you still taking a bath?” I stopped right at the door, looking at the person who had just come out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping. Co Tran Nien was also stunned. He was only wearing pajama pants, his upper body was bare, his body was slim and strong, his abs were flat and clear - the type of body that was both youthful and not at all weak. I blinked: "What a beautiful figure." Co Tran Nien immediately pushed open the door and rushed inside. I felt my face get a little hot, raised my hand to fan it. Less than three seconds later, he walked out again, wearing a tank top. I pointed to the lunch box in my hand: "Eat your rice, it's still hot." Co Tran Nien said nothing, quietly sat down at the dining table. Maybe he was really unwell, he ate very slowly, looking a bit forced. I raised my hand to touch his forehead. Co Tran Nien's eating movements suddenly stopped. “It's really hot.” I frowned, "You finish eating and rest, I'll go out to buy medicine." Co Tran Nien lowered his head to look at the table and gently replied: "Yes." 9 When I got home from buying medicine, I saw Co Tran Nien lying back on the bed, covered with a blanket, her forehead covered in sweat. I took a thermometer to test it. 39 degrees. I frantically gave him fever-reducing medicine, then pulled out a chair to sit on the edge of the bed, quietly observing him. Even when sleeping, his eyebrows were still tightly furrowed. There were bruises on his cheeks from the morning's battle. I gently touched him — His eyebrows frowned even deeper. I sighed softly. Looking up again, I saw - I don't know when, Co Tran Nien opened his eyes. "Are you feeling better? Do you want some water?" Co Tran Nien didn't answer, just stared at me. Then, dreamily mumbled: "An Dao, change to another boyfriend. Hua Nhien can't do it, don't love him." I propped my chin and tilted my head to look at him: "Why?" "He... in general is not good. Hurry up and break up." Co Tran Nien's voice was hoarse, his eyes were only half open, clearly not fully awake. I looked at his appearance... I felt so adorable. Therefore, I couldn't help but want to tease him a little more. "Okay, I'll break up with him. But then, I won't have a boyfriend anymore." “Co Tran Nien,” I leaned a little closer: “I have to give you someone in return.” Co Tran Nien didn't say anything, just looked at me bewildered. “Then it's you.” I reached out and pinched his cheek, bowed my head and whispered: "Co Tran Nien, can you be my boyfriend?" Co Tran Nien was stunned for a moment, then slowly reached out from under the blanket and pushed my hand away. His voice was very small: "I can't." I said impatiently: "It's okay." Co Tran Nien wanted to bury her head in the blanket: "I... I will find you a better person." I was annoyed, grabbed his face with both hands, bowed my head and kissed him on the cheek. “I told you, you can.” Co Tran Nien's whole body stiffened. Perhaps because of the fever, the reaction was slower. But when he regained his composure, he immediately pushed me away. "We can't be like that! That's wrong!" His entire face showed panic and struggle. I asked: "Why is it wrong?" Co Tran Nien looked at me painfully: "Don't you already know? We... we are siblings." Me: “……” As expected, your mind… is really not like an ordinary person. The words he said when he was drunk the other day turned out not to be delirium. The story I made up in my elementary school diary... He thought it was true. I immediately felt a piling up of guilt. Hastily explained: "It's not true! I made it up! I wrote those things in my diary just to tease you!" Co Tran Nien looked confused: "What...?" "When I was little, you used to secretly look at my diary, so I purposely wrote that to scare you! I didn't expect you to actually believe it!" Having said this, I took the opportunity to add another blow: "Co Tran Nien, I like you. What about you? Do you like me?" Co Tran Nien was stunned for a long time. It seemed he didn't hear the last sentence I said, he just slowly curled up on the bed, then mumbled into the blanket: "So... it turns out I'm really my parents' biological son..." I looked at him in shock. At that moment, I suddenly understood everything. Understand why he trusted the diary that year so much. I understand why, when his parents forgot him, he always showed no concern or resentment. Because... he took the lie in that diary as shelter. Comfort yourself, soothe all self-pity, all dissatisfaction. Co Tran Nien lay still and did not move. I was afraid he would suffocate under the blanket, so I quickly shook him: "Co Tran Nien! Are you still awake?" From under the blanket came a languid voice: "...I need time to digest." “Digest what?” “First, I am not an adopted child.” His voice was muffled because of nasal congestion. “Second, you said you like me.” My face was hot. Just now, I dared to confess my love eloquently, but now I feel even more embarrassed: "Who... who likes me!" Co Tran Nien suddenly pulled off the blanket and sat up. The movement was so fast that his whole body staggered. Her face was red, her hair was messy, but her eyes were bright like fire. “Obviously what I just said!” “An Dao.” He suddenly grabbed my wrist, with such force that my heart skipped a beat. “The words have been spoken, the water has been thrown away, it cannot be taken back.” I struggled and couldn't escape, so I was angry and gave up: "So what! I like you! What about you? Do you like me?"