Chapter 10 — Group Chat Without You

“So I created a group, pulled everyone in, and specialized in organizing activities without you.”

“At first there was really no malice, just once or twice…”

“Later it becomes a habit.”

“To Niem, I know that's wrong, I know.”

“Do you know where the mistake is?”

“Don't hide it from me.”

“It's not a matter of hiding or not hiding.”

He was silent again. I said: "Tran Du, ask me a question."

“You say it.”

“If I don't see that message, when are you going to tell me?”

He did not answer. The answer is so obvious. Never will.

“I know.”

“To Niem—”

“If there's nothing else, I'll hang up.”

“Wait, To Niem, I— I miss you.”

On the other end of the line, his voice was very small, as if it took a lot of strength to say it. I closed my eyes.

"Tran Du, the person I remember is not you."

“The person you remember is the person who helps you call the management, helps you receive parcels, helps you remember your sister's birthday.”

“It's not—”

“That's true. What I miss is convenience, not you.”

I hung up the phone. Add that number to the blacklist. 08 The third day after blocking Tran Du, my mother called.

"To Niem, what happened to you and Tran Du? Your sister said you two broke up?"

“Yes.”

"Why? Tran Du is a good boy, he doesn't treat me that bad—"

“Mom, the eight of them formed a group, specializing in organizing outings without children.”

"Including To Trach. Two years now."

The other end of the line was silent. My mother is a very practical person. After the divorce, she devoted all her energy to work. Before, she rarely interfered in my love affairs. After a while, she spoke up: "Are you sure it's not a misunderstanding?"

“I read the chat history.”

“…To Trach is also in there?”

“Yes.”

There was another moment of silence.

“Let's not talk anymore, I have class today.”

She hung up. I know you won't help me scold To Trach. She always thought that my younger brother was still young and felt that it was normal for him to not understand things. But at least, she knew the truth. On weekends, I still go to the flower shop to work part-time as usual. In the afternoon, Ms. Duong suddenly asked me: "Nim Niem, you're in a much better mood these days, right?"

“So?”

“When I first arrived, my eyes were always red, but now I look much more alive.”

I smiled without answering. She gave me a cup of milk tea.

"You're still young, your life ahead is still very long."

“If the road ahead isn't worth it, throw it away, don't look back.”

“Yes.”

That day after closing the shop, I walked home alone. When I arrived at the gate of the compound, I saw a person sitting on the steps. It's To Trach. It saw me and quickly stood up, looking a bit confused.

“Sister.”

I stopped walking and looked at it. The boy is nineteen years old, half a head taller than me. But this time he pulled his shoulders back, just like when he was fifteen years old.

“How did you find your way here?”

“I asked a few people to know.” He bowed his head, "Sister, I... came to apologize to you."

“Go inside and talk.”

Going inside the house, I poured him a glass of water. He sat on the small sofa, holding the cup with both hands, never opening his mouth.

“Say it.”

“Sister, I'm sorry.”

I sat in the chair opposite.

“You know me Are you apologizing for something?"

He nodded, then shook his head again, and finally said: "You shouldn't be in that group."

“What else?”

"Don't... help them trick you."

“Why did you lie to me?”

It pursed its lips into a straight line, then spoke a moment later.

"At first it was Mr. Tran Du who pulled me in."

“He said it was just a normal group of friends.”

“Later I discovered that every time they gathered, they had to confirm in advance that you weren't coming, so I... I just went along.”

“Why do you follow along?”