Chapter 4 — Hi Hi's Lie

I was very quiet that whole day. No matter how she teased me, I didn't laugh. Just quietly follow her side. When the activity is about to end. The host let each child go up on stage and say a sentence that he or she most wanted to say to their parents. The children scrambled to cheer up. “Mom and dad, I love you!” “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for taking me home!” It was my turn to shake my head. I walked up to the stage, held the microphone. It's very quiet down there. Everyone looked at me, the "rich orphan girl" in the news. I don't look at anyone. My eyes only stopped on police officer Luu under the stage. Her eyes were filled with worry. I took a deep breath, spoke into the microphone, and used all my strength to tell my lie. This lie is not told to the system. It's about telling the whole world. "I don't have parents." My voice trembled. "I only have one wish." "I hope my mother is a hero." "I will be like a star in the sky, protecting all the children like me." "I can't find my mother anymore." "But I know, she must be looking at me." Having said that, I bowed deeply towards Police Officer Liu. Tears fell at the right moment. That moment. I saw Officer Liu's eyes turn red. She covered her mouth, her body trembling slightly. Her husband was a hero who died saving people. My words, every word, hit exactly the softest place in her heart. The surrounding crowd echoed with soft sniffles and low chatter. "This child is so pitiful..." "She's talking about Officer Liu, right..." "That's right, Officer Liu's husband is..." Public pressure, moral praise, and the emotions in her heart. Like a giant net, surrounding her tightly. She has no choice. The second day after the activity ends. Officer Liu officially submitted an application to adopt me to the welfare institute. My fourth lie. It's successful. I have found a home for myself. A completely new roof designed and built by myself.10I moved into policeman Liu's house. A small house with two bedrooms and a living room. Not as big as a villa, but very warm. The balcony is filled with flowers and grass. On the living room wall hangs wedding photos of her and her husband. The man in the photo smiled brightly. I changed my name. No longer called Tran Hi. I followed her last name, which is Luu Tinh Than. She said, I hope I'm like a star, shining forever. I started a new life. Go to school, finish school, do homework. Like a most normal child. I buried the system of “turning lies into truth” deep in my heart. I don't need it anymore. At least, not temporarily. I used it to get everything I wanted. Police Officer Liu should now be called Mother Liu. She treated me very well. So good that every inch is taken care of. Every morning she would make breakfast for me. Read stories with me in the evening. Take me to the park on weekends. She tried to use love to fill my past hurts. I play the role of the perfect daughter. Obedient, obedient, excellent achievements. We became an exemplary mother-daughter couple in the neighbors' mouths. Everyone said that police officer Liu was lucky to have adopted an angel. Only I know. Under the angel's halo, something is hidden. Occasionally I will see news about the Tran family in small corners of the newspaper. Tran Kien Nghiep was in prison because of fighting and his sentence was increased. My mother and my sister are in a mental hospital, and it is said that their condition is getting worse. They hate each other and torment each other. No one is willing to let anyone go. My uncle's family soon drew clear boundaries with my family. Afraid of being stuck in this stinking mud. In this world, no one remembers the little girl named "Tran Hi" anymore.

That girl was like a small stone thrown into a lake. After creating a ripple, it sank forever. That's exactly what I want.11Ten years later. I am sixteen years old. With top results in the entire city, I passed the entrance exam to the best high school. During the opening ceremony, I spoke as a new student representative. Standing under the gaze of thousands of people, I was calm and leisurely. Luu's mother sat under the stage, looking at me. His eyes were wet, full of pride. The opening ceremony has ended. Luu's mother and I prepared to leave. At the school gate, I saw someone. A woman. She wore old clothes that did not fit her, and her hair was dry and yellow. The figure is hunched over, like an old woman. But that face, even though it has been eroded by years and hardships, has no shape left. I still recognized it at first sight. Tran Nguyet. My sister. It's unknown how she escaped from the mental hospital. I don't know how she found me. She stood across the street, looking at me blankly. His eyes were dull, without focus. She looked like she recognized me, but it was like she didn't. Muttering something in her mouth. "Little sister..." "Going home..." Luu's mother also saw her. She frowned and instinctively blocked me behind her. "Tinh Than, let's go."