Chapter 7 — I Don't Wait For Them Anymore

I was thrown back at the rest stop, called a riot. I don't answer the phone, call it chaos. I take care of myself, which is called making a mess. How ridiculous. I don't reply to messages. Put the phone on the nightstand and turn off the light. Outside the curtains, moonlight seeped in. A thin streak of white light shines on the carpet. I stared at that streak of light for a long time. Twenty-eight years now. In this house, I have never been the one to be noticed. When the baby was taken away, no one cried. When we arrived, no one greeted us. Growing up, no one asked me if I was living well. Throwing me back at the rest stop today, no one saw it as a big deal. They are now frantically looking for me, not because they are worried about me. It's because they need me for something. Charging cord. Motion sickness medicine. Map. Phuong Hoanh Vien. What if we get rid of those needs? If it weren't for Phuong Hoanh Vien's story today, would they have made more than a hundred phone calls looking for me? Are not. Mom's text message "Find your own way home" is the answer. Seven words, nailing every truth. I closed my eyes. Tomorrow, there are things that must be said clearly. Not for arguing. Not to force them to apologize. But for myself. It's been twenty-eight years, I should live for myself for once. 【Chapter 10】 At eight o'clock the next morning, my phone rang. Big brother. This time I picked up the phone.

"Tran Bai! You finally answered the phone!" His voice was both urgent and angry, "What the hell are you doing? All day yesterday you didn't answer calls or respond to messages. Do you know how worried my parents are..."

“You.” I interrupted him.

He stopped.

"I'm at the Hilton Thien Dao Lake, the lobby cafe on the first floor. If I want to talk about Phuong Hoanh Vien, I'll be here at 9 o'clock."

“You…”

“Nine o'clock.”

I hung up the phone. Go downstairs, find a seat by the window, order an Americano. At eight forty-seven, the eldest brother arrived. He came alone. Still wearing yesterday's polo shirt, his face doesn't look very good, his eye circles are a bit dark. Sitting down across from me, he glared at me for three seconds.

"Tell me. What is the story of Phuong Hoanh Vien?"

I took a sip of coffee.

“How much money is left in your company account?”

The eldest brother's face changed. Lips pursed, jawline pointed.

“What do you mean?”

"Tran Hang, I ask you, how many more months can your company account last?"

He said nothing. But his fingers tapped on the tabletop – that was his habit when he was stressed.

"You don't need to answer. I already know. Three months is a lot."

His eyes narrowed: "You investigate my company?"

"There is no need to investigate. Last month, Phuong Hoanh Vien's assistant asked me if your company's capabilities had passed the appraisal process. I have already cooperated in reviewing the financial data."

The eldest brother's face turned from unsightly to pale.

“You – on what basis do you touch my company's books?”

"I won't move. Boss Phuong wants to see if you guys can handle this project. I just honestly reported on your delivery capacity and staff size. I have already made a statement about your financial gap, otherwise Phuong Hoanh Vien would have removed your name last month."

The eldest brother opened his mouth. Couldn't utter a word. I pulled out the contract from my inside pocket. Three pages, signed by Phuong Hoanh Vien, dressed in red wood. Place in the middle of the table.

"Twelve million. Annual contract. Take it home, stamp it, send it to boss Phuong and you're done."

The eldest brother bowed his head and looked at the contract. He reached out and took it, turning the pages one by one. Amount, terms, payment schedule, signature. He looked at every page, his fingers running along the paper, as if to confirm if this thing was real. Flipping to the last page, he lowered his hand. Raise your head and look at me.