Chapter 9 — I Don't Wait For Them Anymore

“Eldest brother told mom about Phuong Hoanh Vien, right?”

Her mouth was stiff. Eyes averted. I laughed.

"Mom, you don't need to act. I know why you came. My eldest brother told me about the twelve million contract. I was afraid that you would be angry and not give it to him anymore, so I came to comfort you."

“What kind of things do your children talk like!” Her voice was high-pitched, "I'm your mother! Do I still need a reason to come visit you?"

“Need.” I replied, "Because yesterday I didn't need a reason to leave you behind."

She was stunned. My father stood behind and frowned: "Young man, speak in moderation."

“Dad, you see that I speak without moderation. So who forgot me at the rest stop yesterday, whose moderation is there?”

Dad opened his mouth, unable to say anything. Tran Dao stood far behind, bowing his head without saying a word.

“I made thirty-six phone calls.” My voice wasn't loud, but every word was very clear, "Thirty-six calls. Five people, not one answered the phone."

My mother: “At that time the phone call…”

“Your phone is not on silent, Mom. It's not that you don't hear it. It's that you don't feel the need to listen.”

Her face turned red.

“You…”

“It was only when there was a traffic jam, discovering there was no charging cable, no motion sickness medicine, and discovering that the person Phuong Hoanh Vien was looking for was you and not your eldest brother, did everyone remember you.”

“The whole family is going on a trip, do you need to go to such lengths?” My mother's voice trembled, not because of sadness, but because of anger because she was hurt by what she said.

"It's not that bad. For everyone, leaving their children behind is really not that bad."

“What are you talking like!” My father took a step forward.

“I only speak the truth.”

I looked at him, so calm that it didn't look like myself.

"From childhood to adulthood, have there ever been times when people needed you for yourself? Not to carry luggage, fill gas, carry medicine, or run errands to win contracts. Simply, because you are our son, people remember you?"

The hallway fell silent. My mother's lips moved. But she said nothing. I waited five seconds. Ten seconds. Fifteen seconds. She remained silent. This silence is the answer.

“Okay.” I said, "This afternoon I'll take the high-speed train back to Shanghai. Everyone have fun."

“Tran Bai…”

"I gave you the contract. Don't worry, twelve million is not a penny missing."

I closed the door. 【Chapter 12】 The moment the door closed, there was a noise outside the hallway. Not my mother's scolding. Not dad's yelling. It was a very soft sob. Tran Dao's voice.

“Brother... I'm sorry..."

Very small. One door away, almost inaudible. I stood behind the door. Hands remain on the handle. Don't open the door. This apology comes too late. But at least… she spoke. I carried my backpack and went down via the emergency stairs on the other side. Don't encounter them again. At 2:40 p.m., the high-speed train departed on time. I leaned against the position next to the window, looking at the blue mountains and water of Thien Dao Lake falling behind. The phone vibrates. Message from sister-in-law:

"Tieu Bai, your eldest brother has been silent ever since he came home, sitting outside on the balcony absent-mindedly for two hours. I don't know what you two talked about, but this is the first time I've seen him like that. Please take care of your safety. Come home. Then tell me something.”

I answered "Yes". The phone vibrates again. Message from Phuong Hoanh Vien:

“Tieu Tran, the contract confirms there is no problem. As for the other thing, just think about it more, I'm serious."

The other thing - he was talking about asking me to work on my own. Moving to the company, he worked as Commercial Director at partner level (Partner). The annual salary plus commission is three times higher than my current income.