Chapter 15
Chapter 15 — I Have Conceded Enough
“It's just that Tinh Mien doesn't have a father or mother.”
“It's more pitiful than you.”
“I know.”
“I don't know.”
My mother held my hand tightly.
“I grew up in the Ta family since I was little, and I had everything.”
“He was only eight years old and had already lost his father and mother.”
“We take care of it a little more, what's wrong?”
My fingers slowly stiffened. I grew up in the Ta family as a child? It turned out that in her memory, I had never been brought up by my grandmother until I was twelve years old. There was never a time when she was so busy taking care of Hua Tinh Mien, who had just been picked up, that she didn't see me once for a whole month. There has never been a time when I was picked up at the Ta family's house, and my mother didn't remember what I liked to eat, so much so that I had to ask Aunt Tran. She forgot everything. Forget it all.
“Not wrong.”
I withdrew my hand.
“So I give in.”
Mom was stunned.
“The engagement, give it.”
“Bedroom, give it to him.”
“Position in the company, give it to me too.”
“I want to take care of it, so just keep taking care of it.”
“I didn't stop it.”
“What about me?”
Mother's voice trembled.
“What do you think?”
I looked at her.
“In the past, without children, my mother still lived very well.”
As soon as these words were uttered, the whole studio was frighteningly empty. Mother's face turned pale. I suddenly felt a bit tired.
“Mom, bring the cake home.”
“The relatives are still waiting for mom.”
She didn't move. Half a day later, she took out a jewelry box from her pocket. Open up. Inside is a damaged sapphire. One corner has been sharpened. The feather-shaped capsule inside was destroyed, looking like a broken feather.
“I told them to stop.”
“Can it still be fixed?”
She looked at me, her eyes filled with pleading. It was as if if I just said “okay”, everything would be restored to the way it was before. I picked up the stone and looked closely.
“Can be redesigned.”
“So I…”
“But it is impossible to return to its original appearance.”
Mother was stunned. I put the stone back in the box.
“There are things that are broken that can only be turned into new things.”
“There's no going back to the way things were.”
Her tears fell onto the lid of the box. I closed the box for her.
“Happy birthday mom.”
Finally, my mother left. The cake was left on the table. To Yen Thu walked out of the room and took a look.
“Eat?”
“Don't eat.”
“What's wrong?”
“So sweet.”
To Yen Thu removed the cake wrapping tape. On the top of the cake, use red fruit jam to write the words:
“Happy birthday mom.”
Signed in the bottom corner: Tinh Mien. Maybe at first my mother intended to ask me to eat together. But on this cake, my name has never been on it.
8
Three days after their mother's birthday, the Ta and Luc families quickly finalized the wedding date. Luc Tram Le did not nod, but also did not refuse. For the superiors of both families, this silence was more than enough. On the third day, Hua Tinh Mien sent me a wedding invitation. Bride: Hua Tinh Mien. Groom: Luc Tram Le. The wedding date is set for a month later. Below the invitation card there is also a small line of text.
“Sister, I hope you can be my bridesmaid.”
I looked again and again twice. Then answer it one word.
“Okay.”
Five minutes later, the eldest brother's phone call came.
“You agree?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what it takes to be a bridesmaid?”
“I know.”
“Don't you care?”
“Don't mind.”
He was silent for a long time.
“Ta Tri Vi, what do you want to do?”
“Go get married.”
"I liked Luc Tram Le like that before."
“Before was before.”
“Love cannot be completely finished.”
“So what?”
“Don't make trouble at the wedding.”
I burst out laughing.
“Eldest brother.”
“It was everyone who invited me.”
“I'm afraid I'll cause trouble.”
“How about I don't go anymore?”
“No way.”
The other end of the line heard Hua Tinh Mien's voice.
“Brother, I already agreed.”
“I won't hurt you.”
The tone was both gentle and extremely steadfast. It's like he's trying to bail me out.