Chapter 5 — I Have Conceded Enough

“Brother Tram Le does not accept me.”

“He said the engagement was yours.”

“Today I was impulsive.”

His mouth said that, but his hand never extended towards me. It controls the distance just right. As long as I stretch out my hand, it can relax. Rings will fall. It will cry. The eldest brother and mother will rush in. I'm so used to this farce. I didn't move. Hua Tinh Mien waited for a while.

“Sister?”

“The ring is dirty.”

His face stiffened.

“What?”

“I don't need things that other people have used.”

The girl's fingers slowly tightened.

"But Mr. Tram Le..."

“It's the same.”

Hua Tinh Mien finally raised her head to look at me. The humble weakness on its face disappeared in an instant. But very quickly, he pretended to feel sorry for himself.

“Sister, you still blame me.”

“No.”

“Then why are you speaking so harshly?”

“I only speak the truth.”

“Sister!”

He panted, clutching his chest.

“I just want to live in harmony with you.”

“I know you hate me.”

“But I'm eight years old and have already gone to the Ta family's house.”

“My parents and older brother are also my family.”

“I never thought about replacing you.”

After speaking, he looked around my room. His eyes glanced from the bed, the wardrobe to the desk by the window. Finally, it spoke softly:

“Mom said, when Tram Le and I get married, we need to redecorate the wedding room.”

“The lighting in my room is not very good.”

“The photographer said that during wedding preparations, it is best to stay in a room facing south.”

The time has finally come.

“So?”

He bit his lip.

“Can I stay in your room temporarily?”

“Just stay until the wedding is over.”

“Sister, you don't mind, right?”

It looked at me. The bottom of his eyes had both anticipation and anticipation. It wants to see me angry. If you want to see me point to the door and tell him to go away. Want to hear me say, this is my room. As long as I open my mouth, he will cry and run to find his mother. Then people will once again tell me: It's just a loan. Since childhood, he has not felt safe. I'm your biological child, why wouldn't I give up even a room? I pulled open the drawer and took out the spare key. Give it to him.

“Okay.”

Hua Tinh Mien did not accept. It stared at that key.

“Do you really agree?”

“Don't you want it?”

“I…”

It opened its mouth, unable to say a word. At this time, mother and eldest brother also went to the door. Probably afraid that we would have a conflict again. Seeing me holding the key in my hand, my mother was stunned.

“Tri Vi, Tinh Mien just said that casually.”

“Don't think it's true.”

I put the key in Hua Tinh Mien's hand.

“If he likes it, give it to him.”

His eyebrows furrowed more and more all day long.

“What are you causing trouble again?”

“I don't cause trouble.”

I turned around and opened the closet, starting to take out things. Mom looked at my movements, her voice was a bit tense.

“Where are you going to move?”

“Living room.”

“This is your room, there's no need to move it.”

I stopped.

“But he likes it.”

My mother was speechless. Hua Tinh Mien held the key in her hand, without any joy on her face when she got the room. He watched me take out things one by one, and finally couldn't help but say:

“Sister, I'm only staying temporarily.”

“You don't need to move everything out.”

“It's okay.”

“Me I don't like others touching my things."

His face was pale white. I don't bother looking at it anymore. There aren't many clothes. After a year of not returning, there wasn't much left of the things that truly belonged to me. I packed half of my suitcase, then took a few more work notebooks from the table. Finally, I reached out and took down the nameplate on the door. The metal piece rubbed against the wooden door, making a soft squeaking sound. The eldest brother's face darkened to the extreme.

“Ta Tri Vi.”

“Why are you taking that off?”

I put the name tag in the toolbox.