Chapter 18 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

She walked out the door, the hallway was bustling with people. Tong Tuyet stopped by the window, bowed her head and glanced at her phone. On the screen, was the message in the mission group last night. The Department of Education announced that next week grade 12 will take the first round of mock exams. All subject teachers must complete their review plans one week in advance and report simultaneously. The group was filled with "Received" and "Cleared". The head of the department even tagged her.

"Miss Tong, do you have any problems with Mr. Luc that you need to discuss? During this time, if you have work, we must arrange a substitute teacher in advance."

Yesterday, Tong Tuyet left a message.

"My husband had a heart attack. The doctor said he would have to stay in the hospital for a while. I asked for three days off. I will change my teaching schedule myself. If I can't, I'll bother the academic department."

The head of the department only left a message: "It's hard for you." She knew that even if she said more, she wouldn't be able to gain sympathy. Each person has their own difficulties. So does she. She lightly pressed the road button and walked towards the elevator. When I went downstairs, my phone rang. An unknown number sent a text message.

"Tong Tuyet, it's me, Tong Man. This morning I came to the hospital, I'm in the cardiovascular department down the hall. Do you have time to come down here for a moment?"

Tong Tuyet saw the words "Tong Man", her fingertips tightened slightly. This is her sister. Five years older than her, the first years she worked as a nurse at the district hospital in her hometown, then went to the coastal area to work as a laborer, all those years still traveling outside. Usually they don't communicate much, only when there's a big matter they call. The year before she had breast surgery, it was Tong Man who signed the commitment to help her. From then on, Tong Man called her and said only one sentence.

“Tong Tuyet, take care of it yourself.”

She remembered that sentence for two years. Tong Tuyet left a message.

“I'm in the lobby on the first floor of the dormitory, wait for me in five minutes.”

She went to the cafeteria to buy two hot buns, conveniently bought two glasses of soy milk, and then went to the first floor lobby. The hospital lobby was as crowded as ants. People took medical examination numbers, people waited for tests, people pushed wheelchairs, the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant mixed with the smell of food. Tong Man sat on a bench in the corner of the lobby, wearing a charcoal blue windbreaker, his hair cut much shorter, looking more agile than before. She is a little whiter than Tong Tuyet, and the corners of her eyes also have wrinkles. Seeing Tong Tuyet, she stood up.

“You've gotten thinner.” The first sentence Tong Man uttered was this.

“You haven't gotten much fatter.” Tong Tuyet brought the breakfast bag over, "Have you had breakfast yet?"

“Not in the mood to eat.” Tong Man shook his head, "Sit down."

The two sisters sat shoulder to shoulder on the bench. There were all kinds of noisy noises around, but there was a strange silence between the two of them.

“Is the surgery done?” Tong Man asked.

“Yesterday morning the stent was inserted.” Tong Tuyet said, "The doctor said the surgery went quite smoothly."

“Where are you?”

“In the third treatment ward of the cardiovascular department.” Tong Tuyet hesitated, "Do you want to go up and see?"

“Don't watch.” Tong Man blurted out, feeling a bit harsh, so he lowered his voice, "I'm afraid that if I see him, I can't help but curse out loud."

Tong Tuyet said nothing. Tong Man glanced at her and sighed.

“You still look like this, swallowing everything in your stomach.”

“I can't swallow it, and no one can help me dig it out.” Tong Tuyet replied blandly.

Tong Man was silent for a few seconds.

"When you had surgery last year, what did I say? Do you remember?"

Tong Tuyet nodded.

“I said, sooner or later you will regret your choice.” Tong Man said, "At that time, I was still defending him, saying he was busy, saying his work pressure was great. What was the result? I was lying on the operating table, where was he?"

“In Xiamen.” Tong Tuyet corrected, "It was the company that organized it."