Chapter 13 — Icebergs Also Know Red Eyes

It was an act at that time, so I wasn't afraid. Now that it's true, I suddenly feel cowardly. 11 Day four. To Nghien didn't text me. In the morning the alarm rang, I habitually glanced at my phone - there were no new messages. I crawled out to the stadium. I'm not there. The track was deserted, with only a few uncles getting up early to practice Tai Chi. I stood at the edge of the track, waiting for ten minutes. I didn't come. At noon in the cafeteria, the usual seats were empty. I picked up the tray of rice, found a corner, sat down, and ate a few bland bites, like chewing wax. In the afternoon at the library, there was no one where he usually sat. I sat next to the empty chair, opened the book, but not a word entered my head. Are you in a cold war? That's not true, To Nghien is not someone who plays tricks on the cold war. So what is he doing? I texted him a message: *Didn't see you today.* Ten minutes later he replied: *Something happened.* Two words. What? I don't dare ask. Because I was afraid he would ask back, "Why do you care?", I didn't know how to answer. On Thursday, he still didn't show up. The same goes for Friday. It's been three days. Three days of not seeing him, not eating together, not jogging together. My life suddenly had a big chunk erased. When I wake up in the morning, I don't have to rush to meet the six o'clock alarm anymore, but at five fifty I wake up on my own, tossing and turning and not being able to go back to sleep. This afternoon I could eat whatever I wanted, but standing in front of the cafeteria counter, I ordered a portion of brown rice and boiled chicken breast. Take a bite, it's made by the cafeteria, not by you. Bad. Friday night, To Niem came to my room. His expression was different - not the usual look of eagerness to watch a good play, but a bit worried.

“Do you know what my brother is doing these days?” He pulled the chair down and sat down.

“I don't know, he said he had something to do.”

“He's packing his things.”

“What furniture?”

To Niem looked at me and hesitated for a moment: "My brother has applied for a student exchange next term. Going abroad. Half a year." My head made a "buzzing" sound.

“What?”

“I applied last month, and have been preparing the documents for the past few days.” To Niem said, "It was originally planned, but he never said anything to you."

“Half a year?”

“Yes, next February.”

I did the math — there are only three months left.

“Why didn't he tell me?”

"He sees that the relationship between the two of you is unclear," To Niem's voice sank, "He doesn't know if he has the right to talk about these things with you."

I stood up suddenly.

“Where is he now?”

“It's just the dormitory, at this hour probably—”

I frantically put my shoes on.

“Hey, are you looking for him?” To Niem ran after him, "Have you thought carefully about what you're going to say?"

“Haven't thought.”

“So you—”

“If you haven't thought about it yet, don't think about it anymore.”

I ran downstairs, across the stadium, across the street I jogged every morning, and straight to the front door of the men's dormitory. At nine o'clock at night, there were a few guys downstairs making a phone call. I pulled out my phone and dialed To Nghien's number. Ring the third ring then pick up.

“Khuong Loc.” His voice was a bit hoarse, like he hadn't spoken for a long time.

“Come down here.”

“What?”

“I'm downstairs. Come down here.”

The other side was silent for two seconds.

“Wait for me.”

The phone hung up. Three minutes later, the dormitory door opened. He walked out, wearing a gray T-shirt and pants black, hair slicked back haphazardly, with one curl sticking up. Seeing me, his steps paused slightly, then walked towards this direction. Standing in front of me, the streetlight shined down from above his head, lengthening his shadow.

“What's going on?” he asked.

I raised my head to look at him. After three days of not seeing him, he seemed to have lost a bit of weight.

“Are you going abroad?”

His expression changed in an instant.

“To Niem said?”

“Yes.”

“This has been going on for a long time—”