Chapter 5 — If There's One Day Left to Love

Lang Dieu's adoptive parents always maintained a cautious attitude and were disgusted with me, perhaps thinking that in that house, there was no one else besides Lang Dieu. The fact that Lang Dieu passed the university entrance exam would not have been possible without the guidance and silent help of his adoptive parents. Even for the first year of university, study expenses are supported by them. Although Lang Dieu later earned money through part-time work and returned it all, in his heart, his adoptive parents' love was heavier than the mountain. Lang Dieu was very obedient to his adoptive parents, just being with me was against their wishes. That time when he bought the car, his adoptive parents were finally unable to shake him. I don't know what Lang Dieu said to convince them. It wasn't until the day they broke up, when they had a fierce argument, that I learned the truth. At that time, his adoptive mother called me and I learned that Lang Dieu had planned to postpone his master's exam plan for a year. Her voice was full of indignation on the phone: "You were also the one whose future was ruined by your parents. Why are you doing the same thing as your parents now?" “If you can't take care of yourself, you're forcing someone who's still in school to take care of you?” I was severely attacked and felt extremely humiliated. My little dignity was trampled to the ground by her. The car purchase, for me, was only a temporary plan. It doesn't matter whether or not you have a car to go to work on a snowy day. The important thing is that your budget is too tight, so you regret not daring to spend that money. So, I put all my focus on making money. At that time, while working as a photo model, I met an agent who helped me get more jobs. More work, more social parties. There are usually two or three days a week when I get drunk. Lang Dieu really doesn't like my job. At first he didn't say it directly, just silently endured it, until one time, after I finished work, finished drinking, my partner took me back to the apartment. My phone ran out of battery, Lang Dieu called many times but I didn't answer. Getting out of the car, I dizzy ran to the tree and vomited. My boss and partner always stood by to support me and told the driver to bring me water. When Lang Dieu came out to look for me, he often saw that scene. Back home, we broke out into an unprecedented argument. He said something that made me collapse on the spot: "What I hate most is the look that you bow down to others because of money, without any limits or dignity!" I immediately "broke my defense", said goodbye immediately, then took the car straight to the hotel. That night, I lay in bed crying all night. What's wrong with being obsequious?{Read the full story at Van Ha Tuong page} I just want to make some money quickly, so both of us don't have to live in such misery anymore. I hate Lang Dieu for not being able to understand me. The next morning when I woke up, there was still no call from him on my phone. Lang Dieu did not contact me, but his adoptive mother called. I also learned from her mouth what Lang Dieu's plans were. I stayed at the hotel for a week, but Lang Dieu didn't come looking for me. Later, when I returned to pack my luggage, I bumped into him again - stubbled, looking disheveled. For some reason, as soon as he opened his mouth, he started arguing again. That day we were both extremely tired, we sat in a corner for a long time, then I said: "I'm too tired, let's stop." He refused to break up, so I tried love uses money to stimulate him. I said: "You still have to study in the next few years, why make me waste my youth waiting? I'm young, still beautiful, I can go out randomly and find a man with a house and a car. What about you? What can you give me? Buying a car in installments, paying each month is already a struggle." That was the first time Lang Dieu's eyes turned red in front of me, he couldn't say a word of rebuttal. I pulled my suitcase, cold-faced and walked quickly, afraid that if I was a little slower, tears would fall right in front of him. Lang Dieu's foster mother is right, I can't give you anything, at least don't be a burden to you. Each person goes their own way, lives better, why must they be tied to each other until death? It's just... a week after the breakup, I started to regret it. A month later, I wanted to go back to find him again, constantly recalling the days when we relied on each other. Afraid that I would lower myself and come back and ask to reconnect with my old love, I took advantage of my job and left that city. Unexpectedly, half a year later, I would see you here again. But this time, I will still disappoint Lang Dieu again, because I will not think about coming back. Because… I got sick. Due to constant dizziness, I went to the doctor. The day before I went to eat Haidilao, I got the final result. The doctor pointed to the scan and said, I have a tumor in my head. The situation is serious, the tumor location is very bad, surgery is high risk. Without treatment, I only have a maximum of more than two months to live. That's why I have nosebleeds, dizziness, and headaches. The day I walked out of the hospital with the results, I was so confused that I couldn't think of anyone who could support my spirit right now. The only person I can think of... is Lang Dieu. The day he called me, it was actually because he saw the new location posted on his circle of friends in Tam Bac. So I mustered up all my courage and dialed the number. But on the phone, Lang Dieu said... he already had a girlfriend. 11 He probably didn't expect that his blurted statement would come true. I'm really sick — terminally ill. But I don't intend to tell you, saying it will only make one more person suffer. I tricked Lang Dieu into saying I would give him an answer within a week. In fact, my plane ticket to leave Tam Bac was booked for two days later. It wasn't until I was on the plane that I sent him the prepared message. In the message, he and I made a three-year promise. We haven't seen each other for three years, allowing time to settle our feelings. If we meet again three years later and we still want to be together, we will get married right away. The flight took more than two hours, and when they landed, Lang Dieu still had not responded. Looking at the empty message interface, I felt both disappointed and relieved. Getting in the car, the phone suddenly rang. I thought it was Lang Dieu, but who knew it was Lam Da. “Did you really run away?” "YES." - I gently stroked the strap of my backpack, thought for a moment, then told him the truth - "Lam Da, I have a rather awkward favor to ask." I don't want to give up and die. Thanks to Lam Da's blessing, the money I have saved now is at least enough to treat my illness. I am not afraid of death, but afraid of the pain of being tormented by illness. I'm afraid that after enduring all the pain, what awaits me is still a hopeless outcome. What I'm most afraid of is that Lang Dieu will be by my side through it all, and in the end can only send me away. I discussed with Lam Da over the phone, if I If I can't survive the surgery, please help me take care of the aftermath. Lam Da did not believe that I was sick. "A few days ago I saw you in good health, but now you tell me you're sick? What's more, it's incurable?" "Are you kidding? If you don't want to accept my confession, there's no need to find this excuse!" "Le Tieu Tinh, where are you now? Tell me your address, I will immediately verify the truth. Who knows, maybe the doctor you met is just a quack!" Before I could answer, the car I was sitting in suddenly shook violently and the phone slipped from my palm. In order to avoid a car suddenly coming from the opposite side, the driver hastily swerved, but unexpectedly crashed straight into the railing, plunging into the fast river below. The call ended amid panicked screams from me and the driver, and a brief but heavy crash. I fell into darkness, and the last sound that reached my ears was Lam Da's panicked voice: "Hello? Le Kien Tinh? What's wrong with you! Le Kien Tinh!" The sound of gurgling water surrounded all around, the cold cut into the skin like thousands of needles. I tried to open my eyes, but there was only darkness in front of me. Lam Da's screams from the phone were lost in the sound of rushing water. With vague consciousness, I suddenly remembered that winter morning, Lang Dieu and I walked out of the small alley, white snow falling on his shoulders, and he turned his head and said to me: "Do you want to go with me?" I nodded then. Now, in the middle of the cold water, I see his shadow blurred through the foam, his eyes red, reaching out his hand towards me. That hand... I wanted to hold it, but my body felt as heavy as lead, all my strength gradually left me. A feeling of lightness pulled me deep to the bottom. Before completely losing consciousness, I could only whisper in my heart - without sending it to anyone, without letting anyone hear: "Lang Dieu... I'm sorry. We... probably won't have time in this life."