Chapter 14 — It's You Don't Need Me First

I looked at him. Calmly took off the veil and placed it in Hua Duong's lap.

“It's you... you don't need me first.”

The car door opens. Bui Chieu Xuyen put his hand on the top edge of the car door so I could get in. Chu Ky Bach rushed down the steps. But my father stopped me. The moment the car door closed... His hand slammed on the window pane. That evening, I returned to my house. The furniture in the wedding house was picked up by my father and Bui Chieu Xuyen together with me. Chu Ky Bach also came. He stood at the door, watching me put bed sheets, jewelry boxes, photo albums, unboxed double cups... into each box. The light blue nightgown still hangs in the dressing room. Hua Duong used a coat hanger to push it down and threw it straight into the trash bag. Chu Ky Bach's face turned pale.

“I'll have someone clean it up.”

“I don't need this house.”

I put the keys on the cabinet at the entrance. Chu Ky Bach immediately panicked.

“The house is in my name.”

"The deposit to buy a house is yours to pay, the loan is also paid by you, I don't take it."

My father took out the transfer statistics sheet he had prepared in advance.

"The renovation costs paid by the Tong family will be paid according to the invoice. As for the transfer of the house's name, both parties will handle it themselves."

Chu's mother was not present. It is said that after returning to her old home, she fell ill. Relatives took turns advising her to stop meddling in Tham Nam Chi's affairs. Tham Nam Chi's injuries were not serious, he only had three stitches. Ly Que Cam welcomed her back to her hometown, but she refused to go, causing a ruckus in the hospital all night. The next day, she sent me a very long text message. 【Tong Tri Mien, I won. But don't think he loves you that much. He's just not used to you leaving yet.】 I didn't answer. Later, listening to Hua Duong's story, Tham Nam Chi came to find Chu Ky Bach, but was blocked outside the gate by the Chu family's security guard. She stood downstairs crying and calling his name for half an hour. Chu Ky Bach never came down. It sounds satisfying. But I just feel tired. A week later, the two families met at the mediation room next to the police station. The damaged jade bracelet was compensated by Tham Nam Chi at its correct value. The Chu family suffered most of the losses from the wedding party. The Song family will refund the bride price, and the congratulatory money will be returned according to the list of guests who donated it. The whole time, Chu Ky Bach sat across from me, his eyes never leaving me. While signing, he suddenly spoke:

"Tri Mien, I've made it clear to my parents. We will live separately from now on, and I won't let you feel resentful anymore."

The tip of my pen stopped on the paper. I raised my head to look at him.

“Up until now, do you still think that the problem lies with your parents?”

His lips were pale.

“I know... I'm also at fault.”

“Not also.”

I pushed the signed agreement in front of him.

“But from beginning to end... it's all your fault.”

The mediator tapped lightly on the table.

“Mr. Chu, please sign.”

Chu Ky Bach stared at the paper, the blue veins on the back of his hand clearly bulging out. Much later... He finally signed his name down. The last stroke of the pen had just fallen... His eyes were red.

“Tong Tri Mien... can I still see you later?”

"Unnecessary."

He said softly:

“I still have the ring.”

The diamond ring didn't fit that size... I had already put it in the trunk refund. When stepping out of the mediation room, the sunlight was so bright that people could not open their eyes. Bui Chieu Xuyen stood waiting for me on the steps. He didn't ask me if I was sad or not. Just give me a bottle of water.

“Uncle Tong told me to take you home.”

I take it. Hua Duong ran from behind and took my arm.

"Let's go, go home to eat. Auntie has stewed the soup, uncle also bought the sweet and sour fried ribs you like."

Behind him, Chu Ky Bach's footsteps were heard. He stopped a few steps away from me.

“Tri Mien.”

I don't turn around. Hua Duong turned around and glared at him.

“Mr. Chu, the agreement has just been signed, don't embarrass yourself.”

He did not step forward. A long time later... Chu Ky Bach often appeared under my apartment complex. Sometimes I bring breakfast. Sometimes carrying a bouquet of flowers. Sometimes I just stood quietly under the streetlight and smoked a cigarette. My mother softened once and asked me if I wanted to meet him. I looked at a familiar figure outside the window. Then shook his head.

“No see.”

Before... He kept me waiting too many times. This time it was his turn to wait. Only then will I know... What it feels like to wait forever and not be able to meet the person you want to meet. There was a time... I think at the end of the red carpet on my wedding day... It was the rest of my life. Later I understood... The rest of my life never began because someone came to pick me up. It started from the moment... I wore that heavy wedding dress... I opened the door myself and walked out. The hallway light turns on. My mother called again from upstairs:

“Mian Mien, the soup is about to get cold!”

Hua Duong took my hand and walked inside. Bui Chieu Xuyen held the door for both of us. Outside... Snow is still falling. Right before the moment the door closed... Under the streetlight in the distance... There was no longer a single person left.