Chapter 9 — Lam Ha Mat

Chu Hanh Da and his sister are two people apart. On the second page, they sit on the cable car together. On the third page, the girl gets motion sick, closes her eyes and leans on the chair, Chu Hanh Da holds water for her. On the fourth page, two people wear the same style of raincoat. On the fifth page, the younger sister stands in front of the sunrise, Chu Hanh Da stands next to her and takes a photo of her. Each photo, viewed on its own, can be explained. A sister is a family member. Chu Hanh Da is his brother-in-law. He's just helping. He's just taking care. He doesn't touch where he shouldn't touch. Don't say things that shouldn't be said. I asked him: "We've been together for six years, how many cities have we been to?" He paused. We have only gone away together twice. One time to attend your wedding. Once on a business trip, he conveniently stayed for two more days. "How many places have you gone with him?" He didn't answer. The places in the photos are more places than the places we've been to together. "What medicine should he take for motion sickness, I know." "He's afraid of heights, he has to sit inside on the cable car, I know." "He likes to sit near the window, doesn't eat coriander, has to wear a blindfold when sleeping, I know." "What medicine should I take when my child has a stomach ache, do you still remember?" The hand holding Chu Hanh Da's album tightened. "These things can be slowly found later. understand." Again later. "There were many jokes between people that only those who participated in the trip would understand." "After returning home, everyone mentioned a certain store, a certain driver, a certain time of getting lost, I sat next to them but couldn't interject a word." "At that time I consoled myself that you were taking my place with the family." "Now I know, after they left me behind, you filled the empty position for them." There." Chu Hanh Da closed the album. "I can take you back to the beginning." "All the places she used to go, we will go again once." "This time it's just the two of us." I shook my head. "Wherever you want to go, I will go myself." "You don't need me to take the roads I used to go with to make up for it for you." He raised his hand to touch me. I stood up and walked away. "Lam Ha Mat, I really know I'm wrong." "I just always felt like you didn't need someone to take care of you." "Thanh Thanh knows how to cry, knows how to say she's upset." "As for anything, I can handle it myself." "So people who know how to cry will be taken care of." "People who can endure it will continue to get hurt." "There's no difference between me and your parents." His eyes turned red. "Give me one more chance." "I will change." "I do." can change.” “But I won't go back to check.” He bowed his head. After a long time, he called me again by my previous nickname. "Ha Mat." I said: "Chu Hanh Da." "From now on, please call me Lam Ha Mat." He did not continue to chase. He hugged the album and left. Inside there was no evidence of adultery, but it recorded that the places he went with his sister were more places than the places he went with me. 14 A few months later, the small supermarket recruited permanent employees. Dad no longer insisted on opening the door until eleven o'clock every night. Closes at nine o'clock. Earn a little less money, but it's not as tiring as before. My sister started paying for her own insurance and phone bill. He changed to another job, the salary is not high but he can no longer swipe my supplementary card at will. One time, my mother sent a text message. "Thanh Thanh was on duty at the store for half a day today." "Even though I made two mistakes, I finally decided to study." I didn't comment. Contact between us became very little. Sometimes my mother asks me if I have eaten yet. When my father's back hurt, he went to the hospital to register for a check-up. Dau Bao was re-examined and they took him away himself. When winter was about to end, Mom sent a video. In the video, two red envelopes are placed on the living room table. It's still the same type used to draw lots. She opened the first room in front of the camera. Travel

calendar. Then open the second room. Stay. Dad sat next to him and said: "This time it's real." "Your dad and I have finished discussing." "Whoever draws the winning number stays." Mom put two pieces of paper on the table. "Ha Mat, you go back and draw first." "This time I'll definitely let you choose." I watched the entire video but didn't answer. That day, I was on my way to the airport. I used the money I saved after the annulment of my marriage, plus the salary I had accumulated for several months, to book a plane ticket to the beach. Just one ticket. I took a photo of my boarding pass and sent it to my mother. "From now on, I won't draw lots anymore." She never answered. When I was about to go through the security check, she just texted a sentence: "Remember to report safety when you arrive." There was no duty board. Don't tell me what to buy on the way. Nor did he ask me to come back and help. I turned off my phone, entered the security check door.15I chose a seat near the window. When checking in, the staff asked me if I needed to change to an aisle seat. I said no need. That's the position I've always wanted to sit in. In the past, every time I planned a trip, I always reserved a spot near the window for myself. But when it comes to actually departing, that position always becomes the sister's. It's carsick. It wants to see the scenery. It just fell in love. His mood is not good. There's always a reason.