Chapter 3 — Love Behind a Ring

After packing my luggage, I sat by the bed, unconsciously looking at the photo placed on the nightstand. That photo was taken on the ferris wheel. One day, the mysterious spirit Phuong Nhu ran to me and said:

"I heard that couples who kiss deeply when the Ferris wheel reaches its highest point will be together forever. You and my brother should try it!"

I laugh at her for always believing in superstitions. But in the end we still went. The only thing is, there were not two people walking, but three. In the end, Phuong Chap Duat just gently kissed my cheek. The moment the photo was taken, Phuong Nhu also appeared in the frame. She smiled happily and raised her hand to make a V sign. The two-person trip turned into a three-person trip. The double photo turned into a triple photo. At that time, Phuong Nhu also said she would forever protect the love between me and Phuong Chap Duat. Now I'm afraid I have to disappoint her. I stood up, without any emotion threw the photo frame into the trash. There was also a ceramic doll I personally made for Phuong Chat Duat, which I also threw away. After finishing everything, I walked into the bathroom to wash my face. Only then did I slowly realize that on my ring finger there was still the couple ring that I had worn to please Phuong Nhu. Sometimes I feel that the love between me and Phuong Chat Duat is ridiculous. It is clearly the love of two people, but there is always the shadow of a third person. After wearing the ring, Phuong Nhu excitedly pulled us to take pictures. She also posted it to her friends circle. Before long, the bottom was full of comments. They're all words of admiration: 【Your brother and best friend really spoil you! Isn't this your lover's couple ring? I didn't expect you to have a part too!】 【I admire the love between the three of you so much. Tran Uong is really kind. If my brother dares to do that, my sister-in-law will probably rip his head off!】 【The three of us celebrate the holiday together again! Just showing off, my saliva is about to run all over the ground!】 Phuong Nhu happily shared those comments with me. But my eyes only stopped at the second comment. No one seems to notice... That's a normal person's reaction. That's it, it doesn't matter anymore. Freed from memories, I took off the ring and placed it on the sink. I looked at myself in the mirror, smiling slightly. Then returned to the room, pulled the suitcase and quietly left Phuong's house. Kinh City and Port Island are more than nineteen hundred kilometers apart. The mountains are high and the rivers are long, it's best to never see them again from now on.

05

Phuong Chap Duat could not understand why Tran Uong suddenly did such a thing. After taking Phuong Nhu back to his room, he sat alone in the study all night. The ashtray was full of extinguished cigarette butts, and cigarette smoke covered the entire room. During the process of climbing to his current position, even that year, when Phuong Nhu suddenly developed a heart attack and was taken to the special care room, he never turned to cigarettes to relieve his emotions. But today, it was as if a flow of air was blocked in his chest. Not being able to go up or down makes him uncomfortable and painful. Do you love Tran Uong? He didn't know, but he definitely had feelings for her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted precious time pursuing Tran Uong. But Tran Uong is not wrong. At first, indeed He did so because of Phuong Nhu's request. Phuong Nhu is his only relative and his only bond in this world. They lost both parents at a young age and had to rely on each other to survive. During her poorest time, that stupid girl once hid a white bun, waited until they were both so hungry that they couldn't bear it anymore, then took it out, broke off pieces to share for him to eat. Their childhood had no joy, no sunshine. It's all just days of struggling in the mud. So later on, whatever Phuong Nhu asked for, he never refused. But when did he start to really care about Tran Uong? And since when did you consider this love as a struggle? I don't know. I only know that Phuong Nhu has a very beautiful wish. Those three people will never be apart, forever together. Phuong Nhu and Tran Uong are best friends. With this bond, the relationship between the three people will be even more difficult to change. I always think like that. But today, everything was beyond his expectations. If it was just for the couple ring, he would feel that Tran Uong was making a big deal out of something small. But what if it's not? When did Tran Uong decide to break up with him? Phuong Chap Duat's thoughts were confused. The more he thought, the more he smoked. Suddenly he felt lucky because he had never said he loved Tran Uong. Otherwise, his current appearance is really too difficult. Phuong Chap Duat went into the bathroom. When he returned, he put all thoughts out of his head. He even thought that if Tran Uong continued to say goodbye, he would definitely nod in agreement and absolutely not continue to follow her wishes. But he didn't expect... When he returned to the room, Tran Uong had already left. He looked at the empty room in surprise. Pupils constricted, heart suddenly skipped a beat. Half of the wardrobe belonging to Tran Uong has also been cleaned out. The photo is on the nightstand. The ceramic item that Tran Uong was suddenly inspired to make himself. All are gone. No, there's still one thing. On the bathroom sink is a three-year anniversary gift he gave Tran Uong. A couple ring. The culprit caused them to break up.