Chapter 30 — Marriage Is A Trap

Five years later. On my thirty-fourth birthday... Co Dien did something that surprised everyone. He writes books. A very thin book. Only about twenty thousand words. Not published. In this world... Only one copy printed. The book's title is:

“Her One Hundred Moments.”

He put the book on my desk.

“Birthday present.”

First page. Moment one.

“January 15, 2024.”

“Thanh Tay Bookstore.”

“She's wearing a black vest…”

“Stand on stage and say: ‘My name is To Niem.’”

“That moment…”

“I feel like every definition of courage in this world is no longer accurate.”

“Brave should have been her appearance that day.”

Second page. Second moment.

“March 8, 2024.”

“She said: ‘Just like tonight.’”

“The words I didn't say at that time were…”

‘Hopefully from now on…”

“Every night…”

“It will all be like that night.”

Third page. Fourth page. Fifth page. One hundred moments. Every moment... Are all details that he observed while being with me. There are a few things... Even I don't remember anymore. Moment forty-seven:

“When choosing apples in the supermarket…”

“She will bend down and smell it first.”

Moment sixty-three:

“When I write, it doesn't go well…”

“She would unconsciously tap her fingers on the table.”

“The frequency is two beats per second.”

Moment eighty-nine:

“I don't care about what she said…”

“It's usually the things she cares about the most.”

The hundredth moment.

“October 3, 2029.”

“Her thirty-fourth birthday.”

“She is reading this book.”

“Maybe she's smiling.”

“Might as well be crying.”

“But no matter what kind…”

“She is also very beautiful.”

I raised my head. Co Dien is standing at the door. In his hand he held a small box.

“I once said…”

“Wait until I finish writing the next book.”

“But I don't know when you will finish writing.”

“I wrote a book myself first.”

He stepped forward. Open the box. Inside is a very simple ring. No diamonds. No pattern. Just a plain silver ring.

“Not expensive.”

“Two thousand yuan.”

“Because you said…”

“The value of a ring does not lie in the material.”

“But it depends on the person wearing it.”

I looked at that ring. Then look at him.

“My way of proposing…”

“Writing an entire book of twenty thousand words?”

“Don't you like reading books?”

I laughed. Laugh for a while... Eyes turn red again.

“Get what?”

“I marry you.”

He picked up the ring. Wear it on my ring finger. Just like measured before.

“Have you measured my hand?”

“When you sleep…”

I looked at him.

“The person you are…”

“It's actually a bit scary.”

“This is the second time you've said that.”

I bowed my head and looked at the silver ring in my hand. Five years ago... I signed a divorce petition in front of another man. Five years later... I said "okay" to this man again. Life is like that. There are times when you think you've reached a dead end. But when I turned around I discovered... Behind that wall... There was still another path. And on that road... There was a person waiting. He doesn't pressure you. Not pulling you away. Just stood there quietly. Wait until you are ready… Step forward yourself. The wedding was held the following spring. Don't make it big. Only held right in the meeting room of Kien Hoa Foundation. Invite about thirty People. Tan Loc was the bridesmaid. Lam Kha is the MC. Editor-in-Chief Trieu sat in the front row... Taking photos from start to finish. Ngo Man Chi also came. Chung Quoc Dong and Ly Ngoc Hoa also came. They have been married forty-seven years. Chung Quoc Dong laughed and said:

“Finally, I don't need to brag anymore.”

“To Niem's wedding also invited us…”

“Proves that we are truly a model of a good marriage.”

Ly Ngoc Hoa stood next to him and glared at him.

“Be less narcissistic.”

“You forgot to buy soy sauce last week.”

Chu Yun flew in from somewhere else. She gave me a photo album. Inside is a photo of me when I worked at the magazine. The last page contains a small piece of paper.

“Tieu Niem.”

“You are the most stubborn person I have ever met.”

“But also the one who goes the farthest.”

“Congratulations.”

“— Ms. Chu.”

Weddings do not have elaborate rituals. Co Dien and I stood next to each other. Say a few simple sentences.

“I don't promise to give you a perfect marriage.”

“Because perfection is fake.”

“I just promise…”

“I will give you a true person.”

“A person will make mistakes…”

“I know I'm sorry…”

“And remember everything you said.”

I looked at him.

“I have studied marriage for ten years.”

“Write eight books.”

“But when I stand here…”

“I just discovered…”

“The most important morality…”

“Actually there is only one sentence.”

“Be kind to each other.”

The whole hall burst into laughter. After the wedding… We returned to our new home. One hundred and twenty square meters. Three bedrooms, two living rooms. Compared to Co Dien's previous four-bedroom villa... It can be considered "downgrade". But he never complained once.

“It's okay if you like it.”

“What about that four-bedroom house?”

“Donate to the office fund.”

“Are you serious?”

“Have you ever seen me not be serious?”

I sit by the window. Outside are the lights of the city. Six years ago… I also sat by the window like that. Look at the same sign of lights. I just signed the divorce papers. My palms are full of sweat. Six years later. It's still the same light. But it's another doorway. Another person. My hands are no longer sweaty. A silver ring. And a book of twenty thousand words. The phone vibrates. Lam Kha sent a message.

“Editor-in-chief Trieu asked when will you submit the manuscript for the ninth book?”

I looked at Co Dien standing in the kitchen washing dishes. Then answer one question.

“Wait until I finish my honeymoon.”

Turn off your phone. The light outside the window still glowed quietly. In the distance, someone is shooting fireworks. I don't know whose family is having fun. I leaned back in the chair. Hear the sound of running water in the kitchen. Hear the sound of dishes gently touching each other. The sound is very normal. But that kind of normality… It took me six years… to find it.