Chapter 11 — My Home, No One Should Touch It

Three months later. Tham An and Pham Dao broke up. My mother didn't know where she got my new number, and every few days she called and cursed—saying that because Tham An was not at home, Pham Dao refused to get married. Pham Dao posted a long post on social networks. Cursed Tham An as a "child who clings to his mother", "a cheater", "a parasitic", and also said "I've only known you three years blind". Tham An commented, "You're no good either." The two of them ripped each other off online and exposed each other. It was so loud that everyone knew.

“It's all your fault!”

My mother screamed into the phone, so loud that my ears rang.

"The wedding was going well, but you ruined it!"

“Now the whole area knows it was abandoned, its face has been ruined by you, are you satisfied, are you happy?!”

“Did I break it?”

I laughed coldly.

“Mom, what does Pham Dao's practicality have to do with me?”

"She criticized Tham An for not having a house. That was her choice. If Tham An had the ability to buy a house herself, this wouldn't have happened."

“So you just give him the house and that's it?!”

“Let him spend his life as a freeloader?”

“It's your brother!”

“He is my brother, not my responsibility.”

I said very calmly.

“Mom, don't call anymore, I've changed the locks and installed cameras. If you guys keep coming, I'll call the police. I won't give you any more chances.”

“You… you really…”

"You're cold-blooded! You're not human! You're a thing..."

“Cussing me is cursing my own mother.”

I hung up. The world… is finally quiet. Half a year later, I heard that Tham An had a new girlfriend. This time it was even more "skillful", in less than three months he had cheated all his money. It's called accumulated money, but it's actually my parents' retirement money. They gathered their entire lives and gave it all to Tham An to buy a house to get married. As a result, she took the money and disappeared. My mother called crying, her voice hoarse as if she had been crying all night. She begged me to lend her some money, saying there was nothing left to eat in the house. I only answer in two words.

"Do not have."

“Are you being deceived by just watching me?!”

“He was deceived because he was stupid, what does it have to do with me?”

“You… you are cold-blooded!”

“Yes, I am cold-blooded.”

I smiled slightly.

“You guys taught me.”

I blocked the number again. It was said that after that, Tham An was in debt and did not dare to go home. The debt collector came to my parents' house, broke the window, and splashed red paint on the front door. The two of them cried every day, but no one cared. Everyone in the neighborhood knows that there is a son in that house who is a spoiled brat and has spent all of his parents' retirement money. My mother, Vuong Tu Lan, went everywhere saying I was "evil", "didn't accept me", "pushed the whole family to a dead end". But no one listened. Everyone said the same thing.

“I was raised by my grandmother, who is to blame?”

It seems... there are still many people who understand. I got promoted, increased my salary, bought a new car, and renovated my house. New floors cover old scratches, new walls cover stains, and new stoves eliminate odors. I chose white walls, light wooden floors, and light gray sofa. The living room has a few potted plants, and the balcony hangs a small strip of lights. The main bedroom's window sill is covered with soft cushions and a few pillows. Sitting there, I could see the whole city at night. On weekends, I invite you to my house, bake food, watch movies. No one can hurt me anymore. A year later, I happened to meet Tham An while jogging in the evening. He was much thinner, his eye sockets were sunken, his cheekbones protruded, and he wore a wrinkled shirt. There is no longer any arrogance from the past. Looks like a shadow lost in the middle road. He saw me, his eyes immediately avoided. Reflexively wanted to turn away. I called him. He stopped and slowly turned his head. The expression was very complex—confusion, fear, and also some anticipation.

“Don't call me sister.”

I walked closer.

“Let me ask you something, how did you know I bought a house that year?”

He bowed his head. Silence for a long time. Finally sighed. The small voice seemed muffled.

"Mom... I asked someone to inquire. She knew I was still in this city, so I always had people following me... the salesperson told me about buying the house. Mom gave them two thousand yuan..."

I laughed coldly. That family... never let me go. They are like leeches, clinging to me and sucking my blood, no matter where I hide. They are always watching, waiting for me to make enough money, waiting for me to buy a house, waiting for me to become a prey that can be harvested. They think that once the rice is cooked, I will abstain for the sake of dignity. But they forgot—I remember very fondly, and there must be revenge.

“Is there anything else?”

Tham An asked softly, his eyes still avoiding. I looked at him. The person who made me scared, angry, and resentful. Now standing in front of me… like an abandoned dog.

“Do you know why you became like this?”

He was stunned.

"Because from childhood to adulthood, you never knew what it was like to try on your own. Your parents gave you everything, you didn't need to do anything to have it all."

“You think the whole world owes you, you think your sister's things are yours, you think you can live well without trying.”

He bowed his head and said nothing.

“But now you understand.”

“This world doesn't owe you anything.”

“I… don't owe you either.”

I turned around and left. Never looked back. Three years later. I heard that my parents fell ill one after another. Vuong Tu Lan had a stroke, paralyzed half of his body, lying in one place and unable to get up. Tham Quoc Cuong had a heart problem and had to have a stent inserted but his recovery was not good. What about Tham An? Disappeared a long time ago. I heard that he worked in another province, but he never sent back a single penny, nor did he make a single call. Neighbors said that two old people were lying there, but there was no one to pour them a glass of water. Before she died, my mother asked someone to text me, wanting to see me one last time. I'm not going. Not because of cruelty. Which is… unnecessary. That so-called “family”… died ten years ago. From the day I walked out that door, from the day I decided not to turn back, it no longer existed. My home is now… here. In a space that I created with my own hands, that belongs only to me. I stood in front of the ground-level glass door, looking out at the glowing city. Thousands of lights, one light... is mine. Phone vibrates. Message from a close friend.

"Let's eat over the weekend? I just learned a new dish, sweet and sour fried ribs, your favorite dish!"

I smiled and answered.

“Yes, I brought wine.”

The city outside is quiet. The lights sparkled like crushed gold falling all over the ground. I turned around and looked at my room. White walls, light wooden floors, light gray sofa. On the tea table there was a bouquet of fresh flowers, and the kitchen smelled faintly of coffee. The windowsill is covered with soft cushions and my favorite pillows. This is Tham Thanh Vy's house. My own house. Ten years of exchange, three years of preservation. Finally… it belongs entirely to me. No one can take it away anymore. No one… can hurt me again.