Chapter 3 — Only After Leaving You Will Regret It

She looked at the twins sleeping on the bed. Look at me again. Don't ask anything. Just patted me on the shoulder. "Just tell me what you want to eat later." That day. Niem An actually ate two bowls of wontons at once. I found a job as a night shift cashier at a convenience store. Working hours are from ten o'clock in the evening to six o'clock in the morning. During the day, you can stay home and take care of your children. In the store there were only me and the owner. She is a woman in her forties. Listen, I have to raise three children alone. She didn't ask any more questions. Immediately accepted me to work. "What will the children do at night?" She asked. "I will let the eldest brother look after the two of you." "The boy is just over three years old?" "Is it okay?" I was silent for a few seconds. Then he smiled softly. "It's okay or not." Every night before going out to work, I carefully lock the door and close the windows. Hot water, powdered milk, cookies... all are placed where Niem An can reach. I taught my children: "If you two cry, touch your face to see." "If you're hungry, make milk." "Mom will come back when it's light." Every time Niem An nodded strongly. "Mom, just go." "I will take good care of you." The first day of work, I almost ran home all the way. When opening the door. The twins are sleeping very soundly in bed. Niem An also fell asleep on the side of the bed. Still clutching the milk bottle in my hand. Half of the milk in the bottle was spilled. The bed sheet was wet in a large area. I gently adjusted the three children's sleeping positions. Cover the blanket carefully. Then sat down next to the bed. I really want to take a nap. My eyelids were so heavy that I couldn't open them. But it took me a long time to sleep. Every day, my total intermittent sleep time is only about four hours. I forced myself to sleep. Otherwise, there will be no strength left to endure the next day. Wages at convenience stores are not high. 3,200 yuan a month. The night shift lasts ten hours. During the day, I also take on manual work. Stringing beads, sewing labels... Combined, each month they earn nearly 5,000 yuan. Ms. Tran does not take money for wontons. So I often help her wash dishes and pick vegetables. Life is patched up little by little like that. There was a late night. The convenience store doesn't have many customers. The hostess cooked two bowls of noodles. The two sat opposite each other while eating and chatting. Eat at once. She suddenly asked: "Good girl like you, why is your husband cruel enough to leave you alone to raise three children?" The chopsticks in my hand stopped. Then I laughed. "I don't know what to do." "Who said I volunteered that year?" The bowl of noodles was very hot. It was so hot that my eye sockets were stinging. Almost a month has passed. Deputy Canh Sam did not have any news. Outside the date of completion of divorce proceedings. I received a text message from the civil service. I looked at the phone screen for a long time. Then delete it. Definitely. Clean. Doesn't leave any trace. But someone else called me. That day in the afternoon. I was squatting in front of the alley door picking vegetables. Niem An led the twins to sit in a row on the doorstep. Three brothers held small tree branches and drew doodles on the ground. The phone rings. It's a strange number. I dried my hands and picked up the phone. On the other end of the line was a woman's voice. Just strange. It's familiar again. "May I ask, are you To Van?" "It's me. Who are you?" "I'm On Di Tinh." She paused for a moment. "Maybe Canh Sam has mentioned me before." The vegetable leaves in my hand fell into the basin of water. Sprinkle a few small drops of water. Of course I know On Di Tinh. White moon light in Pho Canh Sam's heart. Beautiful. Excellent. Good family background. They are a talented and beautiful couple recognized by their entire circle of friends. "Once mentioned." I picked up the vegetables. The voice was so calm that even I was surprised. "Miss Wen, are you looking for me for something?" The other end of the phone rang.

let out a soft laugh. "Nothing important." "I just want to confirm whether Canh Sam is really divorced." "There are people talking about this in the company, I still don't believe it." "He said you proactively asked for a divorce." "After signing the papers, he left." "Very definitely." When saying those words. Her tone was not provocative at all. On the contrary, it's a bit confusing. Like it's really incomprehensible. Why would someone proactively leave a man like Pho Canh Sam? "That's right." "Divorced." I replied. "Congratulations to you two." "What congratulations." "We're just normal friends." She added calmly. "But if you say so, I thank you on his behalf for being successful." The call ended. I placed the phone next to the water basin. Continue picking vegetables. Niem An raised her head to look at me. "Mom, who's calling?" "Just some girl." "I don't know you." "Oh." Niem An replied. Then bowed his head and continued drawing. Ms. Tran came out of the house. As soon as I saw her face, I was stunned. "Van Van, what's wrong with you?" I wiped my face with my hand. That's when I realized my face was covered in water. "It's okay." "The water splashed up while washing vegetables." Actually. That phone call didn't hurt me too much. Really. What hurts me is... She said: "He said you proactively asked for a divorce." But it's clear. The divorce agreement was brought by Deputy Canh Sam himself. Even this. He is also lazy to explain the truth. Evening at the convenience store. There was a customer who bought a few cans of beer. My hand that was scanning the code suddenly stopped. The other person asked: "Is something wrong?" I shook my head. "Nothing." "The machine is just a bit laggy." Deputy Canh Sam every time he comes back from socializing. There is always a faint smell of beer on my body. Sometimes I drink too much. He will rest on the sofa for a while. And I sat on the mirror next to it. Quietly look at his face sideways. Don't dare touch. Afraid to wake him up. Now think again. Those secret favorites. From start to finish. It's just me alone performing a one-sided play. One day I left work early. It's only three o'clock in the morning and I'm back. Walking in the middle of a deserted alley. I suddenly missed my children so much. So I suddenly ran faster. Open the door and enter. Niem An is curled up in a blanket. Hearing the noise, I immediately got up. Eyes still sleepy. "Mom, are you home?" I held my child in my arms. The little boy said in a low voice: "My little brother spit up milk today." "I wiped it but it wasn't clean." I turned to look at the twins. Niem Du still had a little milk on the corner of his mouth. Niem So sleeps with his arms and legs spread out. The bed sheet indeed had a small wet spot. The top is also covered with a paper towel. It's been dry for a long time. That moment. I hugged Niem An tighter. The bridge of my nose suddenly stings. My son is just over three years old.