Chapter 12 — People Whose Achievements Are Stolen

He put down the towel, walked to the tea table and put a pen next to the divorce agreement.

“I signed today.”

“This afternoon I will tell Director Tien that this matter stops here.”

“Tomorrow I will go through the paperwork to quit my job.”

“Move out the day after tomorrow.”

“Afterwards, everyone still happily broke up.”

As he said "happy farewell", his finger rotated once again on the watch strap. At that moment the phone in his pocket rang. He took it out and glanced at it. Hesitated a bit then picked up the phone.

“Yes, processing.”

"Don't worry, there will be results today."

“Yeah, okay, I know.”

“I remember to rest.”

He hung up and put the phone back in his pocket. Didn't explain who the caller was. But when he said the words "remember to rest"... His voice was a whole layer softer than when he was talking to me. I bowed my head and looked at the divorce agreement on the tea table. Three and a half pages. White paper and black ink. he said. I picked up the pen. His shoulders relaxed a bit. I really signed it. In the final signature, I write stroke by stroke:

“Tham Niem.”

He raised his hand to get the documents. I pulled out a brown envelope from my bag next to the sofa and placed it on the tea table next to the divorce agreement.

“I signed it.”

“I signed it too.”

“But there is one thing…”

“Maybe you forgot to return it to me.”

His hand stopped.

“Three months ago there was a letter sent to the hospital.”

“The recipient wrote my name.”

“You accept it for me.”

“Open for me.”

“Also answer for me.”

“You said I wasn't suitable.”

“Then help me refuse.”

The first real expression appeared on his face this morning. No longer peaceful. No more patience. But a kind of surprise and fear welled up from the bottom of his eyes.

“What did you say?”

“Thu Quang Plan.”

“Invitation from the National Academies.”

“Signed by academician Co Hoai An.”

I pushed the envelope towards him.

“I have backup.”

“Response letter.”

“Timestamp.”

“History of Mail.”

"There's also a screenshot of the rejection email that you used the deputy principal's email address to send under my name."

He did not touch the envelope. The hand pulled away from the table as if it had just touched something burning.

“There's also that fake pregnancy examination report.”

“What report?”

"You can use this to go to the administrative office to complete the procedure to withdraw my application to become a monk."

“It says I'm six weeks pregnant.”

“But I'm not pregnant.”

“I also never went to the doctor that time.”

“The signature on that report is not mine.”

His lips opened and then closed again.

“Nem Niem…”

“You falsified medical documents.”

“Use it to block my path to further education abroad.”

“Using it to cut even national projects.”

“Same trick.”

“I used it twice.”

I stood up, grabbed my bag. The divorce agreement is still on the tea table. His part.

“Tomorrow at the institute's commendation ceremony…”

“Someone will come looking for me.”

“You better not get in the way.”

I went to the mysterious gate to change my shoes.

“Tham Niem.”

He chased after the living room, one hand leaning on the shoe cabinet.

“I can't do that.”

“Do you know what this means?”

“If all of that is revealed…”

“It's not just about you.”

“But it's the whole institute's business.”

“Director Tien, Dao Vien... everyone will be pulled into the water.”

I pressed the elevator button.

“That's your problem.”

The elevator door opens go out. I walked inside. The moment the elevator door closed, I saw him standing in the hallway. One hand against the wall. His other hand frantically searched for something in his pocket. He took out his phone and made a call.

“Director Tien.”

“Something happened.”

“Tham Niem already knows about that letter.”

The elevator door is completely closed. I hit the first floor. The elevator slowly went down. I took out my phone and opened the confirmation email from the Thu Quang Planning office. The email is only a short line.

"The results report has been forwarded to academician Co. Evaluation comments will be responded to within forty-eight hours."

I locked the screen and put the phone in my pocket. The elevator hits the floor. Outside is the apartment basement. Cold gray white light. So quiet that you can clearly hear the sound of your own heels. I walked out. The commendation ceremony began at ten o'clock in the morning. At half past nine I arrived at the gate of the research institute. Old Ngo in the security room saw me and immediately stuck half his body out of the window.

“Miss Tham, your access card was canceled last week, don't you know?”

"I know."

"So you can't come in. Can you wait a minute, I'll call the duty officer to help you..."

“No need.”

I stood outside the gate. Don't step in. Nine forty-five. A small black bus turned from the end of the street. The car body is clean and shiny. There is no logo. There is only one passport stuck on the right corner of the front of the car, with a dark red border. Old Ngo saw the color of that piece of paper and immediately jumped up from his chair. He worked as a security guard at this gate for twelve years. I've only seen that type of passport twice. The last time was when provincial leaders came to the institute to visit.