Chapter 9 — Please Don't Take Three Steps Back

I closed the album. The room was so quiet that you could clearly hear the sound of traffic outside the window. Luc Van Chu stood in front of me, his fingers unconsciously ruffling his shirt. I suddenly realized that he was actually much more scared than I thought. Don't be afraid of being close. It's because I'm afraid that after I know the whole truth, I'll turn away and walk away. I stood up and walked in front of him.

“Luc Van Chu.”

He raised his eyes. I slowly asked: "I like you, do you want to date me?" This time, he did not stay silent, nor did he back down. He took off his mask and seriously replied: "Yes." One word fell, and the rock that had been hanging in my heart for so long finally landed. I laugh. He also smiled, very faintly, but very beautiful. I opened my arms: "So, boyfriend, let's give you a hug?" Luc Van Chu looked at my hand, as if he was solving an extremely difficult math problem. A few seconds later, he hugged me. This time was a little more natural than in the medical room. He remained tense, his back and shoulders stiff, but he did not let go. I patted his back: "Master Luc has made great progress." He said sadly: "Don't call me teacher."

“What is it called?”

He paused for a moment: "Boyfriend." I deliberately prolonged my voice: "Friend, boy." His ears turned red, he bowed his head and kissed me. Very light. As if afraid of breaking something. I was not satisfied: "Is this all?" Luc Van Chu looked at me: "Can we continue?" I laughed out loud: "You're so polite now." He replied: "If I wasn't polite before, I was wrong." My heart softened, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. At first he was very restrained. After that, my breathing became erratic and I didn't know where to put my hands. I was amused by his clumsiness, and he kissed me until my legs were weak. When the edge of the sofa hit his knee, I gently pushed him away.

“Stop, Luc Van Chu, calm down.”

He immediately let go of me, his eyes panicked: "Did it hurt you?" I gasped: "It's not that it hurts, it's that if you keep kissing me again, I'm afraid I won't be able to go to work tomorrow." He froze for half a second, his ears turning red even brighter. Then, he quietly put on the mask. I was speechless: "What are you doing?" His voice was sad: "Cooling down." I laughed until my stomach hurt. After determining the relationship, everyone in the department quickly discovered clues. Because Luc Van Chu no longer refused me entering the forensic room. I gave him coffee, he accepted it. I moved closer to talk, but he didn't shy away. One time, Tieu Trieu saw Luc Van Chu applying a band-aid to me, and was so shocked that he felt like he had just encountered a tragedy.

"Brother Tham, has Master Luc been taken away?"

I put my hands in my pockets: "Just a little wait." Ha Nam is the most itchy person. He leaned at the door and asked: "Master Luc, is Tham Tri under your control now?" Luc Van Chu did not bother to raise his head: "Yes." Ha Nam laughed: "Then he owes me three rounds of grilled meat." Luc Van Chu finally looked up: "I pay for him." I was shocked: "No, based on what?" Luc Van Chu looked at me: "The family's debt, the two of us shoulder it together." The whole office exploded. I covered my face, wishing I could crawl under the table. Wasn't this person very quiet before? Why is it that once you're in love, every word you open your mouth will take someone's life? I later learned that Luc Van Chu had always maintained mental health treatment reason. He started trying to reduce the frequency of using antiseptic spray, and sometimes took off his mask in places where there were no people. This process is not fast. Sometimes he will suddenly turn pale and lose control for a moment when he smells blood. But he is no longer alone. He will text me.

“Tham Tri, I'm not feeling very well right now.”

I immediately texted back.

“Wait for me, come now.”