Chapter 8 — Private House in a Joint Family

I just want to have my own space, a life without anyone bothering me. Why is such a simple request so difficult for them to understand? At eight o'clock at night, I ordered food through the app. When placing an order, I noted: Put the item in front of the neighbor's door, I will pick it up myself. Waiting for the shipper to leave, I quickly opened the door, took the food, and closed the door. The whole process took less than ten seconds. My mother stood up to hold me back, but I had already closed the door.
"Ly Vu! Open the door for mom!"
She started knocking on the door again, knocking for a long time, and finally she was so tired that she sat down. I finished my food, cleaned up, and then took a shower. After taking a shower, I stepped out and it was quiet outside. Looking through the cat's eyes, there was no one left. They left. I breathed a sigh of relief, went back to the bedroom, and lay on the bed. Close your eyes, try to force yourself to sleep. But my mind was chaotic and I couldn't sleep. It wasn't until after two o'clock in the morning that I fell asleep.
06
Saturday morning, I was woken up by a knock on the door. I glanced at the clock, it was only seven in the morning. I closed my eyes and didn't move. The knocking on the door lasted for more than ten minutes before stopping. I thought they had gone, but unexpectedly it rang again. This time it wasn't knocking on the door, but the doorbell, ringing continuously, non-stop. I sat up, put on my coat, and walked out the door. Looking through the cat's eyes, this time there were even more people coming. My mother, my father, my younger brother, also my eldest aunt, second aunt, uncle, several cousins and younger cousins. A group of people stood in front of my house. My mother said:
“I don't believe it won't come out, let's just wait here.”
"Sister, how about you call him? Let's talk softly?" – Second aunt said.
“Called, he didn't listen.”
“So what now?”
“Just wait, it will definitely come out.”
“But this is not the way, how about calling a locksmith?”
"No, this is his house, I can't force him."
My uncle said:
"Tieu Vu has been stubborn since childhood, this time I don't know how it turned out like this."
My father said:
"Isn't it because he's been pampered? Before, we just let him do whatever he wanted."
I heard those words and found them funny. Am I being spoiled? From childhood to adulthood, when have I ever been pampered? I went back to the bedroom, put on my headphones, and turned on the music. I turned the volume to maximum, masking all the sounds outside. Then lie down on the bed and close your eyes. I don't know how long it took, I fell asleep. Woke up, it was one o'clock in the afternoon. I took off my headphones, it was quiet outside. I got up, washed my face, then went to the kitchen to cook a bowl of noodles. After eating, I sat on the sofa and turned on my phone. There is a new message on WeChat, sent by a high school classmate.
"Ly Vu, are you free tonight? Come out for a glass of wine?"
I thought for a moment then answered:
“Where?”
“Old place.”
"What time?"
“Seven o'clock.”
"Okay."
I put down the phone and went into the dressing room. When I left the house it was half past six, the door was empty. I breathed a sigh of relief and took the elevator down. When I arrived at the bar, my friend was already there.
“Ly Vu, you're here, sit down.”
I sat down, he poured me a glass of wine.
“I heard there's been something going on at your house lately?”
"YES."
"What's up?"
I raised my glass and took a sip.
“Just a trivial family matter.”
“Can you say it?”
I thought for a moment, then briefly told what had happened in the past few days. After listening, he was silent for a while.
"Ly Vu, have you ever thought that if you continue to be so stubborn, the relationship with your family may no longer be salvageable?"
"I know."
"So But still want to continue?
"Want."
He looked at me, his eyes somewhat complicated.
“Why?”
“Because I've thought it through carefully. I don't want to live forever in the expectations of others."
I took another sip of wine.
“From childhood to adulthood, I always yielded, always endured, always complied. I thought that as long as I was good enough, one day they would see what I had put in and it would be more fair to me.”
“But I realized I was wrong. They will never get enough. They just think I should do more.”
"Because in their eyes, I am the eldest brother, I have to yield to my younger siblings, I have to sacrifice for the family, that is natural."
I finished my glass of wine.
“But now I don't want it anymore. I just want to live for myself for once.”
My friend poured me more wine.
“I understand what you mean, but have you ever thought that if you do that, your mother will be very sad?”