Chapter 2 — Realizing It's Too Late

Ha Canh Chau put the car key in my palm: "Drive your car home, don't take the subway. There's yogurt you like in the refrigerator. I'll cook noodles for you when I get home, okay?" He remembers that every time I was sad, I refused to eat. He also remembered that I only liked the tomato noodles he cooked. I tightened the key: "Ten o'clock, I'll wait for you." Sam Man Thanh walked out of the private room, bent over and hugged his stomach: "Canh Chau, maybe I can't go try the food anymore. You stay with your sister-in-law, I'll call a car home." Ha Canh Chau supported her elbow: "Don't be stubborn." “But sister-in-law is not happy.” “She is an adult who knows how to take care of herself.” He helped Sam Man Thanh step into the elevator. Before the elevator door closed, she pulled up her scarf, revealing a silver leaf-shaped pin at her collar. That's the pin Ha's mother took out of my jewelry box last month. She said she needed it for a family party and would return it in a few days. At 9:50 p.m., Ha Canh Chau texted me: "Put water in the pot, I'll be home in ten minutes." I pre-cut the tomatoes, waited until half past ten, and finally the sound of fingerprint unlocking was heard outside the door. Ha Canh Chau walked in with a cold breath and placed a paper bag on the dining table: "The bakery you mentioned before. I'll buy it for you by the way." I opened the paper bag. It's a green lemon cake. I don't eat green lemons, Sam Man Thanh likes it. He also saw the label and immediately reached out to take the paper bag back: "The employee packed it wrong. I'll buy it again tomorrow." "It's not a mistake. The name on the form is Man Thanh, with little sugar." Ha Canh Chau tore down the form and crumpled it in his palm: "It's just a piece of cake, is it worth questioning?" “I promised to cook noodles for you.” "Your mother suddenly stopped you from talking, Man Thanh vomited again. Did you have to throw her in the middle of the street?" “I can tell you.” "What's the use of telling me? Let me get angry over the phone?" The doorbell rang. Ha's mother walked in carrying a thermos, her eyes falling on the untouched tomatoes: "Canh Chau has been busy until now, are you still waiting for him to come home to serve you? Man Thanh is so upset but still knows how to stop the wine for him." She stuffed the thermos into Ha Canh Chau's hand: "This is the hangover soup Man Thanh cooked for you. She'll be engaged next month, don't let her worry about you forever, to avoid the Hua family misunderstanding." “Mom, the leaf-shaped pin she wears on her chest is mine.” Ha's mother took off her coat and calmly said: "It's just a small piece of jewelry. She tried on a dress that lacked accessories, so I lent it to her." “I haven't asked your opinion yet.” "Why do family members need to be divided so clearly? Man Thanh and Canh Chau grew up together. If she hadn't gone abroad, it wouldn't have been her turn to marry into this family." Ha Canh Chau put down the thermos: "Mom, that's enough." He walked in front of me and wiped the tomato juice stains on the back of my hand: "Thu Y, tomorrow I will take the pin back. If you don't like her wearing it, I won't let her wear it anymore." I looked at his lowered eyes, the lump in my chest loosened a little. “And the watch.” “Okay, get them all back.” Ha's mother's face was cold: "Tomorrow night is your father's birthday party. Man Thanh will represent the Hua family to invite you to drink. What should she wear? Does she have to listen to an order tracking employee pointing five fingers?" Ha Canh Chau did not answer, but the phone rang again. Sam Man Thanh's cry came from the receiver: "Canh Chau, Hua Nghien wants to annul the marriage. He saw the watch and thought you and I had an unclear relationship. Can you come and explain to me?" Ha Canh Chau picked up his coat. I blocked the door: "I just promised you." “If her marriage is annulled, will you be satisfied?” “Tell her to take off her watch and that will explain it.”