Chapter 5 — Tham Linh

Giang Tri said, his voice full of resentment. I calmly glanced at him: "Does it hurt? Does it hurt?" "Hurts! Seeing you next to another man, I'm in pain to death!" Giang Tri shouted, no longer able to control his emotions. "Pain is good," I replied word by word. "When I see you and Chau Dao together, I also hurt. You'd better hurt yourself to death, only that will be enough to make up for what I've endured." In the corner of my eye, I saw Giang Tri stooping, his back trembled with disappointment and loss. Leaving the bar, my best friend made an excuse to run away, leaving me and Luc Tuan alone. He called the driver to bring the car to take me home. I kept refusing, but it seemed Luc Tuan was really angry. "Tham Linh, no matter what, we are old classmates, don't I deserve to keep this minimum amount of dignity?" He asked, his voice cold. Having no other choice, I nodded in agreement. In the car, Luc Tuan seemed a little more comfortable, but he remained silent, looking out the window as if his eyes were stuck there by glue. I pretended to cough lightly a few times, intending to break the tense atmosphere. Immediately, he turned his head, took out a bottle of mineral water and gave it to me, but still kept a serious expression and pursed his lips. "This time I'm going on a business trip, when will I be back?" I asked to find something to break the silence. Unexpectedly, Luc Tuan bowed his head, shook it gently and smiled: "Tham Linh, do you really not welcome me? Are you in such a hurry to chase me away?" "No..." I was about to explain, but Luc Tuan interrupted: "Okay, that's enough." "No need to explain anymore." Luc Tuan said in a quiet voice: "Up to now, your eyes have never seen me, I know that. Don't worry, I won't bother you too much, after finishing my work I will leave."In that moment, I didn't know what to say. My best friend was clearly trying to give me a chance, but after a troubled relationship, I wasn't really in the mood for a new one. Moreover, time has passed, who can wait forever for someone? Is the remaining feeling residual love or just pity? Even insiders find it difficult to distinguish clearly. We remained silent like that, until the car stopped at the gate of my house. I thanked him and got out of the car, but seeing him following, I stopped in surprise. Luc Tuan looked at me, his voice cold but full of determination: "I said I would take you to your house. If you don't get to the door, it's not considered a mission completed. Let's go, after that I have to go home to watch a movie. I'm watching a movie about a lover who is always chasing his goddess, which suits me very well." I was surprised by his words, wondering if he was hiding something. In the elevator, there were only two of us. What he just said made me feel a little uncomfortable, my eyes involuntarily looked at the red numbers on the control panel, each floor increasing. My heart beat faster. "He treats you badly." Luc Tuan suddenly broke the silence. It took me a while to understand that he was talking about Giang Tri. "Well, you saw it too. He had an affair, but I'm divorced." "Sorry." Luc Tuan's voice became hoarse and full of emotion. "You have nothing to apologize for." He looked at me, his eyes sincere and serious: "If I hadn't had such low self-esteem in the past, if I had the courage to confess to you... Maybe..." I gently smiled: "There is no 'if' at all, Luc Tuan. I don't regret choosing Giang Tri, nor do I regret this marriage, even though it ended in failure." "Fate has its own arrangements, what's past is past, we should all move forward." I said as the elevator door opened at the right time. I walked out first, turned around and waved goodbye to Luc Tuan: "Here we go, only two steps left. Be careful on your way back."

okay." "Tham Linh." Luc Tuan called me back. I turned my head and met his emotional eyes, which contained gentle expectations mixed with a bit of pain. My heart suddenly tightened a bit. "I still like you, always liked you. Please give me a chance to make up for my regrets, okay?" Although I had somewhat expected it, his direct and frank confession still made me a bit confused. I didn't want to hurt him, but I also couldn't accept this feeling. "Luc Tuan, everything has its right time. Now is not the time." "You're afraid I'll be like Giang Tri, unfaithful, right?" Luc Tuan assured: "I swear that this whole life will only be good to only you, I will never disappoint you." In that moment, I seemed to return to the past, remembering when Giang Tri proposed to me. He also said the same words. The promise sounded easy, but time and life will make it difficult to fulfill. World This world is full of temptations, a lifetime of loyalty is truly a rare thing. I woke up from my thoughts and saw my reflection in Luc Tuan's dark eyes. "Luc Tuan, I believe you, but right now I have more important things to do. I don't have enough mind for love right now, and you shouldn't live forever with so-called regrets. If it's a regret, let it sink into the past. Hopefully we can all face the future without fear, and have a bright path ahead." Luc Tuan smiled sadly, nodding, as if accepting that painful truth. Luc Tuan tilted his head, quietly closed the elevator door and left. "Go to bed early, good night." Until the elevator door closed, I still stood still, my eyes following the decreasing numbers, a feeling of bitterness rising in my heart. Being rejected is definitely not an easy feeling. accept, but that is a mandatory lesson for adults. "Sorry, Luc Tuan, it's not that you're not good, it's just that love will never be my priority again." My best friend called in a video call right after that. "How are you? Luc Tuan has already confessed his love, right?" I was annoyed: "Do you still have the face to say it? Water is in your brain, right? Clearly knowing that I had locked my heart, I even tried to push him towards me!” “I found him both handsome and in love! Don't you know? For so many years, he's still single. Even the bitch isn't around. If not as a lover, at least keep it as a 'backup plan'! "I already have a spare wheel in the car, I don't need it anymore." I teased back. "I originally planned to stay at your house for a few days after handing over the house tomorrow. But now that's it, you have too much thinking problem, I have to stay away from you!” We were joking back and forth when suddenly, a figure rushed out from the emergency staircase, making me startled and took a breath of cold air. “Chau Dao, are you crazy?”