Chapter 2 — The Autumn of Wen Ninh

Luc Can Hoa put the cake on the bedside table, bent down and kissed my forehead:

"I'm still not sure about you. I told you not to listen to her. It would have been better if I had come in to comfort you sooner."

As he spoke, he took out a gold bracelet and gently placed it on my wrist:

"Now it's just the two of us. Ninh Ninh, happy birthday."

I opened my mouth, but didn't know what to say.

"I've already asked for leave in the next few days. Shall we go on a trip? Consider it compensation for not being able to comfort Ninh Ninh in time."

What are the next few days? The other day I was planning to leave for Singapore. I raised my head to look at Luc Can Hoa. His eyes were filled with anticipation, his eyes sparkling. The other day, I agreed to his confession because of those sincere eyes. He said he would never let me suffer. He said he would give me two hundred percent love. He leaned on my shoulder, greedily inhaling the scent of shower gel on my body:

"Ninh Ninh, I love you so much. What should I do? I really can't leave you more and more. I will make a gold bracelet, a gold chain for you, locking you by my side forever."

I lowered my head to look at the gold bracelet that fit on my wrist, my heart was full of hundreds of knots.

“Do you like it?”

He lifted my hand and placed a kiss on the back of my hand:

“If you don't like this style, we'll go change it tomorrow.”

Looking at his actions, I instinctively withdrew my hand. Even I was startled by my own reaction.

“Ninh Ninh?”

A look of bewilderment flashed across Luc Can Hoa's face. I pursed my lips:

"About traveling, I probably can't..."

I hadn't finished speaking yet, the phone rang at the wrong time, interrupting the conversation. He glanced at the caller's name, hesitated a bit but still picked up. It's Trinh Ngu Vi's voice.

“Luc Can Hoa, can you come over here for a moment?”

"No way. Didn't I tell you to go home on your own? Don't bother me, I still have to be with Ninh Ninh."

Luc Can Hoa refused very firmly.

“Please, just come here for a moment…”

Trinh Ngu Vi's voice trembled slightly. Luc Can Hoa realized something was wrong and tightened his grip on the phone.

“What's wrong with you?”

“I was hit by a car.”

“What did you say?!”

Luc Can Hoa's voice immediately rose, both angry and impatient as he scolded:

"No, are you a pig? Even when you go home, you get hit by a car? What car? Where does it hit? Is it serious? You just stand there, I'll come over immediately..."

He said while putting on his jacket. But at the last word, he suddenly stopped. He looked at me awkwardly.

“Ninh Ninh, human life is important…”

The candles on the cake have not yet been blown out. But the fire was too weak, some trees had already gone out. I closed my eyes:

“If you want to go, go.”

After a moment of silence, the sound of the door opening and closing rang out quickly.

"Sorry, Ninh Ninh! I'll be right back when I leave!"

3

The room became quiet again. I gently took off the bracelet Luc Can Hoa gave me and put it in a drawer. His eyes suddenly turned to the photo of the three of them together on the nightstand. In a bedroom meant for two, it was an eyesore. Luc Can Hoa was the one who put it there. He said this photo shows the three of them very beautifully, even Trinh Ngu Vi looks like a human. As soon as he heard this, Trinh Ngu Vi immediately picked up a pillow and threw it at him. scolded him for not being able to say anything kind. They have known each other since childhood. They are childhood friends, but on the surface they always seem to disagree with each other. Every time we meet, we can't say more than three sentences before we start arguing. One person makes a sarcastic comment, the other person immediately responds, no one is willing to yield to the other. In the end, they always pulled me in. Luc Can Hoa hid in my arms, acting coy:

“Ninh Ninh, there's an old witch bullying your boyfriend, can you take care of it?”

Trinh Ngu Vi scolded:

"Do you still have any shame? Tieu Ninh, don't pay attention to him! Just pretend. Tieu Ninh doesn't know what kind of person you are, do I still not know?"

So the two argued even more fiercely. But in some respects, they are strangely compatible. They have the same favorite singer and common interests. For a completely different person like me, even if I wanted to integrate, it would be impossible. That chemistry gradually became a burden. I remember one time Trinh Ngu Vi invited us to arrange plastic beads. Sitting all day, my eyes were dizzy from fatigue, but they were still enthusiastic and not bored. I tentatively asked:

“How many more will it take to finish?”

Trinh Ngu Vi and Luc Can Hoa looked at each other.

“You don't want to do it anymore?”

I nodded shyly. Trinh Ngu Vi frowned, his face full of regret:

"What a pity, I was planning on making one more..."

She said that, making me feel even more awkward. I quickly turned my eyes to Luc Can Hoa. But he told me again:

"I also have one left. If you're tired, go home first, I'll stay with Trinh Ngu Vi a little longer. Good boy, when I get back I'll buy you some baked goods."

His voice is very gentle. No sarcasm, no insinuations. He just frankly spoke his mind. Like tonight, he said wearing a dress was uncomfortable so he wanted to get me pajamas. Like you said, human life is important. But the discomfort in my heart still couldn't go away. The cake on the table was a bit melted. The flames on the candles flickered, as if the next moment they would completely extinguish. I sat blankly at the head of the bed, looking at the cake for a long time. Finally, I sighed. Then clasp your hands together, close your eyes and blow out the candle.

“Wishing myself a happy birthday.”

“Wishing you a smooth student exchange life.”

“I wish me and Luc Can Hoa... a clean cut.”