Chapter 2 — The Daughter No One Chose

The atmosphere was extremely awkward, Giang's mother coughed softly and quickly reassured: "It's okay, let me help you, I didn't think carefully." Giang Hang complained: "Mom is biased." Ba Giang, who had been silent, suddenly shouted loudly: "Shut up." The crab was peeled by Duy Nhat. I ate the crab meat in the bowl, as bland as chewing wax. Everyone started talking and laughing happily again, only I was completely lost. I always wonder if it's because I'm too stubborn. That night, Giang's mother specially came to sleep with me. She hugged me - my stiff body - into her arms and softly asked: "Tieu Khe, did they treat you well?" Smelling the gentle scent on her body, I sadly replied: "Um." Even though I'm not as happy as Giang Duy Nhat, my adoptive parents have never treated me badly. It's just because the Lam family is poor and I'm the eldest sister, so from a young age I was asked to understand and listen. I am Lam Tuan's older sister, a small cotton shirt in the eyes of my parents, a daughter who was called a "loss of money" by my grandmother. Actually, I have never hated the elderly, after all, in that small, backward district, sons are always considered more important than daughters. After returning to the Giang family, I realized that girls could also be raised so delicately. “Tieu Khe, you and Duy Nhat are both my daughters, I love you very much, don't think too much about it.” Giang's mother gently patted my back. I was pulled back to reality, I didn't know how to answer, I could only pretend to sleep. A long time later, while dreaming, I heard her sigh. After my eldest brother returned to school in his third year of university, I started taking tutoring lessons with Giang Duy Nhat. I know, Giang's mother wants me and Duy Nhat to foster our relationship. In the room, she and I looked at each other without saying anything. She's very nice, not overbearing, and sympathizes with others, but I don't want to be her sister or friend. “Tieu Khe, I took your position for so many years, I'm really sorry.” This is the first time Giang Duy Nhat sincerely apologized to me like that. “No need, you are innocent anyway.” I took out my exercise book and bowed my head to do my homework. Right now I feel like I'm at a dead end, I long to be loved by my family, but I don't want to have too much to do with Giang Duy Nhat. On the first day of school, Giang's mother told Giang Hang to wait for me after school. On the surface, he happily agreed, but as soon as the school bell rang, he immediately took Giang Duy Nhat home. Giang Duy Nhat and I are in the same grade, but because she is a dance student, she is not in the same class as me. I waited at the school gate until it was dark, but there was still no sign of Giang Hang. At this time the sun had set, it was starting to get dark, the traffic on the road was so busy that I didn't know what to do. I walked alone towards the bus stop. Because I didn't have any change, I had to go to the small shop opposite to change money. As soon as I arrived at the shop, three girls wearing heavy makeup and holding cigarettes were chatting with each other. My steps stopped, feeling a bit uneasy. I quietly turned around and left. Just as I thought I had escaped, a girl's flirtatious voice rang out behind me: "Little sister, I've run out of money to buy medicine, can I borrow some pocket money?" I pursed my lips, quietly took out 50 dong from my briefcase and gave it to her. The girl took it with an expression dissatisfied, assessing me from head to toe: “Is that all?” I said sadly, "Hmm." "Sister, we'll still be here tomorrow. We won't see each other until we go home." She laughed and blew smoke at me. The three of them were about to leave, when a male student suddenly stood in front of them, with a cold expression and said: "Leave the money." He looked very fierce, and his reckless fighting style made the other three girls run away in fear. Under the dim light, he glanced at me then turned and left. "Hey... can you give me two coins? I don't have money for the bus." Seeing him go further and further away, I couldn't help but speak. He snorted softly, but still took out two coins and gave them to me: "When you get home, tell your parents, don't be stupid and let them blackmail you anymore." “Yes, thank you.” After the male student left, I took two coins and got on the bus. When I got home, Giang Hang was watching TV. As soon as he saw me, he said: "Giang Khe, if your parents ask later, just say you're going to a classmate's house." I pretended not to hear and went straight to my room. During dinner, Giang's mother couldn't help but speak up: "Tieu Khe! Making friends is of course a good thing, but if you go out to a friend's house in the future, remember to tell the family, otherwise we will worry." Seeing that Giang's father also expressed his dissatisfaction, I was just about to explain when Giang Hang interrupted: "Mom, just let her go home on her own later! You don't know how long I'll wait for her at the school gate today." Giang Hang acted resentful, as if I was the one in the wrong. "Giang Hang never waited for me at all. I came back so late because people were blackmailing me." As soon as my words ended, the whole dining room suddenly fell silent. I continued: "If you don't believe it, that's okay. Tomorrow I will go to the police station and report myself." I left that sentence and stood up to leave. Because of lying, Giang Hang was beaten by Giang's father. He was not willing and ran to find me to settle the matter: "Giang Khe, do you have to push people to that extent? Duy Nhat even said you were kind, but now it seems like you are truly cruel to the extreme." "Giang Hang, aren't you doing all that just because you're afraid I'll chase Giang Duy Nhat away? If that's the case, I'll make it clear, I won't chase her away, but I hope you don't bother me anymore from now on, river water doesn't violate well water." There are times when blood is not as good as daily companionship. He is just Giang Duy Nhat's older brother. After being warned, the three girls never appeared again, and I never saw that tall, thin guy again. Even though Giang's mother advised me many times, from then on, I still chose to take the bus home by myself. Giang Hang also kept the agreement, no longer causing trouble for me, we are just strangers sharing the same bloodline. As a transfer student entering 11th grade, I began to integrate into the new class and gradually made friends. But because the educational gap between the city and town is so large, the achievements that once made me proud are now nothing. To keep up with my studies, I don't dare to be negligent for even a minute. “Tieu Khe, school just started, you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself.” Giang's mother brought a glass of milk into the room and did not forget to give instructions before leaving.