Chapter 19 — The Day I Return

“Because —” His eyes fell on my face, “She thought you wouldn't come. She wanted me as a backup plan.”
I was silent for a second. Then burst out laughing. A pale smile, carrying no emotions.
"Back up for what? Back up to be a filial son for me?"
His jaw bone tightened.
“It's not —”
"Ky Lang," I interrupted, my voice not loud but very clear, "I can handle my mother's matter. I don't need you."
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.
"Okay. Then I'll go."
He said "let's go", but his feet didn't move. Stare at me. That look — As if wanting to confirm that I was really okay. Confirm that I don't need you. Confirm that you can leave. I leaned slightly, giving way for him to walk towards the elevator.
“Go away.”
Finally he moved. When passing me, the distance was very close. I smell a very faint scent. The smell of cedar wood. It's the Cologne perfume he used three years ago. Exactly the same. My heartbeat skipped a beat. Then he walked over. The sound of footsteps fades away. The elevator door opened and closed. The hallway regained its quietness. Nguyen Tieu Ngu appeared from nowhere and stood next to me, with an expression "I saw it all".
“My heart is beating fast.” Small said.
“How do you know?”
“The veins in your neck are twitching.”
“…”
“Don't glare at me, it's not my fault.”
I took a deep breath, pushed the door open and walked back into the hospital room. Mom was fast asleep. The breathing rate is regular, the numbers on the monitor are very normal. Giang Ninh sat by the window, heard the door open and raised her head to look at me.
“He's gone.” I said.
"YES." She replied softly.
I sat down next to the bed and looked at my mother's face for a while. Silence for about five minutes.
"Older sister."
Giang Ninh was clearly stunned. This is the first time in three years that I proactively called her.
“Is your marriage with Ky Lang — divorced yet?”
Her fingers tightened around the fabric on her knees.
"…Not yet."
"Why?"
"He — mentioned it. Many times." Her voice was extremely soft, "But I haven't signed yet."
“Why don't you sign?”
She was silent for a long time. Then he raised his head and looked at me. The emotions in his eyes were so complex — fatigue, self-pity, relief, and even a lifting of a burden that couldn't be named.
“Because I always wait for you to return.”
I frowned.
"I think - wait for you to come home, talk to you clearly face to face. Then sign."
“Explain what?”
"To be clear —" She sniffled, "I never loved him. Marrying him wasn't out of love."
The air in the hospital room froze.
“Then what for?”
"Because my mother begged me. Because she said I couldn't bear it. Because —" Tears fell from her eyes, "Because I owe you."
“What do you owe me?”
"When I was little - do you remember? I wanted to learn piano, but my mother said the tuition was too expensive. I cried for a while, then said, 'Then let my older sister learn'. After that, my sister's piano classes lasted until I graduated from high school."
I was stunned. This… I almost forgot.
“There's a lot more to it.” Her voice broke, "Give me the dress you like, the summer camp you want to go to, the school you want to choose —"
“Second sister.”
She stopped.
“Those things are not important.”
“It's not important to you, but it's important to me.” She wiped her tears, “I owe you too much. So when my mother told me to marry there — I saw, that was the only thing I could help you do.”
I closed my eyes. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt like something was blocking it. In the end I only said one thing: "You should have asked me first." Just like what I said to Ky Lang. Everyone should ask me first. Giang Ninh nodded. Nod vigorously, over and over again.
“Yes… yes, you should ask me. Sorry... Tieu Duong, I'm sorry."