Chapter 21 — The Day I Return

“Yes. Thank you.”
I turned around and left. This time there is no more heavy feeling. Downstairs, bright sunlight. Nguyen Tieu Ngu waited at the door: "Are you done?"
"YES."
"So where are we going now? It's the last day, do you want to —"
“To a place.”
"Anywhere?"
“TV tower.”
Nguyen Tieu Ngu blinked: "Revolving restaurant?"
"YES."
“Why… do you suddenly want to go there?”
“Want to eat.”
“Is there anything delicious there?”
"I don't know. When I was eighteen, I went once. I was so worried and stressed that I didn't taste anything."
The corners of Nguyen Tieu Ngu's lips slowly opened.
"Understood. Let's start from the beginning."
"Yes. Let's start again."
When I was eighteen years old, I sat across from Ky Lang, so nervous that my palms sweated, I didn't even move my chopsticks when ordering anything, I just kept looking at him the whole time. He gave me a fountain pen. I used that pen for five years, until I moved house in Geneva when it was lost. I have to go back today. Not because of him. It's to make up for the meal I never ate properly when I was 18 years old. The revolving restaurant is located on the 28th floor of the TV tower. The view is absolutely amazing. The whole city collapsed into view. The 2 p.m. sunlight penetrated through the ground-level glass door and was warm and radiant. I sat next to the window, opposite Nguyen Tieu Ngu. She fondled the menu with excitement: "Wow, 9 pieces of Wagyu beef per portion? How expensive is it?"
“Call.”
“How about wine? This bottle looks fine —”
“Call.”
“And dessert?”
“Call them all.”
She raised her head to look at me and smiled: "You seem to be in a good mood today."
"YES."
I looked at the city out the window. High-rise buildings. Roads. Plant. The other side is the direction of the high-tech park. The industrial park's location is roughly — that place. A little further away, is the cemetery's mountain. A little further — Is the airport. Tomorrow I will leave this place from there.
“Second sister.” Nguyen Tieu Ngu suddenly asked while eating an appetizer, "Before you leave, don't you plan to meet him once?"
“Who?”
She glared at me. I cut a piece of Wagyu beef and put it in my mouth. Um — delicious. That trip when I was 18 was a waste of my life.
"Don't know." I said, “It depends on the situation.”
“What situation?”
"If he comes - we'll meet. If he doesn't come -"
“So it's over?”
I chewed the beef, thinking.
“Then — he deserves it.”
Nguyen Tieu Ngu choked on wine, coughed and laughed. After eating, it was already 4 pm. The sunlight begins to change to warm tones. Standing on the observation deck of the TV tower for a while, the wind blew wildly, tossing her hair. I stood leaning against the railing, watching the city below my feet gradually change from dusk to dusk. The phone rang. Black cat representative photo. 【Giang Ninh told me, I'm leaving tomorrow.】 I answered: 【Yes. 3pm flight.】 His response message did not come immediately. Lasts about two minutes. 【Can I see you off?】 I looked at this text. The wind blew my hair into my face. I raised my hand to brush my hair back. Type: 【No need.】 After sending it, it seemed too cold. Should send another message: 【If you really want to meet me — Not at the airport. Not peeking through the car window. I didn't ask my assistant to deliver the words.】 【Then where?】 I thought for a moment. 【Let me finish thinking and then I'll tell you.】 He didn't answer. Thirty seconds passed. A message: 【Okay. I'm waiting for you.】 I looked at these three words, the corner of my mouth slightly raised in a faint arc. Wait for me. Then you just wait. Three years ago I was waiting for you. Now it's your turn. Put the phone away, walk towards Nguyen Tieu Ngu. She looked at my face: "You're smiling."
“No.”
“Yes, the corners of my mouth are curled.”
“Blowed by the wind.”
“…Today I blame the wind for everything.”
Back at the hotel that night, I opened my laptop and sent Deputy Mayor Tran an email.