Chapter 24 — The Day You Abandoned My Mother and My Child in the Middle of the Airport

He stood in the middle of the crowd. Wear a brand new white shirt. Hold a stuffed bunny in your lap. Like an outsider lost in this place. The show started. The children wore colorful costumes. Take turns stepping onto the stage. Ly Minh Trach's eyes. Continuously search. Find the small figure. But I miss you day and night. I see. Niem Niem stands in the second row. Third position from the left. She is taller than before. Hair is also longer. Tie two small braids. The face is still chubby. Big and bright eyes. The child is wearing a pink princess dress. In his hand he holds a prop star. Singing attentively. Ly Minh Trach stood under the stage. Look at my daughter. Tears blurred my vision. Niem Niem is singing. A song about the stars.

“Twinkle, twinkling stars in the sky.

Thousands of sparkling stars. Shine bright in the high sky. Like a thousand little eyes.” Your voice is very clear. Like a small bell. I sing very seriously. Pronounce each word clearly. Ly Minh Trach suddenly remembered. When Niem Niem was young. Tham Niem has filmed many videos of her children. I've never seen it. I want to see. But those videos. It's gone. The show ended. The children ran down to the stage. Find your parents. Niem Niem ran over. Jump into a woman's lap. That woman. Wear a beige coat. Hair tied in a bun. Gentle facial profile. She bent down. Embrace Remembrance. Gently kiss your child's cheek. Niem Niem smiled and curled her eyes. Hold mom's hand. Chattering about something non-stop. Ly Minh Trach stood still in place. Hug the stuffed bunny. Don't dare step forward. Tham Niem raised his head. Look towards him. The eyes of two people. Meet in mid-air. The expression on Tham Niem's face. No change at all. No surprise. Not angry. No heartache. She just looked at him calmly. Like looking at a stranger. She bent down. Say something to Niem Niem. Niem Niem turned around. Looking towards Ly Minh Trach. In my eyes. There are no strangers. There is no fear. Just curious. The person I once called... He has disappeared from my life. Since the year I was three years old. Standing in front of me. Hug a stuffed bunny. Red eyes. Niem Niem tilted her head. Look at him for a few seconds. Then held Tham Niem's hand. Come in front of him.

“Is it dad?”

Ly Minh Trach slightly knelt down. Keep your eyes level with your child.

“Dad goes to work somewhere far away.”

“Dad is home now?”

Ly Minh Trach looked into Niem Niem's eyes. Those eyes. Just like Tham Niem. Just like yourself. He was speechless. My throat felt like something was blocking it. Niem Niem pointed at his eyes.

“Why are you crying, Dad?”

Ly Minh Trach raised his hand. Want to touch your face. But the hand stopped in midair. Don't dare go down.

“Dad doesn't cry.”

He gently sniffed his nose.

“Dad, I miss you so much.”

Niem Niem thought for a moment. Then gave him the prop paper star in his hand.

“Then this is for you, Dad.”

“The teacher said.”

“The star can help me make my wish.”

“Dad, make a wish.”

Ly Minh Trach received the paper star. Hold it tightly in the palm of your hand. He raised his head. Looking towards Tham Niem. She stood behind Niem Niem. Quietly look at him. Also red. Tears do not fall. She cried because of him too much. From now on. No more drops will fall.

“Thank you.”

Ly Minh Trach stood up. Give the stuffed bunny in the hands of luxury.

“Dad gave it to me.”

Niem Niem took it. Snuggle. Smile brightly.

“Bunny!”

“It's a stuffed rabbit!”

Tham Niem's eyes wavered slightly. She realized. That's the stuffed bunny. Which Niem Niem likes best. The day Ly Minh Trach sent it. She almost returned it. But in the end. She didn't. Niem Niem really enjoyed it.

“Nem Niem.”

“Say goodbye to dad.”

Tham Niem's voice was still very calm. Niem Niem hugs a stuffed bunny. Raised her small face to look at Ly Minh Trach.

“Do you still come to visit me later?”

Ly Minh Trach slowly squatted down. Look straight into your daughter's eyes. He replied softly. Niem Niem laughed. Waving hands. Then held Tham Niem's hand. Leave with mother. Ly Minh Trach stood still in place. Quietly looking at the backs of mother and child. Disappeared among the crowd. Don't turn back. Neither. He bowed his head. Look at the paper star in your hand. There are a few scribbled lines written in pencil.

“Remembering the wish.”

“Dad, come back to me quickly.”

He squeezed that star tightly. Standing in the middle of the kindergarten yard. Cry like a baby. The parents around looked at him. Some people's eyes were full of sympathy. Some people were quietly talking. He doesn't care anymore. I just know. My wish. Has come true. It's not because of the star. She also agreed. Let me meet Niem Niem. Not for forgiveness. Niem Niem needs a father. Being a father. Arrived too late. Ly Minh Trach carefully put the paper star into his shirt pocket. Right location. Close to the heart. He turned around. Leaving kindergarten. The sunlight is very beautiful. The wind is very light. He walked on the road ahead. Suddenly remembered something. Project to renovate the old northern quarter. Construction will officially begin. He still has a lot of work to do. He quickened his steps. Go towards the subway station. One year later. Bao'an International Airport, Shenzhen. International departure area. Tham Niem wears black wide-leg pants. White silk shirt. Wearing a khaki-colored trench coat over it. On her feet are nude pointy high heels. She held Niem Niem's hand. Walk through the crowd. Proceed to the security check entrance for VIP guests. Niem Niem wears a light blue dress. Hair braided into two braids. In my arms I held a stuffed bunny that had grown much older. She is four and a half years old. Much higher than last year. Every step. The two braids swayed back and forth again.

“Are we going to Paris, Mom?”

“Does Paris have an Eiffel Tower?”

“So can I climb to the top?”

Tham Niem bowed his head and looked at his child. Smiling softly.

“Wait until you grow up a little more.”

Niem Niem pursed her lips. But very quickly I forgot about the unpleasant incident. Curious again, he looked everywhere. VIP lounge on the second floor. Outside the ground-level glass door is the airplane parking lot. Sunlight passes through the glass. Makes the whole hall bright and warm. Tham Niem chose a seat next to the window. Niem Niem sat next to her. Take out your iPad. Start watching anime. Tham Niem opened her laptop. On screen. Is the first sketch of an architectural design plan. On the Paris side. There is an international cooperation project going on. She led the team to participate in the bidding. Will go to Paris to present the final plan. This is the first time. Nianze design participates in international bidding. If you win the project. The company will truly enter the international market. She is editing the design for the third time. The phone suddenly vibrated. It's a message from Trieu Vien Son.

“General Manager Tham.”

“Are you at the airport yet?”

“I wish you a smooth journey.”

She replied. Then continue to look at the design. The phone vibrates again. The teacher at Niem Niem's kindergarten sent a photo. Group photo. After yesterday's graduation performance. The children wore colorful performance costumes. Stand in a line. Smile extremely brightly. Niem Niem stands in the second row. Third position from the left. In his hand he held up a prop star. Tham Niem looked at that photo. Fingertips stopped. She remembered yesterday. Ly Minh Trach stood under the stage. Wear a brand new white shirt. Hug a stuffed bunny. Cry like a baby. It's been a long time. She no longer saw him cry. It's the day Niem Niem was born. He walked out of the delivery room. The corners of the eyes are red. Take her hand.

“My wife has had a hard time.”

He is no longer crying. Then later. He didn't even bother to look at her. Tham Niem placed the phone face down on the table. Continue viewing the design. She couldn't concentrate. Lines on the drawing. Just sway before your eyes. Gradually transformed. A pair of red eyes from crying. She took a deep breath. Close the laptop. Hold a cup of coffee. Take a sip. The coffee has cooled. A bit bitter. Niem Niem suddenly raised her head.

“Is that person really dad?”

Tham Niem's hand stopped.

“Why didn't you come to visit me before?”

Tham Niem looked into her child's eyes. In those eyes. There are doubts. But no self-pity. She never said anything bad about Ly Minh Trach in front of her children.