Chapter 3 — The Door Closes, You Also Leave

Mom held my intact hand.

"My parents have already reported to the police. The fire department is also conducting an assessment of the cause of the fire."

Can Nghiem's face immediately changed.

"Auntie, is it necessary to make such a big deal of it? Right now the most important thing is for Hua Kha to recover. We can slowly negotiate compensation."

Mom raised her head to look at him.

“My daughter almost died.”

Can Nghiem opened his mouth.

“But Tham Nhu didn't do it on purpose…”

Mother coldly interrupted.

“Even now you are still on her side.”

Can Nghiem immediately became speechless. Mom turned to look at me, her eyes red, trying to hold back tears over and over again.

“What trapped me was not the fire.”

“It's because they chose to give up on you.”

I gently closed my eyes. Tears quietly slipped from the corners of my eyes and seeped into my hair. It's not that I'm too picky. Standing on the boundary between life and death, those left behind... have every right to feel resentment. The next day, the doctor came to check. He said my damage from smoke inhalation was not the most serious, but I still needed to stay in the hospital for further monitoring. Both palms and finger joints had many lacerations due to strong impact, two fingernails were also peeling, and bandages had to be changed periodically. I nodded. My throat still can't make a sound, I can only use my phone to type. In the morning, the homeowner also came. His face was grayer than the wall behind him.

"The living room was almost completely burned, the shoe cabinet at the door was also completely destroyed, the ceiling downstairs was blackened by smoke, the main door was broken by firefighters to save people. Hua Kha, I know you are also a victim, but the rental contract is in your name."

My father invited him out into the hallway to talk. Not long after, Tham Nhu's shrill cry was heard outside.

"I really have no money! I just graduated and haven't received my first salary yet. You can't put all the responsibility on me!"

My mother replied coldly.

"Whoever burns scented candles or violates regulations when using electrical equipment must be held responsible."

Tham Nhu cried even more fiercely.

"Kha Kha wasn't like that before. He loved me the most before. Why is everyone forcing me now?"

Can Nghiem also stood in the hallway. His voice was full of fatigue.

"Don't argue anymore. Hua Kha is still in the hospital room."

Tham Nhu choked up and said.

"Can Nghiem, even you think I hurt him? But I really just want to get a good night's sleep. That day I just had an argument with my roommate and was in a very bad mood. I really didn't mean it."

I propped myself up and rang the bell to call the nurse. The nurse came in and I showed her my phone. 【Would you please invite my parents in? Please do not let others in.】 The nurse nodded and quickly closed the door. When mother walked in, her eyes were still red.

"Kha Kha, don't pay attention to it anymore. Now you just need to rest in peace and recuperate."

I shook my head and typed. 【I want to use the phone.】 Mom hesitated for a few seconds, then finally gave me the phone. As soon as I turned on the phone, dozens of messages immediately appeared. There were mutual friends asking how I was doing. There was also a very long apology message from Tham Nhu. 【Kha Kha, I know you really hate me right now, but can you think about me for a moment? I'm also very scared.】 【I've been since I was little Lack of feeling of security, panic when encountering danger. I'm really not that kind of cruel person.】 【Can you not call the police? If I do that, my whole life will be ruined.】 The last line of the message is what blinds me the most. 【If you insist on making me pay compensation, Can Nghiem will also be very awkward.】 I stared at the words "Can Nghiem will also be very awkward" for a long time. It turned out she knew very well who to use to put pressure on me. It was always like that before. Having no money to pay rent, she cried and said:

“Only you can help me.”

Work was not going well, he called me in the middle of the night, crying for two hours. She said she had no one to love, so I had meals with her, moved house together, and went to the hospital together. I always thought she was just too weak. Only now do I understand. There are people whose weakness is like a blade. Born to hurt others. I opened the chat box with Can Nghiem. Last night he sent me many messages. 【Hua Kha, don't listen to what your parents say in anger.】 【I admit I didn't handle it well, but in that situation everyone would panic.】 【Tham Nhu blamed himself to the point of not wanting to live anymore, don't continue to investigate the lock.】 【The most important thing is that you're still alive.】 My fingertips trembled slightly. I typed a message to him. 【Let's break up.】 The other party replied almost immediately. 【Don't get excited.】 【Don't make decisions while you're angry.】 【I'll come up now, let's meet and talk.】 I only replied with two words. 【No see.】 Less than a minute later, there was a knock on the hospital room door. Can Nghiem stood outside.

“Hua Kha, open the door.”

My mother tried to walk out, but I held her back. I typed each word myself, then used text-to-speech software. A monotone electronic female voice rang out in the hospital room.

“We are finished.”

There was silence outside for a few seconds. Can Nghiem's voice suddenly became urgent.

“Just because you carried her out first?”

I gently closed my eyes. The electronic voice continued to sound.

“Because you know I'm still in there, but you still told me to wait.”

He hastily explained.

"I told you, it wasn't that I didn't save you at that time. I just needed a little more time to evaluate the situation!"

I continued typing.

“Are you done evaluating yet?”

Outside immediately fell silent. Mom took my hand and gently caressed it.