Chapter 8 — The Fateful Flight Ends

14I put a euro bill on the bar, picked up my bag and prepared to leave. Ky Ngon Xuyen immediately walked quickly, spread his arms, and blocked the bar door. His eyes were fixed on me, his eyes were red, his voice was hoarse: "Can we talk?" I smiled, politely: "Didn't we already talk?" "No... this time..." I was just about to push past him, when suddenly he hugged me tightly from behind, in my ear I heard his whisper repeating over and over: "I love you, Giang Trinh Tam... I love you! I love you! I love you..." In the middle of a crowded place, his sudden action. Ky Ngon Xuyen made me extremely uncomfortable. I immediately removed his hand from my body. "Can you pay attention to your surroundings for a bit?" He stopped moving forward, his eyes turned red, his gaze gradually faded, shattering like cracked glass. His lips moved, but the words he was about to say were swallowed back. I took a deep breath: "What I'm about to say is not to attack you, but... seriously." "Ky Ngon Xuyen, you're sick. Really, you've been sick for a long time." "It's a mental illness." “What you need to do now is go to the doctor, take medicine, and rest well.” “Don't think about anything else.” Ky Ngon Xuyen seemed not to hear. His body seemed to have lost all strength, standing frozen in place - silent, lifeless. "Giang Trinh Tam, I will listen to you. Can we start again?" I felt a bit reluctant, pulling him to sit on the chair next to me. "Sorry... we are really not suitable." "We are two wrong people, meeting at the wrong time." "But I am truly grateful for what you have done for me. We... can still be good friends." He suddenly grasped. tightly grabbed my shoulder: "Giang Trinh Tam, now and in the future, I only love you." I pushed his hand away again, looked straight into his eyes, seriously: "It's not about love or not." "The problem is... Ky Ngon Xuyen, I'm not a person who knows how to love." "It's not because I'm not good, it's because... I don't love myself." "A person who doesn't know how to love himself, how can he love others?" "My most important thing right now is - Find yourself, learn to love yourself." I looked at him - his face gradually turned pale, his wet hair falling over his forehead, making the whole person look even more haggard. He didn't say anything more, quietly turned around, picked up his coat and threw it on the ground, then step by step into the rain. His figure gradually blurred... then disappeared. "Wish you all the best, Ky Ngon Xuyen."15 (Point of view: Ky Ngon Xuyen) I did as she said - actually went to the doctor and took medicine regularly. I began to learn how to relax myself, no longer be as tense as a string, and sometimes even allow my mind... to be a little empty. Over the years, I really missed her. But even though the nostalgia seeps into my bones, I have never bothered her. Because I know - with my condition, if I appear in front of you, it will only make you more upset. A few months after Giang Trinh Tam graduated, she got married. I couldn't help it, so I flew to Paris. I just want to meet you once... maybe the last time in my life. The wedding was not big, but warm and sincere. I wasn't invited. I just dare to stand quietly from afar, like a thief secretly admiring the happiness of others. Lam Man once said that her husband knows nothing about art. I used to think: Can such a person have a good conversation with Giang Trinh Tam? But when I saw with my own eyes Trinh Tam wearing a pure white wedding dress, hugging her husband, kissing him - the happiness radiating from her eyes, from her smile, made me unable to doubt any more. That's good... As long as you're happy, that's enough. "Giang Trinh Tam, I'm sure

Always smile like that." As soon as the wedding ceremony ended, it rained lightly. But the sunlight still shined brightly in the Paris sky. Her husband took off his vest and put it on her to block the wind. She took his arm, both running and laughing. The wedding dress fluttered under the sparkling sunlight - as if a god in the sky was blessing her, pouring holy water to give her a long, fulfilling life. Some time later, I received a package from Paris. I gently stroked the address line. There was the word "Paris" - I couldn't hide my smile. Inside was wrapped in many layers of honeycomb paper. The last thing that fell into my hand... was the ceramic shell that had been accidentally broken. But this one was much more delicate and meticulous. A small card fell out from inside: To Ky Ngon Xuyen, I always felt sorry for you. After all, that year I also took advantage of you You have many precious things. I always sincerely admire you. No matter the past or present, you have never been an ordinary person. We... all deserve to be happy. I asked Lam Man to remake it. Even though it can't be the same, I hope you will like it and let go of everything in the past. If you can... please forgive me for my harsh words from the past I prayed.— Giang Trinh Tam I held the seashell tightly, my whole body trembling. Tears could not be controlled, just falling. It was like I was... once again abandoned in the endless ocean, swallowed by darkness with no way out. "You too, Giang Trinh Tam... I wish you peace every year, and all the things you wish for."— Full text ends —