Chapter 6 — The Future Without Thanh Mai

He leaned against the cold wall, slowly slid down to sit on the floor, burying his face deep in his knees. Done. It's all over. Eighteen years of morning and night together, a future that was once promised and the girl who once trusted him wholeheartedly, all of it was completely shattered because of his greed and temporary stupidity. 8 Returning home, I lay down and slept without knowing the world. The housekeepers changed all kinds of stews for me, and my father regularly took me to the park for a walk every day. "A little more sun exposure will be good for my health." He didn't mention Quy Trach anymore, just silently walked beside me, using his broad shoulders to shield all the rain and wind from the outside world. I feel secure preparing for the first day of school. It's just that at night I often wake up startled and stare at the ceiling until morning. When I couldn't sleep, I got up and packed up things related to Quy Trach. Stuffed animals from childhood, movie ticket stubs, photos taken together from childhood to adulthood... All sorts of little things, eventually filling up a large box. On the day of express delivery, my father silently helped me seal the box, without asking anything. Three days after the box was sent, Quy Trach called. I looked at the name flashing on the screen and hung up. He sent a text message: 【I received a box of items. An An, let's talk.】 I didn't answer. He sent again: 【I'm standing outside your door.】 I went to the window and pulled up a corner of the curtain. He stood next to the trees along the roadside, his shadow lengthened by the light, looking up at my room's window. I closed the curtains and turned off the phone. The next morning, his father came back and said Quy Trach had been standing all night and had just left. I didn't answer, just bowed my head and drank the porridge. Dad sighed. "He's not lucky." I nodded, hiding my burning eyes. Quy Trach returned to his parents' house. As soon as he entered the door, what greeted him was an ashtray thrown by his father. "You bastard!" Quy's father's face turned pale: "Today I came to the company, your Uncle Tham hinted that he wanted to send me to the branch. He said that seeing me reminded him of you, feeling that it would affect his work." "Look what good things you have done!" Quy Trach did not avoid it. The ashtray grazed his forehead and flew away, leaving a red streak. Quy's mother pulled him to sit down and quickly asked: "You went to see An An, will she forgive you?" He had been up all night, her voice hoarse: "No, she refused to see you." Quy's mother covered her face and sat down on the sofa depressed. "An An is no different from our daughter. Tell us, how will we face the Tham family in the future?" "Qui Trach, you are so confused!" Quy's father gasped. gasped: "I don't need to know if you have to beg or think of ways to make up for it, you have to show your sincerity. Otherwise, I don't have a son with a change of heart like you!" Quy Trach raised his red and swollen eyes: "She won't see you anymore." "Then kneel down!" "Kneel until she agrees to see you!" 9 Quy Trach came again. He stood outside my door from morning till night. Neighbors kept poking their heads in to look and gossip. At dusk, I opened the door. His eyes lit up, he quickly walked over: "An An." I gave him a bag of documents. "What is this?" "The amount of money I have spent on you over the years, I have roughly calculated it, the figure is roughly inside." I calmly said: "If there is too much, I will return it, if there is less, I will make up for it later." His face immediately turned white: "I don't need the money." "But I do." I interrupted him: "A clear division will be good for both of you." He squeezed. He grabbed his file bag: "I really know I'm wrong, An An. Can you give me another chance?" "I will fix it, really. Give me a chance to make up for it." I shook my head. "Tham An!" His voice choked: "Eighteen."

Last year, we've known each other for eighteen years! Are you saying you don't need it?" "It's because I don't need you first." I looked at him. "Qui Trach, I chose someone else between the two of us." He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. "Go back." I said: "Don't come anymore, your dad will be upset when he sees me." When I turned around, he said hoarsely: "I really broke up with Phan Nhat Oanh. Really, after you left that day, I never saw her again." "It has nothing to do with you anymore." After saying that, I turned around and went back into the house, without turning around. I closed the door. Completely giving up on someone is very painful, but I absolutely had to do it. I had lost my love, I couldn't continue to lose other things. A week later, Quy's parents came to the house. My father had a cold face and refused to let them in, so they had to stand outside the door. Quy's mother wiped the water. eyes: “An An, it's the aunt and uncle who doesn't raise their son properly. But you two have had feelings for so many years, can't you really give him another chance?" Quy's father sighed: "That bastard knows he's wrong. These past few days he's been living like a ghost, drinking alcohol every day to the point of unconsciousness." "Let's take pity on him for once, okay?" I stood inside the door, my voice calm.