Chapter 4 — Through Two Worlds Sending A Hug

12 The hospital room became dark and silent for a few seconds. I saw Pho Chi Duong's shoulders slump slightly: "Because my mother's death... was caused by him." His face was gloomy, as if recalling a painful and heartbreaking memory. "I still remember clearly that night, the rain was very heavy. My mother called my father. Not long after, the two of them started arguing. I've never seen my mother scream until her voice was hoarse like that... I was so scared, so scared that... I didn't dare run over and hug her." Just remembering that night, hatred for Pho Thinh Trieu immediately arose in his heart, spreading and swallowing all reason. Mom hung up the phone, cried and packed her luggage, wanting to take him out of here. But before I could get out the door, Dad returned. His shirt was not neatly buttoned, and the collar was full of red stains. There is also an unpleasant fishy smell on the body. As soon as she saw him, her mother immediately got mad and slapped him in the face. Two people stood right at the door arguing. Argued fiercely. But his father just repeated the same sentence over and over again: "I swear, just this once..." "It's just a social party, my partner brought it to me, I can't refuse." "It's just a transaction, don't mess around. After all these years, haven't I still loved you?" At that time, he did not yet understand what these words meant. Now that he's grown up... he understands. It's all just an excuse for betrayal. “My father had an affair and my mother found out, so they argued.” - Pho Chi Duong rubbed his face - "My mother led me away, but on the way I encountered a car driven by a drunk driver. She pushed me out... and I was thrown away." "To cover up the scandal, dad spent a huge amount of money to erase all traces related to me in that accident." “And my mother… became the only victim.” After saying that, it was silent for a long time. Finally, I tried to force a smile as if it were okay: "That's the truth I want to know." I looked at it stunned. My heart trembled every moment. Over his shoulder, I saw An Nhiem gently hugging her son from behind. Her tears were wet all over her face. I guess, right at this moment... she also remembered everything. 13 There is no such thing as pure love. The promises of "living and dying forever" eventually just became a joke. Pho Thinh Trieu's status means that he faces more temptations than ordinary people. And the result, apparently… he couldn't resist. I thought it was just a transaction, a one-time exception, just keeping it a secret and everything would be fine. That when he comes home, he still has his confidant wife and lovely child. But people's hearts will change. Exceptions will never be just one time. The number of times increases, the loopholes also increase, and the cracks in this normally happy family also grow larger. Finally, at some point… it will all come crashing down. No matter how much fake love you use, you can't heal it. An Nhiem and I sat in the small courtyard of the hospital. “I remember.” - she smiled bitterly - "It turns out that what I remember... are the most beautiful memories between me and Pho Thinh Trieu. We met at the age of eighteen, got married at twenty-two, had Duong Duong at twenty-three... When he was thirty, he had an affair. The bad memories, the times when I lost all face and frantically questioned him like a betrayed wife, I have all forgotten. But clearly... those are the things I should remember the most." I sat next to him, silent listen. “Luong Tranh, I know what I want to ask you to do.” I paused slightly and turned to look at her. An Nhiem smiled: "Now I don't care about Pho Thinh Trieu anymore, I only care about Duong Duong. Can you stay with him for me until he turns eighteen?" "I agree." Not just because of the ten million promise she said. But also because... I considered her a friend. When I returned to the hospital room, Pho Chi Duong was still sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for me. It is waiting for an answer. “You guessed it too, right?” – I stood at the door, quietly looking at it – “As you think, your mother is right next to you now.” Pho Chi Duong immediately raised his head, his eyes instantly filled with tears. “Don't cry.” I went to the window, pulled the curtains open, moonlight poured into the room. I raised my chin slightly, signaling him to look at the table on the left. On the table was placed a glass of water, and under the moonlight, the smooth surface of the table gradually showed streaks of water. Those streaks of water slowly gathered into one sentence—— Duong Duong, mom is always here. Like Pho Chi Duong once said, when he fell from the third floor, his mother protected him. This is not wrong. An Nhiem once told me that the longer a ghost stays in the human world, the more spiritual energy it will accumulate. This spiritual energy can do a few small things — Pushing down a vase of flowers, or using water to write a few words. At that time, I joked: "So if you stay a few more years, wouldn't you be able to slap that kid?" "YES." – An Nhiem said – “But if I stay a few more years, I won't be able to reincarnate.” “Luong Tranh, maybe... I can't stay here much longer.” 14 Since knowing that his mother still existed in spirit form, Pho Chi Duong seemed to have turned into a completely different person. The rice is eaten cleanly, not a single grain is left over: "Mom, I eat well, I don't let it go to waste." Water stains appeared on the table — “Good.” During class, pay attention to the lecture and actively ask questions: "Don't worry, Mom, I will definitely pass the university exam!" "Very good." After school, I went jogging to practice: "Look, Mom, it seems like I've grown taller again!" “So good.” The butler was very surprised: "Lately, master has changed a lot." My hand was holding a glass of milk when I stopped: "What is it?" “The master became happier and more active.” – The butler smiled – “Miss Luong's contribution is very great.” I just smiled and said nothing. The housekeeper suddenly said: "Ah yes, Miss Luong, the boss will be home tonight." ... The glass of milk in my hand suddenly lost all its delicious taste. I used the excuse of being dizzy to hide in my room and not come out. At the same time, I turned to scold An Nhiem: "Don't arbitrarily use your spiritual energy anymore, your soul is very weak now." Compared to the first time I met her, her body is now much more transparent. “Okay, okay, I know.” She patted my shoulder: "Luong's sister is so worried about you?" I snorted coldly, looking unhappy. 15 When I woke up again… was I dead? Oh wait, apparently not quite yet. It's just that now I... have become transparent, and there is "me" on the bed with my eyes open. She - that's me in my body - looked at the man sitting beside the bed with a tense look, a flash of panic flashed in her eyes. “Pho Thinh Trieu, what did you do?!” The corner of his lips curled up, hugging her, his voice trembling with excitement: "That's great! A Nhiem, you're back! A Nhiem, from now on we'll be together again." We can live together, that's great! I was wrong… the years without you, I really couldn't bear it… I will never let you leave again!” …Oh, I understand. I don't know what method he used, but A Nhiem entered my body. But my soul was pushed out. Isn't this... borrowing your body to restore your soul? Wait, that's not right! I'm a living person, right?! She came back to life, so what about me?! I jumped up, rushed in front of A Nhiem, and frantically waved my hands: "Hey! Think of a way! I don't want to die!” “I don't care, quickly find a way to change it!” "Hu hu please, I'm not in a relationship yet, I haven't studied abroad yet!" A Nhiem also woke up and pushed Pho Thinh Trieu who was hugging her tightly. “What about Luong Tranh?” “From now on I am her.” “What about Luong Tranh's soul!” A Nhiem was excited, "Are you just going to let her die like that?!" “I ignore her!” Pho Thinh Trieu also raised his voice, squeezing A Nhiem's shoulder tightly, "I just need you back, I only care about you." A Nhiem looked at him and smiled coldly: “Pho Thinh Trieu, do you believe these words yourself? Ten years ago, when you betrayed him and went to bed with another woman, why didn't you say you only cared about me? Waiting until I died and couldn't come back again, did he show this fake deep affection. People say he loves his wife like life, but after saying it, he believes it. But Pho Thinh Trieu, the person he loves the most is always himself. Stop being so hypocritical.” “Let me go! I don't want to go back, I don't want to see you again! I don't want to spend the rest of my life with you!" An Nhiem struggled frantically in his arms. The short, thin man who had been standing silently in the corner of the room suddenly spoke up and reminded him: "Mr. Deputy, it will take at least another hour for this soul and body to completely merge. During this time, you absolutely must not let her emotions fluctuate too much!” I turned my head to look over, only to see that in his hand he was holding a gray human-shaped doll with bright red spells drawn on it, which didn't look like anything good. My eyes darkened and I shouted at An Nhiem: “An Nhiem! What he is holding must be destroyed immediately!”