Chapter 22 — Two Houses and One Border

I alone pasted flowers on the small window on Nam Loan's balcony. The balcony has been converted into a reading room. Next to the table is a warm yellow lamp. Outside the window are thousands of houses with lights on. The phone lights up a bit. This is the message Ha Ngoc Mai sent. “Happy New Year.” I looked for a long time and answered in four words. “Everyone take care.” After sending, I placed the phone face down on the table. Don't cry. Don't wait for her to answer anymore. At midnight that night, fireworks bloomed in the distance. I stood in front of the window, watching the light spread out little by little. Three months ago, I thought the biggest secret was eight million, seven hundred and sixty thousand. Later I realized that what really needed to be hidden was not money. Which is my boundary. They said before that girls will sooner or later be outsiders. Later I finally understood. Outsiders are fine, family members are fine too. Whoever sees me as a bag of money can only stand outside the door. In this life of mine, there is finally a door that opens only for me.