Chapter 7 — Unique Scent

But she couldn't tell the difference. Can't tell whether he was moved by "Tham Niem" or by "the only remedy". This question was like a splinter, penetrating into the softest place in her heart. On the evening of the fourth day, Tham Niem was alone in the dormitory. Roommate Tong Tri Y went to the library. The phone screen was still bright, stopping at the chat interface with Co Dien. The last message was the one he sent three days ago. *[Okay.]* She glided up. *[Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon, laboratory B301. Let's meet and talk.]* *[Do you think I'm short of money?]* *[The shirt thing, how are you going to solve it?]* Scroll up again. *[Add me as a friend.]* She looked at these messages. Since when did she get used to running to the lab every day? Since when did she get used to sitting on the sofa, listening to him typing on the keyboard? Since when did she get so used to the smell of pine wood? She glided to the very end. First message. *[I'm Co Dien.]* It was September 3, the second day of school. She stared at those four words. Suddenly the corners of my eyes sting. She stood up, grabbed her coat and rushed out the door. The sensor light in the hallway lit up one by one following her footsteps, then went out again. As she ran past, the lights chased behind her. Going downstairs, the night wind blew into my collar. She didn't turn back. Ginkgo Avenue is deserted under the lights. New young leaves grow green, the wind blows and rustles. In the past, she liked to leisurely walk on this road the most. Watching the falling leaves, watching the street lights, watching the library windows shine in the distance. But tonight she saw nothing. There's only one image left in my head. That text message. Just one word. *[Okay.]* Before, he had never texted her using just one word. *[Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon, laboratory B301. Let's meet and talk.]* *[Do you think I'm short of money?]* *[What brand of perfume?]* She suddenly thought, when he typed that word *[Okay]*, what was the look on his face. Is angry. Or — She started running faster. Skip the gate of the Academy of Literature, go around the library, and cross the small square of the Academy of Information Technology. The gray silhouette of the experimental building was growing in the foreground. She gasped and pushed the door open to enter the building. The hallway is very long. Room B301 at the end of the hallway has a ray of light shining from the door. He's still there. She walked to the door and stopped. The hand raised and stopped in mid-air. Fingertips half an inch away from the metal door. She could feel the faint warmth passing through the door, and also—the faint scent of pine wood could still be imagined even from the metal door. Her fingers trembled slightly. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open. Co Dien is sitting in front of the computer. The screen is dark. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. Just turned on a table lamp, the light reflected on the angle of his face. There is a bit of fatigue between the eyebrows. Not the type of tiredness from work, but... the tiredness of someone who hasn't slept well for several days. She stood at the door without moving. My chest felt like someone had hit me. Extremely bitter. He opened his eyes. Seeing that it was her, her pupils shrank slightly, as if she couldn't believe it. Then he sat up straight.

“Why did you come here?”

Very flat voice. But she could hear that he was holding back.

“Tran Phong told you —”

“What did he say?”

“Say you don't bother talking, don't bother writing code, just stare staring at my scarf.”

Co Dien was silent. After a long time, he said: "He talks a lot." Tham Niem walked in and stood in front of him.

“Co Dien.”

“Um?”

“I asked you a question. You must answer honestly.”

Co Dien looked at her.

“Do you like me, or do you like my scent?”

She asked. Voice trembled. Co Dien was stunned. She looked at him. Eye rims are red.