Chapter 5 — Waking up from a Dream Before the Border

On the way, my mother always held my hand and told me over and over: "When you get there, remember to say it's safe first." "Don't go out randomly at night." "If someone picks you up, be sure to check your license plate and identity." I responded to each sentence. Before, I criticized her for babbling. Now I just feel reassured. When I entered the station, the big screen in the lobby was broadcasting anti-scam propaganda. "High wages abroad are not a shortcut, strange shuttle buses can lead to abyss." I stood in front of the screen and looked for a long time. In my previous life, it wasn't like I didn't know the danger. I used to watch the news. I have seen incidents of lost contact. I even personally advised Ha Loc Loc countless times. But I made another mistake. I thought as long as I went with her, I could bring her back. I thought ten years of love was worth taking another risk. The truth proves that there are people who don't have to stand on the shore waiting for you to save them. She is the one who jumps into the water holding rocks and wants to grab your ankles. After the train departed, the familiar city slowly backed away. The phone is constantly flooded with messages. Someone apologized. Someone comforts me. Someone asked for details. Someone else said: "Tang Ninh, sorry, we didn't know the truth before." I didn't answer. Before the truth appeared, they pushed me to the front of the storm. After the truth came out, he wanted to use an apology to clear his name. But my fear is real. It's also true that I was almost taken away. They don't need to bear the consequences. I also have no obligation to give them stairs to walk down. Arriving in the new city, the company's administrative staff came to pick me up. She sent the license plate number, name, and employee card photo in advance. I checked three times before getting in the car. She smiled and said: "Your sense of safety is really strong." I also smiled slightly. "I'm used to it." The newly rented house is near the company. The residential area gate is strictly managed, registration with the management board requires checking documents. When I signed the contract, I reset the door lock password on the spot and deleted the previous tenant's fingerprints. The homeowner was a bit surprised, but still cooperated. I put the documents in the password box, separated the spare cash, and reconfirmed the emergency contact. Having finished everything, I sat on the mat and breathed a long sigh. The room was very quiet. There was no cry of Ha Loc Loc. No advice from classmates. No one stands on the moral high ground, asking me to take risks for the sake of friendship. At night, I still have nightmares. In the dream is the industrial park of the previous life. The high wall is covered with barbed wire. At the end of the hallway is a pale white light. I lay on the cement floor in the basement, my whole body was hot, cold sweat soaked my clothes. There was someone passing outside the door. I heard Ha Loc Loc crying. She cried and said: "It's not like that in the novel." "Why don't they come to save me?" I desperately knocked on the door. "Loc Loc, save me." Her crying stopped. I thought she heard it. But the next second, the footsteps went away. The basement fell silent again. I slowly died in that silence. When I woke up, it was not yet dawn. I sat up and touched the phone next to my pillow. Battery is full. Full waves. Door lock intact. Outside the window, there is a car passing by, the sound is stable and realistic. I hugged my chest, feeling my heartbeat. Every beat. Every beat. Very fast. Also very powerful. I'm still alive. This is the best outcome. 9 Half a month later, the case had new developments. The superiors behind Zhou Kaiming were captured. The police tracked documents on his phone and stopped several young people who were preparing to go to the border. Ha Loc Loc was prosecuted according to the law for illegally providing personal information of others and assisting the suspect in seduction.

fool. Specific results must wait for the court. Ha's mother asked someone to contact me again. It is said that Ha Loc Loc has lost a lot of weight and his mental state is very bad. Said she cried every day, said the person she was most at fault with was me. Said she wanted to see me once. I refuse. Sorry is her problem. Not accepting it is my problem. I have no obligation to return to that part of our relationship to make her feel more comfortable. Later, the academic advisor passed me a letter written by Ha Loc Loc. She said she regretted it. Said she was just too self-conscious, too eager to be chosen by others. Saying novels harm her. Say Chu Khai Minh also lied to her. Finally, she wrote: "Tang Ninh, can we still go back to the way we were before?" I finished reading and put the letter in my file bag. No reply. It wasn't a nice place before. The old me always felt it was okay to take care of her a little more. It's okay to give in one more step. It's okay to go together one more time. She cried, I backed away. She caused trouble, so I gave in. She said she was scared, so I stood in front of her. It wasn't until later that I understood. There are relationships that won't kill you in the first place. It will get you used to sacrificing first. Sacrifice time, boundaries, sacrifice judgment.