Chapter 4 — What you don't keep, others will appreciate

12 That was the hardest meal of my life to swallow. It was clear that before, Giang Ky was still reluctant to maintain some of his human guise, but from the moment he entered my house, he seemed to have thrown away the last bit of his integrity. Under the tablecloth, Giang Ky's long legs tightly trapped mine, making it impossible for me to step back. For the first time in my life, I regretted buying a dining table that was too small. On the outside, Giang Ky still pretends to eat properly, politely and elegantly. But his toes did not hesitate at all, slowly sliding up along my pant leg. “I'm full.” I let go of my chopsticks and suddenly stood up. Tran Nac looked at my half-empty bowl of rice and asked worriedly: "Due Due, are you unwell? Lately you eat very little at each meal." “It's hot, I have no appetite.” I forced a smile, "You two, continue eating." After finishing the meal, Tran Nac voluntarily packed up the dishes and chopsticks to wash. I ducked into the bathroom to avoid him. But Giang Ky also followed. “Are you crazy?” I frantically pushed him away. If Tran Nac finds out, everything will be over. Giang Ky frowned, looking dissatisfied: "What's wrong? Am I not worthy of you keeping secrets?" "Giang Ky, what exactly do you want? Can you give me a clear word?" I can't stand it anymore, every sentence and every word is like a knife cutting meat. “Want to sleep with you.” I was dumbfounded. “Didn't you ask me what I wanted?” Giang Ky patiently repeated, “I want to sleep with you.” His mouth spoke such low-class words, but his facial expression was extremely calm, as if it were natural. "You... go find someone else..." I almost burst into tears, "There will be many volunteers... let me go..." "I don't want to use preventive measures, I'm afraid of getting sick. I don't feel secure about the others." Giang Ky said, “You are cleaner.” "I... I don't deserve you..." "It's okay. Actually, with men, everyone is the same." He looked very patient, and seemed very easy to talk to. But I knew, once he said these words, he was serious. Just like before, he told me to break up with Tran Nac. He joked. But actually, it's also sincere. 13 That evening, after a long time, I proactively texted Tong Nhiem. The only way I could think of at that time was to hope that Giang Ky would respect Tong Nhiem and let me go. Actually, there's no big animosity between us, right? Even though I've known Giang Ky for a few months, I've always treated him well, never argued, and never sulked for no reason. Even when I was betrayed, I never questioned or defamed him, I just quietly accepted it. I don't understand why he hates me so much. Even though he was resentful and felt that I was the reason he broke up with Tong Nhiem... but that had been many years ago! Tong Nhiem is now married and has children! Can't let the past go? I picked up my phone and stared at the sent message. Finally, Tong Nhiem also answered. 【Do you think, Jiang Ky does so much... because he hates you?】 I replied a bit vaguely: 【What else?】 【Dui Due, you're always like that. 【You always blame yourself, so the people you cherish become more and more greedy. 【Actually, the person Giang Ky hates the most is me. 【He hates me for taking away half of your attention. 【But he's also stupid Stupid, being pampered by him to the point of being lawless, losing all limits. 【He thinks that no matter what he does, you will be tolerant and will forgive. 【I actually understand Giang Ky's psychology. 【I thought it was the past, the feelings had faded, but I never thought the two would meet again. 【Your boyfriend is his subordinate. 【You treated Tran Nac so well, all the things that once belonged to him, you now give to someone else. 【Ha... Giang Ky must be so jealous that his face is twisted.】 Every word Tong Nhiem wrote, I understood, but when connected, I seemed to... no longer understand anything. Finally, she said: 【Dei Rui, I owe you an apology. 【You always know how to make yourself happy, maybe you don't need this apology. 【But I still want to take this opportunity to tell you — sorry. 【I'm an arrogant person, I'd rather die than bow down first. 【Those years, thank you for always being patient with me. Losing you, this friend... is what I deserve.】 14 Actually, I no longer expected an apology from Tong Nhiem anymore. Just like I will never believe that… Giang Ky could have ever liked me. Three days after Giang Ky and I completely broke up, Tran Nac went on a business trip. While packing his luggage, he said apologetically: "I originally intended to be with you to celebrate your birthday happily, but who would have thought that the company suddenly sent me on a business trip. "But this project has potential, if completed well, the reward will not be small. "Director Giang said he was about to get married, so he should try to make a little more money. "If you think about it carefully, it's true. "Due Due, this birthday I can't be with you. But we have many other occasions, there will be many more opportunities in the future." He hugged me, then like magic brought out a box: "A birthday gift for you. Happy early birthday, my Due Due." I saw him off to the airport and watched with my own eyes as he and Giang Ky boarded the plane together. In front of outsiders, Tran Nac rarely shows affection for me, at most he just holds hands. When we broke up, there wasn't even a hug. Under Jiang Ky's all-seeing gaze, I still smiled and waved goodbye to the two of them. I know, Tran Nac and I cannot continue. The feelings of ordinary people are like that, on the outside they seem solid, but in reality there are obstacles everywhere. Giang Ky didn't even need to do much. On the surface, he seemed to help Tran Nac a lot. But just the pressure of real life is enough to crush us. Humans are creatures that pursue benefits and avoid risks — when living alone is more comfortable than living with two people, people will no longer want to get married. On my 15th birthday, I received wishes from many people. The weather was hot, my parents were avoiding the heat elsewhere, originally planning to come home with me to celebrate my birthday. But I felt tired from walking, so I told them not to leave. My colleague didn't know it was my birthday. She said her child at home was suddenly sick and asked me to help her with her work. I agree. So by the time I got off work, it was already late. Tran Nac called early, saying he was very busy today and wasn't sure if he would be free to video call me tonight. I don't mind. On the way home, passing by the bakery, I bought myself a small birthday cake. As soon as I walked downstairs, I saw Giang Ky sitting on the couch. In front of him is a birthday cake Very sophisticatedly decorated, along with a bouquet of roses. I looked straight ahead, walked past Giang Ky without a glance. He also silently followed behind me. It wasn't until he stepped out of the elevator that Giang Ky finally spoke: "Aren't you curious, why did I suddenly come back?" I didn't reply. “So do you want to know, what is Tran Nac doing now?” I stopped, turned my head to look at him. Giang Ky smiled, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Did he tell you that he was working overtime and couldn't contact him because he was busy tonight?" He opened the phone and brought it in front of me. In the video is a dimly lit room, Tran Nac is embracing a hot girl, her arms and legs restless. On his face was a teasing, light-hearted smile – an expression I had never seen before. "I still have many videos like that in hand. This month he went on a business trip, and lived a rich nightlife every night. "Today the company didn't assign him any tasks, he had at least half a day free, he could definitely come back in time to celebrate my birthday with you. But he didn't come back. "I heard that he also supports a prostitute at a nightclub. Do you want to know what that girl looks like? "Cung Due, this is the person you recognize as your future husband? Is it the ‘stable’ life you always wanted?” “I admit, I looked at the wrong person.” I calmly replied, "But Giang Ky, all of this was caused by you." “Tran Nac and I are both normal people, and normal people easily fall into temptation. "Just like you and I in the past. I knew I wasn't worthy of you, but you intentionally approached me and seduced me. I believed it. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have cut off my best friend and wouldn't have been betrayed. Everything is because of you.”