Chapter 2 — Wish to Keep Summer

At that time, Ta Tuan passed behind me and conveniently took the box I was carrying. I casually said: "Bring it to my room, it's only toilet paper and laundry detergent..." Ta Tuan had just taken two steps when I suddenly realized it and quickly stopped him: "Wait!" But it was late – he had already pushed the door open. The room is small, you only need to glance to see everything. Ta Tuan raised his head and immediately saw the table next to the window. He paused slightly, his eyes glanced at the photo placed on the table, then turned his head and asked me: "Is it okay to put it next to the table like this?" My tense heart sank slightly: “Um, okay.” It seems Ta Tuan didn't notice anything. Anyway, that photo was just an unexpected incident. At graduation, the school invited a photographer to take commemorative photos. Those who want can take photos separately, or they can invite friends to take photos together. While Ta Tuan was taking pictures, I accidentally stood next to him in a daze. The photographer's call made me turn my head in surprise - and thus, that "reluctant" couple photo was born. Perhaps the photographer thought we posed like that on purpose, so he also printed a copy for me. I carried that photo with me throughout my college years, and brought it back to the shop when I graduated. I carefully placed it in a photo frame, placing it neatly on the desk. At that time, Ta Tuan was a blond-haired young man with an arrogant appearance, his long bangs covering nearly half of his eyes. T-shirts with skulls printed on them, tattered jeans - even though he's handsome, he still exudes the old-fashioned rebellious temperament of an entire generation. Now, he has cut his hair short, dyed it neatly black, and dresses simply and cleanly. It's so different, it's normal not to recognize it. 5. After cleaning the room, I immediately took Ta Tuan out for a proper meal. But he wasn't interested, just ate a few bites and then put down his chopsticks. I get it. It's normal for a family to encounter such an incident and be in a bad mood. But the same thing happened for several days in a row. Seeing that he was even thinner than when he first arrived, I started to worry. So I dragged him to a Western restaurant. The average price per person is over a hundred yuan. I ordered you a steak and salad. Ta Tuan ate a few bites and suddenly said: "I've been here before." I paused, not expecting him to still remember. Back then, everyone in class often laughed at him for being stupid and having a lot of money, but being invited by him felt awkward, so many people took the initiative to invite him out to eat to repay the favor. I also hustled along. The day I received my salary from my part-time job, I chose carefully and decided to invite him to eat at this restaurant. Unexpectedly, he agreed to my invitation. Ta Tuan has a cold personality. When people bother him too much, he closes his eyes and points to one person: "It's you. Just eat a meal. Don't bother me anymore." And the person chosen that day... was me. He finished the plate of steak, then commented: "The chef here is very skilled, no different from where I usually eat. I really like it." That compliment made me unable to help but smile. Aladdin was invited to have a meal with the genie. Aladdin... was really happy. So, when I saw Ta Tuan now sluggish, not wanting to eat or drink, the first thing I thought of was this place. It was as if time had reversed, four years had passed and everything remained the same. Same taste mind, same person. Today, Ta Tuan seems to have a better taste, just like four years ago - both steak and salad were eaten: "It's delicious, I like it very much." I smiled again and was about to stand up and go pay. At that moment, Ta Tuan suddenly spoke from behind: "You know me, and you also know who I am." His voice was calm, but decisive like a slash: "The photo frame on the desk... the person in there is me, right?" 6. That night, the class discussed excitedly: "I heard that Ta Tuan's family is bankrupt, so can the marriage with Tieu Thien Thien still be kept?" "Definitely not. In the past, the household was in love, but now it's just a poor boy dreaming of Bach Phu My. Who would be stupid to continue to love her anymore?" "I'm sorry, this time you guys guessed wrong. Miss Tieu is truly a meaningful person, even though Ta Tuan is poor, she still won't leave. Now she's asking everywhere about his whereabouts." Sure enough, a new invitation also appeared in my friend list — it was from Tieu Thien Thien. I was still wondering whether to accept or not, when suddenly there was a light knock on the door. “I'm out of shampoo.” Ta Tuan's hair was still wet, he was leaning against the door frame, looking at me. The meal a few days ago seemed to tear apart the pretend calm atmosphere between the two of us. Ta Tuan recognized the person in the photo and also recognized me. Fortunately, he didn't say anything more, nor did he ask why I put that photo together on the table. {Read the full story at Van Ha Tuong page} At this moment, drops of water flowed down his eyebrows. Those jet black eyes looked at me intently, carrying a strange docility. I didn't dare to face that look, so I just silently gave him the prepared toiletry bag. "I forgot to give it to you... there's shampoo, shower gel and everything in here." My mind is still confused because of the friend request from Tieu Thien Thien. Suddenly there was a crisp "click" in his ear - Ta Tuan snapped his fingers. I looked up in surprise and saw him open the bag, revealing what was inside. From the moment we met again until now, he had always been quiet and cold, but now there was a bit of joking in his voice: "Boss, your staff's shampoo... also uses Kerastase?" 7. In my heart, Ta Tuan is someone different from me. This "dissimilarity" is very difficult to put into words. If I had to describe it... it would be: I can eat cheap street food — he can't. I can wear a nine-for-nine t-shirt — he can't. But the reason for this difference is strange and difficult to explain. So, I had to lie: "I usually also use this kind, so I bought some for you too." As soon as I finished speaking, I immediately regretted it. Because Ta Tuan once helped me carry a box - he definitely saw what was inside. With a pile of green Rejoice shampoo, my lie was easily exposed. But Ta Tuan is not the type of person who likes to make others confused. He just said "yes", gently accepting my forced explanation. Like in 12th grade, when I got my period on and soiled my pants and was ridiculed by the boys. Ta Tuan suddenly stood up and hit someone. Being forced to stand on the stage under the flag in front of the whole school to be reviewed, he only said casually: "It's annoying to look at, it's too noisy, it disturbs my sleep." Thanks to that, all attention is focused on it Ta Tuan, no one cares about the slap I gave that boy. The genie is a genie - the most silent genie in the world. Ta Tuan walked a few steps and then suddenly turned back: "The noodle shop opposite is very good, the t-shirts at the wholesale market next door are also of good quality. Safeguard soap has a pleasant smell too." I didn't understand what he meant by that, so I raised my head in confusion. Ta Tuan raised his hand, index finger and thumb forming a small distance, making a comparison gesture: "Just a little bit... is enough to feed me." Therefore, there is no need for luxury Western restaurants that cost several hundred yuan per meal, and no need for shampoo that costs two or three hundred yuan per bottle. For the first time since our reunion, Ta Tuan called my name. His eyes curved up, his voice gentle: "Lam Chieu Oanh, I'm very easy to raise." 8. I didn't expect Tieu Thien Thien to come to my shop. As soon as she saw Ta Tuan, she rushed to hug him: "Why didn't you answer my phone call? I've been looking for you for a long time!" Her eyes were red, and when a beautiful girl cries, she always softens people's hearts. Sure enough, Ta Tuan raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder - a posture as if ready to hug. But in the next second, he forcefully pushed her away: "Don't touch me." Tieu Thien Thien was stunned, his eyes became even redder: "Are you still angry with me? I've already convinced my mother. Just try one more month, I can definitely make dad agree. We still have an engagement contract!" “There has never been an engagement.” Ta Tuan coldly interrupted her: "That was just my parents' unilateral decision, also their own wish. I never agreed."