Chapter 2 — Youth Returns to You

Luc Tri lowered his voice: "On Nam Chi, don't use your birthday to constrain your morals. Niem Niem's parents are divorced, and since she was a child, she has never had a proper birthday. My family is all around, what if I miss a cake?" Mom stood at the door, her eyes red. She turned away, not wanting me to see. Hua Niem Niem's voice came from the other side: "Brother Tri, stop talking, Chi Chi will hate me even more." Luc Tri immediately calmed down: "It's not your fault." He's always been like that. As Hua Niem Niem cried, the whole world had to give way. Three years into high school, she forgot to bring her lunch card, Luc Tri gave her my lunch. She twisted her leg during gym class, Luc Tri left me with a fever to carry her to the medical room. She failed the test. Luc Tri asked me to lend her the notebook to write down mistakes, saying it was okay if I didn't read it for a few days. Every time, I tell myself, Hua Niem Niem is just pitiful, Luc Tri is just soft-hearted. It wasn't until today that I realized that being soft-hearted also has a direction. The next morning, the person by the beach called me. Is the hostess of the homestay. Her voice was hesitant: "Miss On, you guys booked two double rooms, right? Your friend said she wants to pay for one room, only staying in one room is enough, I'll confirm." The sunlight outside the window shined on the desk, I flipped out the booking form. I paid for two rooms using the royalties I had accumulated for half a year. Luc Tri then said: "Let's go out together, you pay in advance, I'll pass it on when I get back." Still not moved yet. The lady is still waiting. I said: "Don't pay. Please change a room to my name. Don't give the room card to anyone else." As soon as the phone hung up, Luc Tri's text message arrived. "What did you say to the homestay owner? Niem Niem wants to sleep in a room facing the sea, don't intentionally make things difficult for her." "I pay for the room." "Do you need to make it clear like that?" On the screen, each of his questions followed one another. "We've been in love for two years, now you pay me?" "Nem Niem is already weak, don't stimulate her." "You're just like that." So, I really feel like you've changed.” My fingers stopped on the keyboard. I only answered with four words: "Pay by transfer." Luc Tri did not answer anymore. That afternoon, the homeroom teacher called, said the school was holding a graduation party, and told me to come that evening. I originally didn't want to go. But the homeroom teacher said: "Tham Nghien Chu also came. He said there was something about your wish that he wanted me to review." Before hanging up the phone, she paused for a moment: "Nam Chi, don't change your wishes for anyone. No matter where your score goes, it won't be a loss." The edges of my eyes suddenly felt hot. At night, when entering the private room, the bustle was like a tidal wave. Luc Tri and Hua Niem Niem actually returned first. In the position next to the window, Hua Niem Niem put on his shirt and placed a bowl of hot porridge in front of him. Seeing me, she immediately stood up, her eyes red. "Chi Chi, you're finally here, I thought you never paid attention to me anymore." Luc Tri sat still without moving, his face unsightly. He placed the phone face down on the table: "On Nam Chi, come here." The whole room immediately became quiet. I stood at the door without moving. Luc Tri frowned: "Do you still want me to invite you?" Hua Niem Niem gently pulled his sleeve: "Brother Tri, Chi Chi is still angry, please calm him down." As if reminded, he finally softened his voice: "Okay, yesterday I was impatient. Sit down and eat, don't let the teachers laugh." That look of grace overlapped with the young man who had comforted me the day before, then quickly crumbled. Tham Nghien Chu stood up from another table and pulled out the chair next to him. "On Nam Chi, I told you to sit here so we can talk about our wishes." Luc Tri's face immediately darkened. He stood up, his chair leg scraping against the floor: "She's my girlfriend, what's it like to sit next to you?" Wing

The private room door closed behind him. Tham Nghien Chu looked up at him: "When you left your girlfriend at the rest stop, why didn't you think about what that meant?" The private room was so quiet that you could hear the air conditioning blowing. Luc Tri walked a few steps in front of me, reaching out to pull me. The moment my wrist was touched, I took a step back. His hand stiffened in mid-air, his expression unsightly as if he had just been slapped. Hua Niem Niem quickly went to conciliate: "Everyone, stop arguing, it's all my fault. I shouldn't get car sick, I shouldn't sit in the passenger seat, I shouldn't let Mr. Tri take care of me." Having said that, tears fell from her eyes. The classmate next to me immediately softened. "Nien Niem's health is not good, it's not intentional." "Nam Chi, don't take it too seriously, graduate and have some fun." "Mr. Tri is also back, please give him a step up." Every word of encouragement was like pushing me back to the station where the sun had turned white. Luc Tri heard someone chiming in and his momentum returned. "Did you hear that? No one thinks I'm so unforgivably wrong." He lowered his voice, just enough for me to hear: "Don't make trouble anymore, follow me back to the beach tonight, I'll make up for your birthday." The bowl of hot porridge on the table was steaming white. Hua Niem Niem bit her lips and grabbed Luc Tri's sleeve with her fingers.