The Days of Yesterday - Once were

The passenger bus hummed quietly along the road. On either side, darkness swallowed the landscape—if not for the headlights of other vehicles cutting through the night, it would’ve been a loneliness that tugged at the heart. The early morning air grew chilly, and everything was silent except for the steady rumble of the engine and the rhythmic snoring of the old man in the seat beside me. I was sleepy, but I had no desire to sleep. I leaned against the window, gazing outside, though there was nothing to see. Thoughts flooded my mind— a mix of worry, anticipation, and a flicker of excitement. Becoming a university student felt different. My emotions were a jumbled mess, my head spinning with endless possibilities: instant noodles, lifelong buddies, lecture halls, and those sweet student romances… I wondered if it would be like the stories I’d heard, the tales I’d been told. Would it be as thrilling as the movies or the novels I’d devoured about student life? Maybe. But beneath the daydreams, there was worry too—rice, clothes, money. Mom’s modest teacher’s salary could hardly sustain me in Sai Gon, a place I’d heard was outrageously expensive and demanding. Still, what was the point of worrying? I’d been the one to toss aside the stable future my family had planned, choosing instead to dive into the chaos of Sai Gon to taste life as a student, just like everyone else. I remembered the day the university results came out. Mom asked me: • “So, what’s your plan, son? I’m worried about you. Think carefully about your options. Your future is all I care about!” I fell silent. It was a tough call. Mom had two paths lined up for me, thanks to family connections. The first was to follow an older brother who’s a company director—training included, a trial salary of at least 10 million or more, and even a vision of me stepping into his shoes as a deputy director someday. The second was to join an uncle in the military, where he held a high rank, promising a cushy life, state support, and the honor of being a model citizen living a virtuous life. Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine. School rules were already a struggle for me to follow—I’d nearly turned the place upside down with my antics. Being boxed into military discipline? I’d rather die. After days of mulling it over, watching friends one by one receive their admission letters and pack up for the big city to study, I felt the pull. I’ve always loved a challenge, thrived on risk, and hated being tied to anyone’s plans. So that night, I made my bold declaration: • “Mom! I’m going to Sai Gon to study. I’ll give it a few years and figure it out from there.” Mom didn’t ask much. She nodded briskly: • “Alright, go and see the hardships for yourself, son!” Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed dawn creeping in. The bus rolled into Tien Giang. I stretched, gathered my luggage, and prepared to get off. Studying in Sai Gon meant a stopover in Tien Giang for a day or two first. I had to settle things with my last girlfriend from a string of silly high school flings before I could dive into this new chapter with a clear mind. Truth be told, I’d never met her in person—just chatted and messaged online. From her photos on WC, she seemed cute and pretty, but who knew what she’d be like in real life? A few days ago, I told her I’d be heading to Sai Gon to study, and she insisted I stop by Tien Giang. She called it “taking our virtual love into the real world.” There were tears, tantrums, even threats to drop out and run away to find me, until she finally pressured me into agreeing to meet. The bus stopped in Tan An. I stepped off, pulled out my phone, and called her. I’d told her to wait, but here I was, standing alone. • “Hello! I’m off the bus—where’d you disappear to, sis?” • “Hehe, close your eyes, hubby!” • “Cut it out—no ‘hubby’ here. Just come pick me up quick. My legs are killing me.” • “Come on, close your eyes, please! Just one minute, okay?” What was she up to now? Oh well, let’s see what she had planned. I closed my eyes, my heart racing a little—after all, this was our first real meeting. My biggest fear? If she turned out taller than me, I might as well use a noodle strand to hang myself. I sniffed the air—there was a whiff of perfume. Weirdly, my nose tingled, the warmth spreading across my cheeks, to my ears, down my neck, then back around. Was I catching a cold? I opened my eyes and nearly fell over. She’d been standing right next to me the whole time. • “What’s this? Why didn’t you say anything when you got here?” • “Just studying my hubby,” she said with a dimpled smile. • “Studying what, sis?” • “To see if you’re really my hubby, hehe. Is it you?” • “What?” • “Are you my hubby? Hmm, maybe I got the wrong guy…” • “Hehe, just making sure. You look younger than your photos—almost baby-faced. I was worried I’d mix you up.” Fair point—my face did look pretty fresh in person. • “Ugh, I’m tired. What now? Standing in the middle of the road forever?” • “Stop calling me ‘sis’—it’s like I’m old or something. Has my hubby eaten breakfast yet?” • “Nah, not yet.” • “Then I’ll take you to my place to drop your stuff, and we’ll go grab breakfast, okay?” • “Uh-huh! Walking there?” • “Hehe, my bike’s right behind you, hubby!”