We Belong Together

Chapter 13

The poor Hanh stood looking at a bunch of yellow bananas on a bamboo table in a small roadside shop. She swallowed, her hungry eyes showing fierce struggle. The bag was already empty, her stomach was hungry and demanding to eat while her conscience did not allow her to steal. It has been five days since she left the hospital, without saying a word or leaving a message for Viet. She knew that Viet would come looking for her, then Viet would come down to her house in Hai Phong. With someone like Viet, he would never leave her mother when her mother needed him. Even so, whether she likes it or not, she still only has him as the last resort to take care of her mother, instead of her unfilial and unhappy daughter. Hanh also doesn't remember how she got here? All I know is that when she ran away from the hospital, she kept wandering, wandering aimlessly on the street like a sleepwalker. And when she passed a bus stop, the crowd rushed to climb on the bus and carried her up there. Hanh does not know where the bus will go? It was not until the ticket seller sold her a few times that she woke up and knew that she was at the last station, the southern bus station. She didn't know where she would go, what would she do? But the only thing she can know is that she can't stay in Hanoi anymore, the city is too small, and one day she will meet Viet again, or Phan or Thao, and then she will know what to say to them. ? Hanh ignores her feet wandering aimlessly, taking her wherever she is, like a lonely drunk wandering in the dark of the night. There is no way, no direction, only the feet are walking forever. She got on the first car she met, and didn't know where it was going? Regardless, for her, it's the same wherever she goes now.

The bus took Hanh to the coastal town when the sun was out in the afternoon and the night was slowly falling. It was a coincidence that the car she accidentally stepped on brought her to Cua Lo town, where Phan once her about winter at sea. The small coastal town is just flashy and busy on both sides of Binh Minh Road running along the coast. Inside, the shabby fourth-level houses lurking behind the Phi Lao ridges on the sandy streets showed her a dreary, poor but beautiful seaside town. Four days in this beautiful tourist land, although it is very economical, the money brought along is also out. And she didn't know what to do, it had been a whole day with nothing in her stomach. This afternoon, when a tourist saw her wandering alone in the park, he thought she was a girl "eating dew" and said rude things. Hanh looked disgustedly at the handsome and polite young man and ran into the alley behind Hoa Dong Tien hotel. And now she was standing here, in front of a sketchy little toad shop with only a few packets of candy, a few packs of medicine and a bunch of yellow bananas.

Hanh swallowed again and then turned away with a very decisive attitude. She'd rather starve to death, but there's no way she'd be a thief. Hanh had just moved to leave when someone called behind her, making her stop. Hanh turned around, an old woman with an old face full of wrinkles appeared and looked at her with very gentle eyes. Her eyes moved her heart to remember her mother, the old woman spoke, softly and thoughtfully:

- You could have taken that bunch of bananas and left without anyone being able to catch up, why didn't you? Look at your eyes, it shows me that you are very hungry.

- I'm sorry - Hanh was confused, not because she didn't understand what the old woman was saying. The close time with Phan and Thao helped her not to have too many difficulties with this cute but very difficult Central voice. Hanh lowered her head to the ground, although she hadn't stolen anything yet, she had a bad idea anyway - But you can't do that, you're not a thief.

"And I guess you're not a p*****t, too, especially when I look into your eyes, come in, come in and sit down." Eat whatever you like, I guess you're a poor tourist, I see you as a very nice person. - Thank you, but honestly I have no money, I have nothing to pay you.

- Don't worry - The old woman laughed, her smile was kind and her eyes were happy. "I can guess that too, even if I give you debt, you are a very kind person, sometimes nice people need to accept it too. well-rewarded, right? Think of it as a grandma rewarding you for maintaining your dignity and integrity .

- But you...

- Come on, sit down - The old lady kindly pulled Hanh's hand and sat down. - Just eat what you like, and wait for her there, just a little bit.

Without waiting for Hanh to protest, the old woman hurriedly left the house, after a while, the old woman returned with a large bowl of rice, and thrust it into her hand.

- Eat, baby, don't be polite, I really appreciate people with self-esteem like you. Don't be shy, I can only help you so much.

- I thank you - Hanh took the bowl of rice, tears welled up in her eyes, the world is still full of good people and if she refused the kindness of this old woman, wouldn't she be really guilty? - I thank you.

- What grace? If you can, can you tell me why you're in this mess? Did the thief steal all the money? - She suppressed a sigh, looked at Hanh with apologetic eyes as if she had stolen her money. - This town has become full of crooks since turning to tourism. So sad!

Hanh burst into tears, like a child suffering injustice trying to hold back and then bursting into his mother's lap. I don't know why, maybe it's because the old woman's caring, sympathetic eyes make her feel like she was buried in her mother's lap and vented her heart out. Hanh devoted herself to telling everything, from her stories to Hoang Viet, then to Thai Viet and what Thuy did to her. Everything was like a slow-motion movie that slowly passed in front of her eyes, squeezing her heart to bleed. The old woman was silent, sobbed sympathetically, and left Hanh with her confidants. After a while, she peeled a banana, took the bowl of rice in Hanh's hand, and then handed the banana to her, her hand caressing her hair gently.

- Eat, son. You are so unhappy and pitiful, that you have nowhere else to go - the old woman sobbed again - I have a proposal, she is alone, if you don't mind, then just stay here. With her, don't be afraid, we rely on each other to live.

- But sir...

- Don't be afraid, anyway, I'm alone, I don't know when I will close my eyes and die, at the end of my life, having someone beside me is also less lonely and lonely. Don't be shy...

- What about the...

Hanh was about to ask about the old woman's relatives, but then she stopped. Maybe the old woman wouldn't want to talk about those things, she thought. But as if she could read her mind, she sobbed, her eyes looking far into the sea:

- They all died, lost their bodies at sea, both her husband, both of her children, depended on the sea, and also buried their bodies in the sea. There are many such families here. She has been living for a long time, she is not originally from this area, her hometown is in a living area not far from here... She and he met when we were volunteering. Bombs couldn't kill him, only the Sea could. She was also sad living alone, so she wanted her children to stay with her for fun. Don't refuse. Think of it as a poor old woman who is about to die, son.

- Why did you come back? Why didn't you call me first? Want to surprise me?

Phan did not look at Thao's smiling face. He quietly sat down on the pier, absentmindedly dropping his feet into the water despite the freezing cold current surrounding him, which was making his legs go numb. Like other rivers, the Hieu River is also dangerous and ferocious, full of rapids and fast currents. But when the river flows to Phan's Love isle, the island is like a small mountain, blocking and subduing the ferocity of the river. Then tame it to become docile, gentle like a child, giving the town a deep water next to it and the peaceful and romantic golden sand in the background. Phan threw a pebble into the river bed, where the pebble fell, the circles of waves kept spreading, spreading until the waves, even the slightest ripple, were strong enough to break it and disappear. gone. Phan quietly lowered his head and watched until the last signs of the wave disappeared and then let go:

- I received a phone call from Vu.

Phan turned to look at Thao, his eyes looked at her questioningly. Thao bent down to pick up the water grass growing at the foot of the pier. Quiet for a while.

- I never agreed.

Phan looked deeply into Thao's eyes, Thao tilted her head to rest on Phan's shoulder, but he sat up straight, pushing her head away in Thao's wide, surprised eyes.

- Vu doesn't look like he's joking, and I know he doesn't often joke, especially with things like this.

- I don't know what Vu told you, but it's just the old covenant between the two families. Maybe Vu loves me, but I never and never agreed, I thought you knew that? Quiet, only the sound of pebbles falling into the water heard "pump, smack".

- Vu told me he would marry Mr. Hoa's Thach Thao, - Phan broke the silence - I hope you have a twin sister.

- And I hoped that you would always believe and be with me.

Phan did not respond, he absently threw each pebble into the river, the sound of "pump, smack" resounded incessantly. After a long time, he stood up, waded completely into the water, swinging his arms vigorously and threw the pebble across the water. The pebble glides across the water a few times and then sinks completely. Phan stepped ashore, took off his long clothes, and placed them on a rock.

- Phan! - Let's take a shower, I want to take a bath.

- It's cold, and I want to talk to you.

Phan stepped closer, put his hands on Thao's shoulders, looked deeply into her eyes, lovingly.

I believe you.

Silence, everything seems to stand still, only lips intertwined.

- Phan! It's cold, don't take a bath, you'll get sick.

Do you know how long I've been waiting for this moment? I haven't been able to immerse myself in this water for nearly five years, I miss it so much. - Phan stepped into the water, the water was very cold.

- Then I'll take a bath with you.

- Don't be stupid, this is not my bathroom. Well, you go home, tomorrow I will come to your house, I will talk to your father about our story.

- No! Please, if you come now, your father will kill you. Give me time, I'll talk to my dad first, he needs to be mentally prepared.

- Prepared to meet him? - Phan burst out laughing - You are not a criminal? Or a river robber robbing the market?

- But you're on the other side of the river, Phan! You understand what that means, don't you?

- But we love each other, and now it's not like the old days?

- I know, but my father, you know his personality already. The fact that I will refuse Vu, may make my father crazy, and then add you again, probably...

Thao shivered, she did not dare to think about the reaction of her hot-tempered and patriarchal father when she learned that she opposed Vu just because of his cousin, and a guy across the river. Although now the enmity between the two banks is no longer as sharp as before, the love barrier between the two banks has not been removed. Especially when the story of Phan's parents is still hot right in front of his eyes.

Phan carried his four-year-old grandchild around in the kitchen while his mother cooked rice. Phan's brother-in-law is a soldier, stationed a few hundred trees from his house, and only visits his wife and children once in a while. Phuong is very busy when she has to taste the food while talking and visiting her brother. Meanwhile, Phan is even busier than her because he is spinning him like a pinwheel with questions "why, how, where?" its:

- Dude, why did you come back?

- Because you miss Bao.

- Why do you remember Bao?

- Because you love Bao.

- Mom also loves Bao.

- Of course.

- But Yen Nhi's friend does not love Bao.

- Why is that?p>

- She didn't let Bao eat candy with him. - Ah...

- Uncle - the boy babbled again, even though it was the first time he met Phan, the boy did not seem strange - You sent a nice shirt to Bao, didn't you?

- YES! Does Bao like it?

- Yes. But... - The boy's face fell slightly - his shirt was old.

- Then you'll buy Bao a new one - Phan laughed when he saw the adorable pouty face of the boy. Nothing could stop him from placing a kiss on her cheek. - Tomorrow morning, you will take Bao to buy a new shirt. Did you not like the toy you bought for Bao earlier?

- Yes. Bao loves you the most.

- My father's father - Phuong scolded love his son - Who gives what is exactly the same as that he loves the most.

- The baby is so cute.

- Do you think too? Almost 30 already? Even Vu is about to get married.

- So? - Phan smiled, if only Phuong could understand why he was smiling - Who told you that?

- He shows it off, sometimes he comes over and buys gifts for Bao, Mr. Vu loves him very much - She put down her chopsticks, turned down the fire on the gar stove and took the boy out of his hand - He will get married. Ms. Thao of Uncle Hoa's house, Mr. Vu loves her very much.

- Did he say that? - Suddenly, something strange flared up in Phan, both jealous and apologetic to his cousin whom he loved so much.

- What should I say? When people love, no one can hide. Since Ms. Thao came back to practice, Mr. Vu always talked about her here. And when they decided to get married, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. Who in the whole town doesn't know the close relationship between their two families?

- Did they decide to get married? Is it their Parents who decide, or do they decide? - Phan doesn't realize he's getting harsh- Will Thao agree?

- How do you know? But have you met Thao yet? She's very pretty these days, would you recognize her if you met her?

- Really? - Phan suddenly realized he was angry for no reason, he tried not to laugh at Phuong's question - Yes! Surely you have noticed?