We Belong Together

Chapter 15

Mr. Hoa slammed his arm on the table, causing the bowls, chopsticks and pots to vibrate. Thao was startled, dropped the rice bowl on the ground and broke it. If Mr and Mrs. Hieu wasn't there, he would probably have thrown the whole tray of rice to the ground. It is winter, but the air in the house is as thick as glue, making people feel frustrated and suffocated. Even if the damp winds brought with them steam, blowing against the house forewarning of the coming rain, it couldn't make the situation any better.

The quiet space seemed to be able to hear Mr. Hoa's heavy breathing due to anger, Mrs. Hoa's anxious and confused sighs, and Thao's sobs. Not even the dogs dared to dig near the food that was strewn on the floor. Thao stood with her head bowed beside the table, and Mrs. Hoa was sitting still on the chair, her face pale with fear. Only Mr and Mrs. Hieu had remained silent until now. The two families have an extremely close relationship, perhaps even more than a brotherly relationship. But in this situation, meddling in the private affairs of another family, even if it is directly related to me, is also an unwise choice. Mr. Hoa confusedly turned to apologize to Mr and Mrs. Hieu and then turned to Thao, who was still standing at the table, tears running down her cheeks. Mr. Hoa's voice resounded with anger, his neck stretched out:

- I don't have anything at home that you don't listen to. While I'm alive, don't bother. Where parents put children sitting, this is an adult story, a promise from the past. Words are like knives and stones, they cannot be changed.

- But you and Vu don't love each other, we can't get married?

- In the past, your mother and I didn't know each other before we got married. Once we got married, we got along well. - Mr. Hoa's voice didn't relieve his anger. - Let's say we grew up together. I've made up my mind, don't argue.

- But Father's old days were different, now it's different, I don't love him, please Dad.

- In the past or now, parents also give birth to children, so children should not disobey their parents. - Mr. Hoa slammed his hand on the table again, pointing at his daughter's face - Do you think you are precious? Try to find out if anyone in this district is equal to it? The family is orderly, eating well. I don't understand how you guys think in this day and age?

- Then you are the director of the district agricultural materials company, a state employee, you must be more knowledgeable than other people? Why are you forcing me?

- Shut up!

Mr. Hoa waved his hand and slapped his daughter's face hard, perhaps his anger had reached the extreme, when Thao blatantly pleased with him in front of guests. Mr. Hoa's anger made Mr. Hieu feel that he could no longer be quiet. He pushed Mr. Hoa's arm away.

- Behold, his nephew is young, don't beat him, poor child. The story is no longer there, slowly then I tell her to understand.

- Sorry, it's all my fault for not teaching my children. You just leave me alone, when I'm still his father, don't let him argue with me - Mr. Hoa apologized once more and turned to his daughter, he yelled at him - Who taught you this way of stubbornness? there? I don't go to school to go home and argue with my parents? Go into your room now, no food or drink today.

- I beg you...

- Mr.... - Mrs. Timid flowers.

- She also shut up, now mother and daughter join together to argue with me, right? - Mr. Hoa shouted loudly when Mrs. Hoa was about to run after Thao when she ran into the room - I said no! She left it alone, fish do not eat salted fish rotten.

Outside, it started to rain, strangely enough, it rained again in winter...

Mrs. Hoa sat down with her husband to talk to Mr and Mrs. Understand for a while and then asked permission to get up. Ignoring Mr. Hoa who was frantically apologizing and explaining to Mr and Mrs. Hieu outside the living room, she went straight to Thao's room. Quietly closing the door to her daughter's room, she walked over to her bed. Thao was lying with her back to her, her shoulders still shaking slightly, warm. She gently sat down, her sad eyes lovingly looked at her sobbing shoulders, she stroked her hair:

- Don't blame your father, he thinks it's good for you. Besides, I shouldn't have refused so bluntly in front of Uncle Hieu. My father was very angry because of that.p>

- I dare not blame Dad, but I ... - Thao burst into tears, Mrs. Flower sobbed.

- Do you already have a boyfriend?

- Are you really happy - Thao hesitated - I mean living with Dad.

- When Grandpa said that Mom would have to marry Dad, she also cried a lot when she thought that she would live with a stranger for the rest of her life. But fortunately, my father, although rough and hot in appearance, is a person who loves his wife and children to the whole. Maybe Mom and Dad are one of the few couples who love each other even though they only knew each other after they got married. I have friends in the same situation, most of which are not happy, live together by obligations and responsibilities, and endure each other for life. So I support you. - Thank you mother - Thao hugs her - thanked her mother.

- I'm your mother - Mrs. Hoa happily, put her hand on her forehead - now, who is your lucky guy?

- Yes, it's ... - Thao hesitated - I promise not to scold my daughter, it's Phan, mom.

- Phan?

- Uncle Hieu's nephew, Vu's brother.

- God, this world is full of people, isn't it? Who can, but Phan, my father will never accept it. Did you refuse your brother to fall in love with your younger brother? - We've been dating for a long time, haven't we, Mom? I love him so much, until now, the two sides are still so hostile to each other?

- My father has no prejudice against that party, besides, now only the two surnames Nguyen and Tran are still hostile to each other. But what about Phan's parents, remember? Three children will never agree.

- No one is to blame for his parents' story, it's just that people use it to attack each other. Mom, we love each other.

- I understand, but your father is very conservative, with both his father and uncle Hieu being very close, moreover, the two families have had a contract since the day before, it will be very difficult to convince him.

- But I don't love Mr. Vu, you will help me, right?

- Of course, someone said that mother and daughter are always on the same side. Don't worry, now I have to go home and prepare, I still have class tomorrow. Don't worry too much, I will convince your father. Short-tempered people are easily persuaded.

- Thanks Mom!

She hugged her, and she lovingly knocked on her head and went to the door, reaching out to close the door, but as soon as she took the doorknob, she hesitated for a moment and then suddenly returned:

- Would you like me to sleep here with you tonight?

- What about Dad, what about mother's lesson plan? Mom is still in class.

- For nearly thirty years, my mother has been teaching these lessons, so I don't definitely need a lesson plan, right? Besides, your Dad deserves to be punished for being so hot-tempered with you. - Mrs. Flower paused for a moment, smiling gently. - Just kidding, but your father loves you very much, if Mom goes back to her room, he will make her come back here to sleep with me anyway. Or does he want me to help him convince you? Are you ready for a night of "our sisters" talk? To be honest, my mother is also very curious about Phan.

- Then I will help Mom punish Dad - Thao lies inside, then hugs her mother - Mom is amazing.

- Shh! Don't tell Dad, I'm a double agent and we're allies.

The strong wind brought cold air that whipped the two people's faces cold even though the heat of the wine was burning hot. Phan finished talking a long time ago, but Vu was still sitting there, contemplative, as quiet as a statue. His eyes looked far away as if he wanted to see through the thick rain in the dark night outside. Despite the sound of rain falling on the corrugated iron roof, the sound of greetings, cheers, loud invitations to each other, laughter, pushing or rejecting of the lovely young shopkeeper with the guests who had too much to drink. was begging her to have a few drinks together, blending into a slimy symphony of yeast and shrimp paste. Then, in the small space where the two's mat was located, there was still an eerie silence, each pursuing a separate thought that one did not want the other to know. Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed into the sky, bringing with it a rumbling thunder, making the space in the restaurant with the red, dim light of a 100W incandescent light bulb glow for a moment, illuminating the pale face clearly. Vu's confusion and suffering made Phan jump in fear. Growing up together since childhood, he has never seen Vu with such a strange face. Phan spoke, trembling:

- Older brother...

- I'll talk to my Dad.

- Yes?

- I will tell Ba to withdraw my marriage promise with Uncle Hoa.

- Mr. Vu, I'm sorry, I hope you...

- Are you the one apologizing? You're my brother, and it's not everyone's fault to fall in love, right? It's your fault, you should have looked into it more. When my father said he would fulfill our childhood engagement promise from early next year to suit his age, he was so excited that he forgot to ask her about it. He loved her too much.

Something just hit Phan's chest so hard that his heart constricted. Feelings of guilt, or jealousy? "Am I jealous? Phan said to himself, jealous of the brother that I have always admired and loved"?

- We've been in love for a long time, and we don't dare let anyone know. You know, the two sides...

- YES! I understand, let's drink, put everything aside, today is the day we meet again. Raise the glass.

Phan read the confusion and struggle in Vu's eyes. And Vu is looking for something in the dark, honey-like darkness outside.

A long, long time passed in silence, perhaps late at night. After the rain, the Winged Termites began their bombardment campaign by themselves onto the open ground under electric lights. The unfortunate Termites who lost their wings fell down, crawling around on the floor, fighting for the rare open space around with the few remaining Burnts that were lucky to survive, or even with the corpses of the Incinerators. Body is dead. To contribute to making the scene more gloomy and dreamy. The country ensemble including the sound of Crickets, the sound of Frogs and the chirping of insects begins to sound. The everyday harmonies that are familiar and familiar, but now feel strangely dreary. Vu stopped looking outside, he only focused on the wine glasses poured down his throat like a stream. Phan is also as quiet as Vu's shadow, repeating Vu's movements like a machine. Pouring, drinking, pouring again, it was as if he were a machine pre-programmed to act according to Vu's every move.

The shop was empty, the young owner began to nod off to sleep behind the cashier located at the door. Normally, she would have closed the door a long time ago, but since the two people sitting there still had no intention of ending their pantomime, she had to indulge the guests. Soon after, Vu drank another cup and then quietly propped his chin to look outside, suddenly he got up.

- You have to promise that you will make her happy. Know it yet?

- Yes, I...

- Come on, come back!

Vu waved his arm, staggered to the door, Phan hurriedly got up to run, but then he suddenly remembered that he hadn't paid, so he owner hurriedly ran over to the shop who was still nodding at the counter. When Phan ran from the checkout counter to the door, when did Vu disappear...

Only the dusty rain flutters!

The mountain town was startled awake by the rush of people running in the morning mist towards the three-room wooden house next to the river. Leading the way was a young man about 17-18 years old. His thin, bony face, narrow eyes, and bald head made him look rough and menacing at first glance. Following him, a crowd of about five or six people of the same age as him, men and women, were carrying sticks and machetes, and some even carried a piece of bamboo that they had just cut down somewhere.

"Kill Phan to death, you son of a b***h, a murderer".

"You have to get justice, you have to kill it."

"Don't let it escape, murder."

"Where's Phan, where's the killer"?

...

The noise, threats, loud cursing, even the crying of the crowd plus the barking of dogs all over the neighborhood created a chaotic symphony. Breaking the frosty stillness of the winter morning, the houses on both sides of the road also groaned to wake up. A few neighbors peeked out the door, but no one came forward to intervene. Phan doesn't come home often, so he doesn't have close friends in this neighborhood, and his brothers on the outside live quite far from his house and have since abandoned him when he studied medicine. Besides, the reason that the neighbor across the river pulled over to his house was enough to make people stay away and ignore it, killing people isn't a joke?

Phan was still lying on the bed, his eyes wide, tired and miserable. He left the hospital to return home at dawn, and he still hasn't slept until now. The pain came so quickly and suddenly, like a flood that swept past without warning. Phan still can't figure out what he just went through? He still can't believe that he has lost Vu, even Vu died in his arms, Vu's blood is still covered in Phan's hands. The brother, the friend who grew up with him, surrounded and protected him. The newcomer laughed and talked, just had a drink with him last night. Yet now, perhaps still lying cold in the hospital morgue. Vu was always the person closest to him and helped him the most. Yet the last thing he could give Vu was an unending sadness in his love story and his inability to pull Vu out of the arms of death.

The sound of knocking on the door outside woke Phuong up. She mumbled something unclear and went to open the door, when she passed the clock on the wall, she looked up, it was just past five in the morning. I don't understand who has such an urgent matter that they have to be rude to knock on someone's door so early in the morning? Phuong unlatched the door, a new day greeted her with swearing and threats from the tumultuous crowd outside.

- Where do you hide it, bring it out right away or it won't be over with us.

- You b***h, you caused a fatal accident and then you want to escape?

- Damn, beat it to death.

- Bring it here right away, where is Phan?

- You bastard, don't try to escape. He will beat your whole family to death.

- ...

- ...

While Phuong was still surprised because she did not understand what had happened, Phan appeared at the door. He quietly looked at the noisy crowd, growing menacingly, with indifferent and tired eyes. When the pain in him is still too great, what else can make him worry more?