We Belong Together

Chapter 18

The road leading to Vu's house is full of flags at half-mast, and the wind blows clumps of ash of hell money floating in the air. The space was dim and gloomy, I don't know if it was because of the fog or from the large bouquets of incense burned in Vu's house. Last night's rain left large puddles of water on the slippery dirt road. Gray clouds seem to swoop down so low that people feel as if because of the clouds above their heads, everyone's ears are cold and painful. Crying, narrating, mixed with funeral music sounds sad and sad. Phan quietly walked on the slippery dirt road full of soggy potholes. The cry rang out clearly as he walked closer to Vu's house, dodging past the coffin carrying the coffin that was left at the gate. He stepped inside, before being barricaded by a woman with a distressed face, drooping hair covering her head with a linen cloth.

Mrs. Hieu shoved hard against Phan, her hands both slapped and punched him, cursing incessantly. If only she could kill the man in front of her, I'm sure she wouldn't give up. Tears flowed from her puffy, watery, distressed eyes. She cried out, her voice hoarse from crying but still filled with resentment and anguish.

- Get out of here, you son of a b***h, you murder. Is that your brother? How can you act like that just because of a girl? what! You son of a b***h, give me my son's life. Do you still dare to come here? You son of a b***h, my son, my son, wake up to see this son of a b***h, this murder son has come here with a thick face. I kill you, I kill.

Mrs. Hieu rushed to the big pile of firewood next to the house, hugged a big tree branch and rushed towards Phan before being stopped by the men, not understanding where Mr. Understanding was without appearing? Phan was bewildered, he didn't know what was going on? Why did Mrs. Hieu scolding him like that? And why were the people around him looking at him with such indignation and disgust?

On the top of the coffin, fire suddenly flared up from the incenses that were large bundles planted on a freshly cut banana, causing Mrs. Understand to break free from the men's grip. She rushed to the coffin, hugged it and cried, "My son, you died unjustly".

Behind the door, the child looking for firewood on the island tried to hide against the wall, sneaking a look at Phan with extremely frightened eyes. It is Vu's biological brother.

Mrs. Hieu was still crying loudly, kept leaning over to hug the coffin, looking at Phan with resentful eyes, she shouted in sobs, "Go away, go away, go away..."

Hanoi welcomes the train with the gloomy colors of the afternoon sky and the terrible cold in the dusty rain. Inclement weather makes strides more hurried on the sidewalks. Shining on both sides of the railway, there were a few houses decorated with small bells on their Christmas trees, and hung with colorful lights. Phan looked through the carriage window, he knew that almost every house had started buying more cakes and pasting pictures of Santa Claus riding a Reindeer on the door. After Christmas will be the Western New Year, then the traditional New Year, the festive atmosphere has covered everywhere in the city. Not only the people, but probably, all the shops on the street have been plastered with the words "Merry Christmas" and the greetings have begun to be changed with the phrase "Merry Christmas". Hanoi is not a city with many Christians, but in return, Hanoi always has enthusiastic people with all kinds of festivals, regardless of origin and origin. For them, it's simply an opportunity to have fun and to show affection and care for those they love.

The train blew a long whistle, slowly stopped in the platform, let out a long sigh as if it were a sigh of relief, and then released a plume of smoke into the air. Phan still sat still, indifferent to the chaos in the carriage because everyone wanted to get their things quickly to return to their cozy home. Phan still wanted to sit there for a while longer, trying to hold on to the familiar central atmosphere in the familiar sounds of tissues, numbness, teeth, and chirping of the Central guests in the same car. Never has he felt so sad and regretful when he had to leave the Central region to return to Hanoi. Although Hung has promised to do his best to quickly clear up for him about Vu's accident, it is clear that a part of his soul as well as his person seems to have been sealed tightly with a door that has been locked. brutally stripped of the key. The Central region with him seems to be too far away.

Pulling up his collar, Phan crouched down to the station door, he smiled and refused when a street vendor offered to buy a red Santa hat with white trim. Phan hailed a taxi and went straight to Viet's parents' house. Now is not the time for old men with white beards, but for someone who has just surprised him and posed him with a series of curiosity and anxiety with a phone call a few hours ago. minute:

- Where are you so noisy? Uncle Vinh here.

- Oh! - Phan was surprised to see that Mr. Vinh had his number - How are you? I'm on the train back to Hanoi.

- Are you back home? How are you at home? When will you come back to Hanoi?

- Yes! My house is fine. The train has just passed Giap Bat station, I will get off the train in about 20 minutes. Did you call me for anything? By the way, how do you know my number?

- Knowing your son's best friend's phone number is a very important chapter in the "parenting handbook."

- No! Young man, what's the point of this? Can you lend me that handbook of yours when I need it?

- Yes, but when do you get married, son. So when you get off the train, come to my place and let's go eat something, I have a little business to ask for your help.

- Yes! I will come to your house as soon as I reach Hang Co Station. What's wrong with you?

- Then I will say when I see you, you will come right away!

Viet looked at the man standing deep in the mirror hanging on the bedroom wall. A man with deep tired eyes, sunken cheeks and stubble. Covering his drowsy face from lack of sleep was messy hair that looked like a haystack over the head of a scarecrow holding a Melon. - Looks like you need to fix yourself up, - Viet mumbled to his own reflection in the mirror - you look pathetic.

- Yes, more than pathetic, even if Nam Cao was to come back to life, he would probably give up, break the pen and throw it away, I don't know how to describe him? Maybe you should go to a Spa, or worse, get plastic surgery - Phan's voice sounds behind him - Look at you, do you look any different from Chi Pheo?

- Don't tell me you have the address of a Thi No lady. - Viet came back, there was no sign that he was surprised by Phan's presence. - How long have you been here?

- I just got there, - Phan waved his hand, like "oh, what are you paying attention to" then covered his mouth and yawned. By the way, I say, there won't be any Thi No for you, if you still look like a cottage after the storm.

- Did you know that your greatest ability is a sense of humour?

- Too commendable, do you ever think that anyone who has the honor of being your friend will eventually become so funny and cute?

- It's too bad, you went home without telling me a word, friends like that. I'll fine that case later. How is it at home? How are you? Is everything good?

- Well done. As never could be better. - Phan suppressed a sigh - Excellent.

- Do you have something to hide from me? Is something wrong?

- No problem. Since when did great become the word for instability?

- Okay. Ignore you with your damn linguistic philosophy. Give me a second, I'll shower and shave a bit and it'll be fine.

- There is no water that can wash away the moodiness in your soul. My poor lover boy. I'm tired of you to the core. Do you look around you? Is this what you call home? This is a garbage collection station, rather, even if you carry these bottles and sell them, you can probably buy a new house. I don't like playing with someone named Lu Ling.

- I'll just ask for a second, okay, just a second. I promise I'll be as obedient as a Bear after taking a shower to listen to your "honey sucking song", okay? While I take a shower, you know where I left Beer, the only thing in my house is liquid that can be poured into my mouth.

- Forget about your beef urine. Be there and listen to me ask, don't go anywhere without answering me. Where have you been all week? Do you know that TV and radio are buzzing because I posted a news about finding a lost child? The child lost love, turned off all means of communication and disappeared like a needle in the bottom of the sea. Your company is struggling because of the lack of you.

Something flashed in Viet's eyes when Phan mentioned Viet's company, but it quickly disappeared like a shooting star. Cold Vietnamese:

- Didn't I tell you I was resigning? I will ask my father to consider Thuy as director instead of me. She is really talented and deserves the position. Besides, my dad will control the remote, everything will be fine, don't worry.

- Okay his head. Did you give up so quickly? That's your company too, right? Do you let it fall into someone else's hands that easily?

- I don't need it - Viet said in a voice he hoped Phan would think it was the voice of a careless person - You know my father's character, he never allows anyone to disobey his will, and I don't. not very docile. Besides, I believe in Thuy.

- Thuy? She quit her job, right after he ran away - Phan insisted the word "run away", while Viet pretended not to hear - Everyone in the Institute was against her, some even shouted at her when she came to the Institute. For a person like Thuy, it is a bitter medicine that is hard to swallow. But in my opinion, maybe it was because of you that she quit her job.

- Because of me? What do I do?

- More than what you did. The fact that he abandoned the company to protect Hanh was the decisive slap in her face. She had realized that, to him, she was nothing more than a lowly assistant, nothing more. She was never number one in his heart.

- Never and never.

Unfortunately, she realized it too late, and made a terrible mistake. His father was mad because he thought he had incited her to quit her job to protest against him.

- Bad? Anyway, it's somewhat comforting when my dad appreciates me so much - Viet rotates the toothbrush in his hand - Well, what does talking about it do for a headache? Didn't my dad tell you to come teach me? Sit there and wait for me, just for a second.

- Well, since you don't give me any other choice, I'll start right away, very quickly.

- Stop! Please forgive me, okay? You've started your kilometer-long presentation again. - Viet reached out and turned on the hot water bottle - Wait for me a moment, then we go get something to drink, wouldn't that be better? Long time no see you.

- Clean! I'm not here to drink with you. Listen, tomorrow I want to see you in your office. Understand?

- I don't understand. In short, I quit my job, I thought you knew all too well?

- Stupid, do you know why Hanh left? Because she doesn't want to lose his family love and career because of her. Why don't you understand? - Phan almost shouted - You said you love her, but you act like that? If you really love her, shouldn't you be stronger to be ready to face everything instead of running away like this? One cannot solve any problem by running away. The next challenges are even bigger and more difficult, what will you do? Could he protect someone with such cowardice? You make me feel so disappointed.

- Must be big! I'm such a coward, I'm such a fool. - Viet shouted at the general - Then what do you do to me? I don't need you to teach me. What do I need other people to take care of me like a second jerk?

- Bad boy! - Phan threw a powerful punch that made Viet fall to the ground - Do you know what my biggest dream was when I was a kid? I just wish my parents were still alive, to be taught by them, scolded, or even beaten by them when I was naughty. People like you can never understand what family love is.

Phan left, reached the door, he stopped for a moment, thought, then turned back, he sobbed:

- Yesterday I met your parents, they said that they only have you in the world.

The door was slammed shut with all of Phan's strength, causing the house to vibrate with a loud clang. Viet sat up quietly, he sobbed, reaching out his hand to wipe the blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. After a long time, he turned off the hot water, and suddenly he just wanted to shower with cold water.