Thang Vu put the bicycle aside and slowly approached her.
Although he really wanted to hold her in his arms to satisfy his nostalgia, his reason still wouldn't allow him to do that.
Perhaps she had met Nha Tien, Thien Tang, or Ngoc Vy and through them, she knew he was here, so she came to visit as if visiting an old friend.
They all promised him to keep it a secret for the sake of her future so he believed she was still unaware of his illness.
- Why did you come here?
His question made Thi San almost burst into tears.
They hadn't seen each other in nearly three years, and she didn't expect the first thing he'd say to her would be this polite question.
- I came to visit you. I met Nha Tien and she gave me your address.
The two of them used to be very close, eating together, sleeping together, and being close to each other like fish and water, able to freely share everything.
But at this moment, they could not freely express the love that was rising in their hearts.
Thi San feels very sorry.
Just now, she had imagined he would be overjoyed, hugging her and spinning around. But right now, he stood like a statue.
- I'm thirsty and cold. Are you going to let the guests stand outside forever? - She frowned and sulked.
- Oh, I forgot. Please go inside the house.
Thang Vu said as he hurriedly opened the door and helped Thi San pull a small suitcase in.
She glanced around at the cozy and clean space inside the house, then approached the altar, and burned incense for his parents.
Thang Vu did not know what she was whispering to them, but he remained silent and waited for her to open her eyes.
- I will make orange juice for you. - He spoke softly as she turned to look at him.
- Let me squeeze the oranges. You should take a shower. Your body is sweaty.
She smiled and went into the kitchen, rummaged through the fridge, and pulled out some fresh oranges.
Thang Vu was about to open his mouth but was unable to speak.
Finally, he did as she asked, took his clothes, and entered the bathroom.
Thi San surreptitiously opened the lids of some pots and pans on the gas stove to see what he had cooked and she felt reassured because the food was prepared by him methodically.
Perhaps he ate on a treatment regimen, so the dishes were all quite bland.
She had just finished eating a piece of fish when the phone in her pocket rang, startling her.
- I'm listening, Ngoc Vy.
- Would you like to eat crab cake soup? I and Mr. Thanh Phong will buy it and then drop by the hotel to give it to you. Do not worry. I just give it to you and go right away, not bothering you.
- I'm not at the hotel. I am staying at Mr. Thang Vu's house.
- What? Oh my god, when did you go?
- At midday. Well, I'll be back in the city in a few days and I'll see you. Bye.
Thi San smiled and put down the phone, reached for the sugar jar, and poured it into a glass of orange juice.
Although she could not see Ngoc Vy, she could imagine Ngoc Vy's bewildered face at this moment.
She was so focused on stirring the orange juice that she didn't know that Thang Vu had returned to the kitchen and was looking at her with sad eyes.
- When are you going to the city? – Thang Vu asked softly.
- Day after tomorrow.
- Then I'll take you away. Anyway, I have a business to go to the city.
- Okay. Then you wait for me to finish the show, then drive me back. – Thi San still looked down at the glass of orange juice and said.
- Huh? - He frowned because he didn't understand what she meant.
- I will stay here, not for a few days, but for the rest of my life...
The emotion and frustration made Thi San unable to say a full sentence.
She turned her head to look at Thang Vu with teary eyes.
If she didn't say everything clearly, her pent-up nostalgia and resentment would break her heart into a hundred pieces.
- You're the bad guy. How could you treat yourself and me like that? Have you ever asked me what I really want? Do you know how miserable my life has been for the past three years? I couldn't get a good night's sleep. The food is just the bitter taste of tears. Do you think that all you do is really giving me a good life? – She sobbed.
Her few reproaches were enough to let Thang Vu know that his secret had been revealed.
He did not expect Nha Tien to break her promise.
However, he did not blame Nha Tien because it was at this moment that his heart was bursting with happiness.
Only this time, he wanted to selfishly keep Thi San for himself.
- I'm sorry Thi San, I'm sorry. – Thang Vu quickly hugged her in his arms and constantly patted and comforted her.
His tears soaked her hair. He thought he could only hold her hand in dreams, but in the end, he was able to hug her in reality.
For the past three years, he hasn't been happy either. He lives like a shadow floating in the middle of life, finding his lover's silhouette through the sounds of the piano, the breeze, and the drops of rain.
Thi San's small, fragile hand repeatedly hit the man's back instead of a thousand reproaches.
However, after only a few seconds, she used her hand to gently rub his back.
They hugged each other for a long time, saying nothing more, but both of them felt the deep love they had for each other.
- Let's have dinner and then continue to hug. – Thang Vu leaned close to her ear and whispered.
- I don't want. I had to hug you for three years before I could let you eat. You deserve to be punished. – She cooed, clinging to him like glue.
- I have to take my medicine on time.
As Thang Vu predicted, as soon as she heard that, she immediately let go of him and urged him to sit at the table and wait for her to serve the rice.
Thang Vu involuntarily smiled when looking at the dear figure in the apron.
The swallow that had flown with the wind to a distant place had now returned to him.
She may just be a nameless flower in the middle of life, but she is the flower named "Love" that God has bestowed on him.
- My food is a little bland. You take more fish sauce to eat. – He took the piece of meat in the middle of the fish and put it in her cup and said.
- The food is delicious. If I eat foods that are too salty, I will drink a lot of water and my stomach will swell like a toad's belly. - She wittily replied.
- You are too thin. – Thang Vu's voice became sad.
- Who harmed me? – She sulked.
Today's meal is meager, but it is the best meal in more than two years for both her and him.
He was still the same as before, taking care of her, taking meat and fish for her, and reminding her to eat more.
She came back and fulfilled his dream, giving him the warmth of intimacy and love.
It was getting dark and when the moonlight drifted to the top of the bamboo top, the sound of insects echoed everywhere.
This characteristic sound is not found in the city.
Thang Vu took Thi San's hand, led her to the steps, and watched the moonlight together.
He was not a lonely man anymore.
- Do you remember? The day we met was also summer. - He kissed her hair lightly and said.
- How could I forget? Thang Vu, actually, as soon as I saw you on TV, I fell in love with you. It wasn't until later that I realized that. Hey, do you believe I fell in love with you at first sight? - She looked up and looked at him with wide, round eyes.
- I believe you. I also fell in love with you as soon as I saw you. I told you this before, didn't I?
- Did you say that? Why don't I remember?
- Don't you remember?
Thang Vu frowned at the girl who was deliberately teasing him.
He wanted to lean down and bite her pink lips to remind her.
However, he still hesitated when he thought that he could not give her a complete family.
He knew well that there was not a girl who didn't want to be a mother.
In the past, she had planned to have many children for him.
- Thang Vu, I watched a movie the other day. Do you want to know what the movie is about? - She lowered her head, leaned into his lap, and whispered.
- Yes, you tell.
After clearing her throat, she slowly told him the story of a couple.
They loved each other earnestly, but then one day the man discovered that he was terminally ill and was about to die.
Because he wanted his lover to live happily, he treated her coldly and badly to push her out of his life.
That poor girl didn't know anything until one day, she accidentally saw her boyfriend's test results.
Because she wanted him to feel secure about her, she married another guy.
However, that wedding was just a play.
- Finally, the guy died and then the girl committed suicide.
After Thi San finished speaking, she left Thang Vu's arms and looked directly into his eyes as if to confirm that her love for him could overwhelm all other desires.
- Thang Vu, if that guy had known this outcome in advance, he certainly wouldn't have done so. Why don't we put aside all the petty worries and live for this love? Don't waste any more time, okay? The past time has been a huge loss to me.
The glittering eyes filled with tears and the words from the heart of the person he loved broke all the hesitations in his heart.
Thang Vu gently pulled Thi San close and kissed her eyelids, feeling the bitter taste that she had to endure during meals in foreign countries.
Their breaths entwined as the gentle kiss of his warm lips moved across her face, wiping away the streaks of tears.
- I love you, Thi San.
After the whisper, he placed a passionate kiss on her lips.
The sweet feeling when their two lips were intertwined brought him and her back to the old days.
The chaotic breaths and the hands that are constantly caressing gradually lead the lovers to the most primitive carnal desires of humanity.