The new dress

The rich sweetness gradually melted on her tongue, like a simple happiness she hadn't fully enjoyed in a long time. Having indulged to her heart's content, she languidly climbed into the hammock, quietly letting herself be carried away by the gentle swaying, listening as her anger slowly dissipated in the lazy, pleasant feeling of the late afternoon.

Illustration: AI.

Whenever Ngân gets angry with her husband, she always eats. For her, eating is the most effective stress-relief method, both simple and immediate. A delicious dish is a much more positive way to console herself than joining online "complaint" sessions on social media. If she hadn't received any food from her mother today, she probably would have browsed a few apps and ordered a fragrant grilled dish or a sweet cup of bubble tea to drown her sorrows.

But as she rose from the hammock, the tightness around her stomach startled her. She slowly walked to the mirror, examining her face. The mirror reflected a different woman—not the radiant young girl she once was, but a mother, a wife who no longer cared much about her appearance. The features that had once captivated so many men were no longer sharp. A slight fullness in her cheeks, a hint of weariness around her eyes.

Ngân sighed softly. Since when had her wardrobe been filled only with simple, practical clothes? The soft dresses and high heels she once adored were now tucked away in a corner, making way for jeans, loose tops, and flat sandals. How long had it been since she'd taken care of herself? How long had it been since she'd asked herself how she looked in the eyes of others, in the eyes of the man she shared her life with?

Ngan leaned her head against the back of the sofa, her gaze drifting back to the old days. She remembered the early days when Tien first appeared in her life. Not loud, not flashy, just a quiet, warm man. When her heart had just recovered from the pain of her first love, he came, bringing peace like a gentle haven.

Her love for Tien wasn't passionate or hasty, but rather a simple belief that they could walk through the years ahead together. That love wasn't a blazing fire, but a warm light always shining in their small home, something ordinary yet steadfast. However, the busy days of earning a living, dealing with diapers and children, and the growing responsibilities of the years, swept her into an endless cycle.

As for Tien, he was no longer as enthusiastic and passionate as he was at the beginning. The look in his eyes had lost its intensity, and the compliments he gave her to make her happy had become fewer. No one says marriage will always be like the early days of love, but had she let herself drift too far, so far that she forgot how to hold onto those small feelings? Ngan looked at herself in the mirror. And in that moment, a thought flashed through her mind: It was time for a change.

In the afternoon, Ngân sent her child to her parents' house and treated herself to a day of "rejuvenation." She drove out into the city, feeling both excited and a little strange. How long had it been since she'd spent a day just for herself? The familiar hair salon was the same, the faint smell of chemicals lingering in the warm air. The hairdresser looked at her long but dry hair, gently shaking her head, half-reproaching, half-joking:

– You've been neglecting yourself for a bit too long!

Ngan chuckled, nodding in agreement. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and felt the skilled hands gently washing, stroking, and caring for each strand of hair. The warm water flowed down, bringing with it a sense of relaxation that permeated every cell.

Three hours later, she emerged from the salon with her hair styled smoothly, sparkling with five smoky highlights against a modern yet youthful deep purple base. It wasn't a drastic change, but just enough to make her feel refreshed and vibrant.

Next, she turned into a clothing store. The neatly arranged racks of dresses, the soft yellow lighting, the scent of fresh fabrics – all evoked a sense of nostalgia. Ngân chose a simple yet elegant pastel dress and gazed at herself in the mirror for a long time. When was the last time she did this? She turned slightly, her hand gliding over the soft fabric. Not because the dress was particularly beautiful or expensive, but because in this moment, she was looking back at herself – a woman who had once known how to love herself, how to appreciate her appearance. A strange feeling of emotion welled up, as if she had just rediscovered a part of herself that had been lost for so long.

That evening, when Ngan returned, Tien was standing at the door. Seeing her, he paused for a moment. She smiled, gently lifted the hem of her dress, and twirled around:

– So, did your new wife surprise you?

Tien looked at her, his eyes showing a hint of surprise, but then the corners of his lips curved into a smile of amusement.

– Amazing good job!

Ngan chuckled, feeling pleased with herself. That evening's dinner was unusually cozy. They sat and ate together, talking more than usual. Nothing particularly special, just trivial conversations, sometimes interspersed with laughter. But Ngan realized that the space around her had changed. Not because of the house, not because of Tien, but because of herself – if she changed just a little, the world would automatically become different.

***

5 a.m. The alarm clock blared, interrupting her interrupted sleep. Ngân reached out to turn it off, instinctively pulling the blanket over her head. But then, she remembered her promise to herself: to begin a self-care journey. She took a deep breath and sat up.

After drinking a glass of warm water mixed with honey and apple cider vinegar, she slipped on her sneakers and stepped out of the house. The cool morning breeze caressed her skin, carrying a damp mist. Her first steps were a little sluggish, but gradually, her rhythm became steady and firm. The space was so quiet that she could hear her own breathing mingling with the rustling of the leaves.

She hadn't gone far when it suddenly started to drizzle. Ngan stopped, looking up at the gray sky. A thought flashed through her mind: Should she turn back? But then, she remembered her own reflection in the mirror last night. If she turned back, wouldn't everything be the same again? She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, plucked a banana leaf from the roadside to cover her head, and continued walking. No journey is easy. But the important thing was that she had begun.

After preparing breakfast for the whole family, Ngan asked her husband to take the children to school while she began getting ready for work. What she used to do hastily, today she slowly combed her hair, applied a touch of lipstick, and chose a new, figure-hugging black dress. It was a small change, but it made her feel both strange and familiar – as if she had rediscovered herself after a long sleep. The road to work was busier than usual. Ngan decided to turn into a small alley to avoid the traffic. But just as she turned the corner:

Ah ah ah! Bang!

To avoid a pedestrian who suddenly crossed the road, Ngan couldn't react in time, and both she and her bike fell sprawling onto the road. It hurt terribly. She scrambled to her feet, her mind still reeling, when a voice rang out, both familiar and unfamiliar:

- Echo?

She froze. Blinked. It was Truong. The man she once thought would be with her forever.

He hurriedly helped her up, his eyes filled with worry. "Are you alright?" The close contact made her a little flustered. She never expected to encounter her first love in such an ironic situation.

Ngan only suffered minor scratches, and the car was fine, but her new dress was no longer intact. The slit in the skirt was suddenly higher than usual, making it futile to pull the hem back up. She hurried to the trunk to get her sun protection jacket, but then remembered she'd left in a hurry that morning. Looking at her watch, she frowned. Truong saw everything.

"You have a uniform at the office, right?" Trường asked.

"Yes... I did." Ngân smiled, suddenly feeling relieved. She hadn't thought of it before.

– Then you can drive me, we can leave the car here for now. Otherwise, we'll be late.

Given his enthusiasm, Ngan nodded. The car sped through familiar streets. She looked out the window, feeling strangely calm. Truong was the first to speak.

– How have you been lately?

His voice was low and unwavering.

Ngân continued to watch the blurry streaks on the car window, and slowly replied:

– Busy, but everything's alright.

The school principal nodded slightly, a fleeting smile playing on his lips.

– I think so.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at him.

- And you?

He shrugged, his eyes still fixed straight ahead.

– Work, life, everything continues in a monotonous way. Nothing special.

Ngan nodded, turning her gaze back to the scenery outside. She had thought that if she met Truong again, there would be a touch of heartache, a hint of emotion, or at least something that would make her heart race. But no, she only felt an emptiness, like a fleeting breeze.

Suddenly, Truong stopped the car. Ngan was startled and instinctively looked up. The car stopped right in front of a clothing store. She looked at him, her eyes showing a hint of suspicion. Truong remained calm, unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the door, and stepped out. Ngan was flustered. A thought flashed through her mind. He was going to… buy her a new dress? Ngan froze. She didn't want to admit it, but a small corner of her heart had been waiting for this. Could it be that Truong still cared about her a little?

But then, Trường didn't go into the shop. He turned right, approaching a roadside stall. And to Ngân's astonishment, he bought a portion of sticky rice cake. Her eyes widened. Trường calmly took the bag of cakes, smiled slightly as he returned to the car.

– This is my favorite cake. I was planning to buy some this morning, but I didn't expect to run into a skilled driver like you.

At that moment, something inside Ngan shattered. Not pain, not regret, but enlightenment. She gave a bitter smile. Why had she hoped for that? Why, for a fleeting moment, had she thought Truong would buy her a dress? Everything had ended long ago. What she had just hoped for was absurd. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes. And at that very moment, she knew for sure: She had truly let go.

The car stopped in front of the office gate. Ngan opened the car door and got out. But before closing the door, she heard Truong's voice from behind.

- Echo.

She stopped and turned her head.

His eyes held a hint of longing.

– Are you still using your old number?

Ngan took a deep breath. She didn't answer.

He just smiled slightly.

- Thank you.

She closed the car door. There was nothing holding her back, nothing lingering; her first love was truly over, and she had completely moved on.

That afternoon, when she returned home, before Ngân could even tell him what had happened that morning, Tiến was already waiting at the door, his hand concealing something behind his back. Ngân found it strange and glanced at him curiously. Without further ado, he handed it to her, with a slight hesitation.

– This is for you… to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.

Ngan's eyes widened in surprise as she took the pretty gift box wrapped in romantic pink paper. She excitedly opened it. Inside was a new, elegant dress in a tasteful color, exactly the style and brand she liked, and even more surprisingly, the perfect size for her. Ngan was so moved she was speechless. She put her arms around her husband's shoulders and whispered:

Thank you. And… I’m sorry. I forgot…

Tien gently kissed his wife's cheek, comforting her:

– It's okay, go take a shower, then we'll all go eat something really delicious.

Ngan looked at her husband with sparkling, teary eyes, a bright, happy smile on her face. She nodded repeatedly like a good child and ran like lightning into the house...

Short stories by Tra Dong

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/chiec-vay-moi-postid420768.bbg