Appointment - Lao Dong Newspaper

Ly has no reason to wait for someone like me. But if I don't come back, I won't be able to do anything when I keep thinking about Ly, thinking about my broken promise to Ly and tormenting myself.

During the week we spent together during the coffee blossom season last year, I truly fell in love with Ly. The night before we parted, we sat together very late; even when every blade of grass, every leaf, every coffee flower petal was soaked with night dew, they still did not want to return. Under the kơ-nia tree, Ly sat with her head on my shoulder, asking when would he come back?

Soon, next week I will start taking pictures of birds, and I will come back right away when I am done. Ly was silent. Really? Her voice was as light as the wind. It seemed that Ly was worried. I understood Ly's mood at that moment, so I immediately wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. I swear the kơ-nia tree is my witness... Ly quickly covered my mouth to stop me from speaking. Don't, don't say anything. So will you wait for me? Ly nodded.

I returned to the city with Ly's image in my mind. I just wanted to quickly finish the project to submit. I would go back to Ly, I would talk to her parents. I would bring my parents to her house to ask her to marry me. I would... I would... We would...

All the plans that were going through my head were related to Ly. Even my colleagues teased me that I must have been possessed by Ly. "You're under a love spell. The highlanders are very good at magic." I laughed: "I'm under a heart spell."

Illustration: HOANG DANG

My bird photography series was completed ahead of schedule. That afternoon, after submitting the project to my manager, I was as happy as a child about to be rewarded with a long-awaited trip to a place I had longed for. I sang softly as I skipped out of my boss’s office, my camera bag swinging with each step. It seemed like everyone was looking at me and smiling.

I drove through a few shops to buy some souvenirs. First, I bought some books. Ly is a teacher, so she definitely likes books. Then I went to the clothing store…

***

The plateau this season is full of sun and wind. In the past, I could walk a few kilometers without any problems. But now, after only a short distance, I was already tired. The joint in my shin was a little sore. I stopped under a kơ-nia tree to rest. The kơ-nia tree had heard my vow to return and rustled its branches and leaves. Standing here, I could also see Ly's house looming in the distance, a distance away from the coffee garden.

The coffee has long since passed its blooming season, but I still see the pure white petals blooming, carrying a gentle fragrance that calls butterflies and bees to fly back. I think I can hear the buzzing of the bees, or hear the singing of a girl in the middle of the coffee garden. Ly's voice. Ly's voice. I shake my head vigorously, clearing away the chaos that is occupying my mind.

After the accident, because of my pride and my body image, I did not return to visit Ly as promised and also completely cut off contact with her. I had decided never to return to Dak Ha again, but my heart told me so but my feet still went. I did not tell Ly. Actually, I did not want her to be in a difficult situation. I wonder how she is now? Is she still waiting for me or has she gotten married?

If you really have married, I will quietly return, pretending I never came back to this land. I have no reason to blame you. Because no one can wait for someone who has disappeared for years without any news.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice when I arrived at Ly’s gate. Today was the weekend, so Ly was probably home. I wondered if everyone still remembered me as the photographer who had been waiting here for a whole week three years ago. Thinking about this, I became hesitant and didn’t dare to go straight to her house.

I leaned against the gate as someone came out of the house. The voice of an adult was loud, it must have been Ly's mother, she was laughing happily with a child:

- Kin is so good. When Ly's mother comes back, tell her to reward her.

I was stunned. So it was clear. My heart was filled with sadness and loss. The accident had cost me my legs, my love. I turned around and left, each step becoming heavy. I wanted to return to the city immediately, I didn't care about taking pictures anymore. I sighed deeply. The heart charm shattered in my chest.

I shouldn't have come back here. I thought I came just to confirm if Ly was still waiting for me, just to prove to Ly that I still kept my promise, even if it was late; I told myself not to blame Ly, I reminded myself that I had no right to be angry. But now I feel hurt. I tried to walk as fast as I could so I wouldn't have to hear the boy's laughter. I blamed myself for not asking for the motorbike taxi driver's phone number when he took me from the bus station here.

- Mr. Kien! Yes, Mr. Kien.

I stood still but did not turn around. It was clearly Ly's voice. Even though I had not seen her for years, I still recognized her voice. Ly ran to me and happily hugged me. I felt her shoulders shaking.

- I knew you would come back. Why haven't you contacted me for so long? I thought...

I stood there like a statue, not knowing whether to push Ly away or hug her tightly and tell her that he had returned as promised three years ago. I said something that seemed to have nothing to do with the emotion that was taking over Ly:

- I'm passing by and want to say hello to you two.

My words made Ly surprised. She let go of me and stared at me as if searching for something.

- Older brother…?

- I... I... Ah, I have to go.

- What's wrong? Didn't you come back to find me? That day you left and disappeared... Or... Or... Maybe everyone is right. I was so stupid to believe in a promise.

Ly said and ran straight to the coffee garden, leaving me standing there, confused, not understanding what was happening. Why was Ly crying? Ly should be the one who felt guilty. It was clear that she was married and had children. Why was she angry with me? But anyway, I had come. Besides, I couldn't bear to leave when she was crying. I went to the coffee garden to find her. Ly was sitting between the rows of coffee trees, sobbing.

As soon as she saw me approaching, she stood up and left. Just like three years ago, she walked ahead, I followed. But this time she no longer laughed out loud, no longer sang clearly as she walked. I also no longer held my camera up to aim at her, then had moments of being absent-minded because of a very beautiful profile or a very charming smile. Between us now was a silence filled with worries, doubts and suffering. I just followed Ly. The rough garden soil made my joints hurt. After all, since getting my prosthetic leg, I had never walked this much.

Ly left the garden and walked up the slope where the kơ-nia tree was. She sat leaning against the tree trunk, wiping away her tears. Waiting for me to sit down next to her, she spoke to me in a strangely calm voice:

- My mom is home, if you want to come say hello, just come in. Or maybe it's because you've been missing for so long that you're shy. Don't be shy, my parents are still as kind and lovely as ever.

- I'm sorry I didn't come back on time. That baby?

- Brother… He is the child of one of my colleagues. She was sick and had to be hospitalized. There were only the two of us at home, so my husband came to take care of her so I took care of him. At school, he calls all of his mother's female colleagues "mom."

- You are not married yet?

- I promised you. The kơ-nia tree is my witness. But I should have listened to everyone.

- What does that mean?

- Everyone says you made such promises but never came back. There are so many beautiful and talented girls in the city. Besides, we only met for a week, too short… (Ly turned to look at me). Are you married? I tried to contact you but couldn't.

- I'm sorry. Are you still waiting for me?

- No use.

- No. Of course. I still love you and I always remember… (I suddenly stopped when I thought of my damaged legs) But…

- But what?

I pulled up my jeans to show Ly my legs that were no longer flesh and blood. She was shocked. What happened to him? Was this why he had been missing for so long? Tears filled Ly's eyes. Only then did I have the chance to look closely at her face. Still as beautiful as ever, but with a hint of sadness.

I told Ly about the accident that afternoon. The accident that cost me my legs.

- I feel like I'm not worthy of you anymore, I've become...

Ly didn't let me finish my sentence, she hugged me, placing a passionate kiss on my lips. I hugged her tightly, feeling the salty taste seeping through my lips.

Truong Thi Thuy

Born in 1985, from Kinh Mon district, Hai Duong province, currently a teacher at the Center for Continuing Education - Vocational Training, Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh province.

Starting to write in 2014, up to now, Truong Thi Thuy has had many essays and short stories published in newspapers and magazines; participated in a number of writing contests and won prizes, such as: third prize in the writing contest about the August Revolution and National Day September 2 organized by Quan Chieu Van in 2020, Encouragement prize in the writing contest Vu Lan - human love in the pandemic organized by Buddhist Magazine in 2021,...

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