Chrysanthemum yellow

(NB&CL) It was a season of yellow chrysanthemums that evoked fond memories, even though I have experienced countless chrysanthemum seasons in my life.

In spring, almost every street in any city across the country is filled with chrysanthemums for sale. The elegant yellow of the chrysanthemums brightens every corner, as if inviting love. In springtime, there is only reunion, no separation; only meeting, no farewell. Hoi An that year was also a sea of ​​yellow chrysanthemums. That chrysanthemum season became a season I will never forget in my life.

That's just how I am. At the end of the year, while everyone else is rushing home, I set off for somewhere, as if I want to experience something completely different from what I'm used to. So I ended up in Hoi An on a bustling last day of the year. Why Hoi An and not somewhere else? Because Hoi An is almost a familiar place to me; I've visited it so many times, yet I still feel like I haven't explored everything, even though the old town is tiny, with only a few streets that are enough to tire your feet out.

I visited Hoi An on sunny days, when golden rays of sunlight fell innocently on the centuries-old tiled roofs, turning them a gray. I also came to Hoi An on rainy days, and was stunned to see those same tiled roofs covered in green moss, and suddenly blooming with white moss flowers. And sometimes I visited Hoi An on joyful days, to see the cheerful clusters of lanterns, or on sad days, to hear the rain softly falling on the fairytale tiled roofs.

In spring, Hoi An is adorned with countless lanterns, a unique type of lantern found only here, giving Hoi An a beauty unlike anywhere else. And now, Hoi An has many chrysanthemums, many yellow chrysanthemums displayed along the Thu Bon River, on the pedestrian walkway leading to the other side of the river.

I told myself I wouldn't be able to meet any acquaintances at this time, because everyone would be very busy during the end of the year, with so many things to worry about. As for me, I had nothing to worry about except carrying my backpack, stuffing it with a few changes of clothes, my laptop, and my camera. I'm used to wandering the streets of unfamiliar cities, watching the bustling streets celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year), and seeing people's smiling faces. And I especially love visiting Tet markets. Tet markets are a rare and unique feature of Vietnam, unlike anywhere else.

The Tet market in Hoi An was also crowded with vendors and shoppers. Of course, the flower market was everywhere, with chrysanthemums and yellow flowers filling the entire street. I joined in the hustle and bustle, enjoying the festivities, and told myself that on New Year's Day, I would rent a boat and cross the river to Cam Kim to see how the people there lived. I heard that the people of Cam Kim are very hospitable; just visiting a few houses would provide enough sweets and treats, plus banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and you might even get tipsy from their hospitality.

Then, amidst the golden chrysanthemums, I heard a soft call, perhaps from someone lost in the bustling crowd. "Tien." That was my name. And before I could react, an embrace came from behind, an embrace so familiar. Even the scent was familiar. It was Hoai, no one else: "I found you, didn't I?" Actually, I was missing her too and planning to go to Da Nang to find her.

The story goes that I've visited Da Nang a few times, but only with tour groups. Da Nang has a very beautiful Love Bridge on the banks of the Han River. I went there when night fell, trying to take a few photos. At night, it was crowded with people; some couples were innocently kissing and taking selfies with their phones – they looked so happy. There were also many young men and women alone. The Love Bridge in Da Nang at night was dazzling with lanterns arranged in a heart shape, and in the distance was the Dragon Bridge. The Dragon Bridge sprays water and fire at 9 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Unfortunately, I arrived at the wrong time, so I didn't get to see the Dragon Bridge spraying water and fire.

I took many photos that day. In particular, there was a girl walking alone, with beautiful long hair, and she was also wearing a white silk blouse. Perhaps she was with friends, but then separated to take pictures. I used my telephoto lens to take many photos of her, and then she got lost in the crowd in my Da Nang night.

Much later, I opened the photo I had taken at the Da Nang Love Bridge that day, and was surprised to see Hoai's beautiful photos (of course, I only learned her name later)... I posted them on Facebook innocently. To my surprise, Hoai appeared with a comment: "Thank you, the photos are beautiful." And from then on, Hoai and I became friends on Facebook. And that was it, even though I promised Hoai that when I visited Da Nang again, I would find her. But reflecting on the crowd on social media, it seems people are so quick to connect with each other, and then one morning or evening, while browsing through the pages of their connected friends, they suddenly delete them, as if erasing a day that had already passed.

I actually went to Da Nang, for no other reason than to find Hoai. Looking back, I was quite reckless, just taking a few photos and only knowing her on Facebook before going searching for her. Sometimes, I might even be rejected for a date because she already has a boyfriend.

It was a rainy day, like the ill-fated rendezvous of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl in July. Hoai was still there, the girl from Da Nang. Hoai and I went to Ba Na Hills. Going to Ba Na Hills was just an excuse to be close to each other, not out of curiosity to visit the European-style houses. At that time, Da Nang didn't have the Golden Bridge that everyone who went to Ba Na Hills went to take pictures of. Ba Na Hills was so high that we both wrapped ourselves in raincoats, sitting in a cafe and watching people go by. Hoai asked, "Are you cold?" I didn't answer, I hugged Hoai. I hugged her, drenched in rain, and thanked heaven and earth for letting me meet a girl from Da Nang.

I asked Hoai, "I thought I'd lost you. I messaged you on Facebook but didn't get a reply, and I didn't have your phone number." Hoai laughed, "How could I have lost you?"

We lined up at Phuong's bread shop to buy the best bread in Hoi An. Buying bread felt like buying tickets to a national team football match, but being able to join her made me happy. Hoai and I rode the same motorbike she used to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An. Hoai said it wasn't a coincidence that we met; she had located me and insisted on celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) with me. We went to Tra Que to admire the Tet flowers. The vegetable village, once a vibrant green, was now covered in a golden hue of chrysanthemums. That golden color of the chrysanthemums shone on her face, and I was captivated by her beautiful features.

Amidst the golden chrysanthemums in Tra Que vegetable village, the two of us parked our motorbike, sat eating bread, and waited for Tet (Lunar New Year) in the flowery atmosphere, our hearts filled with excitement. Hoai innocently shouted loudly amidst the rustling leaves: "Oh my God, I love him!" I didn't shout as loudly as Hoai, but I knew I loved Hoai as much as I loved Hoi An.

Khue Viet Truong

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/vang-mau-hoa-cuc-post331238.html