The coffee exuded a fragrant aroma, thin wisps of smoke curled in the dark brown, viscous liquid. Feeling both bitter and astringent, Man Ky took a sip and then stared intently at it.
If only I were coffee, you would take me with you every day.
The office was deserted and cold. Who had turned the air conditioning so low? Man Ky fumbled for the remote. Jim's borrowed shirt looked quite thin. Maybe he was catching a cold!
"Sir!" The assistant knocked on the door and cheerfully entered the office. The file was already on the desk; Man Ky glanced at it and said, "Tell Jim Tran to come to the company for an interview next week."
The assistant quickly left, and Man Ky stood up to look out the window. Jim had submitted his application to Tin Vi's subsidiary. He would surely be surprised that Man Ky himself was conducting the selection. Considering it helping Jim find a job, maybe Ngan Thu would change her mind about him. Man Ky was determined. In fact, Jim was very talented in the field of design. Hearing back from the headquarters, Jim was stunned and couldn't believe it.
That evening, Jim intended to drop by his cousin's house to check on him. Just peeking through the gate, Jim saw Man Ky walking out with a flushed face. Too curious, he followed the car. It seemed they had just had an argument? Jim thought to himself. A hint of dissatisfaction and weariness was visible on that face. Man Ky got out of the car and continued to sit sighing by the lake where he had had the accident yesterday. Looking both funny and pitiful, Jim watched to see what he would do. Could it be that when men couldn't stand their wives, they just went outside?
A cool breeze blew across, the thin shirt wasn't enough to warm that lonely, lost soul. Bright stars gradually appeared, the deep night seemed to hold endless sorrow. A vast, heartfelt echo after a long day.
"Coffee?"
Man Ky startled, hearing someone's voice behind him. He turned his head and saw Jim suddenly offering a very friendly smile. Having met a few times, his cousin had suddenly become so close. Man Ky raised his eyebrows and picked up his blazer. The coffee might be quite bitter, but the sugar cube was just enough to sweeten it the way people liked. Jim looked at Man Ky's face, the lights in the coffee shop below twinkling mysteriously. His jet-black hair seemed coated with a glossy brown wax. The white shirt had turned a pale pink. Man Ky looked both handsome and strangely attractive.
Jim slowly sipped his rich coffee mixed with a little milk. Man Ky only used his spoon to dissolve the sugar cube and then sat silently. Soft music filled the air, gently melodious, making the two young men's emotions more stable.
"I've never felt like such a failure!" Man Ky said in a low voice, the reflection of the glass imprinted in the depths of his eyes. How could he express the worries and burdens he carried? Everything was a long endurance, weighing heavily on his mind day by day.
"Then forget about it!" Jim gently touched his shoulder, and Man Ky took a deep breath. He tried to suppress all the endless sorrow into the void. The warmth spreading from Jim's hand had a good effect, and Man Ky smiled faintly.
...
Soft sunlight filtered through the windowpane, and Ngan Thu pulled the curtains aside. Her long, wavy hair was glossy and flowed with the cool morning breeze. The house was silent and cold. Her heart was so wounded that it had grown thin. She hesitated, not knowing how to resolve it. Last night, Man Ky had gone out sadly, and her heart was both worried and angry.
Knock! Knock!
The sound of knocking came from outside, but Ngan Thu didn't intend to open it. After all, she knew her husband was home, and he had the house keys.
Knock! Knock!
The second time, Ngan Thu wearily turned the doorknob. Suddenly, the door swung open forcefully, and Man Ky was clinging to the wall. He looked like he couldn't stand steadily.
"Man Ky?" she cried out and rushed to support him. Man Ky collapsed onto the sofa, drenched in sweat, his face pale.
"What's wrong?" she asked anxiously, and he clutched his stomach tightly. Anger and resentment vanished, and Ngan Thu patted his cheek, calling his name.
"It hurts so much..."
Smelling coffee on his breath, she suddenly remembered something and quickly ran to open the medicine cabinet.
"Drink this quickly!" She propped his head up, and while waiting for the medicine to take effect, Ngan Thu placed a hot compress on his stomach. Man Ky's pain eased considerably, and he drifted into a hazy sleep. At this time, Ngan Thu went down to the kitchen to cook porridge. Occasionally, she went to the living room to check on her husband.
This terrible stomach pain had recurred for the third time. She was tired of telling him to get a check-up. Men were such stubborn creatures; they never listened! Ngan Thu brought up the porridge. She sat down beside him. Man Ky was still sleeping soundly. It seemed he hadn't been getting proper sleep lately, his mood was tense and pressured. His delicate face and high nose had captivated many girls at first sight. Whenever Vu Man Ky was mentioned, Ngan Thu felt frustrated because her husband seemed to have a destiny with romance, constantly surrounded by admirers.
He looked quite haggard from the lack of his wife's care. She had neglected him for a long time. It had been a long time! Living side by side, but their minds were out of sync. His shirt was soaked with sweat, his thin hands pale. She couldn't understand what joy she found in seeing her husband weakened by her jealousy and anger. Ngan Thu recalled the time she fell down the stairs and sprained her ankle; Man Ky had braved the rain, running the whole long way to help her. The car had broken down unexpectedly; thinking back, she really felt sorry for him.
"Still hurting?" she asked softly when she saw him wince. Man Ky opened his eyes, wearily looking at the ceiling. Ngan Thu wiped his sweat, and he tightly grasped that soft hand.
"What's wrong?" Still with a gentle gaze, Ngan Thu asked softly. Man Ky was both in pain and exhausted; he tried to sit up, looking shyly at the girl he loved deeply.
"Have some porridge, honey!" She carefully spoon-fed him, and Man Ky inwardly vowed to swallow this unusual sweetness. She had become dangerous with that angelic appearance.
"Why are you looking at me so intensely?"
Man Ky was a little embarrassed and forced a smile. She knew exactly what that philandering husband of hers was thinking. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and Ngan Thu put the bowl of porridge down on the table.
"Don't drink coffee on an empty stomach anymore!"
"I'm sorry..."
Silly! Ngan Thu murmured to herself. She suppressed a smile and stood up. He was confused, not knowing whether to be happy or sad. A moment later, she returned with another shirt.
"You're so dirty!" Ngan Thu unbuttoned her husband's shirt, intending to change him into a dark blue one, but as she saw the scrapes all over his body, Ngan Thu startled.
"What happened to you?" She frowned and touched the wounds. They were still very fresh. Clearly, he had been in some kind of accident. Man Ky completely forgot about it and stammered as he put on the shirt. She also saw the wound on his head, even though it was partially hidden by his hair.
"Vu Man Ky! What exactly happened to you?" Ngan Thu began to lose patience, switching to questioning him. Man Ky was quite tense. He didn't know what his wife would do next. Suddenly, Man Ky shivered and curled up.
"What's wrong? Oh my god! Tell me quickly!" She was flustered by the situation. Man Ky didn't answer; he seemed like he might end up in the hospital again. Ngan Thu wrapped her arms around her husband. At least, it was enough to calm him down.
"It's okay, Man Ky, I'll call an ambulance right away!"
"Don't! I'm fine!" Man Ky held her tightly, and Ngan Thu gradually felt the warmth radiating from her husband's body. In an instant, he embraced his little girl with boundless love. Intense emotions surged, and his wounded heart slowly recovered.
"Man Ky?"
His face was contorted with pain. It wasn't easy for Ngan Thu to give in like this, but this situation was truly beyond her expectations. She was extremely uneasy; last time he hadn't been in so much pain. Her heart was in a turmoil. What should she do?
"Honey?" Ngan Thu realized something was wrong; she kept calling him, but he remained silent. Panicked, she pushed him away, and Man Ky lay motionless on the sofa.
"Man Ky?"