"Hello?" Ms. Tư popped up from nowhere, snatching the receiver before Đông Anh could reach it. "…Oh, is that so? Alright, I'll get ready right away." She beamed, then hung up.
Catching her little brother staring, she snapped, "What are you lookin' at?"
"Who was that?"
"None of your business. That was private." Then, sizing him up head to toe, she asked, "You heading out or something? Why didn't you tell me?"
Đông Anh didn't bother answering. He lowered his gaze and drifted a few steps away, eyes glued to the wall clock. Time dragged on, painfully endless, with no sign of resolution. The thought of going back to that couch and waiting some more made his skin crawl. What upset him the most wasn't just the waiting but the fact that he had no clue what was going on with the other person.
"Ma!" Đông Anh called out, rushing to his mother. "Can you send someone to go look for Dung? I'm really starting to worry something's happened."
"What could happen to that one?"
"Then why's he this late?"
"I told you, he probably overslept. That guy's a total mess!"
"If he really overslept, I'll go wake him up myself."
Đông Anh stood up firmly, only to be stopped by his mother grabbing his wrist.
"You and your dad—why do both of you keep fussing over a houseboy like that? I just don't get it!" She sighed, then relented, "Alright, sit down. I'll send some of the staff to check."
She took a few steps, then turned back and added, "But I'm telling you, you should find someone else to go with you!"
"I am going with him, Ma. No need to find anyone else."
Ms. Tư came strutting into the living room, dragging her suitcase behind her. She was already dressed to kill. Before Đông Anh could even process what she'd said, a flurry of footsteps thundered outside.
"Mr. Út! I'm here, sorry I'm late!"
At the sound of Dung's voice, every ounce of tension melted from Đông Anh's body. His eyes lit up and a smile of pure relief bloomed on his face. He rushed toward Dung but not faster than his sister.
Ms. Tư cut in front of him, snatching Dung's arm with a bright grin.
"Well look at that, perfect timing! I'm all packed and ready. You pushed the train time back, right?"
"Uh…" Dung blinked, confused.
"Then let's head out!"
"Head out?" he echoed.
"Yeah, the beach. What's with that blank face?"
"But…"
She cut him off. "No buts! Let's go, Ma's getting antsy."
Turning to her mother, she declared, "Don't worry, Ma. I'll take your precious baby boy along with me. You won't have to find anyone to babysit him now. Let's roll!"
Ms. Tư took his hand and dragged him away, but Dung still hesitated—his eyes lingering on Đông Anh.
"Come on, if you dawdle, Ma might change her mind and keep her golden boy at home. She's been fussing all morning."
Ms. Tư's psychological play worked like a charm, Dung followed her without a fight.
And Đông Anh? He stood frozen, stunned by the blow unfolding before his eyes.
From outside, Ms. Tư's voice rang out, loud and clear:
"Move it, Út! You coming or not?!"
Mr.Liễu's wife lifted the suitcase and handed it to her son.
"Alright now, go on, before that girl outside starts hollering again. Really now, what kind of girl just takes off on a trip without so much as a word to her folks?"
"Ma, I don't want…" Đông Anh's thoughts faltered, unsure whether he still wanted to go at all.
"Just go, son. The two of you are siblings—keep an eye on each other, alright? And listen, you make sure to watch over Tư and that Dung fella. I don't want any funny business going on between the two of them."
His legs moved as his mother pushed him along, but inside, the confusion he thought had passed began to boil over again—louder, hotter than before.
.
It was the weekend, and the train station was a swarm of people and vehicles, buzzing with movement. Street vendors—those who made a living pacing the railroad tracks—were no less busy. Their mouths called out cheerfully, their hands worked fast, and their hawk eyes scanned in all directions, always on the lookout for well-dressed customers. Every time a car pulled up to the station, two or three vendors would rush to the spot, ready to sell.
Right then, the back door of a taxi swung open, and out stepped a sharply dressed young man in a tailored suit. Tall, well-groomed, and soft-featured—he was clearly a moneyed type. From the passenger side emerged a roguish-looking guy in a floral shirt, open at the collar, giving off that scrappy street charm. He rushed to open the door and help a glamorous lady step out. She looked filthy rich. Scratch that—all three of them looked rich.
A drink seller hurried over, grinning. But before he could say a word, he froze at the sight of that floral-shirted guy shooting him a sharp look.
"Dung Tây…" the man stammered, then quickly disappeared. The other vendors, sensing the vibe, kept their distance too.
"Let me take that, Ms. Tư," Dung said, grabbing her big suitcase. Then he turned to Đông Anh, "You too, hand it over!"
"No need," Đông Anh snapped, yanking his bag out of Dung's reach and striding ahead.
"Not so fast." Dung's tone turned serious. He grabbed Đông Anh's arm and pulled him behind. "It's crowded here. Stay close and don't wander off."
Đông Anh frowned but didn't argue. He told himself to keep it together and act like he knew better. Still, watching Dung lightly rest his hand on Ms. Tư's waist made his jaw tighten.
"Shameless," Đông Anh muttered under his breath.
Dung, meanwhile, kept glancing back every few steps to make sure his precious little boss hadn't vanished. After a bit of pushing and weaving through the crowd, the three of them finally settled into their first-class cabin. Dung and Ms. Tư sat on one side, Đông Anh on the other, with a small table between them.
"Ugh, it's so hot!" Ms. Tư fanned herself like mad. The sticky heat made her too tired to notice the weird tension brewing between the two boys across from her, who were staring each other down.
"Let me fan you," Dung offered sweetly, taking over the fan and dabbing her sweat. "You're burning up, look at you. I almost feel bad for you."
He said it with a sideways grin, his eyes never leaving Đông Anh. The moment their eyes met, he smirked wider, clearly enjoying himself.
"What are you glaring at him for?" Ms. Tư asked her brother.
Dung jumped in, "Maybe he's hot too. Want me to fan you too, sir?"
"Oh, grow up," Ms. Tư rolled her eyes. "You're acting like a child, Út. He's taking you on a trip, so what if he showed up a bit late?"
"Ah, so that's what you're mad about, sir?" Then I guess I owe you an apology."
Ms. Tư looped her arm through Dung's and leaned into him. "Oh, quit babying him! Today, just focus on me. It's rare we get to go somewhere alone. And you—" she jabbed a finger at her brother, "stop clinging to him! He already has to drive you around Saigon every day. Let him breathe a little!"
"You..."
"What? Am I wrong? Go ahead, ask him yourself—clearly, he wants to spend the day with me."
Dung turned to Đông Anh. "Sir, if there's anywhere you want to go, I can still—"
"No need," Đông Anh snapped. "Go look after your Tư."
Seeing her brother sulking, Ms. Tư clung to Dung even more.
"Dung, let's go watch the sunset today! I brought my bikinis. I swear I'll look just like a movie star!"
Dung finally pulled his eyes away from Đông Anh and looked at her. "Well… if Mr. Út doesn't need me anymore, I'll be at your full service."
"You said it! Tonight we're hitting the dance floor too!"
Đông Anh turned toward the window, shutting himself off from everything around him. He didn't want to hear or see anything annoying coming from the pair across the aisle. Still, now and then, his eyes couldn't help but steal a glance at them. Sometimes, he caught Dung staring at him. Other times, his stomach churned at the sight of his sister's flirtatious smile.
The train rumbled on, shicka-shick, shicka-shick—a rhythm that rocked like a lullaby. The last time Đông Anh looked over, Ms. Tư had already dozed off, her head resting on Dung's shoulder. And yet, Đông Anh stayed still, eyes fixed on the two of them for what felt like forever—even when he realized Dung was staring back. Then Dung moved his lips, forming a question he didn't say aloud. But Đông Anh could vaguely guess what it was:
"Are you jealous?"
Đông Anh sniffed dismissively. "Where does he even get that idea?"
Turning back to the window, Đông Anh sulked. The scenery blurred past until his eyelids drooped and his head nodded to the side, nearly hitting the glass—if not for Dung's hand sliding in just in time to catch him. Startled, Đông Anh blinked up at the face so close to his. Dung's thumb gently traced the curve of Đông Anh's cheek.
"Sir… do you really not want to go with me?"
Over Dung's shoulder, Đông Anh could see his sister, now slumped against the seat back. That familiar pang of irritation rose up again. He straightened in his seat, deliberately avoiding Dung's gaze.
"Go back to your seat. Sit with my sister."
"…Is that really what you want?"
Đông Anh didn't answer. He stayed silent, cold.
Dung returned to his seat. He let Ms. Tư rest in his arms, eyes still locked on the boy across from him—watching, waiting, wondering how long Đông Anh could stand the sight.
Outside, the train clattered faithfully toward the seaside city of Nha Trang, unaware of the quiet storms brewing inside its cars.