That evening, after helping each other organize everything, they had dinner together. It was the first time kan had seen this scene in many years. That evening, kan felt uneasy. She pulled San's hand aside and told him not to ask her about the photo right now. She would tell him herself, but not yet. San sighed, asking if something was wrong, "Yes, I'm curious too." But kan pulled his cheek to stop him from talking, as her father came over to call them.
During dinner, they chatted. Her dad looked at San intently. He was happy that san had grown up to be so handsome and different. He then asked why san had left so suddenly that year. "Do you know that kan was so angry that she cried and hit everyone?" kan choked on her food and was stunned. How could her dad still remember that story? It was from when she was six years old, and she barely remembered it, had her dad not brought it up. Hearing this, Auntie ja and San laughed hard.
San explained that his parents had work in Siem Reap, so he had to move there. "I also studied in Siem Reap, but this year I wanted to transfer back to this school. Coincidentally, I saw Kan. I never expected to see her. And I never expected Uncle to move back to this area?"
At this, kan's dad just smiled, nodding his head. His mood seemed to change a bit, but the atmosphere was saved by san screaming slightly because Kan had pinched him, making a face as if to ask, Why are you still bringing that up? Didn't I tell you not to mention it earlier! San changed to a softer voice and smiled, saying his tooth hurt a bit just now. He then continued, saying he wouldn't go to Siem Reap this year; he would just stay home normally. He said this with a slight laugh.
Suddenly, kan remembered something! Just then, her Dad invited san to go on a trip with him. He planned for kan, Auntie ja, and him to travel because the New Year holiday was a whole week long. Kan immediately refused, using the excuse that san had promised to take her to Siem Reap to see the ancient Khmer temples! She said this with a disappointed look. san was surprised, but he just went along with her.
Her dad was also just realizing, Why was she suddenly talking about Siem Reap? Her dad said that he had also planned to go to Siem Reap before, but later decided to go camping. Now, if kan was going to Siem Reap, they would all go together. Kan wanted to object, wanting the two adults to have time together, but she stopped speaking because Auntie ja immediately agreed. She also wanted to see the ancient Khmer temples. Kan could only smile, holding San's hand tightly.
The next day was New Year's Day. The time the angels descended was 8:45 PM. So, the next day, they had to prepare the ceremonial table according to Khmer tradition, decorating everything beautifully, lighting the bulbs in the star lanterns and the Buddha statues as a sign of respect and prayer. When the angels descended, everyone usually watched TV, which featured the performance of the story of Kabil Moha Prum and the divine daughter.
That morning, they prepared for the reception and packed their belongings to leave for Siem Reap that night, right after the angels descended!
Suddenly, Sina was waiting in front of the house. It took her a while to find kan's house. She came because she and kan had agreed to look for Ree's house together. Sina was able to come because she asked her Grandmother. Her Grandmother didn't want to travel, but if her granddaughter wanted to, she wouldn't refuse. However, Sina didn't want to travel; she wanted to find Ree.
Kan introduced Sina to everyone. They then got on the train to Phnom Penh, took a train from Phnom Penh to Battambang, and then took a bus from Battambang to Siem Reap.
That night, even sitting and sleeping was tiring. Two adults and three teenagers. Hana called and chatted with kan, asking why she left Siv Siv alone like that. Kan could only apologize with a smile. She admitted her mistake and reassured Hana.
San came over and asked her about the story she was going to explain. she told him she would tell him when they arrived in Siem Reap.
They arrived around 9 AM. Let's call them a family group. The family group took a tuk-tuk to Samaki Market to have breakfast, where they sold popular Khmer dishes like soup, rice porridge, pork and rice, and stir-fried noodles. Kan ate the pork and rice with soup, which was truly delicious. Among them, only Sina seemed alone, coming with their family. She felt a bit strange. The adults paid for everything.
Kan's dad asked where San's house was, so the tuk-tuk could take him. But Sun sighed and said he didn't want to go home; he wanted to stay with uncle (San call kan's dad) because san hadn't seen him in a long time! Vira(kan's dad) laughed and said, "Aren't your parents worried?" san confirmed he had told them, but since they were busy, no one was home anyway. "They told me to go out and travel alone. It's more fun to travel with Uncle." kam looked at him with a raised eyebrow and then said, "Then don't forget to take me somewhere."
They arrived at a rented wooden house. It was not fancy or poor, just a simple countryside style, rented for five days.
"Finally, we've arrived!"
Sina and kan lay down on the bed together. That night, they went out to walk in Siem Reap town. It was indeed crowded. Kan didn't particularly like it, but she saw that Auntie ja seemed happy seeing the crowds. They went into a restaurant to eat. Auntie ja told Sina not to be afraid of anything; to treat them as family, and enjoy her time in Siem Reap. Sina smiled, remembering her Grandmother.
Vira ask sina about herself and found out that she was an outstanding student in 11th grade. He said he would buy her something to encourage her, as even though he had known her for a short time but she was like kan to him. Kan and sina smiled and didn't say anything.
Suddenly, san said he was going to the bathroom for a moment. After that, kan did the same. They went up to the rooftop balcony behind the house, which was quiet and offered a view of the surrounding houses and streets. There were no tall buildings in Siem Reap, even in the city center. The two of them had something to talk about. Kan sighed slightly.
"That's right. When we were six years old, after you suddenly left, I was very angry. Not many months later, my father brought a woman home who was a few months pregnant. I didn't know anything at the time, and that woman became my father's wife. Later, I had a younger sibling, but they died. After that, Auntie chan(kan called auntie) also died due to heartache and illness. It was she killed herself. It was because of me!"
Kan didn't want to elaborate on the details. Tears flowed from her eyes, because remembering it hurt too much. That was why they moved. San wiped her tears and pulled her into a hug. Even though he didn't know exactly what happened, he could tell kan didn't want to talk about it anymore, so he didn't press. Suddenly, san screamed cause kan pinching his stomach, threatening him, "Stop asking, do you hear ?"
"Oh my God! Were you crying just now? Why do you change 100 chapters in one go like this?" kan smiled, her eyes soft. She said, "Because when san wakes up because of the pain, the atmosphere changes." She said this with a smile and called him to come down, as her dad must be waiting a long time. The two of them just smiled and complained that they were hungry. They then ate happily.
The next day, they went to visit Tonle Sap Lake! To see the sunset there. Sina suddenly cried out! She complained angrily that she couldn't find any information about Ree; coming here was useless! Kan sighed, thinking of something, but seemed hesitant. She asked Sina if she knew Hav's Facebook account or phone number, cause he is Ree's cousin?
Sina suddenly remembered. She smiled and thanked her immensely. The two of them lay on the bed, lying on their stomachs, helping to look through the group of all 11th-grade class presidents. Class 11F. Sina chatted with the Class 11F president about Hav. She said she was the Class 11C president and needed to talk to Ree in her class, who was…
Suddenly, kan grabbed her hand, telling her not to tell him that Hav was Ree's cousin. Based on her observation, that Hav seemed indifferent and uncaring. Also, no one knew that Ree was Hav's cousin. What if it was Hav's wish not to let anyone know his personal business? If he found out someone told, and everyone knew, we would surely have trouble!
She told Sina to tell him that Ree owed Hav money, and Hav asked her to help demand it from Ree. Since chatting or calling through chat was not possible, she wanted to call Hav using his phone number. Could she ask for it?
Thinking about it, the two of them were good at coming up with excuses, but they weren't convincing. The class president knew Sina from class president meetings, so he didn't ask too many questions and gave her the phone number.
We got it! We chatted, but he blocked us! "Let's see, I'll try calling him once!"
The phone rang! It was a strange number with no name calling Hav, who was eating. But he ignored it and hung up. Kan and Sina were furious. She called many times. Hav was curious, but he didn't care and blocked the number. This guy is so strange; he won't answer unknown numbers, and if they bother him too much, he just blocks them!
"Oh my God! What should we do? If we had known, we should have asked the Grandmother for Ree's house!"
Suddenly, they remembered the Grandmother! They had to bother the class president again! This time, they didn't know what to lie about. They decided to just tell him the truth, but it didn't mean they were telling him their secrets. They just asked him to help, and they would repay him. The class president was a bit annoyed, but Sina asked him to help, and if he helped, he would get two movie tickets to watch anime. Thinking about it, it wouldn't cost him anything; he just had to find Hav's guardian's number and give it to them, and he would get free movie tickets. This deal seems plausible!
Kan and Sina high-fived, both successful and exhausted. "Yay, we finally got it!"
Sina: "Hello! May I ask if this is the Grandmother?" A woman picked up; it was a desk phone. She said she was a worker in the house and then asked them who they were. Sina was a bit stunned, but asked, "Is this Sovan's house, and is there a student named sovan Ree, right?" The maid didn't deny it, but wondered if they knew the people in the house and what the call was about.
The old Grandmother's voice rang out! "Hey, hey! What are you talking about for so long?" Maid: "Yes!" Suddenly, kan and Sina exclaimed simultaneously: "Grandmother! We want to talk to you."
The maid told the Grandmother that two girls called and asked to speak with her. Kan/Sina: "Yay, we finally got to talk to the Grandmother!"