The train clattered along the tracks, rocking Đông Anh's aching body with every sway. On the ride back, he still sat alone on his bench. Across from him, Ms. Tư had her head resting lightly on Dung's shoulder, eyes closed, drifting into sleep.
Dung smiled, watching Đông Anh's sullen face.
"You hurting?" he mouthed, lips curling with mischief.
But when Đông Anh shot him a defiant look—fingers brushing his neck as if only to wipe away sweat—Dung swallowed hard. His eyes locked, hypnotized, as Đông Anh casually undid a button. A pale slip of chest peeked out, flashing just enough to sting Dung with restless hunger. He longed to reach over, to touch, to claim but the woman clinging tightly to his arm made it impossible.
Đông Anh smirked in triumph at the twisted look on Dung's face. Yet the smile faltered when his finger brushed against the pendant on his chain—the side engraved with a cross. A voice echoed in his mind: "Dominic, my son, what are you doing?" Last night came flooding back. The heat of it lingered still, simmering inside Đông Anh's chest like a fever that refused to cool. He wondered if this heat could have come from the fire of hell, a fire that would consume the sinful hearts of mankind.
Sunlight outside had already climbed past the treetops. Đông Anh pulled the curtain shut and leaned his head against the window frame, heavy with exhaustion. From the corner of his eye, he still caught the sight of Dung, sitting silently, letting Ms. Tư lean into him. Đông Anh forced his eyes shut, hoping sleep might smother the jealous thoughts clawing at his mind.
The train still chugged on toward Saigon. By the window, the young man nodded off again, his head bobbing dangerously close to the glass. But at last, instead of the cold pane, it landed on something warm, solid, and steady. Startled, Đông Anh snapped awake.
"Dung?"
"Did I wake you?" Dung leaned in from the opposite seat, bracing his hand between Đông Anh's head and the rattling window frame.
"Did I bang into your hand? Did it hurt?" Đông Anh grabbed his wrist in concern.
Dung shook his head, smiling, before sliding over to sit beside him.
"Rest on me, Út. Stop dozing off like that." With that, he pressed Đông Anh's head firmly against his chest.
"What about my sis?" Đông Anh glanced up.
"Let her be. She's still asleep." Dung's fingers brushed teasingly across Đông Anh's lips.
"Don't! Careful..."
"That's what you get for tempting me earlier!"
With a swift tug, Dung pulled Đông Anh's collar shut, making sure not a sliver of pale chest was left showing. The little master made no protest, just settled obediently, cheek pressed against the man's chest.
When Ms. Tư began to stir awake, Đông Anh quickly shut his eyes, feigning sleep—so obviously. He didn't need to peek to know his sister's face must be seething with the same jealousy that had tormented him moments ago.
That wicked satisfaction sparked inside him, urging the boy to burrow deeper into Dung's chest, leaving his sister on this side frozen and dumbfounded.
.
"Here you go, one black iced coffee for A Dung, one milk coffee for the kid."
A Kẽng—belly round as a soup pot—plopped the drinks onto the table with practiced ease.
"Dung, today's on me, alright? Just to thank you…"
"Quit it, kid. Still living off your sister's allowance, and now you wanna play host?" Dung cut him off, batting away A Kẽng's hand before he could slip any bills across. The Chinese café owner chuckled, then shuffled back to his counter.
"You're still begging pocket money off your sister, huh?" Dung asked, stirring his own glass.
"This time, now that I'm out of the school dorm, I'll find a part-time job. Back in the dorm, they kept such a tight watch I couldn't do anything."
"And if they didn't keep an eye on greenhorns like you, the whole lot would go rotten," Dung muttered.
"I'm not rotten! Besides, you're the one who found me a new place. How come you don't trust me now?"
"'Cause I feel sorry for your sister, Thanh. A little lamb like you—out here, folks will sell you off before you even know it. Then it's her who'll suffer."
"Hey, don't tell me you've got your eye on my sis, huh? If you became my brother-in-law, I'd be fine with that!" the boy teased, all wide-eyed innocence.
Dung just shook his head, grinning.
"But for now, don't let my sister know I moved out, alright? She finds out, she'll kill me."
"Big guy like you, scared of your own sister?"
"Scared, yeah! Actually… I wanted your advice, Dung. I…" The boy hesitated.
"Spit it out, don't circle around."
"I… I wanna quit school. My brain's too dull. Study more, still won't get smart. Better to find work, so my sister doesn't have to keep working at the nightclub."
"So now you're looking down on the one who raised you?"
"No! I know she's only doing it so I can eat and study. But she's just a girl. Keep it up, who's gonna marry her? That's why I wanna find a steady job to take care of us both. Only… work's not easy to find these days."
Dung chuckled, like the truth had finally clicked. "Alright. I'll set you up as a runner with the district's patrol squad. They'll bark at you plenty, but the pay'll be enough to feed two mouths."
"For real? My God, you're too good to me! I swear I'll bow to the ground for this favor!"
"No bowing to me, brat. Just remember, An: later, when I ask you for a little favor—you'll do it."
"Ten favors if you want. Nothing's too much!"
Dung shook his head, laughing at the boy's naivety. "Still green. Don't worry, the world'll teach you soon enough."
Caught off guard by the scolding, the boy only scratched his head, speechless.
"Alright, go on now. I've got business to take care of." Dung glanced at his watch, calculating the hour.
"Yes, sir. I'll get going then."
Dung nodded, downed the last of his coffee. The boy vanished quickly into the street.
"Tab, A Kẽng!"
A Kẽng waddled over, belly first, his voice booming with fake cheer.
"New recruit of yours, huh? Looks like you've got that kid all lined up nice and tidy."
Dung waved him off. "That brat? Can't do much. Just… better to keep him close than sorry later."
"That's our Mr. Dung Tây, no doubt about it." A Kẽng buttered him up, then leaned in. "But how come you're out so early today? Ain't even time to fetch the young master yet."
"Wanted to head out sooner. Traffic jams later—he gets pissed if I'm late."
A Kẽng chuckled, eyes sly.
"Well, you're spoiling the little lord too much. Pretty soon you'll be takin' him straight to the Red Pavilion, eh?"
Dung shot him a glare sharp enough to slice.
"Aiya! I'm your man, A Dung, don't look at me like that! You've already got Mr. Liễu and his oldest son - Mr. Hai in your pocket, now add the youngest boy too… Won't be long before you snag Ms. Tư herself. Then you'll be swimming in silk and silver!"
Dung slapped A Kẽng's round belly twice, hard enough to make it jiggle.
"Call yourself my man, but flap your mouth like that—you'll end up gutted, belly and all."
"Alright, alright, no more words! Here—Lan sent this for you."
Dung snatched the envelope from A Kẽng's hand, then stood, sliding into his car and driving off.