I was lost in my thoughts when I was startled by a soft knock on the door from outside, accompanied by a familiar gentle voice:
"Are you asleep yet, Tich Da?"
That voice made me momentarily stunned. It was Aunt Vuong.
I quickly stood up and walked to open the door. As soon as the door opened, her gentle face appeared before my eyes.
Aunt Vuong - the kind neighbor who always cared for me from the smallest things.
She smiled, holding up a bag of food, her voice filled with joy:
"Hey, I brought you some late-night food. Hurry up and take it, or it will get cold."
I paused for a moment, a little embarrassed, waving my hand:
"Ah… I, I don't need it… Auntie, keep it for me to eat, I'm not that hungry."
Although I said that, my heart was a little choked up. Whether it was in the previous life or this life, Aunt Wang had always been genuinely kind to me, without any reason.
She looked at me, frowning slightly:
"Don't be so polite. Just accept it, consider it as a favor to make me happy."
Having said that, without waiting for me to react, she quickly shoved the bag of food into my hand.
I only had time to bow my head in thanks before she turned around and walked away, her small figure disappearing into the hallway.
I stood there for a long time, my two hands still tightly holding the warm bag of food, an indescribable feeling of warmth and a stinging sensation rising in my nose.
Actually… just having someone treat you gently, even if it's just a small thing, makes you want to cry.
After a while, I gently closed the door and brought the bag of food inside.
I put it on the table, intending to study for a while, but suddenly a small piece of paper fell out of the bag.
I bent down to pick it up, opened it, and saw a simple, scribbled line of words appear before my eyes:
"Remember to eat it all. Otherwise, I will be sad."
I chuckled softly. My aunt's handwriting was a little shaky, but it made my heart strangely warm.
The intention to leave the food behind suddenly disappeared.
I sat down, opened the bag, and the familiar aroma of egg soup, hot steamed buns, and some pickled vegetables that my aunt often made came out.
I picked up a piece and chewed slowly.
The more I ate, the more my nose stung. Tears couldn't be held back, falling down, hot on the back of my hand.
Not because of self-pity, but because of happiness.
A feeling that it had been a long time since I had touched it, been cared for, been thought of, even if it was just during a simple late-night meal.
When I finished eating, I gently cleaned the table, my heart still feeling that warmth.
Then I sat down at the desk. Tomorrow is the high school entrance exam, more important to me than anything else.
I gently flipped through the pages of my notebook, my eyes attentively rereading the familiar lines.
In my previous life, I had also prepared for this exam, but at that time I was naive and weak, letting people bully me without daring to fight back.
This time, I will be different.
I will live stronger, stand firmer, and not let anyone step on me again.
I stopped in front of a difficult math problem, stared at it, then unconsciously smiled:
"If I want to be in the same class as Ta Quan Hanh… I have to try harder."
The desk lamp cast a shadow on the paper, my shadow stretched across the table. Time passed quietly.
When I looked at the clock again, it was past 2am.
I stood up, my whole body was exhausted. As I turned around, my foot accidentally hit the corner of the table, causing excruciating pain.
I groaned softly, then laughed at my clumsiness.
"Okay… let's go to sleep. Tomorrow I have to do well on the exam."
I brushed my teeth, set the alarm, and lay down on the bed.
The dim light of the night lamp shone through the window, the night breeze blew gently through the curtains.
In my heart, I gently closed my eyes, saying to myself:
"Tomorrow, I will definitely do well again…"
The next morning.
The alarm clock rang. I woke up in a daze, reached out to turn it off, and stretched my body.
After finishing my personal hygiene, I changed my clothes neatly, ate a piece of cake, and went out the door.
Going downstairs, I saw Auntie Wang talking to some neighbors.
I said hello:
"Hello, Auntie Wang!"
She turned around, smiling gently:
"Um, I wish you good luck on your exam."
I nodded, a smile forming: "Yes."
Auntie was still as usual, gentle and strangely warm.
I left the house, the early morning sunlight shone down, the familiar path to school stretched out before my eyes.
When I reached the school gate, I paused for a moment, this place was both familiar and like an old dream.
I walked in, my eyes darting around looking for the exam room, because I was so focused I didn't notice what was ahead -
"Bang!"
I crashed straight into someone. The collision made me fall to the ground, holding my nose in pain.
"Sorry, classmate! Are you okay?"
A low, gentle voice rang out right above my head.
I paused, my heart beating strongly.
This voice... so familiar.
I raised my face.
Before my eyes was a face I could never forget, it was Ta Quan Hanh.