Page 14
“Big brother…” Linh called softly.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Minh tightened his grip on the phone.
“Who told you not to worry?”
Linh smiled.
“Because you always worry too much.”
She coughed once before continuing, “The doctor said I need to rest.
So I’ll rest.
You just keep working.
When I get better, I’ll cook for you again.”
Minh lowered his head, his lips trembling.
“Do you still remember your favorite dish?” he asked.
Linh answered immediately with a grin.
“Burnt fried eggs.”
Minh burst into laughter.
“So I really like burnt food that much?”
“No,” Linh giggled.
“It’s because you always said everything I cooked was delicious, even though I burned it every single time.”
A tear slipped onto the phone screen.
Linh was quiet for a moment before speaking again.
“Big brother…
promise me you won’t work so hard anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because your shoulder already hurts.”
Minh froze.
“How did you know?”
Linh smiled faintly.
“The last time you came home, I saw you sleeping with your hand holding your shoulder.
I just didn’t say anything.”
Minh turned his face toward the rain outside.
He didn’t want his little sister to hear him crying.
“Big brother.”
“Yeah?”
“If I get better this time…
will you take me to the beach?”
Minh closed his eyes and forced a smile.
“Of course.”
“I promise.”
Linh laughed happily.
“I’ve never seen the ocean in real life.
I want to know if the sea is really as blue as it looks on TV.”
Minh bit his lip hard.
“Yeah…
I’ll take you there.”
The call ended.
Minh kept the phone pressed against his ear for a long time.
He didn’t cry out loud.
Only his shoulders trembled silently.
Standing a few steps away, Hạnh heard his choked whisper.
“You have to get better…
I still owe you a trip to the sea.”
Outside, the rain poured down like a white curtain.
Inside the tiny room, the man lowered his head, clutching his phone with both hands as though he were holding on to every last fragment of hope.
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