Page 17
That night, Father went out to work an extra shift.
Minh lay on his bed, listening to the sound of a motorbike pulling into the yard, then the door opening close to midnight.
Father stepped inside, his feet covered in mud and his hands ice-cold.
He placed some money on the table and gently patted Minh on the head while the boy pretended to be asleep.
“Pay your tuition tomorrow.”
Minh squeezed his eyes shut.
At that moment, he didn’t know what else to do except keep pretending to sleep so his father wouldn’t see him crying.
Mother had her own little secrets, too.
The tastiest piece of cake always disappeared from her plate.
The newest pair of sandals was always given to her children.
Every year on Minh’s birthday, she would say she didn’t like birthday cake.
But one night, after everyone had gone to bed, Minh woke up and saw her sitting alone, quietly eating the leftover frosting that clung to a paper plate.
He remembered the day he left his hometown.
Mother had run after the bus all the way to the end of the road, calling out over and over, “Don’t skip your meals!”
Father stayed behind.
He didn’t run after the bus.
He simply stood there, raising one hand in farewell.
As the bus drove farther away, Minh looked back through the window and saw his father turn his face aside.
He lifted a hand to wipe away his tears before turning back to take Mother’s hand.
It wasn’t until he became an adult that Minh finally understood.
His parents had never given him the best life through expensive things.
Instead, they gave him the best portion of every meal while they ate what was left.
They gave him money for school even when they had almost nothing for themselves.
And above all, they gave him the unwavering belief that no matter how many times life knocked him down, there would always be a home waiting for him to return to.
Minh remembered a morning from years ago.
He was seventeen and getting ready to pay his school tuition when his father said, “I already have the money.” He smiled so naturally that Minh never doubted him.
That day, his father came home late.
His face was pale, and his steps were slower than usual.
His mother looked at him for a long moment before silently turning away.
That night, Minh heard her crying quietly in the kitchen.
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