Chapter 33: Riding on the Back
Kieu Ly knew she was a bit crazy to expect Toan Phuong to win the national math competition. But when you set out to conquer something, you have to aim for crazy goals. Besides, Toan Phuong had an extremely intelligent mind. The only problem was that in 10th grade he neglected his studies, so he had quite a big knowledge gap. Kieu Ly was helping him both to fill that gap and to tackle the 11th-grade math syllabus with very high difficulty.
That day, while tutoring Toan Phuong, her pen ran out of ink. She stood up, threw the empty pen into the trash, and said:
"Out of ink. Wait here a bit, I'll go buy a new pen."
Toan Phuong quickly got up and said he would go with her:
"Let me come with you."
Kieu Ly shook her head and refused:
"No, you stay here and keep doing your homework. I can go alone."
But before she finished, Toan Phuong was already heading for the door.
"I'm not familiar with this area either. It's more convenient if I go with you."
Seeing how determined he was, Kieu Ly didn't argue and quickly followed him.
She took her bicycle out and lightly sat on it:
"Get on. I'll give you a ride. Just tell me the way."
Toan Phuong looked at the pretty blue bicycle with a hint of hesitation. He had always had a driver or took Grab or taxi whenever he went somewhere. In fact, he only rode a bike when he was little, and back then it was just a fun game. But now, he couldn't bear to sit behind Kieu Ly. He grabbed the handlebars and told her to move to the back:
"You sit behind and I'll ride. Do you see me as a boy or not?"
Not wanting to argue, Kieu Ly moved to the back seat.
Toan Phuong climbed on and started pedaling, wobbling so much that he almost fell and Kieu Ly's face bumped against his back. She frowned and said:
"Do you even know how to ride a bike? You want to kill me or what?"
Toan Phuong didn't say anything but laughed heartily.
It was springtime. The bicycle rolled slowly down a quiet, windy road. After a long winter, the weather was still a bit chilly. Everywhere, plants were sprouting, and the roadside was full of blooming flowers.
Kieu Ly gently held onto Toan Phuong's shirt to keep from falling. The scent from his clothes carried on the spring breeze made her feel relaxed and comfortable.
For some reason, the more they rode, the more isolated the place became—there were no shops at all. Kieu Ly shook his shirt and asked:
"Are you sure you're going the right way? Why is the pen shop so far away?"
Toan Phuong laughed again, that cheerful laugh. In the quiet road, his laughter echoed happily, making anyone who heard it feel lighthearted too:
"I'm taking you to China to sell it. Are you scared?"
Kieu Ly said no more and quietly enjoyed the night street view. It was her first time sitting on the back of a boy's bike, and she felt a bit shy.