I didn't intend to stay long either, so I pulled Fatty Bang to leave immediately.
Who would have thought that just as we got on the vehicle, a squad of people in military uniforms shouted: "Who's there, halt!"
The young officer before us looked bright and handsome, with a healthy tan that highlighted a set of white teeth so brilliant they were almost blinding.
Seeing that Fatty Bang and I were as silent as mice, the officer slammed a hand on the table: "Run. Why don't you two try running again? When I called out, you both ran as fast as rabbits. Why aren't you running now?"
It's a long story. Back then, upon hearing the shout, our first reaction was to run. Were we supposed to just stand still and wait to be caught? I could have escaped, but Fatty Bang held me back, so I had no choice but to surrender obediently.
Fatty Bang chuckled: "Comrade Commander, don't be angry. We're just country folk who've never seen a scene like this, so we got scared. We guarantee we just wanted to come up here to pick someone up and buy some medicine. Who knew we'd be stopped by you guys before we could even meet our person."
The officer raised an eyebrow: "Oh, so now you're blaming me."
Fatty Bang scratched his nose and said with a smile: "Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare."
The officer was a straightforward person. He pointed at Fatty Bang and said: "You, go with the person at the door. We rescued a group of people when we entered the town. Go see if any of your family are among them."
Fatty Bang was overjoyed. He shook the officer's hand and thanked him profusely, grinning from ear to ear like a Maitreya Buddha as he walked out.
I had a feeling this officer wanted to speak with me privately. From the moment I was brought in here, although he was talking to Fatty Bang, his eyes never stopped examining me. Now, he probably wanted a private conversation.
The officer asked in a low voice: "What's your name? Where are you from?"
"Tran Thanh Phuong, from Hoe village."
Hearing this, the officer took a photo from his pocket, seemingly comparing me to the person in it. After looking for a long while, he nodded and told me: "Follow me."
I silently followed the officer. This time, his voice had softened considerably: "My name is Vu. You can just call me that."
I let out a soft "uhm," not knowing what this person intended to do.
Judging by his appearance, he wasn't old, maybe in his early thirties. He had a tall, straight posture, weathered by the elements, and a faint metallic scent of blood clung to him - the kind of smell only found on those who have truly been on the battlefield.
He led me to a place that seemed to be a field medical station. Their encampment was set up in an abandoned school with a large campus and many rooms, which was very suitable for housing patients.
He took me to the innermost sickroom. The small, narrow room was divided in two by a curtain.
As I walked in, I saw a young man lying on a hospital bed, looking to be in shock from extreme hunger and thirst. Deeper inside, the patient on the other bed was lying on their side, their face not clearly visible, but they didn't seem to be seriously injured.
My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. From the moment the officer had kept me behind, I had guessed who he wanted me to see.
Seeing me standing motionless and the atmosphere growing heavy, Vu didn't say a word and quietly withdrew, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
The person on the bed was sleeping very soundly. Their complexion was a bit pale, perhaps from extreme fatigue and malnutrition, but thankfully, they weren't injured or afflicted with any strange illness.
I sat down in the chair beside the bed, a turmoil of emotions inside me. I was generally a person hardened to emotions, and for a moment, I didn't know what expression or mood to use to face this person who had twice left without a word.
I'm not good at hiding my thoughts. Ever since Khang left, I knew he was very special to me.
In this world, the only people I still had a connection with were him and my grandfather. Grandpa is family, so what about him? Was he a friend, family, or a loved one?
I was a little dazed, but I knew he was very special.
I didn't know if this time would be just a brief encounter, or if he would return with me, or if... he would leave again without a word...
I thought I understood Khang, but in reality, I only understood a part of him. What kind of person was I in his heart? Was I a special existence to him, just as he was to me? I couldn't be sure, just as I could never know when he would leave next.
I patted my head. Since when had I become so sentimental? I should just let nature take its course; as long as I was clear in my own heart, that was enough.
Khang's eyelashes were long like two small brushes, casting shadows on his cheeks. He snored softly, the sound like that of a small kitten.
At that moment, his eyelashes trembled slightly, his eyeballs moved a few times, and his eyelids slowly opened. I knew he was about to wake up.
Khang opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling. He sat up, stretched, and rolled his neck, and then he saw me.
His mouth fell open, and he froze on the spot, his wide, round eyes blinking as he stared at me, his arms still suspended in mid-air.
I couldn't help it; the corners of my lips curled into a slight smile.
Khang snapped back to his senses: "Phuong..."
His voice was soft, carrying the familiar warmth I hadn't heard in a long time.
I had to admit, I really missed the way he said my name.
He threw off the thin blanket covering him and dove into my arms, clinging tightly to me like a Banh Nep octopus: "Phuong..."
He whispered in my ear.
This sudden intimacy startled me a little, but on second thought, it felt normal.
Back in the village, he often made such intimate gestures, and I had grown used to it - used to the vague sense of reliance he had on me.