The next day at school, I kept my head down, placed my bag on the desk, and sat quietly reading. Vũ arrived just on time, tossing his bag like always.
As usual, I stayed silent through all five periods.
Since I started studying at Hùng Vương, my family had always been curious about my new environment. They were convinced my classmates adored me. There were even days I came home and cried, pretending it was out of joy from all their affection.
Apparently, our class was having a prom. Everyone seemed to be planning it during recess, saying it was to welcome new members—of course, that included me, the forty-ninth student.
"I'll pick you up that day, okay?"
"Don't forget, 6:30 sharp at the gate."
"…"
They were all pairing up for the event. I didn't expect to be invited, so I just leaned against a pillar, quietly observing their excitement.
"You… are responsible for taking me to the prom."
Lệ Quyên pointed at Vũ, her voice a little shaky, though her expression was fierce.
"Are you crippled or something?"
"What did you say?"
"Then go by yourself!"
Vũ's rejection left Quyên embarrassed in front of everyone. Fortunately for her, someone else offered to take her. But she didn't seem to care—still stunned by Vũ's reaction, she turned back to her seat.
So, besides me, it looked like Vũ didn't have a date either.
•
I didn't know what to wear for the party—"gathering" might be a better word than "party"; the latter sounded too fancy. I wanted to wear pants, but Mom insisted on a dress. I didn't have any pretty ones, just some old house clothes. So Hải Anh lent me one and dragged me into her room for a makeover.
"A girl needs a little makeup to be charming!"
I nodded drowsily, letting her do whatever she wanted. It wasn't until 6:25 that she finished. I stepped out with rosy cheeks and a sky-blue dress, padded with two layers of foam at the chest.
"Oh no, we're going to be late! Your class starts at seven!"
"Don't worry, I'll drive you. You'll sweat off all the makeup if you ride your bike!"
Hải Anh wheeled out her motorbike and asked for the address.
Uh oh. I didn't know. No one told me. The class president only mentioned the time.
"What? Hurry up and tell me so I can find a shortcut!"
"… Actually… someone invited me to go with them… we're meeting at… my place."
"Who? A guy or a girl?"
"… The one who sits next to me…"
I gave a vague answer.
"Alright, I'll take you home, might as well visit Grandma and Grandpa too."
"No wait, I'll take my bike so I'll have it for tutoring tomorrow… (It was Saturday, I quickly improvised). Besides, they're probably watching their shows and don't want to be disturbed!"
A terrible excuse, but thankfully Hải Anh knew how shy and awkward I was, so she dropped the idea of meeting my "kind friend."
I took out my bike and rode off. Just before reaching home, I turned another direction. My whole family had been so excited, calling Hải Anh to help dress me up. Grandpa told me to take lots of photos. If I came back now… they'd be worried sick.
Whenever I felt overwhelmed, I returned to our old house. I often reminisced about my childhood, moss-covered rooftops, colorful scribbles on the stairs, and the laughter of kids.
But now, the place had become a towering hotel, built over the old apartment complex. Instead of two floors, it now had… one… two… twenty floors. Bright lights and a blinking sign lit up the entrance.
"Beep beep!"
A car honked. A security guard pointed at me with a baton, asking me to move so the car could pass.
I pulled my bike aside and stared at the building a little longer, then rode off. A while later, I looked back, hoping the grand hotel had turned back into the humble complex while I was gone.
"Beep beep!"
I stood at the edge of the sidewalk, not blocking anyone. Why were they honking? The feeling of being unwanted filled my heart.
"You planned to take me to prom on that bicycle?"
I turned—surprised to see Vũ. He had pulled up beside me.
"Huh, Vũ! What are you doing here?"
It was already 7:30 and he hadn't gone to the party yet.
"My home."
"You lived here too? I never knew! I was in block F, deep inside!"
"What are you even talking about?"
"It's a shame they tore it down for the hotel. My family was one of the last to move. Which block were you in? What are your parents' names? Maybe my grandpa knows them."
"I lived in block A, and B, and H too."
"What do you mean?"
"See that building? That's my home."
He nodded toward the blinking red letters on the black signboard. I stared in confusion.
"You're still wandering around here at this hour?"
"I… I'm on my way…"
"Well then, see you around."
And just like that, he revved up and rode off. Moments later, it poured rain. I took shelter under a small shop roof. Rain soaked through my shoulders.
Grandpa said my name meant forest rain—a little chilly, but fresh and pure. But this rain only made me feel frozen.
•
"Lâm Anh B, why didn't you come last night?"
I glanced at Vũ before replying to Lệ Quyên.
"It rained too hard."
"You could've taken a taxi or called me."
She sounded upset.
"I… didn't feel like it."
"Here's the prom photo, Vũ!" - Thịnh the class president held it out - "Lâm Anh Bò, I guess you don't need a copy since you didn't go."
"Ah, right."
"Hey, class president, don't call her that!"
"Is there a difference between 'Bê' and 'Bò'?"
"Hmph. Just ignore him!"
"Okay."
Lệ Quyên looked surprised by my indifferent answer, like I hadn't needed her to defend me at all.
Then it was time for P.E. The teacher told the class to prepare twenty basketballs outside.
"Bò, the PE teacher said you should bring the balls out."
I stopped working on a graph and headed to the gym, splitting the balls into several trips.
We were learning basketball. The teacher demonstrated and let us try. I hated this sport—I missed every shot, while the boys seemed to nail it effortlessly.
Lệ Quyên was being guided by two boys but kept glancing at Vũ. I only noticed how good he was—every shot he made went in, probably thanks to his height. If I were like that, I wouldn't need to learn this stupid sport.
Only once did Vũ miss. The ball rolled to Quyên, and she ended up practicing with him, ditching the two boys.
Thud.
I saw stars spinning above my head. My chest hurt, and I felt dizzy.
"You're standing right where we're practicing! How can we play with you in the way?"
"I… didn't notice."
I had been quietly practicing, not in anyone's way. I knew they were wrong, but didn't argue. I just sat under a tree. My head spun, but not enough to see double.
Somehow, Vũ and I ended up in the discipline book—"skipping PE."
Later, the class president asked me to photocopy the homework. I did. He said I missed a part and sent me back under the blazing sun. He said I was fast and helpful, unlike the flirty girls.
"Oh shoot, I forgot the chemistry worksheet on the USB. The teacher asked me to print it!"
He handed me the USB, looking guilty. I sat, catching my breath.
"Come on, go print it already, class is starting!"
So I got up.
"Lâm Anh, back to your seat!"
I turned toward the back of the room. Vũ was chatting with his group.
"You want me to buy something?" I returned to grab more money.
"Buy your own damn brain."
What?
I looked at him, confused.
"He said even if we told you to eat shit, you'd do it?"
Everyone around laughed.
"…" I said nothing.
"Are you stupid or just pretending? They aimed the ball at your head, and you apologized? You got written up for their fault. And you still agreed to print their crap? That's the class president's job, not yours."
"…"
"They held a prom and didn't even give you the address. Why didn't you ask Quyên? Or me? I've never seen anyone as dumb and spineless as you!"
I didn't answer. Instead, tears streamed down. Of course I knew. But how could I fight a whole class? I believed that if I endured long enough, the bullying would stop. If I resisted, it would only get worse. And what about my family? If I got kicked out of class, they'd be devastated. Did I have a better choice?
"You're still standing there? You're hopeless. I'll fix that for you!"
He grabbed me and dragged me—to the same pool as before. This time he was gentler, walking slower. Just a step from the water, he let go.
"I'm dropping you in."
"Vũ! Who gave you the right—"
"Shut up!"
He shoved Quyên aside.
"…"
I said nothing. He was bullying me too. I could've run back to class, but I was too tired. In fifteen seconds, he'd push me in.
He held Quyên back and watched me flail. The water crushed my lungs. My limbs went limp. I sank.
I woke to someone tapping my face. Drops of water fell from Vũ's hair onto mine. I sat up, vomiting water.
It was already class time. Only Vũ and I remained. Quyên ran over, handing us towels. Vũ grabbed both and wrapped them around me.
"We've got a 15-minute bio quiz. I borrowed spare uniforms. Get changed and take it."
"Screw that. Let's skip class!"
I looked up at Vũ.
"Or do you want to catch a cold?"
After that, I slept in the nurse's room until school ended. When I returned for my bag, I saw Quyên's cold expression—she turned away. Vũ's bag was still there. I packed both.
"Quyên, can you hold Vũ's bag for me?"
"Why should I?"
So I carried it myself, slung awkwardly. I was puzzled by Quyên's attitude. Halfway home, I detoured past the old apartments, unsure if it was really Vũ's place. But if I brought the bag to his house, his parents might punish him for skipping class. So I took it home.
Grandma asked all kinds of questions—why I brought a boy's bag, what was with the extra uniform. Of course I didn't tell the truth. I said we had swimming and I forgot clothes, and the classmate next to me got sick and left his bag.
"Even dumber than our dog Chun! Forgot his own bag!"
I chuckled awkwardly, feeling guilty. It had been so long since I'd gotten to hold someone's bag.