End - The Moon
THE MOON
Safety, stability, protection, embracing the past
☽
"Thiên, look! A whole river full of stars!" Tú exclaimed with excitement, sitting down onto the hillside. His voice sounded as thrilled as if it were the first time he had ever seen the sight before us.
I smiled softly and glanced at his "river of stars." My eyes, however, were still busy holding onto every detail of Tú's face. So endearing. After all these years, he looked almost the same—like the seventeen-year-old kid who used to walk to school with me. Tú’s large eyes sparkled, perfectly matching his bright smile, which he rarely let show. His hair fluttered in the chilly night breeze, with a few rebellious strands sticking to his forehead, damp with sweat.
"Why are you staring at me?" Tú noticed my gaze and turned to grumble. "I told you to come watch the stars with me!"
I gently ruffled his hair. I'd always liked doing that. For some reason, Tú always gave me a sense of wanting to protect him. Sometimes, that feeling was so strong, it felt like my own responsibility—one that I had neglected in the past. And then...
"I'm checking if you're still normal," I teased, tilting my head. "Only you would be crazy enough to come all the way up here in the middle of the night just to stargaze."
"Oh, come on! What’s the big deal? I wanted to." Tú grinned and pinched my nose. He once told me he enjoyed seeing the annoyed look on my face whenever he grabbed my long nose. "Didn’t we used to sneak up here all the time to escape life?"
I didn’t respond, just smiled and put my arm around him. Behind that affectionate gesture was a crushing weight in my chest, suffocating me. Yes, back then, Tú and I would always climb this hill. Sometimes we watched the sunset; sometimes, we counted the stars. Anything to escape the troubles of Pà Lặk.
Suddenly, Tú leaned his head on my shoulder. The summer night breeze blew past, not cold, just cool enough to soothe our sweat-soaked backs. More than that, it allowed me to catch the sweet strawberry scent in Tú's hair. I took a deep breath, and as if I couldn’t get enough, I pressed my face into his soft strands, making him chuckle.
"Still doing that even though we’re grown up?" Tú feigned an annoyed tone, but didn’t seem bothered.
"I just want things to stay like this forever," I whimpered. "I don’t want to go back down the hill, or to Tây Hưng. It's all such a hassle."
Tú wrapped his arms around me. His skin was icy, making me shiver. "Then stay a little longer... There’s no need to rush..."
Maybe he was right... I had rushed back from Tây Hưng to talk things over with my parents, planning to leave the next morning. But after that disastrous meeting, maybe I’d stick around for a few more days just to prove a point to them.
Or maybe I’d stay for good! With me here, I could protect Tú. Those narrow-minded people wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him—just like no one could touch the stars in his river.
"What was that line from the TV show?" He whispered suddenly. "Something about taking someone to see the stars..."
"If you want to know if you love someone, take them to see the stars," I answered gently.
"So cheesy," Tú giggled.
I ran my fingers through his hair, breathing in the sweet strawberry scent that lingered in the warm summer night air. Long ago, it was his river of stars that showed me the person I loved had always been Tú. If he weren’t by my side now, I wouldn’t know what to do.
"Our hometown has changed so much, hasn’t it?" Tú suddenly spoke, his voice soft like the wind. "Look, it’s even brighter down there than the starry sky."
I gave a faint hum of agreement. An odd sadness stirred in me. It had been at least ten years since I’d last returned to Pà Lặk. Back then, it was still a poor, sparsely populated town. But now, houses were packed together with lights shining brightly through every window. Through the thick branches swaying in the wind, those tiny lights twinkled, just like the stars in the sky. They almost competed with the starry river above us. I didn’t like it. I didn’t want anything industrial or artificial to replace the beautiful image that his stars had created.
"I think those lights are soulless as hell," I said firmly. "They’re no match for the real starry sky."
"Really?" Tú looked up at me, his eyes sparkling with tears.
"Really!" I answered, my voice trembling, eyebrows raised to emphasize the seriousness. My mind swirled with unfinished plans.
I came back to convince my parents, but... Maybe I’ll stay here for good.
I really do want to stay here for good.
"Do you know what it reminds me of?" I stammered, as the summer wind suddenly lost its warmth, just like Tú’s cold skin pressed against me.
With me here, I could protect Tú. Those narrow-minded people wouldn’t dare touch him, just like no one could touch the stars in his river.
"What does it remind you of?" Tú smiled curiously.
If Tú weren’t with me now, I wouldn’t know what to do.
My mind drifted back to that night when Tú first opened up to me. The wind blew again, cold enough to make me shiver. The trees rustled, and the white lights below rippled faintly.
"Remember the school pool we used to sneak into at night?" I whispered, my voice almost dissolving into the mist. "This looks more like lights reflecting on water."
Tú gave a sad smile and was silent for a long time. I didn’t know what he was thinking. I wanted to guess but was afraid of the answer.
"That night was so much fun, wasn’t it?" Tú finally choked out, tears rolling down his pale cheeks. Slowly, he stood up.
The starlight bathed him in a silver glow, making him seem transparent. I quickly stood and hugged him from behind, as if afraid he would vanish from my life again. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have brought up that night. I pulled him into my arms, ruffling his hair. The sweet scent was gone.
For some reason, Tú always made me feel like I needed to protect him. Sometimes, that feeling was so intense, I believed it was my personal responsibility—one that I had neglected in the past. And then...
"Sometimes I think back to that night," Tú sobbed. "I wish we could jump into that pool together again."
"We can!" I replied, my voice breaking. "It’s not hard at all... I’d do anything for you!"
The wind on the hill blew once more, scattering the light on the water below like a shimmering dream.
I really do want to stay here for good.
☽ Notes for character names:
- “Thiên” means “Sky” in Chinese-Vietnames.
- “Tú” means “Star” in Chinese-Vietnamese.
