12.

The ride feels so long. We are just silently sitting in the car. I don't have the courage to even move my head as it feels so awkward.

"What is Kan than?" He asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Kan than , you were saying it in your sleep." Was he trying to break the ice?

"Cẩn thận", I turned towards him, "It mean Be careful in Vietnamese."

"You learnt the language?"

"I picked a few words while working at a fast food joint. My friend taught me ."

"I saw it in your resume. You had a lot of parttime jobs."

He was saying it nonchalantly. It was more of a statement.

Moreover ,it was a fact. I worked a lot of jobs. I had to survive.

"Yeah , I did." i smiled.

"Where else did you work ?" He sounded genuinely ineterested.

"Well here and there. At hotels, restaurants, courier companies ,valet parking. I have done all kinds of job."

"Can I ask why ?"

"Yeah, I had some personal stuff going on and I graduated late. So I took up all the work that could take in a high school educated."

He was silent. Fif the air become serious?

"But its okay though. I learnt a lot. Made friends with people. I am skilled in a lot of stuff. You remember the printer -"

Oops, I got too excited. I had elbowed him then.

"Yes I do ." He chuckled. Phew all in a good joke .

"So you graduated late ?"

"Yeah , I had to leave my final year and start working. Its only a year ago, I could complete it online."

I don't want to remember the prejudice people had against an old online graduate. I was rejected from everywhere.

"So did you have any friends in college ?" He turned to look at me. 

What is with this curious cat ? Though this question did remind me of a few things.

"I did." I smiled with a heavy heart. Although we are not in contact anymore. There is one person I am particularly curious about. I wonder how he is doing.

Again, Silence.

But this time, I could feel the tension in the air. Did i say something wrong? 

Weird.

"Did you have friends in college too?" I asked . What a weird question. Of course he would. Did my answer remind him of something unpleasant?

"I had , although he betrayed me ," He said, his head , looking at me accusingly.

Aah,I get it now. But why is he staring at me as if I betrayed him? I have never been his friend. I have never been abroad to even graduate from his college. I don't have the money. What is with this misdirected anger?

I nodded and stared straight ahead. This is awkward again.

Is he Bi-polar? He was talking so nicely a minute ago.

Luckily, I will reach home soon. I might sprint the moment the car door opens.

The rest of the journey was silent again. 

Maybe I am overthinking. Maybe he remembered the past and felt sad. That explains. I don't want to think about it .

I stared out the window. The air hit my face again. This time I wasn't sleepy. I was all up and alert. I continued to stare out until my house arrived. He didn't speak up again too.

And finally, I reached my house. I got out of the car and leaned forward from the window.

"GOod night ,Mr. Blackwell Thank you for dropping me home. "I smiled genuinely. Hope he forgets the past and sleeps well.

"Good night ." He said without any hint of emotion. Its difficult to assess his mood right now.

He drove off while I walked to my front door.

The empty house welcomed me. I took a shower and went straight to bed. I only have sleep in my mind right now.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I saw his face leaning close to me . His handsome face, that hair, those ears , those eyes , that smell. It somehow felt warm, I curled up in my bed and drifted off to sleep.