Ngay tu+` buo^?i ho.c dda^`u tie^n to^i dda~ kho^ng u+a Chi'n. Con ga'igi` ma` ca'i ma(.t cu+' nghinh nghinh. Bo+?i va^.y ho^m da.y thu+.c ta^.p,khi Chi'n dde^'n xem to^i chua^?n bi. gia'o cu.; ba?ng bie^'c to^i be`nqua't: "Ddi cho^~ kha'c cho+i! Do`m ngo' ca'i gi`?". Chi'n lu+o+`m to^i"La`m nhu+ ngu+o+`i ta ham do`m ngo' la('m". Va`, bie^'n. Nhu+~ng nga`ysau ddo', khi ga(.p nhau, hai ddu+'a chi? toa`n nguy't, ha'y . Trong lo+'pco' bo^'n mu+o+i ma.ng, ke^? ca? to^i, to^i cho+i ta^'t, tru+` Chi'n. Ho^mngo^`i uo^'ng ca` phe^ vo+'i Ddu+'c, ha('n ho?i: "Hi`nh nhu+ ma`y kho^ngu+a Chi'n"...To^i ga^.t ngay . Ha('n la.i ho?i: "Ly' do"... "Kho^ng u+a,va^.y tho^i!" - "Tao tha^'y Chi'n cu~ng ddu+o+.c dda^'y chu+'" - "Vo+'ima`y thi` ddu+o+.c, vo+'i tao thi` kho^ng" Hai tha(`ng ddang tro` chuye^.n,cho+.t ni'n khe khi Chi'n bu+o+'c va`o . Ddu+'c cu+o+`i he^` he^`, mo+`i:"Uo^'ng nu+o+'c cho+i, Chi'n". Chi'n lie^'c to^i, la('c dda^`u: "Cha('ckho^ng ddu+o+.c dda^u, Ddu+'c o+i!" To^i ddu+'ng da^.y . "Hai ngu+o+`icu+' tu+. nhie^n! A`, nho+' tra? tie^`n ly tao luo^n nghe Ddu+'c." To^iro+`i qua'n ma` kho^ng he^` nhi`n Chi'n.

        La^`n thu+.c ta^.p ke^' ddo', do co' ddu+'a va('ng ma(.t, to^i "bi."ddo^n le^n, ghe'p va`o nho'm cu?a Chi'n. Xui ho+n nu+~a khi bo^'c tha(mcho.n nga`y, to^i va` Chi'n la.i pha?i da.y cu`ng mo^.t lo+'p. To^i tho+?da`i thu+o+`n thu+o+.t. Sa^n tru+o+`ng vo+'i nhu+~ng ca^y hoa`ng ddie^.pto^i ha(`ng u+a thi'ch, bo^~ng tro+? ne^n u a'm la. thu+o+`ng. Ddu'ng ho+n,sau khi bo^'c tha(m xong, nhi`n dda^u to^i cu~ng tha^'y kho' chi.u . Co'pha?i ghe't cu?a na`o tro+`i trao cu?a a^'y kho^ng dda^y ? Ma` tho^i, ma(.c,dde^'n dda^u th` dde^'n. Sa' gi` mo^.t buo^?i da.y chung! Cha(?ng pha?ichu'ng to^i co`n no+. nhau ca? nhu+~ng nga`y tha'ng tru+o+'c ma('t haysao ? Cu~ng may, hai ddu+'a chi? ho.c chung co' mo^~i na(m nay, ne^'u kho^ng,cha('c to^i ta('t tho+? qua'.

        Thu+o+`ng to^i va`o tru+o+`ng kha' so+'m. Nha^'t la` nhu+~ng nga`y thu+.cta^.p. Nhu+ng ho^m a^'y, to^i ngo^`i na'n la.i o+? qua'n co+m ta^'m, la`mthe^m ly ca` phe^ . Do.c con ddu+o+`ng dde^'n tru+o+`ng, la('c ra('c baynhu+~ng la' hoa`ng ddie^.p; na('ng di`u di.u tra?i va`ng tre^n nhu+~ngma'i to'c huye^`n. To^i tha^'y ca'i gi` tre^n ddo+`i cu~ng dde.p, nha^'tla` con ga'i . Su+.c nho+' Chi'n cu~ng la` con ga'i, to^i la^?m ba^?m:"Tru+` Chi'n". Trong ky'-u+'c-hai-mu+o+i-cu?a-to^i va^~n co`n ru+.c ro+~ba na(m cuo^'i trung ho.c vo+'i dda'm ba.n ga'i nu+?a di.u da`ng nu+?addanh dda'. To^i co^' bo+'i ti`m xem co' ddu+'a na`o de^~ "nu+.c" nhu+Chi'n kho^ng? Tuye^.t nhie^n kho^ng! Thuo+? a^'y, tra'i tim to^i cu+' nha?yco'c tu+` bo'ng da'ng na`y qua hi`nh da'ng kha'c. Dda~ co' la^`n, vi` qua'me^ ma^?n mo^.t co^-Ba('c-ky`-nho-nho?, to^i ddi chu`a ca^`u, sao cho haiddu+'a ro+'t da`i da`i dde^? suo^'t ddo+`i ho.c lo+'p mu+o+`i hai vo+'inhau . Ky` thi dde^'n, ngo^`i ngo' dde^` thi tha^'y sao de^~ o+.t. To^idda`nh pha?i la`m nhu+~ng gi` to^i bie^'t. Ke^'t qua?, ddu+o+`ng ai na^'yddi . To^' va`o Lua^.t, to^i cho.n nga`nh su+ pha.m, chuye^.n tri. mo+'tre? con tie^?u ho.c. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i ho?i sao to^i kho^ng va`o dda.iho.c hay chi' i't la` va`o cao dda(?ng. To^i chi? cu+o+`i . La`m sao gia?ithi'ch dde^? ho. hie^?u ra(`ng, to^i muo^'n ddi ti`m nhu+~ng a^'u tho+`iha.nh phu'c bo+?i to^i dda~ co' mo^.t tuo^?i tho+ co^ qua.nh, nga^.m ngu`i.

        Nghi~ ngo+.i lan man, dde^'n tru+o+`ng lu'c na`o kho^ng hay . Nhi`nddo^`ng ho^`, ba?y gio+` ke'm na(m. To^i co`n na(m phu't dde^? chua^?nbi. cho tie^'t da.y . To^i pho'ng qua sa^n tru+o+`ng cho+.t ro^.ng the^nhthang. Co`n hai phu't nu+~a . To^i su+~ng ngu+o+`i, nhi`n le^n ba?ng. Nga`ytha'ng, te^n mo^n, ba`i kie^?m tra, ba`i da.y dda~ ddu+o+.c ghi dda^`yddu?. Cuo^'i pho`ng, Chi'n ddang ngo^`i ngo' to^i cu+o+`i mi'm chi . Ca'ima(.t bo+'t nghinh nghinh. To^i muo^'n ca?m o+n Chi'n, nhu+ng la.i so+.bi. ke^ tu? va`o mie^.ng, la.i tho^i . Bo^'n mu+o+i phu't qua nhanh, to^itho+? pha`o, cu`ng Chi'n ddi la(ng qua(ng o+? sa^n sau ddo+.i gio+` cho+i. Ga(.p Ddu+'c ddang ngo^`i vo+'i ma^'y ddu+'a ba.n, ha('n tro+.n ma('tnhi`n to^i ra ddie^`u ky` qua'i . To^i ga~i dda^`u, cu+o+`i tru+`.

        Tie^'ng chuo^ng reo . Bo.n tre? con u`a chie^'m sa^n tru+o+`ng. Chu'ngto^i quay va`o lo+'p. Dda~ dde^'n lu'c to^i tra? no+. cho ngu+o+`i .  Sau buo^?i nha^.n xe't, phe^ bi`nh, ru't kinh nghie^.m ma^'y tie^'tthu+.c ta^.p, Ddu+'c ho^: "Ddi a(n che`!" To^i so+` tu'i, Chi'n nhe ra(ngcu+o+`i . Ma^'y ddu+'a co`n la.i nha(n nho'. Cha(?ng la` cuo^'i tua^`nro^`i! Ddu+'c vo^~ ngu+.c bo^`m bo^.p: "Cho+' lo! Cuo^'i tua^`n nhu+ngdda^`u tha'ng. To+' vu+`a li~nh tie^`n ke`m nhi ddo^`ng dda^y!" Ca? bo.nke'o nhau ra qua'n tha.ch o+? Tra^`n Bi`nh Tro.ng. Hie^`n bo^ bo^: "O^ngtha^`y chia nho'm khe'o tha^.t, ddu? ddo^i ddu? ca(.p; thua^.n a^m du+o+ng,ha.p tro+`i dda^'t!" Trang nhe'o tay no': "Chi? nha?m nhi'!". Ddu+'c: "Le~ra, to+' chi? cho ca'c ca^.u ta.m u+'ng tho^i . Nhu+ng ho^m nay, to+' bao,mo^~i ca^.u hai ly". Hie^`n: "Ly' do ?" - "Mu+`ng tha(`ng cu Hoa`i co^.ngta'c to^'t dde.p vo+'i Chi'n trong buo^?i ta^.p". Cu'c cu+o+`i hi'ch hi'ch"To+' vay Ddu+'c ma^'y ddo^`ng, mo+`i the^m mo^~i ca^.u mo^.t ly, ddu+o+.ckho^ng?" "Ba` vay co' bao gio+` tra? to^i dda^u!". Chi'n chen va`o: "Cu'ckho^ng tra?, to^i tra?". Ca? dda'm, tru+` to^i, ngoa'c mo^`m: "Va^.y la`ba` mu+`ng ba`. Cho vay ddi Ddu+'c!" - "Xong ngay, cu Hoa`i ca^`n vay kho^ng?"Ca? dda'm la.i ngoa'c mo^`m: "Vay luo^n!". No'i the^', chu+' mo^~i ddu+'acu~ng chi? la`m ddu+o+.c hai ly . Ddu'ng chi? tie^u Ddu+'c ban cho .

        Ra~ dda'm, to^i ddu+a Chi'n ve^`. Hai ddu+'a la(.ng le~ ddi be^n nhau. Dde^'n no+i, Chi'n mo+`i to^i va`o cho+i . Ca(n pho`ng tro. nho? xi'u,chu+'a to+'i bo^'n ngu+o+`i va^~n nga(n na('p, go.n ga`ng. To^i nho+' dde^'nca(n pho`ng bu+`a bo^.n cu?a to^i ma` ngao nga'n.

        No'i chuye^.n vo+'i Chi'n, to^i mo+'i tha^'y tru+o+'c gio+` to^i toa`nnhi`n Chi'n ba(`ng ddi.nh kie^'n. Que^ Chi'n o+? Phan Thie^'t. Bo^' me.ma^'t so+'m, nha` chi? co' ba chi. em ga'i . Hai chi. dda~ ddi la^'y cho^`ng.Mo^.t mi`nh loay hoay vo+'i sa'ch vo+?, Chi'n cu+' mo+ nga`y tha`nh co^gia'o . He^'t lo+'p mu+o+`i hai, ba` chi. ca? theo cho^`ng va`o Sa`i Go`n,Chi'n ddi theo . Thi su+ pha.m, dda^.u . Thoa.t dda^`u o+? chung vo+'ianh chi. - Sau, tha^'y ba^'t tie^.n, ru? ba.n be` thue^ ca(n pho`ng na`y. Tie^`n thue^ pho`ng, chi. ca? cho . Tie^`n a(n uo^'ng, chi. hai lo mo^.tpha^`n; pha^`n co`n la.i Chi'n kie^'m the^m ba(`ng ca'ch phu. ba'n ha`ngcho me. ngu+o+`i ba.n cu`ng lo+'p. Mo^.t na(m ve^` que^ hai la^`n dde^?cu`ng ca'c chi. la`m gio^~ cho bo^', ro^`i me.. Trong ca^u chuye^.n, Chi'nhay no'i to+'i ngo^i nha` tro^ng ra bie^?n, co' ddu+'a be' ga'i chie^`uchie^`u lang thang tre^n ba~i va('ng, nghe tie^'ng so'ng vo^~ dde^`u nhu+nhu+~ng lo+`i ru .

        To^i ke^? cho Chi'n nghe ve^` mo^.t tuo^?i tho+ co^ qua.nh, nga^.m ngu`i. Mo^.t tuo^? tho+ u+o+'t dda^~m mu+a nu'i, xa`o xa.c gio' ddo^`i va` ngu'tnga`n hoa da.i . Bo^' me. to^i kho^ng ca?m tha^'y ha.nh phu'c be^n nhaune^n chia tay mo^~i ngu+o+`i mo^.t nga?. To^i ddu+o+.c gu+?i le^n mo^.txa~ nho? o+? cao nguye^n so^'ng vo+'i ba` di` lo+'n tuo^?i, ddo^.c tha^n.To^i va^~n ddu? a(n, ddu? ma(.c nhu+ng thie^'u ha(?n mo^.t gia ddi`nh.Ba^y gio+`, to^i tro^i da.t ve^` dda^y, va^~n kho^ng bie^'t ddu+o+.c tintu+'c gi` cu?a hai dda^'ng sinh tha`nh. Cu~ng co' the^? vi` to^i kho^ngddi.nh bie^'t.

        Sau la^`n tro` chuye^.n ddo', to^i va` Chi'n ga^`n gu~i nhau ho+n, dde^'nno^~i ca? lo+'p dda~ hi`nh dung ra mo^.t mo^'i t`inh. Chi'n nghi~ sao,to^i kho^ng ro~. Pha^`n to^i, kha'c vo+'i tho+`i trung ho.c, ra^'t so+.mi`nh qua' vo^.i va~ trong vie^.c pha'n ddoa'n lo`ng mi`nh. Va^~n bie^'t,to^i va` Chi'n co' ca'i gi` ddo' ta.m go.i la` ddo^`ng ca?m; nhu+ng, chi?the^', ddu? chu+a cho mo^.t ti`nh ye^u ?

        Gia? su+?, chu'ng to^i chu+a ma` cu+' nha^'t ddi.nh la` dda~ ye^u nhau,dde^'n nga`y na`o ddo' hie^?u ra ra(`ng, ta^'t ca? kho^ng ho+n mo^.t su+.la^`m tu+o+?ng thi` sao ? Cha('c ca? hai se~ cu`ng ddau ddo+'n. Nghi~ va^.y,ne^n to^i im la(.ng. Ddu+'c theo do` la to^i ma~i . Ho+n ai he^'t, Ddu+'cmuo^'n chu'ng to^i ha.nh phu'c. To^i va^~n im la(.ng. Ha('n khi'ch to^i:"Ma`y nha't qua'! Ye^u, thi` no'i ra(`ng ye^u . Tao tin Chi'n cu~ng ye^uma`y". Nha't? To^i nhe^'ch me'p cu+o+`i: "Ma`y bie^'t gi`?". Ddu'ng la`Ddu+'c cha(?ng bie^'t gi`! To^i ddie^?m la.i trong dda^`u nhu+~ng "mo^'iti`nh" dda~ co', nhu+~ng gu+o+ng ma(.t dda~ ye^u . Ta^'t ca? tro^i tuo^.tddi tre^n bu+'c tu+o+`ng ky' u+'c. Nghi~ai la` to^i chu+a mo^.t la^`n ye^u,ma(.c ke^. bao ba`i tho+ "Ti`nh oa(`n oa.i". Ngoa`i Chi'n, co' ai hie^?uddu+o+.c to^i, sau nhu+~ng tro` he^` ha.c la` no^~i cay dda('ng kho^ngcu`ng. Bo^' me. to^i nga`y xu+a cha('c cu~ng tu+o+?ng mi`nh ye^u nhau la('m,cho dde^'n lu'c nha^.n ddu+o+.c su+. tha^.t thi` tre^n ddo+`i to^i dda~to^`n sinh. Hai ngu+o+`i chia tay, to^i va^~n to^`n sinh vo+'i ve^'t thu+o+ngmuo^n thuo+?. Le~ na`o to^i la.i chu+a kinh?

        Na(m ho.c nga('n da^`n. To^i va` Chi'n va^~n vu+`a ga^`n vu+`a xa .Thi?nh thoa?ng ke? na`y ti`m ngu+o+`i kia no+i pho`ng tro. dde^? ro^`icha(?ng no'i gi` cu`ng nhau ngoa`i chuye^.n bie^?n buo^`n va` nu'i la.nh.Bie^?n, to^i dda~ ga(.p nhie^`u la^`n, co`n Chi'n, cha('c kho^ng la. chida'ng nu'i . The^' ma`, Chi'n va^~n ma~i la` mo^.t bie^?n u tra^`m, to^iva^~n ma~i la` mo^.t nu'i qua.nh hiu .

        Na(m ho.c he^'t. Ho^m cho.n nhie^.m so+?, Chi'n ngo^`i be^n to^i la(.ngle~. Dda'm ba.n be` xung quanh, da^~u chu+a bie^'t dde^'n dda^u, ve^` dda^u,va^~n ddo^?i trao ddi.a chi? dde^? lie^n la.c sau na`y . To^i va` Chi'ncu+' ngo^`i nhu+ tu+o+.ng. Co~i mie^`n chu'ng to^i o+? cho^'n na`o dde^?he.n ho` nhau ? Co' the^? Chi'n se~ ve^` vo+'i bie^?n. Co' the^? to^i se~dde^'n vo+'i ru+`ng. Tu`y su+. lu+.a cho.n cu?a mo^~i ngu+o+`i . Chi? mongsao co`n nga`y ga(.p la.i, sau khi chu'ng to^i dda~ lu+o+.ng ddi.nh lo`ngmi`nh.

        Cuo^'i cu`ng le^~ cho.n nhie^.m so+? cu~ng xong. Chu'ng to^i giu+~ lo+`igiao u+o+'c, kho^ng ai cho bie^'t no+i se~ dde^'n cu?a mi`nh. Ta^'t ca?dde^? da`nh to+'i buo^?i lie^n hoan nhe., ngay to^'i ho^m a^'y . Va` pha?io+? gia^y phu't sau he^'t, tru+o+'c lu'c chia tay .

        Chi'n kho^ng ve^` vo+'i bie^?n. To^i kho^ng dde^'n vo+'i ru+`ng. Ddu+'c,Hie^`n, Trang, Cu'c tro+? la.i que^ nha`, y nhu+ ho. dda~ ddi.nh tu+` dda^`u. Bo^'n ngu+o+`i ngo^`i nhi`n to^i va` Chi'n, tu+ lu+.. To^i ddo.c tha^'yno^~i xo't xa trong ma('t ho., nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ba.n to^'t. Lie^.u ho.co' hie^?u ra(`ng, da^~u buo^`n vo+'i cuo^.c chia xa, to^i va^~n vui vi`su+. lu+.a cho.n cu?a to^i va` Chi'n? Su+. lu+.a cho.n a^'y dda~ no'i ra^'tro~ ddie^`u tra'i tim chu'ng to^i muo^'n no'i: "Chu'ng to^i ca^`n nhau".

        Mai na`y to^i se~ thay Chi'n lang thang tre^n ba~i va('ng mo^~i chie^`udde^? nghe lo+`i ru cu?a bie^?n. Mai na`y Chi'n se~ thay to^i la.nh vo+'itru`ng tru`ng mu+a nu'i, gio' ddo^`i . Ca? hai se~ ta.m tho+`i co^ ddo^.cnhu+ng kho^ng co^ ddo+n bo+?i trong tra'i tim ngu+o+`i na`y co' hi`nh bo'ngngu+o+`i kia . Nga`y ta'i ngo^., nha~ nha.c se~ lu+`ng vang kha('p co~i.

        Ro^`i tho+`i gian tro^i qua . To^i cu+' cho+` mong ma~i, Chi'n va^~nchu+a ve^`. To^i ddi ti`m Chi'n, kho^ng ga(.p. Ghe' la.i Sa`i Go`n ho?itha(m ba` chi. ca?, ba` chi. cu~ng cha(?ng bie^'t gi`. Co' pha?i Chi'nla` gio.t su+o+ng ro+i xuo^'ng ddo+`i to^i ? Gio.t su+o+ng thu+.c co' nhu+ngra^'t mong manh, ga^`n nhu+ la` hu+ a?o .

        To^i ve^` bie^?n, chie^`u chie^`u lang thang tre^n ba~i va('ng, buo^`nba~ nho+' ngu+o+`i . Ddu+'c, Hie^`n, Trang, Cu'c o+i! To^i la.c Chi'n ro^`i!

        Ro^`i tho+`i gian tro^i qua . Thoa('t sa('p nu+?a ddo+`i . To^i va^~nnho+' va` hy vo.ng nga`y to^i ti`m la.i pha^`n to^i tha^'t la.c, nga`ytra^`n gian nha~ nha.c lu+`ng vang.

        Ro^`i tho+`i gian tro^i qua . Chi'n va^~n chu+a ve^`.

                                                                                        Nguye^~n -Da(ng Ha`