Chapter 32: A Natural Charmer
I provoked him further. "Guess you're not confident enough. Maybe you know you're not as good-looking as her type?"
Immediately, he stood up, his face calm and exuding confidence. He took off his coat, placed it on his chair, adjusted his glasses, and prepared to walk over. I quickly grabbed his arm and whispered,
"While you're at it, ask her where she bought that dress for me."
He hesitated for a second, then chuckled before heading toward the girl. I had to admit, my little bro had a great physique. Wearing a fitted button-up and casual trousers, he looked effortlessly stylish. His buzz cut and glasses gave him both a rugged and intellectual charm. He knew I was using him, yet he didn't mind.
I pretended not to care but couldn't help sneaking glances at his progress. Good Lord, he was talking to her like they were long-lost friends. This kid was a natural-born flirt.
A few minutes later, he returned to our table and handed me a piece of paper.
"Here's her number. And here's the shop where she bought the dress. I'll take you there sometime."
I grinned and reached for it, but he quickly pulled it back.
"You're getting all the benefits here. What do I get in return?"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. What do you want?"
He smirked mischievously. "Sing a song for me. With all your heart."
Wow, that was tough. I was good at singing love songs, but none of them fit our relationship. Maybe I could sing something about friendship? As I pondered, he suddenly stood up.
"Never mind, I'll sing for you instead."
He signed up for a song and confidently took the mic. The moment he started singing "Yêu Em" (Loving You), I was captivated. His voice was even better than the original singer's—richer, more emotional. Every lyric, every note felt like it was directed at me.
"With everything I have, with all my love... Even if it means walking into darkness... I'll still love you, just love you... You are my light... Please stay with me... Don't leave me..."
His eyes were gentle as he sang, and I felt strangely flustered. I deliberately avoided his gaze. This must be how he charmed countless girls. But seriously, could he give his poor old sister a break?
On the way home, I asked him,
"Hey, have you ever seriously liked someone?"
He seemed caught off guard but quickly responded,
"What kind of question is that? You're making me sound like a player."
I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. He looked so wronged.
"Oh, come on. Be honest. I bet you've never failed to win over a girl before."
He furrowed his brows, as if lost in thought.
"No... But I think I will someday. Chasing someone who already has feelings for someone else must be the hardest thing."
For the first time, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in him. I smiled sadly and told him,
"If it's too hard, just give up. Life is long, there are plenty of fish in the sea. No need to run into a thorn bush."
I spoke from experience. Both Duyen and I had foolishly believed that sincerity would be enough to win someone's heart. Such naïve thinking only led to heartbreak.
As we passed by Mr Aunt's house, my chest tightened. I wondered if anyone had wished Mr Aunt a happy birthday today. I laughed bitterly at myself—of course, Duyen must have prepared a gift weeks in advance. I told my little bro,
"Wait for me a bit, okay?"
He pulled over, and I got off. Wandering for a moment, I eventually crept to Mr Aunt's front gate. The house was completely dark. Were they out on a date or something?
Regardless, I still wanted to give Mr Aunt my gift. I had no expectations, no desire for a response. I just hoped the scarf I knitted would keep Mr Aunt warm during the winter. That alone would bring me some comfort. Besides, if I didn't give it to Mr Aunt, who else would I give it to?
I slipped the gift behind the iron bars of the gate. Suddenly, a motorcycle's headlights flashed on, shining straight at my back. I jolted, my heartbeat spiking as if I had been caught red-handed stealing.
I turned around, trying to put on the most innocent smile possible, scrambling in my mind for an excuse to cover up my true intentions. But instead of Mr Auntie, it was Gold Medal standing there.
Relief washed over me. I stepped closer and gave their shoulder a light push.
"You scared me to death!"
They glanced at the iron bars, their face showing a hint of contemplation.
"You looked suspicious, so I followed you. Didn't expect this, though."
I quickly pleaded,
"Keep this a secret for me, okay? This is no joke."
They didn't laugh. Instead, they fell silent for a moment, as if lost in thought. Then, they said,
"Saying you love someone is simple. Why go through all this?"
I waved my hand dismissively.
"Maybe for you, but not for me."
They looked a little disappointed, their tone turning heavier.
"So you're not denying it. It really is love, isn't it?"
I was caught off guard by their question. So that was their plan—luring me into admitting it. I should have been more clever in covering it up. I could've just said, 'Love? What love? I just wanted to give a gift as a thank you.'
But they didn't press me further. Instead, they just walked me home.
I had no idea what they were thinking. They remained silent the entire way.