However, my parents were easygoing, so I continued to roam the streets with Phong. Playing with him was fun—even though he bullied me, I was "willing." In fact, I was "willing" to let anyone bully me.
That said, he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about playing with me. Compared to the boys, sure, but even compared to Yen and Mai, he only played with me when he had no other choice.
So, I was always the one holding Phong's stuff, standing aside while he played marbles, serving as an excuse for him to visit Yen's house, or acting as a shield whenever he made Mai cry.
We attended the same elementary school, studied in the same class, while the other two were in the class next door. During the first few days, when the teacher called for Lam Anh and Phong Anh, I sat there, clueless about who they were.
Since our names included "Anh," we were called to the board all the time. Phong hated studying and always tricked me into doing double homework.
"Why are you so slow? Hurry up so I can copy!"
"This is too hard!"
"Hmph, these calculations are easy. I'll read the answers, you copy."
"No way! Chun has to do it herself."
"By the time you finish, I'll already be in second grade. Whatever, I'll read the answers, you write them in my notebook. Your own homework, you can do later."
I obediently followed Phong's instructions. While he only spent twenty minutes reading the answers, I sat all night doing my own work. Yet, he got a nine, and I got a seven. As a result, I had to attend remedial classes. My parents made me practice writing and study math with a teacher who lived terribly far away.
"Where have you been lately?"
"Going to tutoring."
"Wow, you're really dumb. People succeed with their brains. Just ask your parents to let you stay home and play. We sit together in class—I'll whisper the answers to you."
"Hmph. No need."
My indifferent attitude shocked Phong. I used to stick to him like glue—or like an elastic band clinging to a waistband. But lately, I only occasionally joined in games of rubber band flicking or hide-and-seek with the neighborhood kids.
"Fine, suit yourself."
That was all Phong said before he wandered off to the house next door. Yen and Mai were studying too. I wasn't sure what they discussed, but soon enough, Phong rushed home to grab his books and study with them. By the time I wandered over with my workbook, they had already finished.
"Phong, you're so smart!"
After playing together for so long, I suddenly noticed that Yen always called Phong "Anh," even though we were all in first grade. She was gentle and sweet, speaking in a way that melted hearts. No wonder all the boys wanted to marry her. Every time that happened, Mai would drag me aside and ask:
"How much are you planning to give as a wedding gift for Yen's wedding?"
"Huh? I haven't thought about it."
"You should! Phong plays with us more than anyone else. If he marries Yen, I'll give them one thousand dong. The kids downstairs? Just five hundred."
I ran home to ask my dad,
"Dad, if Phong and Yen get married, how much should I gift them?"
My dad and Uncle Duong, who were playing Chinese chess, burst into laughter.
"What if you're the bride instead?"
"Huh? Then I'll go ask them how much they'll give me!"
I dashed back to Mai and asked.
"Aah! You like Phong?! I'm telling Yen you're trying to steal her boyfriend!"
Before I could say anything, Mai bolted downstairs, where the boys were playing soccer, and shouted:
"CHUN LOVES PHONG! SHE LOVES YEN'S BOYFRIEND!"
Thud!
As I ran down the last step, I tripped and landed flat on my face. Embarrassed that I couldn't stop Mai in time and in pain from the fall, I burst into tears. My wails were so dramatic that Mrs. Van from next door rushed out, alarmed.
As I sobbed and screamed about how much it hurt, she hugged me and patted my back. Luckily, I had landed on a cleaning rag, so there were no scratches. After crying for a while, I eventually calmed down.
That was when my neighbor boy ran over and held something white in front of me.
"Here's your tooth!"
After that, nothing could make me stop crying—not even my terrifying grandmother. I only quieted down when I cried myself to sleep.
I had lost two front teeth—one naturally, one due to… impact. They eventually grew back, but from then on, biting into anything cold, hot, or hard made my teeth ache. Ever since, I've eaten ice cream with my molars.
That wasn't all. Phong and Yen started giving me the cold shoulder. I wasn't sure if it was because Phong's dad had scolded him for giving me back my tooth, or if, as Mai claimed, he was afraid Yen would get jealous if he kept playing with me.
With no one to play with, I stayed home and clung to my grandfather. He spoiled me—whatever I wanted, he gave me. As long as I got an eight on my handwriting assignments, he'd reward me with a doll. But I had to play secretly. If Grandma found out he was spoiling me too much, she'd take them away.
Thanks to Grandma's strictness, I finally stopped biting random objects with my front teeth. Otherwise, my gums might have taken months to heal.
But school? Ugh, it was so boring. Normally, I would sit and watch Phong play marbles with the boys. Every now and then, he'd run over and hand me his marbles for safekeeping—better than keeping them in his pocket where they might fall out. He was an excellent player; he could double or triple his marbles in no time. But sometimes, he'd lose everything.
Meanwhile, I was terrible at every game. Even if I won rock-paper-scissors once, I'd be dead last within two minutes, with no way to recover. So they never let me play—especially jump rope, which was way too girly.
During recess, Phong gathered a group to play marbles. Out of habit, I followed, but he handed his things to Yen instead. After school, Yen carried his backpack home for him. Occasionally, Mai did. As a result, I went home early every day and had more time for homework.
Not playing with Phong anymore made me feel… strangely empty.
After two days, I nudged him during class.
"Meet me during recess. I need to ask something."
"Just ask now. Why wait?"
"Talking in class will get us in trouble."
"Just prop up your book like this…"
I copied him, setting my textbook upright and leaning forward. Today, Phong seemed unusually mild.
"Go on!"
"Uh… well… actually…"
I hesitated, biting my lip. Except, I didn't have front teeth to bite—I just pressed my lips together.
"You have three seconds. If you don't talk, you're watching my backpack and holding my marbles at recess."
I went completely silent. I… wanted to hold his backpack. Hehe. I grinned happily.
"Lam Anh, read the next passage!"
I was still blanking out whenever someone called that name—like it sounded familiar, but I didn't know why.
"Lam Anh is your name."
Oh! I jumped up, but I had no idea which part to read.
"Where did we leave off?"
Luckily, Phong quickly asked the kid next to us, and I rattled off the entire passage in one go.
At 5 PM, we finally headed home. Phong carried his own bag. Near his house, he grabbed mine and whispered:
"Listen up—if the adults ask why we're late, don't say I was playing video games. Say you got lost, and I had to search for you. Got it?"
"That's lying."
"You want to see my butt turn red like a tomato?"
"No… But if you know that, why keep playing?"
"Hmph… I don't need you anymore! I'll take responsibility myself!"
He stomped off. I trailed behind.
"What now? Why are you following me?"
"Uh, my house is past yours…"
"Hmph."
Phong slowed his steps, almost like he was waiting for me to pass.