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The gentle sunlight streamed down a garden, gilding the palm-leaf fences and glistening on the silvery white Champa flowers. The pure fragrance of the flowers wafted through the air, as if it was enveloping the entire garden in a summer dream.
Thailand strolled along a small stone-paved path. Her pale pink Chakkri wrapped along her slender figure, the gold embroidery reflecting in the afternoon sun. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun. Thailand picked a Champa blossom that had fallen into the nearby grass and gently put it on her hair. She seemed delighted.
Occasionally, she would stop beneath a huge Champa tree taller than herself, gazing up at the clusters of blossoms swaying in the wind, couldn’t stop admiring them in amusement. She continued to gaze at each branch and blossoming Champa tree, then humming a tune about said flower…
“Oh dauk lun tom see kao sa aht~
(Oh clean white plumeria)
Ngahm suay rao gup waht~”
(As beautiful as a painting)
“Hey, where are you wandering off to?”
A guy’s voice suddenly spoke up from behind, startling Thailand. She squealed, dropping the flower from her hair, along with the gentle elegance she had just displayed.
“Oh dear Buddha! save me!”
“Huh huh, what’s with the fuss!?” Laos was also startled and took a step back.
“Out of the blue, without any noises, you’re lurking behind me like a snake! Who wouldn't be startled!”
Thai crossed her arms, glancing around. Laos sighed and put his hand on the hip as the other hand adjusted his glasses.
“The one lurking is you. Why are you wandering into my flower garden?”
“I saw how vast and beautiful the garden was, what’s wrong with stopping by to admire it?” She said, facing her head away from the guy in front of her.
“You’ve been here so many times, you know well this is my garden!”
Laos insisted as he scrutinized Thailand from head to toe.
“You pretentious jerk… And you’re dressed so impeccably–”
“Hehe, you’re too kind~” she smirked and chuckled.
“Tsk… tell me, what shady business are you plotting now?”
“Haha, just kidding. Actually, I was attending a business meeting so I had to dress politely. Also I’m helping to guide someone to your place.”
“Who…?”
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.
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Some time earlier, after a business meeting, Thailand and a guy decided to visit Laos. That guy was a very close friend of Laos, so close that they were practically brothers. However, he hadn't visited often lately, so the route felt a bit unfamiliar, or rather, both familiar and strange. Luckily, the Thai woman seemed to know the way better and kindly guided him.
Upon arriving, Laos was nowhere to be seen. Instead, they encountered a gardener watering plants nearby. Thankfully, the gardener informed them that Laos was most likely in the garden behind the house, where he usually went to get some fresh air. So the two walked to that place and rested at a gazebo. Still seeing no one, the Thai lady went to look for Laos herself.
.
.
.
“Is he still there?” Laos asked as they walked.
“Of course. I told him to make himself comfortable in the gazebo.” Thailand replied.
“You really act like you own the place, don’t you?”
“Now, why would you say that? I’m your sister, we’re family after all~”
“Still my house, and you’re a distant cousin.” Laos sighed.
…
A gentle breeze blew through.
White Champa flowers slowly fell from above, landing on the shoulder of the guest relaxing in the gazebo. He reached out and brushed them off his shoulder, then looked towards the depths of the garden. The place was way more beautiful than he remembered, there weren't that many flowers blooming. Time has changed many things, yet somehow the atmosphere remained the same.
The sound of arguing echoed from afar.
One of the voices sounded so familiar that a slight smile curved his lips. Perhaps he had come to the right place. Thinking so, the guy stood up and slowly walked forward. Golden sunlight stretched across the path ahead. And at the end of that flower-filled path, a reunion awaited him.
They finally met. Laos immediately recognized the familiar figure. He paused his petty argument to approach closer, adjusting his glasses to make sure his eyes weren’t mistaken.
The guy wore a red ngũ thân made from high-quality silk, woven with very distinctive patterns. Its five buttons were neatly fastened, each stitch meticulously sewn. A traditional attire that flatters a man's figure, also exudes the wearer's elegance…
“Vietnam! Is that you?”
Laos exclaimed, even though he knew exactly who it was. He ran to the Vietnamese guy and hugged him tightly. Vietnam instinctively hugged Laos back, patting him hard on the back as a habit he often did.
"Oh, Laos! Haha." Vietnam seemed speechless as he focused on hugging someone. Laos was also the same.
They continued to embrace each other tightly, until they saw Thailand quietly standing still and smiling at them, then they finally awkwardly let go.
“Vietnam, what brings you here?”
“I had a business trip, and since I was in the area, I thought I’d stop by and visit you as well. I’ve been so busy lately that I only just realized it’s been a long time since I’ve spent time with close friends like this. It’s a bit of a shame, really.”
“Well I couldn’t meet my friends much as well, we all have business to deal with. I understand that. Hmm, but it’s already a pleasure to have you here today, haha. Just enjoy every moment while you can.”
Laos smiled gently while offered a few words of comfort.
Then the Lao guy looked up at his good friend’s face, a face that could not have felt more familiar or dear to him. Before he could take a closer, deeper look, he suddenly remembered the tea set on the table.
Laos often came here to enjoy the fresh air for a peace of mind, so he always kept some drinks prepared. That way, if visitors happened to stop by, he would be ready to serve them. It was one of the many small ways to show his thoughtfulness.
Moving unhurriedly, Laos picked up the teapot and began pouring tea for his two guests.
They sat and discussed what they were drinking. The tea was quite strong with a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Personally, Thailand wasn't a big fan of this type of tea, as she was used to the sweet tea brewed in her homeland.
Vietnam on the other hand seemed quite pleased, as he himself was a tea addict, especially of strong tea. Tea-drinking culture seemed deeply ingrained in him.
As for Laos, he didn't really like tea much. The drink that truly gave him the most refreshing feeling was beer, a drink that any Laotians would consume on any occasion. Then why didn't he offer beer instead of tea? Did Laos hide any implication… before they grew more suspicion, Laos straightforwardly answered:
“I chugged all the beer cans available at this gazebo already.”
The two friends chuckled, but they didn't question furthermore since that’s what Laos 100% would do.
After chatting for a while, Thailand needed to use the restroom, so she left for a bit, leaving Vietnam and Laos behind.
The sun was setting, not completely out yet but it was getting dark under the roof. Laos stood up and switched on the light, just a single light bulb from the ceiling, but bright enough to illuminate the face of whoever sat opposite him. Laos turned around, and suddenly Vietnam was standing right behind him.
"You want to scare me again…?" Laos whispered.
In terms of physique, Vietnam was quite taller, in fact, Laos only reached Vietnam's earlobe, so when they stood like that, Laos had to look up to see him clearly.
"I noticed something on your face earlier, I just wanted to get a better look."
Vietnam finished speaking, then lifted Laos's chin towards him, using his thumb to flick across his cheek. There was a mosquito bite there. After all, they were in a garden, so insects were quite abundant.
"Oh my, why did you let a mosquito bite you like this?"
Vietnam still touched Lao's face, gently pinching his cheek as he often teased him whenever they were together. Despite this teasing, Vietnam had always cherished Laos. He admired his hardworking and resilient nature. No matter what happened, Laos always kept things to himself, yet he was also always ready to help whenever Vietnam needed him. He was truly a reserved person.
In Vietnam's homeland, there's a folk saying, “tâm sinh tướng (the heart shapes the appearance)” meaning a person's character and soul are reflected in their outward appearance.
It must be said that Laos was quite handsome, intelligent and insightful, with a face that showed he had experienced much in life. Especially his naturally drooping eyebrows exuded a gentle, yet melancholic and poetic vibe. Looking into Laos’ slightly downcast eyes, Vietnam wondered how much hidden sorrow this guy was harboring.
"So many years have passed, and the scenery may have changed, but you're still the same, aren't you?"
Vietnam tilted his head, looking at Laos, and smiled gently.
Laos now got a good look at Vietnam up close. His thick, sword-like eyebrows were quite attractive. Below them were captivating, almond-shaped eyes that were hard to look away. Laos had always been impressed by and felt a fondness for this face, no one had ever looked at him with such affection before.
But what caught his attention most were the two moles on this Vietnamese guy’s face. One near the inner corner of his eye, and one below the corner of his lip. Somehow, they attracted Laos, causing him to unconsciously reach out and touch them slowly.
Both of them cradled each other's faces in their hands, gazing intently into each other's eyes. They seemed to have forgotten their surroundings, minds filled only with respect and affection they had cherished for so long. Like an invisible force, or a vague yet powerful impulse, they drew closer, so close that their faces almost pressed against one another's. It was a strange feeling, one that only arose in this situation. Neither of them truly understood what it was. Bewildered yet vacant, while their hearts pounding wildly. How indescribable.
Their faces were too close. Vietnam smiled, but it was an awkward smile. A few drops of sweat trickled down his forehead, perhaps from his old-fashioned attire making him feel hotter, which made it impossible to hide the blushing face. Laos looked up at Vietnam, Laos’ lips slightly parted, trembling as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Under the fading twilight, the last rays of sunlight lingered on the Champa trees like a reluctant farewell. But even as night fell, the sun would return the next day, illuminating the flowers once more. No matter how many times it had to say goodbye, the sun would always appear to spread its warmth again.
A gentle, refreshing breeze swept through the garden, carrying the pure fragrance and a few Champa flowers. They fell onto the roof, the roof that was sheltering the two people whose lips were pressed together.
Laos had reached out to embrace Vietnam's shoulder. He didn't even realize he had done so, but deep down, he didn't want to let go of his friend. Vietnam felt the same way, instinctively holding Laos tightly in return. A truly sincere, tender embrace.
All the initial turmoil had now dissolved after their lips met. Only a feeling of profound peace remained. Their lips, when they touched, were warm and comfortable. The gentle aroma of the tea they had just drunk made the taste on their tongues even more pleasant to blend together seamlessly. Really an alluring scent that encouraged them to delve deeper into each other's touching and feelings. It was the first time they had shared such a loving gesture. Such an addictive feeling.
The moment was thought to be endless until a few Champa flowers from the roof suddenly fell on them, startling them. They then pulled their lips apart. They both gasped for air, wiping away the saliva from their mouths with their fingers.
Vietnam couldn’t stand still after holding his breath, he leaned slightly forward and placed his hand on Laos' shoulder to stay balanced. Feeling sweaty, he used his other hand to unbutton the collar, revealing a portion of his collarbone and a faded scar on the neck.
Lao didn't understand why he felt so embarrassed by the sight. He looked down at the ground, but occasionally glanced up, then down again. He blinked repeatedly, adjusted his glasses, while murmuring something.
Then their eyes met again. The Vietnamese guy’s face was still quite close, causing Laos' thoughts to wander a little. Unsure if the Laotian guy had misunderstood his friend, he slowly pushed him back a little and quickly helped him to the chair to have some tea.
The two were embarrassed, silently gazing at each other without saying any words. The atmosphere became awkward again, but this time filled with satisfaction and exhilaration.
Laos was very happy. He was delighted that his good friend had personally come to see him today. And even though they couldn't meet often, Laos deeply cherished such a wonderful neighbor.
Vietnam was also very happy. His trip here hadn't been in vain, to be reunited with this particularly close friend, or perhaps even “more than just a friend” at this moment.
Darkness had fallen, but the fragrance of flowers in the garden still lingered gently. The two close friends continued to laugh and chat happily. They might not talk about what had just happened, not now, but their feelings had certainly blossomed into a new form.
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Not far away, behind a large ancient Champa tree, Thailand stood leaning against it, her hands covering her mouth, her face flushed, eyes filled with disbelief at everything she had just witnessed.