That morning, we woke up quite early.
We had talked for a long time the night before, yet neither of us seemed to have slept deeply. Perhaps because, somewhere inside, we both knew that this day would be different.
The morning light filtered through the small window in my room. The air was so quiet that I could hear the occasional sound of vehicles passing through the narrow alley outside.
He had woken up before me.
When I opened my eyes, he was sitting at the edge of the bed, quietly looking toward the window.
"You're awake?"
I nodded.
We prepared very simply. He changed clothes and arranged a few things in his small suitcase. I stood nearby watching him, without thinking too much.
At that time, to me, this felt like a long trip of a friend.
I didn't realize that for him, it was a turning point in his life.
After everything was ready, the room suddenly became very quiet.
He stood in front of me.
The distance between us was very close.
He looked at me for a few seconds, then spoke softly.
"Can I hug you for a moment?"
I was a little surprised.
But I nodded.
He stepped closer.
And he hugged me.
His arms were gentle, but he held me for a long time.
Long enough that time seemed to slow down.
He didn't say anything.
He was simply silent.
I didn't say anything either.
My thoughts were still very simple then.
I only believed he was about to go far away, so he wanted to say goodbye like that.
But now, when I remember that moment, I realize that hug carried many things I didn't understand at the time.
After a while, he let go.
He smiled softly.
"Let's go."
His family was waiting outside.
The car was parked in front of the boarding house.
His father, his mother, his grandmother, his younger cousin, and several relatives were all there.
I greeted everyone.
They were still as kind to me as they had been the night before.
He said,
"Lilly, come to the airport with us."
I nodded.
The ride there was quiet.
His cousin occasionally said something cheerful, but most of the time everyone remained silent.
When we arrived at the airport, he spoke softly to his family.
"If possible later… please look after Lilly for me."
Then he looked at his cousin.
"Especially you."
His cousin laughed.
"Don't worry."
I heard that, but I didn't think much about it.
I only assumed he was asking his family to take care of a friend.
The airport was crowded.
Announcements echoed constantly through the air.
When it was time for him to enter the departure area, everyone stopped outside the gate.
He hugged his parents and relatives one by one.
Then he turned to look at me.
His gaze stayed on me for a long time.
Deep.
As if he wanted to remember that moment clearly.
But he still didn't say anything special.
Just a look.
Then he stepped forward and gently touched my head.
After that he turned to his family and said,
"After I leave… please take Lilly back to the boarding house."
His father nodded.
"Alright."
His mother smiled kindly at me.
"I'll take you back."
At that moment, I simply felt warmth in my heart.
I felt as if they cared for me like family.
As if I had gained a second family.
He looked at me one last time.
Then he turned and walked toward the departure gate.
I stood there watching him.
Until he disappeared into the crowd.
After he left, his family drove me back to the boarding house.
On the way back, they spoke gently with me.
They asked about my studies.
They asked whether I had gotten used to living there.
I felt very warm.
But when the car stopped in front of the boarding house and I stepped out, that feeling slowly changed.
The door across from mine was closed.
The familiar corridor suddenly felt very quiet.
No light from his room.
No voice calling my name.
I stood in front of my door for a moment.
For the first time, I felt that this place was a little lonely.
After he left, his cousin stayed in Saigon for a while.
He visited me a few times and took me out occasionally.
He said it was something Khang had asked him to do.
We talked comfortably.
He told me a few stories about Khang from when they were younger.
Ordinary stories.
But through them, I understood that Khang had always been someone very responsible.
Someone his family trusted deeply.
Message of Chapter 13
Not every farewell needs a promise.
Some people leave without saying anything,
yet everything is already contained within their eyes.
And sometimes, the deepest relationships
are the ones that never needed promises at all.