Chapter 22: Nameless Longing
Toan Phuong didn't bother to care and didn't reply, which was as good as silently agreeing. In reality, Minh Nhat was just asking for form's sake—he was the one who always read and replied to Toan Phuong's letters anyway. Minh Nhat opened his bag, took out some paper and a pen, and began writing a reply. At the same time, he casually asked his best friend:
"Why can't you sleep?"
Toan Phuong sighed.
"My tutor has gone 'rogue'."
Minh Nhat burst out laughing when he heard that.
"Seriously? You defeated the monster—you should be celebrating. Why do you look like someone who just lost their food ration?"
Toan Phuong said nothing.
Normally, whenever Toan Phuong texted Minh Nhat, it was always about how he wanted his tutor to get fired. He had tried every possible way, and in the end, he won. Yet now, his face looked like he was mourning something. It made no sense at all. Minh Nhat reminded him:
"Don't tell me you suddenly want to become a good kid who studies hard. Don't forget—we share the same dream."
Toan Phuong and Minh Nhat both dreamed of becoming idols, so they'd been collaborating on music for a long time. Minh Nhat's parents worked in showbiz, so they always supported his dream. But Toan Phuong wasn't that lucky. His parents always wanted him to pursue business.
He had his dream, and his parents had their beliefs. With such opposing views, there was no room for real conversation. So he always resisted their control in his own way. Kieu Ly was just someone who got caught up in it all by accident.
But now, unexpectedly, he felt himself wavering.
Toan Phuong said nothing. He silently pulled his schoolbag from under the desk, took out his books, laid them out, and started studying.
At the next tutoring session, Kieu Ly didn't show up. And suddenly, Toan Phuong felt something was missing. Isn't this exactly what he had worked so hard to achieve? Yet now that it happened, he didn't feel happy at all. He pulled open the curtain and looked toward the gate, hoping to see her—but no one came.
And so, he just sat there, absentmindedly staring down the street, overwhelmed by a nameless longing.
Right now, all he wanted was for Kieu Ly to come back and be his tutor again. But Kieu Ly was someone who always gave her all to her work. If she came back, he would have to study seriously and chase after an almost impossible goal. If that happened, maybe he wouldn't have time to make music with Minh Nhat anymore.
Maybe… things were better the way they were now.
Toan Phuong closed the curtains, turned off the lights, and went to bed—but no matter how much he tossed and turned, he couldn't fall asleep. He ended up opening his phone and searching for Kieu Ly on Facebook and TikTok.