Part 59
Ch59. Agreement with the “Wolf”
There were still 2 days left until the Saturday night appointment with Chi’s wolf masked dance teacher. However, because they wanted him to increase the number of lessons, the couple went to the dance club early to wait. However, the meeting did not bring any good results. He saw the couple but walked past them indifferently. When Phuc ran after him to hold him back, he did not even bother to show any respect.
-What do you want?
-You know, I want you to increase the number of lessons to help my wife learn to dance quickly.
-No time.
-I will pay you 3 times more
. -Put your money away, I am not interested. If your wife still wants to learn, come here at 8:30 on Saturday night. If you continue to haggle, then don’t learn anymore.
His voice was gentle but extremely decisive. As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately turned away. Phuc also sighed in frustration, he was completely helpless with this cold-hearted man. Walking closer to Chi, he could only shake his head in frustration
– He doesn’t agree, even if he pays triple the price, he won’t bother.
– Never mind, husband, let’s go home first and ask him one last time on Saturday to see what he really wants.
– But tomorrow I’ll be back in Ho Chi Minh City for work, since Ngoc came here, things have been quite chaotic there.
– Yes, you can rest assured, I’ll handle this alone.
– Okay, let’s go home then, wife.
Seeing her husband off on his business trip, Chi waited until Saturday to go to that club again. This place became especially crowded on weekends, both the first and second floors were packed with people. Being alone in this place, with such a prominent figure, it was obvious that Chi was often bothered. The men with strange masks sometimes scared her to the point of trembling. It wasn’t until the man with the wolf mask walked over that she felt somewhat reassured.
-Have you been waiting for me long, can we start now?
-Not too long, yes, we can start now.
Just like last time, he gently held Chi’s hand and then glided to the music, leading Chi to dance rhythmically step by step. Chi kept her hand in his, paying attention to each step and listening carefully to the man’s instructions.
-That’s better, pay more attention to the fast and slow rhythms of the different beats, relax and let your whole body flow with the music. The rumba is coming soon, feel my body movements and eyes, think of the person you love while dancing.
-Yes, I understand.
The music started, they were close together, each step was graceful as her heart beat faster, not because of the excitement in the music but because of the breath close to her ear.
-Rumba, the dance of restraint and explosion, like a girl’s feelings, subtle at first but increasingly intense later. It originated from Latin America but because of its charm, it has now become a popular dance at parties in Europe.
His voice was gentle and seductive, leading both her steps and emotions to become floating.
-That’s right, relax and let your emotions lead the way, as if living with the most genuine desires and feelings.
The hands still held Chi’s waist properly, but each turn, each pull or even the eyes made her feel the closeness clearly. Nothing went beyond the limit, but she always felt something was a bit unusual.
-Are you nervous? Why?
-Just a little, no reason…I’m just trying to focus on the dance.
Chi pursed her lips, avoiding his direct gaze, and mumbled a reply. Through the mask, she felt like his mouth was mocking her before suddenly stopping.
-Your pounding heartbeat betrayed that you were lying, if you can’t be honest with your emotions, the dance will be stiff and lifeless, we shouldn’t continue. You should go home, that’s enough for today.
He said then resolutely turned away, leaving me standing there in the middle of everyone, stunned. I had a feeling that his last words weren’t just about the dance but had a deeper meaning. Then suddenly thinking that the main purpose of today hadn’t been achieved yet, I hurriedly ran after him.
-Hey, wait, I have something to ask.
-What’s the matter, say it quickly.
-It’s still the same thing my husband and I talked to you about last time, please increase the class time to help me learn to dance faster. I know your schedule is full, doing this seems like making things difficult for you. But please understand me, our work is urgent and important, so if possible, let me meet and negotiate with the other students.
-No need to meet, it’s useless.
-If you keep dancing mechanically and soullessly like that, even if you study every day, you won’t be able to improve.
-Sorry, I was a bit absent-minded, if given the chance, I promise to focus and try harder.
He looked at Chi again from beginning to end and then slowly spoke to her.
-Hearing you say that, you seem very determined, but how can I believe you when you’re not even honest with your own feelings.
-Sorry, I didn’t mean to, it’s just that when I stand too close to other men, I often feel shy. From now on, I won’t be like that anymore.
He was silent for a long time, his eyes behind the mask seemed to be examining every smallest movement on Chi’s face. Chi felt like she had made a mistake and was waiting for his punishment. Right at this moment, that gentle voice spoke again.
-Want to study every day? Maybe, but money alone isn’t enough.
Chi looked up, her heart slightly confused.
-So… what should I do?
-It’s very simple for others, but for someone who is not honest like you, it’s not certain, think carefully before agreeing.
His voice was calm but full of provocation, Chi couldn’t bear that kind of sarcasm so she said right away.
-Go ahead, as long as it’s not too much, I’ll agree immediately.
-Okay, if you want me to teach you, then you have to practice being honest. Be honest with yourself, with your feelings. I’ll ask, and you have to answer… no avoiding, no lying.
Chi hesitated, pursed her lips.
-Questions… about dancing only?
The corners of his lips curved slightly, forming an unpredictable smile.
-About emotions, vibrations or anything I see related to learning to dance. If you dare to face it, you will learn not only to dance… but also to let your body express itself in place of words.
In the sound of music echoing around the wooden floor, Chi felt her heart beat faster than usual. The condition was both strange and vague, but that fierce gaze left her with no way out.
-I… will try. I agree.
He nodded, briefly:
-Good. So from now on, every night at eight o’clock, you will be here. But remember… if you avoid me, just once, I will leave and will not come back.
Having said that, he turned away, leaving Chi standing there, bewildered in the middle of the crowd. She felt like she had signed an unsatisfactory agreement, her heart pounding, not understanding what those questions… would be.
But what else could she do, right now she really needed him, a cold freak with conditions like no other, she could only click her tongue.
-As long as he is still serious, the questions are not too excessive or too sensitive, then I will try.
Chi got home at almost 10 o’clock, it was just because her motorbike was stuffed too deep, it took nearly 15 minutes to get it out. She was rushing in, intending to go straight to Bin’s room to see if he had fallen asleep, but suddenly Mr. Danh opened the door and walked out.
-Hello, Dad, you’re still not asleep.
-Yes, I’m back from dance class, can I talk to you for a moment?
Sigh, finally this moment has come, even though Chi tried to avoid it, she still couldn’t escape. She just silently bowed her head, waiting for him to speak first.
-Go to Dad’s office.
Chi was startled, because that day he also said something similar, she stammered to refuse but he added.
-Do you want to talk in the living room?
It’s true, there’s still a nanny in the house, we can’t bring up difficult family matters and talk about them publicly. So I followed him again, but when it was just me and him left in the dark room, Chi’s heart started to beat loudly again, only when the light bulb was turned on could I calm down again.
-You’ve been avoiding me these days. Are you scared or do you hate me, Chi?
Mr. Danh spoke first, his voice calm but a little sad. He was right, these days Chi often found excuses to go to work early, when she came back she also sneaked up to the second floor, and even at mealtime she also found excuses to eat late. She did that to avoid seeing him, because every time like that, that sinful afternoon tormented her and made her unable to sleep. Now that he asked so directly, she honestly hadn’t had time to think of an answer.
Reading this in her eyes, Mr. Danh continued to speak.
– Dad knows he did something disgusting, he also has no right to ask you to forgive him. But please listen to dad’s heart, just once.
After saying that, he turned the photo of his wife on the table to show Chi. This wasn’t the first time Chi had seen his wife, her mother-in-law through photos, but this photo was the first time, and it gave a very different feeling. This was probably the first photo taken when Mr. Danh met her because at that time she was very young, as beautiful as a wildflower growing on the roadside. Her innocent, gentle features, not covered in dust, and her slender back, Chi felt somewhat similar to her. She touched the photo with her hand, her eyes looking at him in confusion. Mr. Danh looked back at her, still the same look as always, kind and filled with affection.
– Do you think she resembles you, the day you first entered the company and worked in the sales department? Among so many fake, pretentious people, you still stood out thanks to your simplicity, among compliments and polite smiles, you still kept your eyes filled with sincerity. Just like her, the day Dad went with the Radio Station’s reporting crew, with her taciturn appearance, everyone who looked at Dad was wary and distant. Only she dared to come close and give Dad a rare bit of gentleness, that’s why Dad chose to stay, hoping to be together forever, but… haizz.
He sighed sadly and then let himself fall on the chair, Chi also got his sadness and stood dejectedly beside him. Then he looked at her and continued speaking.
-It’s embarrassing to use that good image to justify shameful actions. But it’s been a long time since I couldn’t control myself because of someone. I know that no matter how many times I apologize, I can’t regain your respect and love. So I decided to move to the company office to live, to avoid making you uncomfortable when you see me at home. -Oh
…no, Dad, don’t go anywhere, I’m old and need someone to take care of me. Moreover, if I move to the company office, people will say nonsense, and when my husband asks, I don’t know how to answer.
Hearing him say he would move to the company, Chi was really confused. Partly because of love, she didn’t want to see him suffer, but also partly because of guilt for what happened that afternoon, it was her fault.
-That day’s incident… it’s not entirely dad’s fault, it’s because I dressed carelessly and wasn’t… resolute from the beginning. I can’t help but be at fault, so please don’t blame yourself and move out. Phuc really wants to live together to take care of dad, Bin also wants to be pampered and taught by grandpa regularly. Just from now on, we just need to be more careful in our daily activities, dad doesn’t need to go anywhere.
-So you’re not afraid or hate dad, right? From now on, you won’t avoid dad anymore.
Chi nodded, Mr. Danh smiled brightly like a child.
-Ha ha ha! Great, then dad won’t go anywhere, dad really wants to be with you every day… no, with his children and grandchildren.
The conversation ended happily here, Chi went to her room to sleep, feeling like she was being careless again, but deep down inside she was a little happy. In his office, Mr. Danh was quite satisfied because he had untied the knot in his daughter-in-law’s heart. More than ever, he wanted their relationship to return to normal.