Chapter 36: A Hug From Behind
Early morning, in front of the homestay in Dong Van. The air was chilly and fresh, carrying the scent of morning dew and rocks. Two motorbikes were ready, the engines roaring loudly. But the atmosphere between the three people was completely different. There was no more awkwardness, only a comfortable intimacy, almost like that of a family.
Ngan looked fresh and energetic. She wore tight jeans and a leather jacket, looking both energetic and attractive. Tung and Minh both looked happy. The competition and torment of the past days were gone.
Their goal is to manifest the change in their motivation through the first physical act of the day. There is no conflict, this is a chapter of harmony.
Tung started the car. The engine roared loudly. Ngan stepped forward, but this time, she did not hesitate. She sat on the back of Tung’s car, naturally, as if that was the position that belonged to her. Instead of clinging to the iron rack like the day before, she proactively wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly, feeling the firmness of his abdominal muscles. Her entire upper body, especially her round, full breasts, pressed tightly against his broad, sturdy back, feeling every muscle tense up. The sound of skin rubbing gently.
Tung’s whole body stiffened for a second in surprise, a jolt of electricity running down his spine, then he quickly relaxed, enjoying the closeness. A sweet feeling of victory and possession spread throughout his body. He felt like he could take her to the ends of the world, without fear. Minh, who was starting the engine beside him, saw everything. He wasn’t jealous. He just grinned, glanced at Ngan over Tung’s shoulder and gave her a thumbs up, an approval, an acceptance.
Ngan laughed, burying her face in Tung’s back to avoid Minh’s gaze. The sharing agreement had been made public. They set off, a strange sight: a large man carrying a beautiful woman who was hugging her tightly, and another guy running beside her, escorting and watching, a new “family” had been formed.
On the legendary Ma Pi Leng pass, on one side is a steep cliff, on the other side is a deep abyss overlooking the blue Nho Que river. The scenery is both majestic and dangerous, like a reminder of the smallness of human beings.
They stopped at a bend that afforded a panoramic view. The wind was strong, carrying the chill of the mountains. Minh rode up beside them, the engine roaring.
Minh shouted through the wind. “TUNG! RIDE CAREFULLY! THE ROAD IS TOO BUMPY AND YOU WILL DAMAGE MY CAR!”
Tung, hearing this, burst out laughing, a hearty laugh that echoed through the mountains and forests. He shouted back, “THE GOOD GOODS ARE NOT EASILY DAMAGED, DON’T WORRY!”
Ngan, listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but laugh. She tightened her arms around Tung, leaned closer to his ear, but shouted loud enough for Minh to hear. “Rest assured! This product is very durable and well-maintained!”
The three of them laughed. The vulgar, raw banter, spoken openly in the wild, had erased every last boundary. They were no longer ashamed. They had become a tribe with their own language, shared secrets, and an unvarnished understanding, a bond deeper than any flowery words.
They stopped at a rocky outcrop jutting out from the cliff, a famous “virtual living” viewpoint. Below was a deep abyss, where the Nho Que River wound like a green silk ribbon. There were only the three of them, amidst the majestic sky and earth. The sound of the wind blowing wildly, the birds chirping, all blended together, creating a symphony of wildness.
While Tung was struggling with the camera to take pictures, Minh pulled Ngan’s hand, leading her to the end of the cliff, where the wind was blowing fiercely. Ngan’s voice was a little scared, a scream was carried away by the wind. “Are you crazy, it’s dangerous!” Minh didn’t answer, just squeezed her hand tightly.
He turned her around, facing him, her back to the abyss, a dangerous and provocative position. He looked deeply into her eyes for a second, his gaze full of desire, like a beast looking at its prey, then leaned down to kiss her. It was not a hasty, possessive kiss like before. It was deep, intense and passionate, a fusion of two wild souls. His lips pressed against hers, his tongue searching for hers, an instinctive invasion. The wet “chut chut” sound of lips touching lips. A kiss asserting sovereignty between heaven and earth, a wordless declaration.
Tung turned around and saw the scene. He stopped, still holding the camera. He didn’t look angry or jealous. He just stood there, silently watching his woman kissing his brother.
After they broke apart, Tung stepped forward. He didn’t say anything. He just put his arms around them, hugging them both from behind. A hug of acceptance, of a strange family.
The three of them stood there, embracing, on the edge of the abyss. It was a bizarre image, yet one of strangely powerful connection.