Chapter 45: Covenant of Nakedness
Dusk fell on the highway. Quan’s classic sedan glided smoothly, completely isolated from the hustle and bustle outside. The space inside the car was a separate, quiet world, filled only with the melodious instrumental music and the golden afternoon sunlight shining through the windows.
Quan focused on driving, but every now and then, his eyes would glance at the rearview mirror. He was observing his little “family”.
Minh sat in the passenger seat, no longer making any noise. He quietly looked out the window, but his ears were always perked up, not missing any movement in the back seat.
There, Tung sat as steady as a rock. His shoulder was the softest pillow.
Ngan was sleeping soundly on his shoulder. After the wild days, she looked so peaceful. Her delicate face no longer had any suspicion or defense, her lips were slightly parted, her breathing was gentle. One hand unconsciously grabbed the hem of Tung’s T-shirt, like a child seeking safety.
The air conditioner in the car was cold. Minh, sitting in the front seat, noticed Ngan shivering slightly in her sleep. Without saying a word, he gently took off his jacket, deftly turned around and covered her. Tung, sensing that action, just nodded slightly to Minh in thanks. He sat still as a statue, trying not to move even an inch, afraid of waking Ngan. Quan, observing everything through the mirror, also understood. He reached for a bottle of mineral water, without looking, and held it out behind him. Tung also did not need to look, reaching out to receive it precisely.
A symphony of wordless care. The competition had completely disappeared. They were no longer fighting over her. Together, they protected her sleep.
A long while later, Ngan stirred slightly and woke up. She opened her eyes, saw Minh’s coat draped over her, and smiled as she looked at the front seat. “Thank you.”
The atmosphere in the car was comfortably silent. Suddenly, Quan spoke, his voice calm but the question was extremely important.
“Ngan. Can I ask you a question?”
“You ask.”
Quan looked straight into the rearview mirror, his eyes meeting hers. “After all this… after Ha Giang… Are you still interested… in seeking new experiences with men other than us?”
The question hung in the air. Tung, who had been relaxing, tensed up a little. Minh also sat up straight. This was the question they both wanted to know but didn’t dare ask.
Ngan didn’t answer right away. She looked out the window, where the last rays of sunlight were fading. Then she turned back, looking straight at Quan in the rearview mirror. A mysterious smile played on her lips. She didn’t answer his question directly. She steered it in another direction, a much more intimate and naked direction.
“I wasn’t thinking about anyone else,” she said softly. She paused. “I was thinking… that night at the homestay, it was the first time… I didn’t make you use condoms.”
All three men froze. She looked into each man’s eyes, her voice filled with absolute conviction, an oath.
“And I realized… I only wanted that privilege… for the three of you.”
This answer is more powerful than any promise. It is not an emotional commitment, but a physical covenant, a biological trust. It turns their “tribe” into a closed ecosystem where there is no room for outsiders.
The silence was broken by Minh’s laughter.
“Fuck!” he burst out laughing, turning around. “Sister Nuoi! What you said makes me so… touched! Does that mean from now on we can go completely ‘free’ and shoot straight inside?”
Tung, his face red but his smile bright. “Speak softly! But… are you serious? Aren’t you afraid… of having a baby?”
Ngan laughed out loud, her voice teasing. “Really. I take medicine every day, so don’t worry. I’m just afraid you three won’t have enough strength to ‘irrigate’.” She patted Tung’s firm thighs. “If any of you wander around outside and bring me any illness, I’ll take a knife and castrate you, understand?”
Jun also laughed, shaking his head. “A covenant based on absolute biological trust. Interesting. This is a whole new definition of ‘family’.”
The car continued to move into the sunset, but the atmosphere inside had completely changed. It was filled with laughter, vulgar but friendly teasing.
The final covenant, the covenant of nakedness, has been sealed.
No more jealousy, no more possessiveness, just a weird “family”, happy in their own world, rushing off into the brilliant sunset.