Chapter 48: The Feeling of Loss
Foreign Trade University was notoriously hard to get into. Kieu Ly didn't just make it—she even earned a scholarship to study abroad. Duc and Nghia suddenly felt a pang of inadequacy. Compared to her, they were attending a lower-tier university and struggling with poor grades and unfinished courses.
Seeing the two freshmen sitting awkwardly without picking anything from the menu, Huong Tra reminded them:
"Hey, you two, go ahead and order something!"
To Tra, Duc and Nghia were well-mannered and gentle—kids who didn't party or mess around. But they were clearly lacking in social skills. Maybe it was because they had just moved to Hanoi—fresh-faced and inexperienced, not yet integrated into life in the big city or the neighborhood.
Duc nervously took the menu and started picking a dish. Nghia, meanwhile, smiled and said:
"You're really amazing, sis. The perfect role model."
"Soon I'll be off studying abroad. Tra will be staying here alone," Kieu Ly teased, tilting her head toward Huong Tra. "I'm counting on you two to look after her. Keep her safe, alright?"
Duc was so surprised he nearly dropped the menu.
"It's more like she'll be protecting us," he said sheepishly.
Tra was the easygoing, slightly tomboyish type. Since she was older, and Duc and Nghia were younger, they looked up to her like an older brother. Kieu Ly, although friendly, always kept a line drawn that made it hard to get close. Tra, on the other hand, was laid-back and approachable, which made her easier to talk to and tease.
Hearing Duc's honest response, Nghia chuckled and nudged his friend under the table, then added to lighten the mood:
"Don't worry, our room's right near the gate—we'll keep an eye on her for you."
After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms. A quiet sadness suddenly washed over Huong Tra. Back when she had first moved to Hanoi, feeling lost and alone, she was lucky to end up living with Kieu Ly. They went everywhere together, did everything side by side. That companionship helped her survive the loneliness of being far from family and adapt to a new life.
Now that Kieu Ly was going abroad, even though it was a great opportunity, Tra couldn't help but feel like she was losing something dear.
Sensing Tra's gloom, Kieu Ly tried to comfort her:
"What's with that face? You look like you just lost your food ration card or something. I'm only gone for a year—I'll be back selling clothes as your model in no time."
That made Tra realize she'd be missing a model for a whole year, and she groaned:
"I'm doomed. No model for a year—my online store is going to flop hard."
Kieu Ly smirked and tilted her head toward the next room, suggesting:
"What about Hong? She's tall and has that cool, stoic look. Ask her to model. Who knows, she might be hotter than me."