The days that followed passed quickly in the year-end rush. On the afternoon of the 27th Lunar Day, Nga returned to her hometown.

Thiên decided to leave the City at 3 AM on the 28th Lunar Day. He drove himself, loading the Tết gifts he and Nga had bought into the trunk, carrying both excitement and a faint heaviness in his chest.

Dawn at the familiar seaside welcomed him with bone-chilling winds and the salty scent of the ocean. Thiên arrived home just as the early morning mist still lingered.

His father, a quiet fisherman, was sitting on the front porch sipping a cup of hot black coffee.

"You're back? How many days will you stay?" his father asked, his voice gravelly.

"Yes. The project wrapped up early so I came home. I'll stay until the third day of Tết, then return to the City," Thiên replied.

His mother stepped out from the kitchen. She looked at him with loving but hurried eyes.

"You're back, then go rest. Your brother, Hải, is still sleeping in his room. Leave the gifts there, I'll sort them later."

Thiên understood. His mother's affection had always leaned more toward Hải, his younger brother by three years. That difference built an invisible wall—one that made him feel quietly lonely in his own home.

On New Year's Eve, his father watched TV, Hải was absorbed in his phone, while Thiên busied himself in the kitchen helping his mother. She enthusiastically talked about Hải, about how everyone praised him and how people were matchmaking him with wonderful girls. Thiên listened—familiar, yet still a little hollow—because he was waiting for her to ask about him.

Thiên eventually stepped out to the beach, staring at the gentle waves rolling in the distance. He stood there in the freezing wind and the sound of the tide. Fireworks were lighting up the city far away, but all he felt was a hollow, icy emptiness. He closed his eyes, inhaling the scent of the sea.

Just then, his phone screen lit up. A call from Nga.

Thiên hurried off the cold sand back toward the house, answering while still looking out at the ocean.

Nga (laughing brightly): "Chúc mừng năm mới! Happy New Year!"

Thiên (trying to sound cheerful): "Happy New Year. You're probably enjoying a wonderful Tết back home—I'm jealous."

Nga: "I'm busy preparing offerings for the Giao Thừa ceremony. Oh, is Tết with your family fun? Did they like the gifts?"

Thiên (his voice softening, carrying loneliness): "It's... pretty normal here. But they loved the gifts you picked."

Nga (immediately sensing something off): "You only come back once a year. Don't rush back to the City—stay a bit longer. Like me, I don't even want to return to work right now."

Thiên (responding instantly, as if clinging to a lifeline): "I've been visiting relatives. I'll head back to the City after the third day and... on the fourth day, I'll visit your family for Tết."

Hearing his tone, Nga didn't press further, knowing something was weighing on him.

Nga: "Alright then. I already told everyone about you. A super kind close friend of mine will be visiting. Don't worry, everyone's excited to meet you."

Emotion swelled in him; he fell silent.

"I... I don't even know what to say," Thiên murmured, his voice unsteady from both emotion and cold. "Why do I feel both nervous and happy?"

"Haha, don't worry about anything. My family is very friendly. Oh—my mom's calling. Bye bye! Happy New Year!" Nga said, her voice warm and gentle.

After the call, something inside Thiên shifted. The loneliness by the sea melted away, replaced by anticipation. The three days of Tết passed quickly.

On the evening of the third day of Tết, he prepared to leave. His mother suddenly rushed out with a small styrofoam box.

"Dried fish, squid, shrimp... I had people clean and pack everything. Take it to the City, eat it little by little. Work is busy, but you still need to eat properly," she said, her tone firm but eyes quietly tender.

Thiên looked at the box of seafood. This was her unspoken way of expressing love.

"Thank you, Mom. Take care of yourself. I'm heading out now."

He gave her a quick hug, then got into the car, leaving behind the cold wind and the invisible distance.

Returning to the City at 9 PM, he unpacked everything and took out a small gift box from his jacket. He placed it gently beside his bed, smiling before falling asleep.

On the morning of the fourth day, he went to a shopping mall to buy Tết gifts again: flowers, fruit, traditional sweets, bird's nest tonic, coffee... He also bought a handcrafted wooden Chinese-chess set (Cờ tướng) and a silk scarf.

With everything ready, Thiên drove toward Nga's hometown.

Thiên (Voice message): "I'm on the way. I'll be there in about an hour and twenty minutes."

He left the City behind. This time, he didn't bring loneliness or work stress—only excitement, a small gift box, and Nga's heartfelt invitation. He felt a new, uplifting energy, as if this trip was a journey back to himself... to a place that might finally feel like "home."

As his car turned into the village road, Thiên slowed down. Nga's house appeared: a simple one-story home (Nhà cấp 4) with soft white-pink walls, a large front yard, and lush green gardens surrounding it, creating an atmosphere of warmth and peace—so different from the chaotic City.

*Glossary – Vietnamese Cultural Terms

Âm lịch (Lunar calendar):
Vietnam follows both the Gregorian calendar and the traditional lunar calendar for holidays, especially Tết.

Tết / Tet:
Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The biggest holiday of the year, focused on family reunions, ancestral worship, celebration, and visiting relatives.

Mùng 1 / 2 / 3 / 4:
The first, second, third, and fourth days of Tet. Each day has traditional activities such as visiting relatives (chúc Tết), giving lucky money, and gatherings.

Mâm cúng (Offering tray):
A ceremonial tray with food, fruit, incense, and symbolic items used for worship during Tet, especially on New Year's Eve.

Chúc Tết:
The tradition of visiting relatives and wishing them good fortune for the new year.

Cờ tướng (Chinese chess):
A traditional strategic board game popular among Vietnamese families, especially during Tet.

Nhà cấp 4:
A simple one-story rural house, typically with a spacious yard and garden.