LOVING AN IMPERFECT PERSON

BAO QUYEN HA '23

Han has a strong personality, so sometimes the ordinary person who has to give way in all arguments and anger is him. He is gentle, quiet, and to him, the most important thing in life is to be loved and to be with her.

They have been married for two years. It's not a long but meaningful journey with happiness and sadness, love and anger like newlyweds.

Billy likes literature, often spends his time composing. His works are posted on the net but do not attract many readers. He also has another passion for photography. He often takes wedding photos for young couples.

He loved her, loved so much.

So is she. Today, she returned home with a stormy day:

– Why don't you accept photos for my friend's wedding? She promised to pay.

– That day, I don't have time.

– Really?

– Yeah!

– There is no time. So you can take a break from writing that other novel and have as much time as you want.

– I know you might think I'm wasting my time. But I believe that one day people will know.

– I don't care. Anyway, I want you to take her wedding photos!

– I'm sorry. I'm really busy.

– Just this once, okay?

– I can't.

Negotiation failed. She still refused to accept the signal and sent him a message, “You have 3 days to accept my offer, or else…”.

His stubbornness and attitude made her think that she had to do everything to make him submit.

On the first day, she did not go to the kitchen, did not prepare dinner, did not watch movies, did not speak to him even a single sentence to show him her objection. But she still slept in the bed with him. He did not care much because there was still enough money in his wallet to "maintain" life for a few more days.

On the second day, she reacted more strongly to a "surprise attack" by freezing everything in her husband's wallet and warning, "If you seek help from outside, you will have to receive unexpected consequences, okay?".

He is worried and tired of his wife's reaction. That night, before he went to bed, he softly begs her to let it go and hopes everything would go back to the way it was. She is determined not to give up, unless he accepts her will.

Then came Tuesday night, the due date she set. Things are moving away from the original intention of just being stubborn with him. Both of them were lying on the bed, but each of them looked at each other in a different way. Not a word for when he spoke:

– We need to talk.

– Unless it's a matter of wedding photography. Otherwise I don't want to listen.

– This is more important.

She remained silent.

He continued:

- We should get a divorce

She couldn't believe her ears, couldn't believe what she had just heard.

– I met another girl.

She was really shocked and angry, and wanted to scream at him, but for a moment she held back her emotions, so that he could say all the words. But her eyes were blurred. He took out a photograph from his pocket. The photo was placed in her purse inside her coat, the only place she had left unchecked yesterday. She was careless.

- She is a wonderful woman

Tears wet the pillow, she silently cried.

– She is also a woman of personality and sympathy.

Her heart was hurt, broken because he had kept a picture of another girl closest to his heart.

– She said she will always be a gentle shore and support him to pursue his passion for literature after they get married.

Those two people are still planning to marry each other. Her heart ached. She was jealous because she had said the same thing to him in the past.

– She truly loves him and loves him because he is who he is, for what he is.

She was angry, in pain, and just wanted to scream loudly at him, "So what about me?".

– I think she won't force me to do what I really don't want.

She thought quietly, but couldn't contain her anger.

– Do… do you want to see the pictures I took for her?

– …!

He showed that girl's picture in front of her. She was angry and in great pain. The only thing she could do was to push his hand away and in an instant she couldn't stand it and slapped him.

He sighed, sadly. She cried.

He put the photos into wallet. She pulled her hand back, clutching it so he wouldn't see her trembling hand.

The lamp was off, he slept in silence. She turned on the lights, sat up. He slept. She could not open her eyes. She regretted what she had done to him.

She cried and thought about many things between the two of them. She wanted to wake him up. She wanted to talk to him, and wanted to talk a lot. She wanted to say that she would not force him to do as she pleased. She watched him sleep and when she calmed down again she wanted to see pictures of that girl.

She gently took out his wallet and looked at the photo. She wanted to cry and also wanted to laugh. The photo was very beautiful. The picture he took of her the first day they met. She gently put the photo back where it was, the place closest to his heart, and kissed him lightly on the lips.

He smiled. He was just pretending to sleep.

"You learn to love not by finding the perfect person, but by loving the perfection of someone less than perfect."

LITTLE THINGS