The Prince and the Dress

Chapter 1

     The wind flowing through the leaves, the street lights dimly lit and the extremely deep alley. It's 11 o'clock now. I take a deep breath and try to pedal as fast as possible in order to get  home as soon as possible. Uncle Hai's dog had just noticed me and barked at me. That really scare me.

"Hey Duy Anh, hurry up, what's taking you so long? I have my film unfinished at home!"

     Even though it's cold outside, but my friend was sitting in the back of the bike holding on to my jacket, and shaking violently. It was nearly enough to have me spin the wheel. She keeps urging me to go faster although she knows that I'm riding so much that it's feels like I'm ripping my leg off. Thu and I have known each other since we were children. Each other's houses were barely a block apart. I just need to ride a bike for a while to come. We just had to study for the entrance exam that is just a few months away.

     But Thu's bike, in the other hand, is currently broken. Broken brakes, bent bike rims, broken pedals, punctured tires... To be honest, it is because she enjoys racing with these racing boys and racing girls in the school.

     "Stop it! If you keep shaking, I will let you down and let you walk to your home! I'm trying to be generous. Stop asking!"

     After hearing that, she sits still, yet she continues to murmur, indicating that she is so upset. I shake my head dissapontedly. The older she gets, the worse her personality becomes. The meek girl character has vanished.

     I stop at the 15th house, then take her off the bike. She dismounts and purses her lips as she tosses her short hair.

     "Where is my money for carrying you, my friend?"

     Palm upward, I sneer and look at her. She giggles, then scratch her head. I know that she doesn't have any money. If she does, she should take a motorbike taxi; it's even faster than I can carry her.

     She owes me a large sum of money. She owed me some money from one year to the next year. In short, she owes me three to four years. Now that I'm at her house so it's time for her to pay.

"Because of our friendship over the years, can you carry me for free this time?"

"Nope, you have bike pumping money and body nourishment money for me to transport you over 2 kilometers to home. You also owe me some noodle soups, rice paper mixes, and mango shakes as well. Pay it right away. Don't tell me you are not going to pay it."

"May I delay to pay your debts one more time?"

     I'm attempting to claim my money right now, but Thu has stated unequivoally that she will pay in next year. We both stand there, trying to persuade each other.

     Her parents show up a moment later to investigate as why she is talking so long . So I have to give up, say goodbye to her parents, then get back on my bike and ride home. I'm sure I've seen her smiling with delight because I have to return home without my money. 

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     Creakkkkkk...............

     The sound of an old iron gate echoing in the midnight at an alley in middle of Hai Phong. I take my bicycle home. My parents are sleeping so they cannot hear the creaking of the gate sound. Lock my bike carefully, then I go upstairs. I go to the bathroom and wash my face, which is covered in street dusts after some hours outside. Cold water runs through my hand, removing my drousiness. I wash my face with a wet washcloth to wake myself up. Looking at the mirror that was hung infront of me. The face in the mirror looked at me with deppressed eyes that were hard to put into words.