For a child as young as twelve years old, depression was something too foreign. At the age of twelve, the age of still having fun, still burying themselves in new things in life, still living with aimless anger. Depression, what is it? Manh Tuan asked himself. He stood in the living room, his head bowed low. The word "depression" was so foreign to him. Mrs. Linh sighed and put the laptop on her lap. She didn't know why her son asked her that question. She also doesn't know who is showing signs of depression in her son's words, but one thing is for sure, that person is very important to Le Manh Tuan. There were many names in my head, male and female, but really, she couldn't think of anyone. Could it be a... Mrs. Linh shook her head a few times. Whoever it was, she didn't expect that the person her son mentioned was the person she was thinking about in her head.
- Actually, it's not that serious. Sometimes, lack of sleep and overwork can also cause such states. I think the person you are referring to is just working too hard. You should tell that person to rest a lot.
Manh Tuan said nothing more. He bowed to his mother and went upstairs to the room. In the room alone, Tuan fell to the ground. Depression... depression... In his head, he kept repeating the word over and over. He reached for his phone, unlocked it, and went online. His phone screen lit up with an image of a girl holding a peach-shaped stuffed animal, smiling brightly. Tuan looked at the girl on his phone screen. How long had he not seen this smile? In fact, he also had a bit of nostalgia.
Entering the word "depression" in the search bar, a series of results appeared before his eyes. Tuan's thumb flicked through a few pages of newspapers, stopping at a page about health. When he clicked, an online article appeared first. Manh Tuan quickly rolled his eyes, reading the words written on it quickly.
"Depression is a mental illness compared to the dysfunction of the brain caused by depression."
...
"Gradually losing focus and positive thinking."
...
"Experiencing a traumatic crisis event."
...
"People with depression will often think about death five to seven times a week."
Tuan's gaze stopped. Can depression lead to death? Will Bich Quyen die? His breathing was heavy as if someone was clutching his lungs tightly, preventing air from entering. The thought that Bich Quyen would die made him not dare to look at the phone anymore. Manh Tuan tossed the phone to the corner of the bed, crouched, and buried his head in his arms. Is the reason she has depression or is it because of what's happening at school? Because of being bullied and isolated, that's why she is like that, right?
He looked down at his hands, seeing them shaking. He once told her, no matter what happens, don't bear it alone. Besides her, there was him, and there were other family members. Everyone loves her so much, that no one will leave her alone. But what now? Manh Tuan looked at the mirror in the corner of the room. He was the one who gave her a shoulder to lean on, and it was he who abandoned her, leaving her to bear everything alone without help. All he did was just stand there, watching her being bullied, even though he was the one to cut off the friendship between the two.
But, something seems to pass through Manh Tuan's head. Maybe Bich Quyen isn't depressed, it's just that she's so tired. That's why she's like that. He stood up, a glint of light in his dim eyes. That's right, his mother said just now, maybe it was just because she worked too much, so she was tired. He looked at the calendar on the table. Tomorrow is Bich Quyen's birthday?
Every year on this day, he prepares a gift for her and then gives it to her. When Bich Quyen receives the gift, she will be happy, telling Tuan that she wants him to stay until she opens the gift. This, it seems, has become a special ritual that the two have for each other. But this year, things have not been the same. He picked up the desk calendar and stared at the number nine circled in red pen. Every year, when Tuan changes the calendar, he will marks important days again, including Bich Quyen's birthday. Although Manh Tuan himself said that he and she would no longer be friends, it seems that everything related to her had already become his habit.
- What am I trying to give her?
He asked himself, closing his eyes. The things that happened between the two of them seemed to have left a void that could no longer be filled. But Manh Tuan still wanted it. He would give her a gift. Thinking of that, he quickly changed into his uniform, took his wallet, and ran downstairs. Mrs. Linh was still asking him where he wanted to go when Tuan's back disappeared behind the door. She looked back at her phone, the corners of her lips curling slightly into a smile. It seems like he will go out and buy a birthday gift for Bich Quyen. She also thought Tuan wouldn't remember that tomorrow is her birthday.
The weather in August is not too hot, to say the least. The gentle autumn winds blow on people, making people more or less comfortable. Manh Tuan rode his bicycle on a wide road, still wondering if he should give Quyen something for his birthday.
Suddenly, Manh Tuan stopped at a small jewellery store on the side of the road. Originally, he had no intention of entering here, but something seemed to ring in his ears, telling him that there was something in there that he was looking for.
Inside the store, the jewellery was beautifully displayed. Manh Tuan walked slowly, step by step, going to each glass cabinet one by one, slowing his steps to look at the items inside. Suddenly, he stopped in front of an unattractive glass case, inside of which was a silver bracelet. The bracelet was really simple, the only thing that stood out was a pretty pink peach hanging underneath. Among the jewellery displayed in the store, each with a unique and beautiful design, this bracelet is strangely simple. But that's why Manh Tuan paid attention to it. Because the peach is hung on the bracelet, and also because this bracelet is like Dang Bich Quyen. Even if she was in the crowd, he would always recognise her.
When the saleswoman noticed him standing near the glass cabinet, she approached him and asked if he needed assistance.
- Sister, how does this bracelet sell?
Manh Tuan turned his head to look at the saleswoman; his finger pointed at the peach-shaped silver bracelet in the glass cabinet. The saleswoman looked in his direction, smiling.
- That bracelet is not sold separately. It comes in a four-piece jewellery set. The price of that piece of jewellery is five hundred thousand.
When he finished listening, his hand subconsciously touched the wallet inside his pocket. Five hundred thousand for a four-piece jewellery set? It was also not too expensive.
- Can you show me all four of those jewels?
He asked a small The saleswoman nodded. She led him to the reception desk, then took out a jewellery set of bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings and placed them on the table. The design of these jewellery pieces is really simple. Their only highlight is the pink peach attached. It turned out that the bracelet placed in the glass cabinet was just a display item.
- This jewellery set is not very attractive to buyers because it is so simple.
The saleswoman said nonchalantly. In fact, Manh Tuan also understands why it is not bought by many people. Because the design is simple, it does not stand out among the other expensive jewellery in the store.
- Does this jewellery have a name?
- Yes, it has. This jewellery set is called "Prusnus Persi".
Manh Tuan has heard of the name "Prunus Persi" before. It is the name of a peach-flavoured brandy that Tuan's father once mentioned when he took the whole family to the restaurant where he worked. Suddenly, Tuan laughed lightly. He doesn't know why, but he feels that the name "Prunus Persi" suits Bich Quyen very well.
For Manh Tuan, Bich Quyen is this "Prunus Persi" wine. It is often said that alcoholism is not a good thing. It will make the body increasingly weak and prone to stomach diseases, but for alcoholics, this drink is like a disease. Sweet, irreplaceable.
His relationship with Bich Quyen is like that of an alcoholic with the high-grade peach liqueur "Prunus Persi". Although he knows nothing good will come from getting closer to her, the more he will receive pain, Tuan can't stop himself from caring about Quyen. Her attraction to him was like the sweet peach scent of "Prunus Persi". By the time he realised it, he had become addicted to that peach scent and could not go back.