Chapter 2
Honor ceremony
At 8:00 pm on October 31, journalists, media and thousands of fans gathered at the National Airport to welcome the glorious athlete back, in name, they welcomed the delegation but in fact they warmly "cared for" the national hero Hoang Kim.
All members are ignored making some people jealous, they sweated, shed tears, even bleed, to win glory for the motherland, and finally had to make a faint shadow for their teammates to shine.
Sports value the promotion of fairness, and they suffer unfair treatment for the cause they devoted their youth to. The press sings the chorus of solidarity is strength, and the media clamors that everyone is for one and one is for everyone. Throngs of frenzied fans lauded the achievements of all the athletes above the virtual world.
In fact contrary to all the fake acclamation, from the media to the press, Hoang Kim is regarded as the chicken that lays the golden egg for them to fight for.
Crazy fans are mostly fangirl of national crush who want to give birth on the internet for their dream lover every day. Touching hands, to touch faces in real life, girls ovulate anytime, anywhere, screaming like crazy, clinging to Hoang Kim to find an excuse to get an autograph, hoping to get caught on television. Many girls violently pushed the bodyguard around Hoang Kim, and the bodyguard team spread their arms to prevent it.
The champion smiled softly, he said to temporarily relax the protection, the crazy fans were overjoyed, and put their arms on Hoang Kim's shoulders to take the opportunity to take a photo, they pout their red lips and kissed the hero's cheek.
The rioting scene seems like the hero is about to be pressed down, and only the fangirl knows what the action is for. After a period of pushing each other, the vultures have the opportunity to tear and peck the corpse of the prey:
"Can you tell us how you feel right now?"
"Who do you want to send victory to?"
"Female fans here and across the country want to know do you have a girlfriend? What's the ideal type of girlfriend?"
Hearing the last question, fangirl didn't blush but shouted excitedly:
- Hoang Kim, has your mother recruited a daughter in law yet?
- Hoang Kim, I want to be your bride!
- I love you, Hoang Kim!
The jealousy people with itchy eyes looked at Hoang Kim friendly smile. The national hero slowly answered each question:
- I want to dedicate this joy to all true fans, especially the gold medal to my mother! - He turned to the camera and put his hand on the national flag on his chest - Mother, I love you! Thank you everyone!
He avoids personal matters, but still keeps hearing the age-old question:
"Mr, do you have a girlfriend? If not, when are you going on a date?"
The reporter hasn't asked the ideal girlfriend yet, Hoang Kim smiles friendly:
- Did everyone forget that I have a wife?
Fangirl and the vulture say chaos:
"Your wife is from Hexagon country, not Prehistoric!"
- You have the merit of protecting Hexagon queen two years ago, queen allowed you to marry a second time. You can marry any Prehistoric or Hexagon girl!
- Two years ago you got married for gratitude, not love!
Hoang Kim burst out laughing at the comedy show, he answered succinctly:
- My girlfriend is track and field!
Everyone oh wow at the ingenious answer. Vultures and crazy fans cling Hoang Kim. He got into the car, exhale, loosened his tie, leaned back on the chair, and looked down line of people running after double decker bus. A teammate sits next to it and nudges his shoulder, joking:
- What's up, did the national hero choose any girl from the fangirl association?
Hoang Kim smiles:
- My girlfriend's name is Athletics!
Everyone was laughing out loud and teasing each other. Hoang Kim did not answer. He bend down the road and watches the street scene running back through the glass windows.
The architecture of this city is more in sharp contrast than water and fire, on the left - place Hoang Kim observed is a row of traditional houses with three rooms and two wings, the rustic and simple appearance is familiar to people in the country.
Foreign tourists visiting for the first time, people from other cultures mistakenly believe that the house is stained with time, each roof curved like the roof of a boat is... a temple.
The complex of "communal house and temples" is engraved with winding patterns of waves, water, clouds, and heaven on the wooden doors. The pure black wood will fade with the passage of time, forming white-gray stains for a long time, covering the melancholic color in the silent space.
Looming over the dismal exterior, somewhere there was a smell of damp musty green moss clinging to the walls of the house. These parasites divide the swarm into two groups to invade the surrounding space. A row of lanterns hung along the alley, casting an indistinct light, he could see blue-gray kitchen smoke rising high.
Hoang Kim closed his eyes and inhaled the faint aroma of burning agarwood, the mellow scent mixing with the fragrant grapefruit peel burned by the crackling fire of the stove. The living habit has been kept ancient, that is, people in the old city use firewood and agarwood to light stoves in the alleys, and pile grapefruit peels on top to remove poisonous gases.
The heat from the fire grills the skewers until golden brown greasy secretions brimming with fat, cooking to a rolling boil each pot of stewed bones yields a richness of sweet water. Hoang Kim appetite so greedy that his mouth was watering. He trains and competes frequently, following an athlete's diet, unable to sip his favorite dishes.
Hoang Kim clicks his tongue, watching people eating food customers on the sidewalk. Many newcomers who have just arrived for the first time frown, and the diners are uncomfortable because the fragrant oily smell is mixed with and damp musty smell in the alley.
The mentality of liking clean and hating dirty disappears with longtime patrons. Hoang Kim was no exception. At first he felt very uncomfortable, but for a long time he became addicted to the strong smell. He knew the smell would be stronger if it wasn't burned by the heat of the fire.
The fire burns reduced the green moss on the upper wing, but it could not stop this powerful army from dyeing the walls green and climbing up to the roof. They clung to the yin-yang tile roof.
Parasites helplessly dirty the tiles that are sparkling and beautiful like glass jade. Over the years, bright colors accompany the old mossy streets. Quiet people like Hoang Kim like quiet peaceful scenes.
Those who like bustle will like the splendid street across from the old house, the appearance of the block is as luxurious and charming as a modern princess. The princess has countless different shapes, all kinds, with chaotic and inconsistent structures, and there are spire-shaped of skyscrapers standing tall like gods everywhere.
Each tower is lit up, and when viewed from a distance it looks like a phoenix dancing in the vast sky and earth. Under these huge shadows are some fourth grade houses sitting in a dark corner, the owners are so poor that they ignore the brick walls with peeling lime mortar, the dark grey tile roof, broken bricks mixed with healthy bricks, and the dilapidated doors want to pop off the hinges, this miserable look is considered a disgrace to the busy and bustling street life.
People come and go on the flashy streets, and each pair of lovers separates themselves from the crowd and enters the fashion stores. Inside and out, the best clothes are displayed on mannequins.
The girls concentrated their selections, and the models turned gently, female customers smile with narrowed eyes watch the at the mannequin fluttering to the max speaker music at the dance hall and the bar next door.
Howls and stampings collided on the dance floor, and the noisy sounds rioted the streets day and night. The commotion sound combined with the stage lighting system to rotate continuously, and the faint five-color lights shone on the faces of sexual desire.
A bunch of drug-addicted men and women hugged, twisted and danced erotically, estrus, groped and touched like there was no one there. Slutty girls groan in their lover's arms, their dull eyes immediately sparkle as someone shouts:
- Hoang Kim will attend the honor ceremony at the lobby of Fame Hotel.
All the girls shouted loudly with excitement, simultaneously pushing the hand of their lover who was groping for private place, and then no one told anyone, they rushed into the street in a race to rush back to the hotel. The piece of food in the mouth was still falling from the mouth, and the boyfriends angrily dug up the eighteen generations of the Hoang Kim and cursed:
- Hoang Kim's dog bitch mother!
- Dad will kill you, Hoang Kim dog!
***
Fame is one of the largest hotels on the planet, exceeding all strict international requirements. The hotel has 30 floors, each with its own standard, the lower floors are affordable rooms, and each upper floor has an ascending level corresponding to social status.
The facilities of the rooms on each floor are clearly differentiated, the higher the floor, the more modern and expensive. Most of the guests are various rich people, powerful people, nobles, entertainment stars. Everyone wearing globally famous brands gathered in the lobby to wait for Hoang Kim.
There was a bunch of schoolgirls hold paper and pens outside the hotel. Blue-eyed girls with red beaks clutched phones and colorfully dyed hair. All vying for a vantage point. On the other side are reporters and radio stations who brought the cameras, holding cameras and preparing for work.
Surrounded by a team of bodyguards watching carefully. In the middle of the crowd, the organizers of the honor ceremony set up two rows of light stone lamps from the afternoon, and the blue light reflected the red carpet extending from the hall to the main road.
Ambushed hours ago, waiting "tired", finally target appeared, double decker bus emerge in the distance. Everyone was better than winning the lottery, fangirl yelled love confession as usual, the media panned the camera, took pictures continuously even before the car arrived, flash lights lit up the street.
The bus slowed down and stopped in front of the hotel, and the bodyguards quickly escorted the group into the lobby. TV reporter congratulations to the national players on their high achievement. Hoang Kim was the last person to get out of the car. As soon as he appeared, the space resounded with fangirl cheers:
- Hoang Kim, Hoang Kim!
- I Love You!
- Hoang Kim, please sign my shirt chest!
Faster than usual, the camera lens and cameras turn toward the prey they want to hunt. Hoang Kim smiled in response to "warm affection" from all directions, he stopped a few times, took a few selfies with fans, not refusing to sign autographs for anyone.
The girl wanted to sign on the shirt chest and pretended to be shy. She slightly arched her huge chest in front of him. Hoang Kim had faced this situation several times and became familiar with it, he tried not to laugh, held the pen, and then slid it lightly.
The girl took the pen from Idol and looked up at Idol entering the hotel. The girls who missed the opportunity to take a photo with their national crush felt sorry, and stood on tiptoe to see the idol silhouette.
Some comrades hide their jealousy in their hearts. The guy with jagged bangs and crew cut had a strong body, big ears, a long face, and high cheekbones. Whenever his thin lips raised in a "playful smile", his dark circles flashed with a playful look:
- You take all the fame, why am I still continuing this bleak career, tomorrow I retire and return to homeland chasing chickens for my wife!
National team athletes has a square face, crew cut, sideburns close to the chin, and skin that doesn't get sunburned is every girl's dream, fangirls are jealous of skin that challenges the weather, and like to be obsessed with masculine beauty.
Hot boys smile radiating sunshine makes them ecstatic. Whenever signing autographs for fans, the single eyelid disappears under a heart-melting smile. He is Truong Xuan, although he is not among the fastest in the track and field team, the most handsome and humorous:
- Tom "Farm" don't you know, you go without a word, your wife has a guy chasing chickens for a long time! The captain of the national track and field team is too bitter!
The captain's name is Tom Pham and in addition to athletics he is the owner of the largest livestock farm and seafood operation in the Western Province. Such a special background, therefore often teammates jokingly parody the surname Pham as Farm, he sullenly, frowned lamented:
- So rough, don't you tenderly love me?
- Ask stupid. - Truong Xuan smiled and said some bitter words - Of course not!
The muddy fraternity burst into laughter. They are the most courageous, capable athletes, with the thickness of their faces equal to countless victories resounding on the international stage, no one was worried that the press would cook up this joke into a foul-smelling hotpot. Teasing each other all the time, when it was time for the honor ceremony, the teams of athletes fine-tuned their uniforms and sat around the banquet table.
JK - Head of the Ceremony Organizing Committee, celebrities and powerful people happily shook hands to congratulate each member, the last one was Hoang Kim, he could hardly remember how many praises and compliments he received, many beauties in the showbiz world were obsessed with Hoang Kim and flirted with him.
- From the past until now, I only watched it through the screen, but today I can see that the TV only conveys a handsome corner of you!
The girl wore a short red dress that couldn't be any shorter, showing off her round, plump thigh, smiling and swaying coquettishly:
- I heard that being an athlete girlfriend will not be happy, because you have to love far. But for me, waiting is happiness!
The girls sprinkled a bunch of spring rolls in Hoang Kim's mouth, hoping he would take the bait, and the main character of the ceremony joked with his teammates:
- My Athletics girlfriend is beautiful but not jealous. How lucky, I don't have to coax her all night!
The audience laughed in the hall. The cheeky girls laughed and said to their prey, JK waits for the laughter to subside before shaking hands with Hoang Kim:
- It's going to be fun tonight, enjoy slowly, national hero!
JK say hidden words and then went on a stage filled with flower lights, the person in charge adjusted the microphone on his ear, and he began by honoring the athletes:
- Welcome all ladies and gentlemen, athletes. I am JK, the head of the honor ceremony organizers, and on behalf of the people of the country, I would like to express my congratulations and sincere gratitude to the heroes for bringing glory to the country. They fought with tenacious spirit, sweat and blood. Thank you! We admire and are proud of athletes!
Everyone applauds JK. Responsible person smiles and invites every athlete:
- Yes, athletes are invited to confide in audiences across the country!
The athletes took turns speaking, after a few people, it was Hoang Kim's turn. He greeted the venue and took the microphone from JK's hand:
- First of all, I would like to say hello to everyone here and in the TV audience. I am a national track and field athlete, Hoang Kim. We are honored to participate in this honor ceremony and thank you for your love for track and field and the sports of our country. Your encouragement, inspiration and support are the greatest motivation for all athletes to bring glory to the country!
Hoang Kim proudly turned to his teammates:
- Without teammates standing shoulder to shoulder, without the love of fans, I or anyone can't win, this is what we all achieved!
Applause resounded throughout the hall, Hoang Kim bowed to the TV cameras, thanking viewers across the country, he gave up the stage to JK, the person in charge smiled:
- We held a small party to commemorate the victory. The celebration party officially begins. Happy everyone!
The hotel staff turned off all the lights and instead lit the lantern racks that filled the lobby ceiling. A team of instrumentalist plays the national anthem, everyone and the athletes placed their hands on their left chests and sang along with the music.
After foreplay ends, instrumentalist team play a quiet song with a classical sound, the guests stood up and danced, most beauties choose athletes as their dance partners. Hoang Kim received the most invitations, he smiled and refused:
- Sorry, I honestly don't know how to dance!
showbiz girls try to save their hopes by speaking out:
- I will teach you!
JK signaled the waitress to come and rescue him. She obeyed the master's order, carrying a tray with an open bottle of wine on it, and walked past Hoang Kim, pretending to drop it and spill the wine all over him.
- What are you doing?
- Apologize to him quickly!
The girl was confused and took out a towel to wipe it for Hoang Kim:
- Sorry! I'll do your laundry and compensate you for another outfit!
Hoang Kim waved his hand and said not to feel guilty, and then left the hall. The girls who were entertaining were frustrated by the loss of their prey and frowned at Hoang Kim's shadow disappearing at the back of the corridor.
Hoang Kim went to the bathroom to clean the dirty wine stains on the national flag stuck to his shirt. He didn't notice the smoke coming in from outside the door, inhaled the smoke and suddenly felt dizzy, but he immediately returned to normal. He went out and saw Anh Dao waiting with a man, she bowed and said:
- Mr, this man's daughter is your fan. Little girl with terminal cancer wants to meet her idol!
- Honestly I don't want to bother you, my daughter is about to be unbearable. I rent a lounge here from the afternoon, please meet my daughter!
He handed the phone to Hoang Kim, and the screen showed a video of a father weeping silently on his daughter's hospital bed. JK used to help fan meet Hoang Kim in a similar situation. He nodded and agreed to grant the little girl's wish. But there were many people around the gate. Hoang Kim was confused, Anh Dao said:
- The hotel basement has a way to the city. I called the person who prepared the car.
She handed him the suit and face mask, Hoang Kim went to the bathroom to change, put on the face mask and followed the two to the basement. Blonde girl pointed to the black car parked near the elevator, everyone got on the car quickly.
Hoang Kim called his teammates and his mother, asking to lie to the media about his sneaking away. Anh Dao glanced at him through the rearview mirror and launched the car out of the tunnel.