Dreamy Eyes In A Dream is a creative writing product based on the original work - Dreamy Eyes (Mắt Biếc) by writer Nguyen Nhat Anh.
The writing won the 4th prize in the creative writing contest: Flying Into The World of Nguyen Nhat Anh - which organized by Tre Publishing House.
"But my dear Tra Long, I still believe that, anyway, you won't cry, you won't cry, will you?"
-Oh! Tra Long! My poor Tra Long
-Hey kid, get up! Stop dozing off and whispering a girl's name. Is she your sweetheart in the countryside? That's cute!
I dreamily woke up from a young man's pat on the shoulder. I didn't know whether I was still sleepy after the long ride or if the man called me "kid." However, I ignored that thought and struggled to collect my luggage. As I turned sideways, I suddenly saw the image of my face reflected on the train window. My heart stopped beating for a few seconds. I was startled and dropped the book in my hand. I didn't understand why I saw my figure in tenth grade on the window.
Although my mood was a little chaotic, I tried to stay calm. I slowly got off the train, caught my breath, rolled my eyes, and looked around. The buildings, the colorful electrical panels, and the scenery around me were strangely familiar. I wasn't crazy to say that I had already walked through it almost twenty years ago. I started walking and followed the routine towards Uncle Huan's house. He waited for me in front of the house and greeted me the way when I first came to town. He introduced me to the house, to Dung. He said things I had known for a long time, but I still listened like a freshman.
All that night, I stayed awake. I asked myself if it was a dream or reality. I even wondered why God forced me to dream such a long dream. Suddenly, I looked at the guitar in the corner of the room. It reminded me of the love songs I wrote for Ha Lan. I remembered ninth-grade days when I sat with her in the purple forest, the evening before Ha Lan went to the city when I sang sad love songs under the pyre of heavenly flowers. My stupid self suddenly understood why God make me dream such a painful dream.
-----------------
I actively suggested that from now on, I would take Ha Lan to school every day. Ha Lan looked a little confused at first, but then she agreed. I often deliberately drove Ha Lan farther distances than usual. I looked for opportunities to express my feelings but for a school year, I still couldn't say half a word. One night, I lay down staring at the ceiling. The sad images of that nightmare suddenly ran through my mind. I clenched my own hands. I decided I had to tell Ha Lan I loved her.
-----------------
The next day, I went to wait for Ha Lan since school had not been over. Unlike the route we used to take every day, I risked turning towards the shore of the lake. To Ha Lan's surprise, she asked me:
-Ngan, Why did I stop at the shore of this lake?
- Stop here and take a relaxation, with, besides, I've got something too.
- What? What's wrong?
-Yes, I want to say something to Ha Lan.
I didn't go directly to the point. I asked Ha Lan absentmindedly about life at the girls' school and about her revision for end-of-year exams. Ha Lan answered me with a few short sentences, and then suddenly, she turned to look at me hesitantly:
-What do you want to tell Ngan?
-I, I, I want to say that I love Ha Lan. I love Ha Lan sincerely. I've loved you for a long time. I didn't dare say it because I am afraid that you would hate me. Ha Lan, please don't think about it. I am just saying that to release the feeling.
I was like a monologue idiot. I babbled nervously. Ha Lan turned her head in the other direction and didn't look at me. Ha Lan didn't tell me anything but I suddenly saw the reflection of her face smiling slightly on the water. I didn't know if this was a good or bad sign but I felt relieved in my heart. I felt a little happy inside.
-----------------
I had always been in a state of excitement since that day. There was no distance between me and Ha Lan after my boring love confession. Ha Lan still came to my house looking for me. I was studying that day when Dung poked his head into my room, smiled, and said:
-There's a girl out there looking for you. She's so adorable
I stood up, pushed him away, and walked quickly towards the door.
- Ha Lan. Where are you going?
- I want to borrow a book.
Without waiting for Ha Lan to finish her sentence, I took all my bravery taking Ha Lan's hand:
-Ha Lan, come with me. I store all the books upstairs. You can borrow anything you need.
I pulled Ha Lan's hand and walked quickly upstairs. I acted unconsciously like a lover afraid of someone taking away his loved one. I realized that I was so preoccupied with expressing my love for Ha Lan that I forgot about an equally big worry: Dung. I began to be more cautious. I started to prevent Ha Lan and Dung from getting to know each other. I feared day and night that fate hated me and would grace me again.
-----------------
The anxiety also gradually dissipated as I passed the eleventh grade. At the end of this year, Ha Lan and I had to take the first baccalaureate exam, so I spent all my time focusing on studying. I wanted to take another exam in the future and then return to Do Do Village to teach. Ha Lan wanted to run a fashion business. She said that after she passed her first baccalaureate, her aunt would take care of her studies at a French fashion school. There was the missing of me and the Do Do village in future stories told by Ha Lan. I was a little frustrated. However, I didn't react and respond. I told myself that our education is more important than all these mixed emotions. Ha Lan and I started studying hard together. Sometimes, I remembered that scary dream and used it as a motivation to keep holding on the study.
On the baccalaureate exam that year, I got a good grade. Ha Lan ranked lower than me but also passed. I pondered whether I should continue to the twelfth grade to take the university entrance exam or immediately attend teacher training school after the baccalaureate exam. As for Ha Lan, she had decided to enroll in a fashion school. After getting the exam results, I spent an evening in Ha Lan's house listening to her talk about the liberality and modernity of the school environment, and the young men and women who attend this school. At that time, I no longer felt sad to see that Ha Lan no longer cares about the old village. On the contrary, I felt happy. I found my heart a peace when I heard Ha Lan excitedly talking about her lofty plans for the future.
-----------------
It had been a long time since the day I confessed to Ha Lan. I didn't intend to express my feeling again as I realized we knew each other too well to go further. We were also too different in our outlook on life to think of a long-term relationship.
-----------------
Whether the opposition between us can become harmonious or not, I think time will tell. I don't regret confessing to Ha Lan in the old days. Nor do I regret not keeping Ha Lan to myself. For me now, what I crave most is not to have you in my life. I want to see her live peacefully and happily.
My dear Ha Lan, please become a beautiful and successful woman and go as far as you want. I'll always be the same guy. Will always be here, and will always be waiting for you by the familiar eagle tree.
The writing won the 4th prize in the creative writing contest: Flying Into The World of Nguyen Nhat Anh - which organized by Tre Publishing House.
"But my dear Tra Long, I still believe that, anyway, you won't cry, you won't cry, will you?"
-Oh! Tra Long! My poor Tra Long
-Hey kid, get up! Stop dozing off and whispering a girl's name. Is she your sweetheart in the countryside? That's cute!
I dreamily woke up from a young man's pat on the shoulder. I didn't know whether I was still sleepy after the long ride or if the man called me "kid." However, I ignored that thought and struggled to collect my luggage. As I turned sideways, I suddenly saw the image of my face reflected on the train window. My heart stopped beating for a few seconds. I was startled and dropped the book in my hand. I didn't understand why I saw my figure in tenth grade on the window.
Although my mood was a little chaotic, I tried to stay calm. I slowly got off the train, caught my breath, rolled my eyes, and looked around. The buildings, the colorful electrical panels, and the scenery around me were strangely familiar. I wasn't crazy to say that I had already walked through it almost twenty years ago. I started walking and followed the routine towards Uncle Huan's house. He waited for me in front of the house and greeted me the way when I first came to town. He introduced me to the house, to Dung. He said things I had known for a long time, but I still listened like a freshman.
All that night, I stayed awake. I asked myself if it was a dream or reality. I even wondered why God forced me to dream such a long dream. Suddenly, I looked at the guitar in the corner of the room. It reminded me of the love songs I wrote for Ha Lan. I remembered ninth-grade days when I sat with her in the purple forest, the evening before Ha Lan went to the city when I sang sad love songs under the pyre of heavenly flowers. My stupid self suddenly understood why God make me dream such a painful dream.
-----------------
I actively suggested that from now on, I would take Ha Lan to school every day. Ha Lan looked a little confused at first, but then she agreed. I often deliberately drove Ha Lan farther distances than usual. I looked for opportunities to express my feelings but for a school year, I still couldn't say half a word. One night, I lay down staring at the ceiling. The sad images of that nightmare suddenly ran through my mind. I clenched my own hands. I decided I had to tell Ha Lan I loved her.
-----------------
The next day, I went to wait for Ha Lan since school had not been over. Unlike the route we used to take every day, I risked turning towards the shore of the lake. To Ha Lan's surprise, she asked me:
-Ngan, Why did I stop at the shore of this lake?
- Stop here and take a relaxation, with, besides, I've got something too.
- What? What's wrong?
-Yes, I want to say something to Ha Lan.
I didn't go directly to the point. I asked Ha Lan absentmindedly about life at the girls' school and about her revision for end-of-year exams. Ha Lan answered me with a few short sentences, and then suddenly, she turned to look at me hesitantly:
-What do you want to tell Ngan?
-I, I, I want to say that I love Ha Lan. I love Ha Lan sincerely. I've loved you for a long time. I didn't dare say it because I am afraid that you would hate me. Ha Lan, please don't think about it. I am just saying that to release the feeling.
I was like a monologue idiot. I babbled nervously. Ha Lan turned her head in the other direction and didn't look at me. Ha Lan didn't tell me anything but I suddenly saw the reflection of her face smiling slightly on the water. I didn't know if this was a good or bad sign but I felt relieved in my heart. I felt a little happy inside.
-----------------
I had always been in a state of excitement since that day. There was no distance between me and Ha Lan after my boring love confession. Ha Lan still came to my house looking for me. I was studying that day when Dung poked his head into my room, smiled, and said:
-There's a girl out there looking for you. She's so adorable
I stood up, pushed him away, and walked quickly towards the door.
- Ha Lan. Where are you going?
- I want to borrow a book.
Without waiting for Ha Lan to finish her sentence, I took all my bravery taking Ha Lan's hand:
-Ha Lan, come with me. I store all the books upstairs. You can borrow anything you need.
I pulled Ha Lan's hand and walked quickly upstairs. I acted unconsciously like a lover afraid of someone taking away his loved one. I realized that I was so preoccupied with expressing my love for Ha Lan that I forgot about an equally big worry: Dung. I began to be more cautious. I started to prevent Ha Lan and Dung from getting to know each other. I feared day and night that fate hated me and would grace me again.
-----------------
The anxiety also gradually dissipated as I passed the eleventh grade. At the end of this year, Ha Lan and I had to take the first baccalaureate exam, so I spent all my time focusing on studying. I wanted to take another exam in the future and then return to Do Do Village to teach. Ha Lan wanted to run a fashion business. She said that after she passed her first baccalaureate, her aunt would take care of her studies at a French fashion school. There was the missing of me and the Do Do village in future stories told by Ha Lan. I was a little frustrated. However, I didn't react and respond. I told myself that our education is more important than all these mixed emotions. Ha Lan and I started studying hard together. Sometimes, I remembered that scary dream and used it as a motivation to keep holding on the study.
On the baccalaureate exam that year, I got a good grade. Ha Lan ranked lower than me but also passed. I pondered whether I should continue to the twelfth grade to take the university entrance exam or immediately attend teacher training school after the baccalaureate exam. As for Ha Lan, she had decided to enroll in a fashion school. After getting the exam results, I spent an evening in Ha Lan's house listening to her talk about the liberality and modernity of the school environment, and the young men and women who attend this school. At that time, I no longer felt sad to see that Ha Lan no longer cares about the old village. On the contrary, I felt happy. I found my heart a peace when I heard Ha Lan excitedly talking about her lofty plans for the future.
-----------------
It had been a long time since the day I confessed to Ha Lan. I didn't intend to express my feeling again as I realized we knew each other too well to go further. We were also too different in our outlook on life to think of a long-term relationship.
-----------------
Whether the opposition between us can become harmonious or not, I think time will tell. I don't regret confessing to Ha Lan in the old days. Nor do I regret not keeping Ha Lan to myself. For me now, what I crave most is not to have you in my life. I want to see her live peacefully and happily.
My dear Ha Lan, please become a beautiful and successful woman and go as far as you want. I'll always be the same guy. Will always be here, and will always be waiting for you by the familiar eagle tree.