"Priska!" May exclaimed the moment she saw me.
"Hi, May!" I responded as she pulled me into a tight hug, her excitement at our reunion evident.
May could effortlessly blend in anywhere. We exchanged a few words to catch up as we began walking further into the area. I felt fortunate to have her in my life; she was easygoing and perceptive, and even though she could tell from my eyes that I had a lot on my mind, she didn’t press me with sensitive questions.
It was a bright and clear morning in Hanoi, perfect for a leisurely stroll and some time away from everything—especially Indra. Thanks to May's vivid descriptions, I could already picture the sunlight dancing on the tranquil surface of Hoan Kiem Lake. We crossed The Huc Bridge, a vibrant red structure stretching across the lake, and upon reaching the entrance gate, we bought tickets to Ngoc Son Temple, a popular Taoist temple in Vietnam.
"By the way, congratulations on your wedding, May. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it."
She linked her arm with mine and smiled brightly. "It’s okay, Pris. I didn’t invite many people besides close family anyway. You know how it is—most of our friends live far away, and Frans isn’t a fan of big crowds."
"Still, congratulations, May."
"Thank you, Pris. Yes, it’s the next phase of life I have to go through—becoming a wife and eventually a mother. But we’re not rushing into the kids part; we’ll just let it happen when it happens."
I nodded and smiled at her, feeling incredibly at ease in her company. May wasn’t the type to pry into other people's lives, and I appreciated that she didn’t make any unnecessary comments like, "Pris, when’s your turn?" She understood that my family background was complicated and that my life had been anything but easy.
As we passed through the temple's entrance, we were immediately greeted by lush greenery and the serene, natural surroundings. For a moment, I forgot we were heading to a temple until the scent of incense wafted through the air. We strolled along the path lined with statues of gods and mythical creatures, occasionally reminiscing about the old days when we worked together.
"Do you still like chicken noodles? Remember how I scoured all of London trying to find that dish? I wasn’t much of a cook, and I wanted to surprise you, but it was so frustrating trying to track it down in a foreign country!" May laughed at the memory.
"And then—you knocked on my door in the middle of the night, scaring me half to death because you were dressed like a ghost." I joined her in laughter.
"But it worked, didn’t it? Oh, by the way, what’s the date today? Have you had your birthday yet? The 26th, right? And that ring on your finger—was it a gift from someone special?" May asked, clearing her throat a few times and glancing ahead with a playful smile.
I glanced at the ring on my left hand, a gift from Indra, and returned her smile faintly before looking back at her. May had a knack for finding the right words and setting the perfect mood. I simply nodded to confirm her guess, knowing that I’d eventually have to tell her about Indra and the marriage proposal I wasn’t sure would actually happen because of my lingering doubts.
"You should’ve worn a scarf or something with a high collar, Pris. I know it’s too hot for a turtleneck, but this is still Southeast Asia—in case you forgot."
"Huh?"
May pointed at her own neck to clarify. "It’s obvious he doesn’t want anyone else laying claim to you. Possessive!"
"Oh, that... was it really that noticeable?" I stammered, embarrassed. One thing was clear—he did it on purpose! What a show-off!
"Not from the front, but it’s pretty obvious from the side. So, what’s he like? Handsome? Tell me more." She grinned mischievously.
***
A little while later, we entered the main hall of the temple. The atmosphere inside was solemn and calming. An altar adorned with offerings of fruit and incense sat at the center. We joined in lighting some incense as a sign of respect.
"Do you want to stay here a bit longer, or would you rather check out the pagoda on the small island? To get there, we’ll need to walk across a wooden bridge, Pris."
"That sounds interesting," I agreed.
We left the main hall and made our way towards the wooden bridge May had mentioned. I’d never been to Vietnam before, and with May as my guide, I was up for whatever she wanted to show me. It didn’t take long to reach the bridge.
"So, tell me, what’s he like, Pris? I hope he’s not too bad to be considered marriage material. I have plenty of friends who’d be better suited for you before you end up in a disastrous marriage." May's concern was genuine as she looked at me.
Living abroad for a long time can make you appreciate people like May—rare treasures that life throws your way, reminding me that the universe still cares. Meeting someone from the same background, with a kind and sincere heart like May, felt like finding the sister I never had.
"He’s not that bad, but he’s definitely this bad," I said, pointing to the hickey on my neck and chuckling softly.
May burst into laughter and playfully slapped my shoulder. "I hope your pet dog doesn’t give you rabies or something worse. You know what I mean, right, Pris?" She winked.
"He’s pretty tame now," I replied, thinking of Indra.
"How charming must he be to win over Priska? He must be quite the catch," May teased with a sly smile. "But if he’s too experienced and comes with a collection of STDs that are hard to treat, maybe you should ditch him, Pris. Frans has plenty of cool friends. I can set you up on a blind date if you want."
I wrinkled my nose and nodded with a smile. "Thanks, May."
"As the Senior Elder of the Don’t Leave Love Sect, let me tell you this. There are only two types of men in this world, Pris: either they’re jerks or they’re gay. It’s terrifying—feels like the world’s coming to an end. Thank goodness Frans is somewhere in between, and I’m really happy with him," May rambled on.
We laughed together at her dramatic declaration. May, always cheerful and full of humor, reminded me a bit of Faby, though May was more considerate of others' feelings. Faby, on the other hand, would have grilled me until I spilled everything just to satisfy her curiosity.
After we finished exploring Ngoc Son Temple, May took me on a tour of the Old Quarter. There were small shops, food stalls, and various old houses. I found all sorts of Vietnam-themed souvenirs to bring home as keepsakes. Then, May invited me to her house because she needed to feed her dogs.
"Why don’t you check out of your hotel and stay at my place, Pris? Keep me company, please. I’m all alone since Frans is away." May was driving, occasionally humming along to the music on the radio.
"Are you serious? Is it really okay?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"Besides, we need to talk more about Indra. I don’t want you making the wrong choice. Sorry if I’m being a bit pushy, but your experience with love isn’t as extensive as mine, and I’m worried you might be getting played by Indra."
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Didn’t you already see his wallet? I already explained everything about him."
May smirked. "No, no, no, Pris, you’re still too nice for letting him keep his phone. You should’ve left him with nothing so he’d know how it feels."
I had told May that I left Indra with some cash and his vacation phone. There were no mobile banking apps or e-wallets on that device—I’d checked several times—and even though the email notifications for his card usage were the same, Indra would still need time to verify his data because I had his SIM card.
"I’m sure he can still find his way back to Indonesia, May. I’m not that cruel to let him end up homeless in Dubai. He probably has friends or connections there, right? Businessmen usually have international networks. Nothing is impossible. This is Indra we’re talking about! I was also surprised when I found out he had so many foreign bank cards in his wallet."
"A real Rich Kid, huh? Old money types usually don’t like to flaunt their wealth," May teased.
"Maybe he’s just trying to avoid catching the taxman’s attention?" I giggled.
"Exactly! A hundred points for you! I was thinking the same thing, but I didn’t want to offend you, Pris. I don’t want to accuse Indra of anything, but what kind of 32-year-old guy can whisk you away for over two weeks and take you to expensive places, unless there’s something shady about him?" May laughed heartily, shaking her head.