GA~

Bu`i Thanh Lie^m

Cu+ ba^.p the^m va`i ho+i thuo^'c nu+~a, ni'n tho+?, e'm kho'i va`o trong buo^`ng pho^?i, tru+o+'c khi bu'ng ta`n thuo^'c va`o trong khu vu+o+`n cu?a nha` ha`ng xo'm.

Cha^'t nicotin cu?a thuo^'c la' cha(?ng co`n mo^.t ta'c du.ng gi` ddo^'i vo+'i Cu+, bo+?i vi` ho+i men ddang loang da^`n trong ma'u cu?a ga~, la`m cho ga~ ca?m tha^'y phe^ phe^, nhu+ la` "ngu+o+`i ddi tre^n ma^y" va^.y! Cu+ tho` tay va`o trong tu'i a'o, mo'c ra mo^.t ddie^'u Marlboro mo+'i, ga('n le^n tre^n mo^i, ro^`i run run dda'nh lu+?a\. Cu+ kho^ng hie^?u ta.i sao da.o ga^`n dda^y ga~ ca?m tha^'y hu't thuo^'c kho^ng co`n ngon nu+~a\. Ga~ co`n nho+' ca'ch dda^y hai tua^`n, khi Hoa`ng Dung, ngu+o+`i ye^u cu?a ga~ dde^'n dda^y tha(m ga~, ga~ pha?i le'n lu't hu't thuo^'c mo^.t ca'ch vu.ng tro^.m, vi` Hoa`ng Dung ca^'m tuye^.t kho^ng cho ga~ ro+' dde^'n ddie^'u thuo^'c. Va^.y ma` lu'c ddo' ga~ ke'o thuo^'c, ho+i na`o ho+i na^'y ngon dda'o dde^?. Cu+ nghie^.m ra mo^.t ddie^`u la` bi`nh thu+o+`ng ga~ i't hu't thuo^'c, nhu+ng he^~ co' ma(.t ngu+o+`i ye^u la` ga~ la.i the`m thuo^'c ho+n bao gio+` he^'t. Nhu+ ba^'t cu+' chuye^.n gi` tre^n ddo+`i, he^~ pha?i la`m le'n lu't thi` ta^'t nhie^n se~ co' ca?m gia'c ho^`i ho^.p xen la^~n. Ca'i ca?m gia'c ho^`i ho^.p, lo so+. ddo' chi'nh la` ye^'u to^' dda~ la`m Cu+ ca?m tha^'y hu't thuo^'c ngon ho+n bi`nh thu+o+`ng. Gio+` dda^y Hoa`ng Dung cu?a ga~ dda~ ve^` tru+o+`ng, kho^ng co`n ai ca^'m ddoa'n, ga~ tha ho^` ma` hu't xa~ da`n, nhu+ng dde^m nay tu+. nhie^n ddie^'u thuo^'c tre^n mo^i cha? co`n ngon la`nh gi` ddo^'i vo+'i ga~.

Cu+ bu`i ngu`i suy nghi~, chi? co`n va`i tha'ng nu+~a tho^i la` cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a ga~ se~ bi. ma^'t vui ro^`i\. Ga~ va^~n thu+o+`ng than va~n nhu+ va^.y vo+'i ba.n be`. Thoa.t mo+'i nghe ai cu~ng tu+o+?ng Cu+ no'i ddu`a, vi` ai cu~ng bie^'t ga~ la` ngu+o+`i co' dda^`y ddu? ta^'t ca?: co^ng a(n vie^.c la`m vu+~ng cha('c va` ngu+o+`i ye^u be' bo?ng, da.i kho+`, nga^y tho+\. Nhu+ng Cu+ gia?i thi'ch ra(`ng so+? di~ cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a ga~ sa('p ma^'t vui la` vi` co`n va`i tha'ng nu+~a la` ga~ se~ la~nh la^'y ba?n a'n chung tha^n, ke^'t lie^~u cuo^.c ddo+`i ddo^.c tha^n, ddu'ng nhu+ ba` ca si~ Thanh Tuye^`n va^~n thu+o+`ng re^n ri?: "Ti`nh chi? dde.p khi co`n dang do+?, ddo+`i ma^'t dzui khi dda~ ve.n ca^u the^`!"

Vi` the^' ba^y gio+` Cu+ ddang ba'm theo chu? nghi~a so^'ng vo^.i, tranh thu? vui cho+i ddu+o+.c nga`y na`o hay nga`y ddo', tru+o+'c khi va'n se~ ddo'ng ho`m. Do ddo' Cu+ co' ma(.t ta.i bu+~a tie^.c nha^.u cuo^'i tua^`n o+? nha` tha(`ng ba.n ho.c cu~, dde^m ho^m nay, o+? no+i cho^'n na`y\.

Co' tie^'ng mo+? cu+?a, the^m mo^.t ca'i "o^'ng kho'i" nu+~a xua^'t hie^.n, dde^? ddi ti`m "fresh air". Cu+ chu'a ghe't ca'i tro` chui ra ngoa`i vu+o+`n hu't thuo^'c, nha^'t la` nha(`m ma^'y dde^m mu`a ddo^ng gia' buo^'t nhu+ dde^m nay\. Bi`nh thu+o+`ng o+? nha` ba.n be`, Cu+ va^~n hu't thuo^'c ti?nh bo+, ne^'u gia chu? kho^ng le^n tie^'ng pha`n na`n. Nhu+ng o+? trong ca(n nha` na`y thi` kha'c, qua' ddo^ng con ni't, va` tha^.m chi' chu? nha^n co`n pha?i ra ngoa`i ga-ra ma` hu't thuo^'c, thu+? ho?i Cu+ la`m sao da'm xa~ kho'i trong nha`.

Cu+ nha^.n die^.n ra ngu+o+`i vu+`a mo+? cu+?a la` Hua^'n, chu? nha` kie^m chu? xi. cu?a dde^m nay\. Hua^'n lui cui dda'nh lu+?a ddo^'t thuo^'c. Anh than:

- Me. kie^'p, ngoa`i na`y la.nh qua'!

Cu+ phun kho'i go'p y':

- Tro+`i la.nh hu't thuo^'c mo+'i phe^!

Hua^'n nghe va^.y lie^`n ho?i:

- Ho?i tha^.t o^ng ca^u na`y\. To^i tha^'y mo^~i la^`n Hoa`ng Dung dde^'n dda^y tha(m, o^ng bi. ca^'m kho^ng ddu+o+.c hu't thuo^'c, pha?i hu't le'n lu't. To^i cu+' tha('c ma('c ma~i trong dda^`u, kho^ng hie^?u hu't thuo^'c le'n co' phe^ ho+n la` hu't co^ng khai kho^ng va^.y ca`?

Cu+ gu+o+`m ma('t nhi`n gia chu?, kho^ng hie^?u ha('n tha^.t ti`nh muo^'n bie^'t hay la` ddang cho+i xo? mi`nh. Vu+`a lu'c ddo' co' mo^.t ca'i "o^'ng kho'i" kha'c ddu+'ng be^n ca.nh, tra? lo+`i thay cho Cu+:

- Di~ nhie^n la` hu't le'n ngon ho+n nhie^`u, cu~ng nhu+ a(n vu.ng va^.y, cha('c cha('n la` ngon ho+n co^ng khai\.

Hua^'n cha('c lu+o+~i:

- Va^.y thi` tie^'c tha^.t! To^i kho^ng co' ddu+o+.c ca'i ca?m gia'c nhu+ o^ng, vi` ba` xa~ cu?a to^i cha? bao gio+` ca^'m ddoa'n to^i vie^.c hu't sa'ch.

Hu't ta`n ddie^'u thuo^'c, Hua^'n ba?o ma^'y ngu+o+`i ba.n:

- Tho^i va`o trong cho a^'m, sa('p su+?a dde^'n mu.c va(n nghe^.\.

Cu+ nghe dde^'n ddo' vo^.i du.i ngay ddie^'u thuo^'c, la^.t dda^.t va`o trong nha`. Ai cu~ng bie^'t Cu+ la` mo^.t ma^`m non va(n nghe^.\... chu+a le^n va` sa('p xuo^'ng! Trong ca'c bu+~a ho.p ma(.t, tie^.c tu`ng, he^~ dde^'n tie^'t mu.c ha't karaoke thi` thie^n ha. thu+o+`ng hay co' ca'i tro` ngu+o+`i na`y chu+`a ca'i microphone cho ngu+o+`i kia ha't. Nhu+ng ca'i microphone xa^'u so^' kia mo^.t khi lo.t va`o tay cu?a Cu+ thi` coi nhu+ la` mo^.t ddi kho^ng tro+? la.i\. Cu+ co' mo^.t gio.ng ha't ra^'t u+ la` "truye^`n nhie^~m"; ga(.p nhu+~ng ddoa.n kho' ha't nhu+ lu'c pha?i le^n cao, dde^? tra'nh bi. dda^m ho+i, ga~ thu+o+`ng hay luye^'n gio.ng ba(`ng ca'ch ke'o cho da`i ra nhu+ ca^y ke.o ke'o, ga(.p nhu+~ng lu'c co' bia va`o thi` ca'i gio.ng nhu+`a nhu+.a, ke.o ke'o na`y tro+? tha`nh ke.o ba.ch nha\. Tuy nhie^n, thie^n ha. muo^'n no'i gi` thi` no'i, muo^'n nghi~ gi` thi` nghi~. Ma(.c ke^., ga~ quan nie^.m ra(`ng "ha't hay kho^ng ba(`ng hay ha't". Ga~ muo^'n ha't, muo^'n thu+o+?ng thu+'c gio.ng oanh va`ng cu?a chi'nh ga~. Tuy nhie^n, u+u ddie^?m cu?a ga~ la` kho^ng bao gio+` tu+` cho^'i go'p vui va(n nghe^.\. Cha(?ng ha.n nhu+ ga(.p nhu+~ng ba`i ca mo+'i la. hoa(.c kho' ha't, ai cu~ng chi.u thua, nhu+ng ddu+a dde^'n ga~ la` ga~ tha^`u la'ng he^'t. Co' mo^.t ho^m nhu+ mo.i ho^m, Cu+ tie^'p tu.c tra ta^'n ma`ng nhi~ cu?a ba.n be` ba(`ng ca'i ma`n ka-ra (kho^ng) o^-ke^\. Ga~ ha't xong, tha^'y ba` con ai cu~ng ye^n la(.ng, ga~ be`n tho^'c na'ch tha(`ng ba.n ddang ngo^`i be^n ca.nh:

- E^, vo^~ tay ddi cho+'!

Tha(`ng ba.n cu+o+`i:

- Thi` to^i cu~ng muo^'n vo^~ tay ta'n thu+o+?ng gio.ng ca cu?a o^ng la('m, nhu+ng to^i so+. bi.\... a(n "ddu.c"!

To^'i nay cu~ng nhu+ thu+o+`ng le^. Cu+ la.i xung phong go'p vui va(n nghe^.\. Vi` bie^'t ro~ la` nay mai ga~ se~ tu+` gia~ cuo^.c vui ro^`i, dde^? chua^?n bi. mo^` ye^n ma? dde.p ne^n ai cu~ng tho^ng ca?m, dde^? cho ga~ ma(.c ti`nh muo^'n la`m gi` thi` la`m. Hua^'n ca^`m ca^y dda`n thu`ng, da.o va`i no^'t tre^n phi'm dda`n. Tha^'y Cu+ gio+ tay xung phong mo+? ma`n la`m Hua^'n ho+i re't, tu+. ho?i tay dda`n cu?a mi`nh co' a(n ro+ vo+'i gio.ng ca cu?a ga~ kho^ng. Cu+ long tro.ng tuye^n bo^' se~ tri`nh ba`y ca khu'c "Ve^'t thu+o+ng cuo^'i cu`ng". Hua^'n da.o dda`n na(m la^`n ba?y lu+o+.t ma` kho^ng tha^'y Cu+ tho? the? gio.ng oanh va`ng, ne^n la^'y la`m nga.c nhie^n:

- Sao chu+a vo^ nu+~a cha\?

Cu+ cu+. nu+.:

- Ta.i o^ng dda'nh le. qua', to^i va`o kho^ng ki.p. DDu+a cho ngu+o+`i kha'c dda'nh ddi\. To^i bie^'t ha't ma` ga(.p ngu+o+`i kho^ng bie^'t dda'nh dda`n, cu~ng nhu+ ngu+o+`i co' vo~ ga(.p tha(`ng kho^ng co' vo~\. No' xua^'t chie^u theo kie^?u vo~ ru+`ng, kho^ng co' ba`i ba?n gi` he^'t thi` la`m sao ma` ddo+~ cho ddu+o+.c.

No'i thi` va^.y, nhu+ng cuo^'i cu`ng Cu+ cu~ng ra'n va`o nhi.p. Theo tho'i quen, ga~ da'o da'c nhi`n quanh ti`m chu+~, nhu+ng cho+.t nho+' ra la` ddang ha't nha.c so^'ng chu+' kho^ng pha?i karaoke, ne^n ga~ ca^`m cuo^'n ta^.p nha.c le^n dde^? "ddo.c" cho xong. Ga~ cha^'m du+'t ba(`ng mo^.t ca^u tha^.t la` chi' ly':

- ... Ta ca'm o+n ti`nh nha^n dda~ di`u ta dde^'n mo^. pha^`n!

Chi' ly' la` vi` nay mai ga~ se~ ye^n mo^` dde.p ma?, khi ngu+o+`i ye^u Hoa`ng Dung se~ ddu+a ga~ ta'ch kho?i ca'i the^' gio+'i ddo^.c tha^n na`y\. Cu+ ha't xong va` nha^.n thu+'c ra ra(`ng Hua^'n dda~ dda'nh dda`n xong tu+. bao gio+`, ddang ngo^`i uo^'ng bia, nghi? gia?i lao\. Cu+ la('c dda^`u:

- DDa~ ba?o ma`, co' vo~ ma` ga(.p tha(`ng kho^ng co' vo~! DDa'nh dda`n gi` ma` le. qua' la`m ca si~ theo kho^ng ki.p.

Mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n trong ba`n nha^.u le^n tie^'ng cho.c Cu+:

- A-Pi'n, la`m the^m mo^.t ba`i nu+~a ddi, dde^? to^i ne'm no^'t ma^'y qua? ca`-chua\.

Cu+ gu+o+`m ma('t nhi`n ngu+o+`i vu+`a pha't bie^?u ra ca^u na`y\. Ca'i ca^u die^~u do+? na`y co' hai tha^m y'. Thu+' nha^'t dde^? a'm chi? ra(`ng vo+. sa('p cu+o+'i cu?a Cu+ la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t go^'c Hoa\. Thu+' hai la` dde^? nha('c nho+? la.i ca'i li.ch su+? ddo^?i te^n cu?a Cu+\. So^' la` tu+` nga`y qua My~, tu+. du+ng ca'i te^n cu?a Cu+ bi. ma^'t da^'u, tha`nh Cu\. Cu+ ca(m ha^.n, chi? tro^ng cho+` nga`y vo^ quo^'c ti.ch My~ dde^? ddo^?i te^n. Cuo^'i cu`ng, sau 5 na(m ti. na.n Cu+ ddu+o+.c tuye^n the^. va`o co^ng da^n, ga~ be`n la^'y mo^.t ca'i te^n tha^.t dde.p, ca'i te^n cu?a cha`ng ddie^.p vie^n 007, la` "James". Nhu+ng qua'i a'c thay, sau na`y Cu+ mo+'i vo+~ le~ ra ra(`ng ca'i te^n na`y bo.n My~ thu+o+`ng go.i ta('t la` "Jim", ga(.p ba.n be` Vie^.t Nam phie^n a^m tha`nh "Chim". Cu+ tu+'c la('m, be`n no^.p ddo+n xin ddo^?i te^n mo^.t la^`n nu+~a\. Qua' tam ba ba^.n. La^`n na`y Cu+ cho.n mo^.t ca'i te^n Vie^.t Nam cho cha('c a(n, mo^.t ca'i te^n ma` Cu+ nghi~ cha('c cha('n la` kho^ng co`n di'nh da'ng dde^'n bo^. pha^.n sinh du.c. Cu+ cho.n ca'i te^n "Bi'nh". Oa'i a(m thay, cho dde^'n nga`y Cu+ quen ddu+o+.c Hoa`ng Dung, ca'i te^n Bi'nh na`y bi. ba.n be` go.i tra.i la` "Pi'n", a'm chi? ca'i mo'n "nga^`u pi'n" cu?a ngu+o+`i Ta`u, ca'i mo'n chi? bao go^`m pha^`n "a^'y" cu?a con bo`.

Vu+`a lu'c a^'y co' tie^'ng con ni't kho'c. Vo+. cu?a Hua^'n do^~ da`nh ca'ch ma^'y con be' cu~ng kho^ng chi.u ni'n. Na`ng ddem ra he^'t ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ca'i te^n dda'ng so+. dde^? do.a con, nhu+ ma, quy?, co.p, beo, o^ng ke., me. mi`n, bogeyman,... Tha^.m chi' ca'i te^n "Ba'c Ho^`" nga`y thu+o+`ng va^~n la`m cho ddu+'a nho? kinh so+., nhu+ng ho^m nay ca'i te^n na`y kho^ng co' mo^.t ky'-lo^ na`o ddo^'i vo+'i ddu+'a be'. Cuo^'i cu`ng na`ng lie^`n nghi~ ra:

- O^ng ke. ki`a!

Vo+. cu?a Hua^'n vu+`a no'i vu+`a chi? sang Cu+\. Con be' ddo^.t nhie^n ni'n ngay, ne't so+. ha~i hie^.n le^n tre^n a'nh ma('t. Ba` me. ha? he^:

- Ca'm o+n chu' Cu+ nhe'!

Hua^'n tu+. ho?i:

- A`, kho^ng hie^?u ta.i sao ma` trong ma^'y chu', ma^'y ba'c, no' chi? so+. co' chu' Cu+\. Ai a(~m no' cu~ng cho, ngoa.i tru+` chu' Cu+\.

Cu+ cha('c lu+o+~i:

- No' so+. to^i cha(?ng qua la` bi. ma' cu?a no' dda^`u ddo^.c. Mo^~i khi con nho? kho'c cu+' ddem to^i ra do.a, co`n go.i to^i la` o^ng ke. thi` la`m sao ma` no' thi'ch cho ddu+o+.c.

Con be' dda~ no su+~a, ba('t dda^`u ddu+'ng da^.y la`m tro`, la`m bao nhie^u con ma('t ddo^? do^`n ve^` phi'a no'. Hua^'n ho?i con:

- Chu' Tu' sao con?

Con be' tra? lo+`i:

- Chu' Tu' la'c la'c!

- Co^ Ngo.c sao\?

- Co^ Ngo.c la'c la'c!

Ho?i ai no' cu~ng tra? lo+`i la` "la'c la'c" he^'t. Cho dde^'n khi ddu+o+.c ho?i:

- Chu' Cu+ sao, con?

Con be' nhi`n sang Cu+, ma('t la('m la la('m le't, gio.ng gu+` gu+` trong co^~, kho^ng ra ho+i, bi. ho?i the^m va`i la^`n nu+~a, no' mo+'i nga^.p ngu+`ng tra? lo+`i, trong khi ma('t la?ng ddi cho^~ kha'c:

- Chu' Cu+\... dde.p qua'!

Ba`n tie^.c tro+? la.i vui nho^.n, con be' bi. la~ng que^n trong gia^y la't. Mo^.t ho^`i sau, Hua^'n be^' con va`o lo`ng, dde^? thu+? nghie^.m tri' nho+' cu?a no'. Hua^'n go.i te^n tu+`ng ngu+o+`i tre^n ba`n tie^.c, va` ba('t con chi? ddie^?m. Con be' chi? ddu'ng phong pho'c tu+`ng ngu+o+`i mo^.t. DDe^'n khi bi. ho?i: "O^ng ke. dda^u\?", no' lie^`n tra? lo+`i ngay la`:

- O^ng ke. ddi ta('m ro^`i!

Kho^ng ai hie^?u ddu+o+.c ddu+'a be' muo^'n no'i gi`. Vo+. cu?a Hua^'n pha?i le^n tie^'ng gia?i thi'ch la` ta.i vi` lu'c ddo' Cu+ ddang o+? trong restroom xa~ xu'-ba('p, va` con be' he^~ tha^'y ai va`o trong ddo' thi` cho la` ddi ta('m, vi` no' chi? du`ng ca'i pho`ng ddo' dde^? ta('m ru+?a\. The^' la` ba` con la.i ddu+o+.c mo^.t phen cu+o+`i vang.

Bu+~a tie^.c ke^'t thu'c lu'c nu+?a dde^m. To^'i ho^m nay Cu+ ddoa.t gia?i qua'n qua^n, vo+'i tu+?u lu+o+.ng kho^ng ai sa'nh ba(`ng. Tha^.m chi', chu? xi. Hua^'n cu~ng pha?i cha`o thua, la`m Cu+ tha^'t vo.ng vo^ cu`ng. Ga~ luo^n mie^.ng: "Tha^'t ba.i, tha^'t ba.i!".

Ga~ la` ngu+o+`i cuo^'i cu`ng ro+`i bu+~a tie^.c ho^m ddo'. Ga~ kho^ng bie^'t la` ga~ co' bi. say hay kho^ng nhu+ng ga~ dda~ ve^` dde^'n nha` bi`nh an. Duy co' ddie^`u la` lu'c ve^` dde^'n nha`, ga~ cu+' loay hoay ma~i mo+? cu+?a kho^ng ddu+o+.c. Ga~ tu+. ho?i hay la` ga~ dda~ la^'y lo^.n chi`a kho'a cu?a tha(`ng ba.n na`o ddo' o+? nha` Hua^'n, hay la` tha(`ng qua?n ly' chung cu+ mo+'i ddo^?i o^? kho'a\? Ga~ co`n nho+' la` tie^`n nha` tha'ng na`y ga~ dda~ thanh toa'n ro^`i kia ma`. Mo^.t ho^`i sau ga~ mo+'i nha^.n ra ra(`ng ga~ dda~ ddi lo^.n nha`. Ga~ la^.t dda^.t cha.y ra xe, vo.t mau, cho+' kho^ng tha(`ng chu? nha` tu+o+?ng a(n tro^.m, xa'ch su'ng ra dda^y thi` bo? ma.ng.

Ga~ la'i xe vo`ng vo`ng ddi ti`m nha`. "Ta cha.y vo`ng vo`ng, ta cha.y vo`ng quanh, chi? tha^'y xa(ng ca.n da^`n, chi? tha^'y xa(ng ca.n da^`n!"

Mo^.t dde^m an la`nh tro^i qua\. Sa'ng ho^m sau Hua^'n go.i ddie^.n thoa.i la.i cho Cu+:

- Kho^ng bie^'t dde^m qua o^ng ve^` to+'i nha` co' bi`nh an kho^ng?

Cu+ nhu+`a nhu+.a tre^n ddie^.n thoa.i:

- Ca'm o+n o^ng dda~ quan ta^m. Di~ nhie^n la` bi`nh an ro^`i, nhu+ng co' ddie^`u la` ma~i dde^'n ga^`n 5, 6 gio+` sa'ng to^i mo+'i ngu? ddu+o+.c!

- La`m gi` ma` ngu? kho^ng ddu+o+.c, hay la` nho+' dde^'n ba?\? Tho^i ra'n chi.u ddu+.ng the^m va`i tha'ng nu+~a tho^i\. Cha? bu` vo+'i to^i, mo^~i la^`n ddi nha^.u o+? dda^u, ve^` dde^'n nha` la` la(n quay ra ngu?.

- Thi` to^i cu~ng nhu+ o^ng chu+' co' kha'c gi`, ve^` dde^'n nha` la` la(n quay ra ngu? lie^`n.

Hua^'n nga.c nhie^n:

- The^' ta.i sao ma~i dde^'n 5 gio+` sa'ng mo+'i ngu?\? To^i nho+' la` dde^m qua mi`nh tan tie^.c lu'c 12 gio+` dde^m ma`.

Ga~ tha`nh tha^.t:

- Thi` ve^` dde^'n nha` la` to^i ngu? lie^`n, nhu+ng va^'n dde^` la` la`m sao ti`m cho ra ca'i nha`!