Tôi trans sang bản Eng để thử nghiệm, đăng lưu trữ. Mọi người có thể bỏ qua. Vài chỗ bổ sung thêm thông tin (không đáng kể).

Khả năng tiếng Anh có hạn nên nếu có bồ nào có thể nhận xét giúp đỡ chỉnh sửa thì tôi thực sự rất rất cảm ơn.

*****

Vietnam held the filter in his mouth, his thin and bony fingers loosely hung around the drooping cigarette. He took a deep drag, and exhaled a thin wisp of smoke. The faint smoke curled around his pensive face, and gradually dispersed into the biting cold of Moscow on a winter's day.

Russia stood at a distance from Vietnam, his blue eyes silently watching him.

"Finally you came," Russia said, "I've been waiting for you."

Vietnam didn't reply immediately. He closed his eyes, took a few more puffs of cigarette, the thick smoke refused to go away, still hanging in the air like that, making his gaunt face appear hazy and ethereal. Russia somewhat felt like Vietnam was standing there, yet not quite there, this place holding only a few of his long-ago memories, not the entirety of his being.

"You came all the way just to stand here and not say anything?" Russia asked again. Upon hearing news of Vietnam's arrival, he had immediately put aside his busy schedule during this hectic time to meet him. Nevertheless, beside the paper acknowledging him as a Soviet Union's successor and his quiet, austere smoking appearance, he didn't say another word. He didn't even offer a casual greeting.

Vietnam exhaled another plume of white smoke. Then he opened his eyes slightly, gazing aimlessly into the smoky haze around him.

"Don't smoke anymore. This is your fifth one, it's not good for you."

Lowering the hand holding the cigarette, Vietnam tilted his head and looked directly at Russia. His deep and intense eyes suddenly shifted, causing Russia's heart to skip a beat.

"You look a lot like your father." Vietnam said, for the first time that day, "But you are not him."

Russia froze for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it disappeared completely, and his expression quickly returned to its usual composure. If had not watched closer, Vietnam might not have even noticed the rare change in his countenance.

"I already knew that." Russia answered, his voice raised a little, "You don't have to remind me."

Vietnam suddenly burst out laughing, a kind of harsh and short sound. Hundreds of unspoken emotions intermingled in his dry chuckle, which made Russia frown.

"So I've got the wrong idea." That unintelligible man said to him calmly, "Anyway, good luck to you, I believe you'll be fine. You're the strongest and bravest person I have ever met."

Vietnam brought the cigarette to his lips again, taking the last puff of the dwindling ember.

"Do you want to visit his grave?" Russia offered.

Vietnam shook his head. "No... not necessary. After this cigarette, I will go."

Russia stood silently as the smoke gradually faded, watching Vietnam skilfully threw the extinguished cig right into the nearby bin and dusted off his hand. Then he glanced at Russia.

"Listen, I am not as flashy and brilliant as those living on the other side of the globe. But whenever you come, Vietnam will always welcome Russia."

Russia moved his neck uncomfortably. But Vietnam didn't intend to stay longer, he lightly tapped his heels on the ground, adjusted his collar, and left.

"Goodbye." Russia said.

Vietnam raised his right hand, not turning around. He left Russia with one last dignified back.

"Goodbye."

***

It was a chilly afternoon in Hanoi with the first hints of winter stirring in the breeze. Vietnam leaned against the railing, took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth. It seemed like he hadn't touched one in two years recently, a wave of sorrow and nostalgia suddenly rose in his heart.

And standing across from him was a familiar muscular figure.

"Wanna have one?" Vietnam asked, and Russia shook his head.

Vietnam didn't insist, he put the filter between his lips, cupping his hand to block the wind from the glowing ember on the remaining tip of the cig. He took a drag, then leisurely exhaled the bitter smoke that he had long forgotten. Russia watched him quietly.

"How long has it been since we last saw each other?" To his surprise, Vietnam spoke first. His mood seemed to be very good. "Six years? Time flies."

"You look better than before." Russia said calmly, "I'm sorry, this is the first time I've been able to visit you and your country."

Vietnam chuckled, the cigarette dangling loosely from the corner of his mouth. Russia noticed that his laughter had lost the bitterness and sourness of six years ago. It was the clear and simple one that he had always cherished in his memory for so long.

"Why apologize? I should be thanking you. Your old man had never come here before. This place is too small for him to be worth his attention."

Russia's mouth twitched, but Vietnam still smiled easily.

"That's why you're not him. You will never be him."

Russia watched the mature man smoking calmly in front of him. If one just looked at Vietnam's appearance now, nobody would know his real age or what he had been through. Vietnam had changed miraculously, he extremely had a great ability to adapt to circumstances.

"Can I have one?" Russia finally said.

Vietnam silently held out the pack, Russia took a cig out and put it between his lips.

"Can I borrow the lighter? I don't have one with me right now."

Vietnam raised an eyebrow. But instead of the lighter Russia was expecting, he was stunned as Vietnam leaned closer, using the ember on the tip of his cigarette to light the one in his mouth. The dense, white smoke enveloped Russia's face in the intoxicating herbal scent that could easily make one addicted, crazed, and out of their mind.

Vietnam stepped back a little, he smiled.

"Welcome back, my dearest."

The newly lit cigarette rolled on the concrete floor, then it stopped beside another one that was still fuming, but no one paid attention to them.

Russia lunged forward like a starving bear.