Vietnamese Gods: Ba

A father's love is as warm as sunshine - Vietnamese song.

Recap: On the last episode, we were introduced to Desmond, the second richest man in The Right, and son of the God of War - Saint Gióng. After killing Death and freeing his wife’s soul, Desmond must now find a way to reach Âu Cơ The Allmother to capture said soul and put it back into her body. Meanwhile, a war was brewing between The Right and The Left.

Desmond woke to his father, the human one, shouting over the roar of his helicopter. Dust quickly flew towards the temple, but the monks already had their mops prepared. Desmond was surprise, and he did not have to produce one, the smile just came. One of the only three persons he’s ever trusted was here.

“Chào ba.” He said, holding out his right hand, then remember the crossbow, coughed into it.

“Are you okay, son?” - Mr. Hùng said. The helicopter has stopped, but his voice was still booming.

“I am fine, ba. I thought you were in China.” - They hug. “Thank you, for everything you have done, for her.”

“It’s just money, son. As failures of parents, that is the least we could do for you.” - There was no “we.” The money for hospital fees were sent to Desmond through a private channel, most probably to keep his mother in the dark.

“You have been the best father a son could ever ask for, ba. You were there when people turned their backs on me.” - Desmond remembered his mother slamming the door when he said he would move to The Left. Not that he has ever given a thought for his mother ever since he learned of her affair with Gióng, resulting in him.

“You’re the one who have done everything, son. You deserve a good rest, and a good meal. Look how thin you are now.” - Desmond suddenly realized how hungry and tired he was.

He has not eaten since the doctor told him to prepare himself for the worse outside of his wife’s Intensive Care Unit. And his in-laws’ scream. They knew it wasn‘t his fault, and they loved him like a son, but still they cursed and yelled and blamed and begged, begged for their daughter back, begged that he kept his promise that “everything will be okay,” that “he was going to take care of it.” Deep inside, they knew it was more or less a consolation, courtesy of comfort that bears little significance, but out of desperation, they trusted those words, choosing to run away from the harsh reality that their daughter will die soon. Now that reality caught up, it is natural - as it is easier - for them to pour the responsibility of grief unto their son-in-law, who was still gripping tight the arrow that killed Death. 

“It‘s gonna work.” - Desmond muttered as the doctors gurneyed Lily out of the IU. His wife would scare them any minute now, “boo” she would scream, giving everyone a heart attack as she laughs her dorky laugh, snorting and bending herself inward.

“It‘s gonna work.” - Desmond muttered at the funeral home, thinking how his wife would love to just burst out of that coffin. Or knock on it repeatedly for dramatic effect.

“It‘s gonna work.” - Desmond muttered as the dirt cover the coffin. It is just like her to reenact zombies scene. She would... she would...

She will, soon enough. This is no time to rest.

The sun has died down a bit, and Desmond could smell Mother Earth, a sign of rain.

“Sorry, ba. There are still things I have to do.” - He hugged Mr. Hùng tighter, both to show his love for the man, and to not let himself relax. The “attention” Gióng mentioned will come for him soon, and he did not want to trouble his father no longer. 

“I… I know, son. But ever since you found Lily, you have grown so much, so fast. And now that you’ve lost her, you have not stopped growing. I’m just afraid, son. I do not want to lose you too.”

“Ba, you know me. You’re the only one that knows me, truly. Better than Lily even. Every step I make, every move I take, is calculated, planned out, executed a thousand times. You taught me all of that, ba. You have never had to be worried about me before, so there are no reasons for it now.”

“Son, I’m always worried about you. But there was also the unbridled pride I have for you, and I know you have for yourself, that stopped me from saying that until now. You are embarking on a dangerous quest, one that I set you on.”

“No, ba. You gave me hope.”

“And that was stupid and unrealistic of me. In our world, hope is a luxury even we cannot afford. I taught you that, and when it mattered most, when I should have toughen up and told you to give up, to let go, I did the opposite. I…”

“You were there when I needed you most. You were being a father. Ba, I will be back. No. We will be back, Lily and I. And soon enough, you will be a grandpa.”

They stood there, eye to eye, and they laughed. Nothing else needed to be said or done. And after one last hug, Desmond left, and Mr. Hùng was back on the helicopter.

“Young Master.” - Trọng was at the door, next to him was luggage and on his back was a comically-sized backpack, one that is taller than himself, which was 2.1m, 2.3m after a good stretch.

“Just came back from lunch, old pal?” – Sullivan did not slow his pace.

“As a matter of fact, I am leaving, Young Master.” - He bowed, fast walking along his Young Master.

“Oh, what’s wrong? All my years with you, I’ve never seen you on a day off.” - Desmond walked faster, sensing something strange.

“I am on duty, Young Master.” - The butler kept pace.

“Oh, well. Carry on then. It was great seeing you again, old pal.” - Desmond smiled and started running. But it was to no avail, the butler was hot on his heels.

“Perhaps Master did not tell you, but he instructed me to aid you on your journey, Young Master.” - That was the precise answer Desmond did not want to hear. Trọng was a hero of war, no, THE hero of THE war, and the second person he will ever let have a knife around him. Which is precisely why he didn’t want the butler along. This was his affair.

“Ah that is mighty generous of you. But I think I can manage on my own, old pal. After all, what will become of the house without its head butler.”

“Do not be alarmed, Young Master. My departure has been prepared the moment you were back in The Right some months ago.”

“You’re the one who should be alarmed. Seriously, I am going against the Gods here.”

“And why do you think you are more capable in such an endeavour than I am, for did I not train you in combat?”

Desmond was silent, a rare phenomenon. His heart was screaming not to involve Trọng, but his aching body knew it needed help.

“And that escapade of yours in the Underworld, was it not also my teachings in stealth that you applied?”

“How did you…?”

“Young Master, you have grown up to be an extraordinary gentleman, and it has been my pleasure to have been there every step of the way.”

“…”

“But you are also arrogant and selfish, too arrogant to seek for help, or think that there are capable people to help you, and too selfish to realize the feelings of those who care deeply for you. No, not your wife.” – He did not say “late.” “Like your father and I.”

“I…” - Desmond stopped.

They were near Sài Gòn Centre, one of those needlessly large buildings Desmond has always hated. As usual, District 1 was crowded and stuffy, where you breath in motorbikes fume and breath than actual air, the scattered trees do little to help alleviate the pressure of stuffing so many people in such a small space. It was hard to breath, let alone think, but Desmond found himself relief, for he was finally able to stop. People often take stopping for granted. Humans run too often: away from their problems or straight at them. A lot of good things can come with stopping and think. If humans were born to run, the Gods would have given them four legs. Desmond breath in. Being angry and emotional and caring, that was not Desmond. “Desmond” on a job is cool, collected, calculated, and he will use anything or anyone to get ahead, all with a smile on his face.

“Thank you, Trọng. I will be in your care, as always.” - Desmond smiled.

“At your service, Young Master. Where should we be heading?”

“Liễu Hạnh City.” - Mr. Trọng almost abandoned the mission right then and there.

“Of all the Gods, does it have to be her?”

“Who better to help me bring my wife back to life than the God who went back and forth between worlds on a daily basis?”

This is the second episode of this novel. The first is here.

If you would like more information on Vietnamese Mythology, you’ve come to the right place.

Want to know how to pronounce the Vietnamese words in the post? I have a Glossary too (although it might take me quite a while to fully update it).