Page 36 of A Banh Mi for Two
My shoulders slump, and a sinking feeling settles in my chest. I wish I could cheer her up, instill the same confidence she’s been giving me. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to do this. We can always… leave.”
But it comes out wrong, because that’s the only thing I know: to avoid, to run away.
Vivi shakes her head. “I have to know.”
I nod, already knowing she’d say that. “Cô.” I turn back to Cô Ngân. “I hate to bother you, but do you have some time?”
Cô Ngân returns my smile. “Of course! Anything for you, Lan. And you can introduce me to your friend, too!”
Vivi shifts uncomfortably beside me. I inhale deep and say, “This is Vivi, and um, we have something to ask you—”
“Vivi!” Cô Ngân turns to Vivi, both her hands fully on Vivi’s shoulders now. “This is the first time I’m meeting Lan’s friend.” I blush at that comment. “Why do you look so sickly? Did you eat? Do you want food?”
Vivi, bewildered by Cô Ngân’s onslaught, bursts out laughing. “Thank you, Cô! But I’m fine. I was just… worried about inconveniencing you.”
It’s a lie, I know it. But still, it warms me—seeing how Vivi lights up because of Cô Ngân.
“Nonsense. Any friend of Lan’s is a friend of mine. Now, why don’t we go to my shop and you can tell me what you need?”
Arriving at Ngân Fabrics, Cô Ngân drops her coconut on a bamboo mat and gets up to hang her new fabrics on the streamers. Mannequins dressed in áo dàis of all colors and designs surround us.
I’m about to open my mouth to explain again when Cô Ngân interrupts. “Before I help you girls with whatever you need, can I ask for a favor from you, Vivi?”
Vivi blinks, turning to me before answering. “Me? Yes! Of course. Tell me what you want me to do, Cô.”
“You’re adorable.” Cô Ngân pinches Vivi’s cheeks and shoves a pile of áo dài into her arms. “Here, try these on. I want you to model for me.”
Vivi’s cheeks flare red. “Um, okay. Are you sure this is okay?” She turns toward me again. I just shrug. Vietnamese women do what Vietnamese women want, and there’s no stopping them.
I push her toward the dressing room, my palm flat against her back. “Just humor her,” I say, hoping this moment will take Vivi’s mind off thinking about her mom, even if just for a bit.
Vivi walks toward the makeshift dressing room in the corner constructed from curtains hanging down, an ingenious idea that vendors use when selling within indoor markets like this. I hear the sound of her clothes shuffling around and blush, looking away to distract myself.
“Lan?” Vivi pipes up. “Can you help me? I can’t reach the zipper.”
I excuse myself from Cô Ngân and stop outside the curtain, unsure of what to do. “Do you want me to come inside?”
“Yes.”
I peer inside the curtain and blush. Vivi’s back is exposed to me, her skin glowing against the darkness of the dressing room. The searing heat meets my fingers once again. I’m losing my mind over this simple task.
At last, the zipper works.
I suck in my breath, too scared to let her hear the way she’s making me feel. “Is it too tight?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. It’s perfect.”
“Let me see!” Cô Ngân insists from outside.
I walk out, giving Vivi time to gather herself. She peeks under the curtain and steps out in a pale lavender áo dài with lotus flowers flowing on her skirt, shimmering beneath the fluorescent light. The lace collar complements her small neck, and the white pants float with her every move. A loud exhale escapes me, and my jaw goes slack as I bring a palm up to cover the blush blooming across my face. I can feel my heart in my chest, my arms, my fingers, and my stomach. Vivi looks like she just stepped out of a painting.
“Beautiful! You should model for these dresses!” Cô Ngân exclaims.
She hesitates, shyly crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not sure if I’m that pretty…”
“Oh, hush, you are. Isn’t that right, Lan?”
I blink, nodding slowly. “Yes. Vivi’s really pretty.”
