After they drove out of the airport parking lot and entered the city centre, they soon found themselves stuck in the middle of a traffic jam.
"OMG! Do you even know how to drive!" screamed Tiffany from the back seat after the car barely moved a yard in fifteen minutes. "We've legit been stuck in this place forever!"
"Tiffany, it's not Thao's fault," said Jeffrey, who was sitting next to Thao. "Look at this traffic! This looks more like a parking lot than a road to me!"
"Indeed, due to the economic boom of Vietnam in recent years, more and more people are rich enough to afford a car, which is what's causing such terrible traffic jams every day," explained Thao.
"Are you crazy? Why do you have to drive then? We could've boarded the subway or something!" complained Tiffany.
"There is no mass rapid transit, aka subway, system in Ho Chi Minh City according to the internet, although a subway line is currently under construction," responded Blythe. "So, I guess there's no other way!"
"I reckon it'll be quicker if I just get off and walk!" grumbled Tiffany.
After almost two hours of being stuck in the traffic, they finally arrived at Thao's house, which was a luxurious American-style mansion situated in the suburbs of the city. There was a large, well-maintained garden surrounding the mansion and enclosed by a low bricked wall topped by spiked iron fences. Colourful flowers swayed in the wind, as if welcoming them to the mansion. Nonetheless, the group of friends were overwhelmed by the contrast between the garden and the exterior scenery. Overgrown with brambles, weeds and tall nettles everywhere, beyond the beautiful garden was an area sparsely inhabited, without a single neighbouring house in sight. In comparison to its barren surroundings, the lovely mansion seemed rather lonely, yet appeared to be a small piece of paradise in this abandoned piece of wasteland.
Without warning, a strong gust of wind from the west blew in their direction, picking up bits of sand and grass on its way. Ringed all about with a crimson glare, the blood red sun was slowly sinking in the far distance just above the horizon. Overhead, the sky was quickly covered by dark cumbersome clouds, as if they were concealing a terrible secret, too dark to be revealed.
"Is there a thunderstorm coming? It looks like it's about to have a heavy downpour," commented Shaun as he felt the atmosphere becoming suddenly chill and vibrant with rich tension.
"No, this isn't a thunderstorm, it's just normal rain," answered Thao. "It's currently the rainy season, so it will rain every single day until the dry season arrives."
"When does the dry season start?" enquired Blythe.
"Around October or November," responded Thao. "We only have two seasons here: wet and dry. So, each lasts for around six months. We'd better not linger outside in the garden, it looks like it's gonna rain any second."
They quickly climbed up a small double flight of stone steps that led to the door of the mansion. After Thao rang the doorbell, a middle-aged woman wearing a conical hat came to open the door. The woman seemed very happy to see Thao and the two began conversing in Vietnamese.
"Is she your mother?" enquired Jeffrey.
"No, she's my maid who took care of me when I was little. Her name is Hoa and she can't speak English," responded Thao as Hoa smiled a curious, crooked smile.
"Come on in," said Thao after Hoa took out five pairs of slippers from the cabinet for them to change into. "My mum is waiting for us in the living room."
~To be Continued~
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