Just beyond our Borders

ｔｗｅｎｔｙ || 🇻🇳VIETNAM

They were all back at the hotel and in their respective rooms, doing whatever they can to prepare themselves for another day of sightseeing tomorrow.

Vietnam was just about to fall asleep when she heard knocking on her door.

She reluctantly got up and out of bed and slowly walked over to the door.

She opened the door just wide enough to see her unexpected visitor's face.

And to her surprise, it was America.

Vietnam only frowned at his presence.

"Mr. America, with all due respect, it's late. Get some sleep." She went on to close the door.

"Look," his foot stopped the door from completely closing. "I know it's late, and I should be sleeping, but we need to talk real quick."

Vietnam rubbed her eyes. "Can't this wait until morning?"

America shook his head. "No, this can't wait. I need to get this off my chest. Now."

Vietnam looked up at him. She could see in his sky blue eyes that he was determined to speak with her now, and it told her that he wasn't leaving until he gets what he wants.

Vietnam only sighed in defeat. "Fine. What is it, Mr. America? And make it quick."

She opened the door wider this time, inviting America inside, and shut the door.

"Sorry."

"Huh?"

Vietnam was caught off guard and was looking at him in surprise.

"Mr. America, if this is about your manners earlier during lunch, then going out of your way to apologize to me personally is une-"

"This isn't about earlier. This is about what happened between us in the 70s."

Vietnam just stared at him in shock. "A-America..."

"When you took us to Ba Dinh earlier, I was reminded of our relationship in that decade and I couldn't stop thinking about it since."

Vietnam just stared at him in silence; with a look of sadness on her face.

She didn't expect to see the day when America would actually come up to her and apologize for what happened decades ago.

America noticed this and continued.

"The guilt of making putting your people through all that suffering, and the lives of my soldiers that could've been spared all came rushing back to me."

There was a short pause.

"And, looking back, I thought about what you've said, and you were right. You're your own independent nation. I have no business with what you decide to do with it."

He sighed sadly.

"I would apologize, but even an idiot like me knows that it won't change the past and fix the damage that's been done. But, for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Vietnam nodded. "I... accept your apology."

"If there's anything I can do now to make it up to you-"