My name is Tung, 28 years old. Normally in gatherings, I am usually the one who listens more than talks. I also drink very little beer and alcohol because of poor alcohol tolerance. One or two cups and my face is already red, my head starts to feel lightheaded, so wherever I go, I try to refuse.
That day was a death anniversary party at my wife's house. There were many relatives, the atmosphere was cheerful, so everyone invited me to drink continuously. I refused a few times, but everyone said it's only a rare occasion, if the son-in-law comes home and doesn't drink with the aunts and uncles, it's unhappy.
I didn't want people to think I was approachable, so I finally drank.
One cup and then another. Because I drank less, I absorbed it very quickly. Normally, I almost didn't argue with anyone, but that day the more I drank, the more drunk I became, and the more I talked.
I don't understand how, the story at the dinner table turned to football.
My father-in-law really likes Messi. And I have liked Cristiano Ronaldo for many years. Initially, the two fathers and sons just teased each other, my father said Messi plays football intelligently, technically and deserves to be the best player. I just like Ronaldo, saying he has willpower, fitness, endurance and achievements no less than anyone.
The more I said, the more my father refuted. If my father said one sentence, I had to say two sentences again, no one would agree. A worthless argument gradually turned into an argument, I don't remember exactly when.
I only remember being very enthusiastic at that time. From Messi and Ronaldo, the two fathers and sons started to raise their voices. I forgot I was sitting in front of my father-in-law, and my father was probably also annoyed because his usual quiet son-in-law was arguing to the end today.
Then in a moment of loss of control, I waved my hand and punched my father, causing his nose to bleed.
The whole meal was silent.
Until now, that is still the moment I remember most clearly of that day. I also don't remember how things happened specifically anymore. I only know that when I was sober, thinking back on what I had done, I felt chills.
I punched my father-in-law.
It's a shame. I was both a culprit and a laughing stock for my whole family.
I apologize to my father. I also apologize to my wife's family and wife. But saying sorry is much easier than having to step back into that house afterwards.
For almost a year, I didn't dare to go to my wife's house. Every time my wife was preparing to go to her parents' house, I would find a reason to stay at home. Sometimes I said I had something to do, sometimes I was tired, sometimes I told her to take the child home first. Actually, there was no reason at all. I was just ashamed.
I imagined the scene of just stepping into the yard and seeing my father. I didn't know how to greet him, where to sit, what to say. I even more did not know how those who witnessed the incident that day would look at me.
Normally I have been taciturn. After that, just thinking about having to sit with my father-in-law makes my mind empty.
Sometimes my wife says it's over, I've apologized, so just go home and see my father normally. But for me, it's never been "normal" so quickly.
A guy who is 1m82 tall and weighs 80 kg punches an old man who is 1m6 tall and skinny. And he is also my father-in-law. It's terrible! If Messi or Ronaldo are better, then what does it have to do with my life?
After that, I was even more afraid of alcohol than before. Until now, thinking back to that argument, I still feel both sad and unbelievable.
All that year, my wife still went to her parents' house, and I was almost absent. My father also called to ask about me normally because he knew I was embarrassed, but I still couldn't overcome the shame.
Initially, I thought not returning would reduce embarrassment for both sides. Later, I realized that it was that evasion that made it even harder for me to return.
If I don't come back for a month, I still think I will come back next time. Three months have passed, and I'm even more embarrassed. Half a year later, I started to wonder what my wife's relatives would think. For almost a year, just a meal with my wife's parents has become something that has stressed me for many days.
Please tell me, what should I do to be able to normally go to my parents' house?
