Kev Cog Lus (Promises of the Past)

Promises of the Past

Kong and Mai Chow were a young Hmong couple who had known each other since middle school in Sacramento, California. In 1998, Kong's family moved to the Bay Area, where he had to continue his 10th grade at a new high school. Despite the distance, their relationship remained strong. After Kong graduated from high school, he planned to marry Mai Chow, but his father wouldn’t allow him to marry so young. Instead, Kong decided to move back to Sacramento to attend UC Davis with Mai Chow.

One day, Kong, Mai Chow, and her family took a day trip to San Francisco. They visited a place called the Love Lock Bridge, where they bought a lock and made a promise to each other, securing it among millions of others on the railing. After three years of college, Mai Chow discovered she was pregnant. In Hmong culture, if your girlfriend is pregnant, you must marry her. Kong was anxious about his parents' reaction, fearing they would be angry and cause trouble. Nevertheless, he called them to inform them of the situation and to arrange the wedding.

After marrying, Kong knew that Mai Chow would soon deliver their baby, so he had to find a full-time job while continuing his college classes. In January 2004, they welcomed their firstborn son, but their lives became increasingly stressful. Balancing work and school proved difficult, and financial challenges added to their strain. Kong decided to quit school to focus on work while Mai Chow continued her studies, but she was close to graduation and couldn’t leave her education behind.

The tension escalated, leading to frequent arguments. One night, in a moment of anger, Kong hurt Mai Chow badly, prompting her to run to her parents’ house, never to return. Their parents intervened, leading to a divorce, and Kong moved back in with his parents in the Bay Area.

Eventually, Kong met a Vietnamese girl named Lin. Their relationship blossomed, and a year later, they planned a trip to San Francisco, visiting the same Love Lock Bridge. The memories of his past with Mai Chow resurfaced when Lin suggested they buy a lock to symbolize their trust. Kong declined, having lost faith in such promises, which upset Lin and soured their trip. Days later, Lin informed Kong that their relationship was over because she had found someone new. Feeling sad and lonely, Kong resolved to focus on his future and return to college.

One day, Kong visited the Love Lock Bridge one last time. There, he spotted an Asian woman looking at the locks. He overheard her talking about releasing her promises and wishing for good luck in the future. Recognizing her voice, he softly called out, "Mai Chow, is that you?" She turned and walked away without responding. Kong watched her approach a Hmong man nearby, realizing she had likely moved on.

Years later, in 2013, Kong traveled to Laos, where he met his new wife, and they married. He brought her to the USA to continue his life journey. It was a bittersweet ending, but both he and Mai Chow found individual happiness in their separate lives.