Chapter 8 — Appointment Under the Stars

Two weeks after visiting Mr. Sau, the club decided to organize a small-scale test observation session, inviting some parents and students from lower grades to participate, as a rehearsal before the big event in August.

"This will be the first real test for everything we have prepared," Nhat Quang said during the preparation meeting, his voice both excited and a little nervous. "If this session goes well, we will be much more confident when entering the official event."

Ngoc Han was assigned to host the program, introducing astronomical phenomena that would be observed that evening. This was her first time standing in front of a crowd in such a role, and despite careful preparation, she still couldn't help but feel nervous as that fateful evening approached.

"You'll do well," Nhat Quang reassured her right before the start time, as the two waited at the corner of the terrace, watching the first guests begin to appear. "Your article is very good, I read it and felt moved."

"I'm just afraid that standing in front of a crowd will forget everything," Ngoc Han confessed, clutching the note paper tightly.

"If you forget, just look at me," Nhat Quang said, smiling reassuringly. "I will stand right next to the telescope, if you just glance over I will signal to remind you right away."

Before the guests arrived, the whole group busily prepared the final steps - adding a few posters designed by the eleventh grade girls along the entrance, checking the mini speaker system to ensure the host's voice could reach the last row of seats, rearranging the rows of plastic chairs in an arc around the telescope area.

"Fifteen minutes left," a male friend announced, his voice trembling slightly because he was as nervous as Ngoc Han. "There are already a few parents waiting at the school gate."

Ngoc Han stood looking down at the schoolyard from the rooftop, saw a few scattered figures entering, her palms began to sweat from stress. She repeated the opening of her speech in her head, trying to remember every little detail even though she had practiced it countless times in her room over the past week.

The evening went more smoothly than Ngoc Han expected. She opened with the story about seafarers using stars to navigate that Mr. Sau told. Her voice gradually became more confident when she saw the attentive eyes of the audience, especially the small children sitting in the front row, their eyes wide with excitement at each story.

"And now," she said, ending the introduction, "everyone is invited to admire the night sky through the telescope of our school's Astronomy Club."

Applause rang out, and club members quickly guided each small group to line up and wait for their turn to observe. Ngoc Han stood back, breathed a sigh of relief, a feeling of pride crept into her heart when she saw the group's preparation efforts finally yielding results.

"You did great," Nhat Quang said, walking to stand next to her, his eyes filled with sincere admiration. "I've never seen anyone tell stories about stars so captivatingly, including the professional astronomers I've seen on video."

"You're too complimentary," Ngoc Han replied, her cheeks blushing slightly at the compliment, her hand still clutching the notepaper tightly like a habit she hadn't yet broken.

The Eleventh grade girl, named Thanh Ha, ran over and hugged Ngoc Han, her voice undisguised with joy. "You're so amazing! I thought I had to worry for you, but I didn't expect you to be so calm on stage."

"My heart was shaking a lot," Ngoc Han admitted, smiling, her hands still a little cold from nervousness. "Just trying not to show it."

"But you managed to keep it a secret, really good," Thanh Ha laughed loudly, patting her friend's shoulder intimately, her eyes sparkling with sincere admiration for her new friend in the club.

One of the attending parents, after looking through the telescope, approached the two, his face still shining with excitement.

"Thank you for organizing such a wonderful evening," she said. "My daughter kept mentioning it when she got home, saying she wanted to join this club from next semester."

"Thank you for coming," Nhat Quang replied, bowing his head politely, unable to hide the joy in his voice. "We hope that more children will be interested in astronomy, and maybe your daughter will become a real astronomer in the future."

The mother smiled brightly, nodded her thanks again before leading her daughter out, leaving behind a warm afterglow that lingered in the hearts of the whole group.

A boy about ten years old pulled his mother's sleeve, his eager voice rang out loud enough for everyone around to hear. "Mom, I want to learn to be an astronomer! I want a telescope like this!"

The mother smiled, patted her son's head, then turned to thank Ngoc Han for his inspiring introduction. "You tell stories very well, making my whole family curious to learn more about astronomy."

"Thank you," Ngoc Han replied, touched by that positive feedback, feeling like all the preparation efforts over the past few weeks had finally paid off.

After the guests left one by one, the whole group stayed to clean up their equipment, and the atmosphere was filled with rare excitement. Teacher Dat, who was also present throughout the evening to observe, called the group together before leaving.

"I'm so proud of you guys," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "Tonight proves that our club deserves to continue to exist. I will report this result to the board of directors, hoping to make a good impression before the big event in August."

"I have another good news," Mr. Dat added, the smile still on his lips. "The vice principal just texted me, saying that she had heard a lot of praise from parents about tonight. It seems like the school board has begun to change its view of our club."

"That's great!" The eleventh grade girls shouted, jumping up and down with joy.

"But don't be subjective," Mr. Dat reminded, his voice still maintaining the necessary seriousness. "This is just the beginning. The main event in August is what will determine the true fate of the club. You need to continue to do your best."

"We understand, teacher," Nhat Quang replied, his voice filled with determination. "We will not be subjective."

The whole group shouted with joy, hugging each other to congratulate the initial success. Ngoc Han stood in that joyful atmosphere, clearly feeling a sense of belonging that she had never experienced during many years of living a closed life, isolating herself from deep social relationships. She looked around at the beaming faces of the club members, people whom just a few weeks ago she had considered complete strangers, now such an important part of her daily life, and she wondered how she could have ever thought of refusing to join this club in the first place.

When everyone gradually left, only Ngoc Han and Nhat Quang remained to clean up the last of their equipment. The night sky above was still sparkling with countless stars.

"Thank you for everything you've done tonight," Nhat Quang said, standing next to her looking up at the sky. "Not just today, but all the time. If it weren't for you, I don't think I'd be brave enough to take on such a big event."

"You are the inspiration," Ngoc Han replied, turning to look at him. "If it weren't for your patience, I would never have dared to stand in front of a crowd and tell stories about the stars, which I used to hate."

The two stood there, silent for a moment, only the gentle sound of the night wind and the twinkling stars above their heads testified to that rare moment of peace. Ngoc Han felt her heart beating faster than usual, a feeling both nervous and warm that she no longer wanted to deny or avoid like before.

"Do you remember," Nhat Quang suddenly spoke, his voice deep and warm in the quiet space, "the first night you came to the club, you didn't dare go even one step closer to the telescope?"

"Remember," Ngoc Han laughed lightly. "At that time, I thought I would give up right after the first session."

"And yet now you're standing here, just hosting an excellent show in front of hundreds of people," Nhat Quang said, his eyes filled with sincere admiration. "I'm really happy to have witnessed that change."

Ngoc Han felt her cheeks heat up at that compliment, quickly turned away and looked up at the sky to hide her embarrassment, although inside, a feeling of silent happiness was still spreading throughout her body, warmer than any of the stars shining above their heads at the moment.