Chapter 15 — Elections and Hearts

Two days after the confession, Ms. Ha arranged an official meeting at the Student Council advisory room, witnessed by Mr. Bao, between Gia Huy, Ngoc and Khang. The atmosphere in the room was tense from the moment the three people walked in and sat down in three chairs, a sufficient distance apart.

"I invited you all here," Ms. Ha began, "to create conditions for a frank conversation, helping to completely resolve all questions before entering the final phase of the election campaign."

Huy sat silently for a moment, his hands clasped tightly on his thighs, then raised his head to look straight at Ngoc and Khang. “I'm sorry,” he said, his voice shaky but clear. "I spread rumors about Ngoc's scholarship, and cut together private messages between the two of them. I know an apology cannot erase the hurt I've caused, but I'm really, really sorry."

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath before continuing, as if trying to say everything he had kept hidden for so long. "I also want you two to know, it was never because I hated you two. I just... I was so afraid of being forgotten, of being left behind, that I lost my reason and did things I knew were wrong. I have no reason to justify my actions, I just want you two to understand the root of it."

Ngoc listened to every word, feeling the sincerity in that trembling voice. She remembered her difficult days in 10th grade, the feeling of fear of being left behind and forgotten also haunted her a lot, even though she chose a different path to face it.

Ngoc looked at Huy for a long time, filled with mixed emotions - the hurt was still there, but there was also an unexpected sympathy when thinking about the back story that she had been briefly told by Ms. Ha before the meeting.

"I accept your apology," Ngoc said finally, her voice calm but sincere. "Not because what you did was right, but because I believe, everyone deserves a chance to correct their mistakes if they are truly sorry."

Khang nodded in agreement. "Me too. But Huy, I hope you understand, once lost, trust takes a very long time to rebuild. This is not an easy ending with just an apology."

"I understand," Huy nodded, his eyes red. "I am willing to accept any form to atone for this mistake, including withdrawing from the election race altogether."

Ms. Ha spoke up, her voice considered. "Regarding withdrawal, I think we should let the school board decide based on the official level of discipline, instead of making a hasty decision. But I want to propose something else, Huy — instead of simply being punished, do you want to participate directly in overcoming the consequences?"

"What do you mean?" Huy asked, not understanding clearly.

"The Companion Scholarship Fund that Ngoc proposed requires a lot of effort to build a transparent and reliable mechanism," Ms. Ha explained. "If Ngoc and Khang agree, I think you can join the foundation's initial executive board, directly contributing to ensuring the transparency that your own actions once called into question. That would be a much more meaningful way to atone than simply withdrawing in silence."

Huy was surprised by that proposal, turned to look at Ngoc and Khang with questioning eyes, no Dare to hope too much.

Ngoc thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I think it's a good idea. If Huy really wants to correct his mistakes, this will be an opportunity for him to prove it with concrete actions, not just words."

"I agree," Khang continued. "But I also say frankly, Huy will have to work under strict supervision at first, to rebuild trust step by step, there are no shortcuts."

Huy nodded immediately, his voice choked with emotion. "I agree to all the conditions. Thank you both... thank you for giving me this opportunity, even though I know I don't deserve it."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Huy," Ngoc said, her voice gentle, "as long as you actually use it to become a better version of yourself, not to repeat the same mistakes."

The meeting ended in a much more relieved atmosphere than at the beginning. When Huy left the room first, Ms. Ha kept Ngoc and Khang there for a few more minutes.

"I'm very proud of the way you two handled this," Ms. Ha said, her eyes filled with appreciation. "Not everyone is tolerant enough to give someone who has hurt them a chance to make things right."

"We learned that from this journey, teacher," Khang replied, glancing at Ngoc with affectionate eyes. "If it weren't for the recent challenges, perhaps we wouldn't have realized that sometimes, real victory is not about defeating opponents, but about helping everyone around us become better."

Ms. Ha smiled and nodded in appreciation at the obvious growth of both of her students after the past series of turbulent days. "There's one more thing," she added, her voice suddenly becoming mysterious. "Ngoc, when reviewing the old records of the anonymous scholarship fund the year you received support, I accidentally discovered an interesting detail that I think you should know."

Ngoc and Khang looked at each other, both curious about that unexpected suggestion.

"What details?" Ngoc asked, her heart beating faster because she had a feeling that something important was about to be revealed.

Ms. Ha opened her desk drawer and took out an old file that was discolored with time. "I think, perhaps it's better to let you discover this on your own, with the help of someone who I believe will also be very interested in this detail," she said, her eyes glancing meaningfully at Khang, making both young people even more confused and curious about what was about to be revealed.

She flipped open the file to a specific page, pointing to a line of handwritten ink that had faded over the years. "This is the list of original contributors to that year's anonymous scholarship fund. Most of the names have been requested to be kept confidential under a confidentiality agreement, but there is one name here that, I think, will surprise you both."

Ngoc and Khang both bent down to look at the page, trying to read the faded handwriting clearly. Khang was the first to notice, his face suddenly turned pale.

"This... this is my father's signature," Khang said, his voice shaking with surprise, his finger pointing to a familiar name neatly abbreviated at the corner of the page.

Ngoc looked in the direction of Khang's hand, her heart pounding when she realized exactly what she had just heard. "You mean... your dad was one of the people who secretly helped me that year?"

Ms. Ha nodded slightly, a gentle smile appeared on her lips. "She only just discovered it when checking Review old files last week. I think this is a meaningful coincidence that you both should find out more about on your own, perhaps together."

Leaving the consulting room, Ngoc and Khang stood silently in the hallway for a long time, both still shocked by that unexpected discovery.

"I can't believe it," Ngoc muttered, still stunned. "Over the years, I have always wondered who silently helped my family get through the most difficult times. I never thought that the answer would be directly related to you, the person I coincidentally met on this very campaign stage."

"Me too," Khang said, his voice still shaking with emotion. "My father never mentioned this, not even once. Maybe he didn't want anyone to know, including me."

"Are you going to ask your dad about this?" Ngoc asked, her eyes full of curiosity and nervousness.

Khang pondered for a moment, then nodded decisively. "Yes. I think it's time for me to talk frankly with my dad about many things, not just this. Do you want to come with me, Ngoc? I think, this is also your story, no less than mine."

Ngoc hesitated a bit at that unexpected suggestion, but then nodded. "Okay. I think I should also thank the people who helped my family that year, no matter how late. Perhaps this is the way to close a circle that has been left open for many years."

The two looked at each other, and a new connection, much deeper than mere friendship or election rivalry, gradually formed between them — an unexpected bond that neither of them could have imagined before, now waiting to be fully discovered in the coming days.