Chapter 25 — No One Wants to Lose

With the team list finalized, the Chess Club entered the sprint preparation phase for the city-level tournament, scheduled to take place three weeks later at a large gymnasium in the city center, gathering the best representatives from all regions.

During that time, the relationship between Lam Khe and Nam Phong continued to develop in a warmer, closer direction than ever. They spend a lot of time together, not only in official practice sessions, but also in their free afternoons reviewing lessons together, going for walks, or simply sitting and chatting at a familiar tea shop.

One Saturday afternoon, when the two were sitting in the park after a light practice session, Nam Phong suddenly asked, his voice unusually hesitant. "Lam Khe, can I ask you something?"

"Okay," she replied, a little curious at the unusual seriousness in his voice.

"Do you still remember the club meeting, when Bao Ngoc teased you about me being the 'hot commodity of the block'?" he asked, the corner of his mouth curled up into a shy smile.

Lam Khe laughed, her cheeks turned slightly pink as she remembered that memory. "Remember, why suddenly bring that up?"

"Because I think, it's time for me to say clearly what I've wanted to say for a long time," Nam Phong replied, taking a deep breath to gain courage. "Lam Khe, I like you. Not just as a friend or a teammate in the club, but like the way a boy likes a girl. I've felt this for a long time, but I've always hesitated for fear of ruining the beautiful relationship we've built, especially after everything we just went through."

Lam Khe sat silently for a while, her heart pounding in her chest, although in her heart, that feeling was not strange - she had felt the change in her feelings for Nam Phong many weeks ago, but had never had the courage to face it clearly.

"Me too," she said, her voice quiet but firm, no longer evasive like before. "I think I've liked you for a long time, maybe since the first afternoon I visited room 203, when you talked about the missed climax. But I'm also scared, scared that if I let myself truly love someone, I'll fall into a situation where I could lose something important, like how my dad lost everything back then."

"You don't have to be afraid of that with me," Nam Phong said, gently holding her hand. "I don't promise that we will never have difficulties, because I think no relationship is completely smooth. But I promise, I will always try to listen, understand, and work with you to overcome all difficulties, instead of letting you face them alone."

Lam Khe felt tears rising, but this time they were tears of complete happiness. She looked at Nam Phong, who had patiently accompanied her throughout this challenging journey, who taught her how to dare to attack not only on the chess board but also in life, and now, who was opening up to her in the most sincere way.

"I agree," she said, smiling through her tears. "I want to try, with you, even though there may be risks and difficulties ahead. I think, this is the kind of calculated risk that you always told me about - not blind recklessness, but daring to believe in something because there is enough basis to believe that it is worth it."

Nam Phong laughed at the way she applied chess lessons to this situation, his eyes filled with happiness. "That's exactly what I meant," he replied, then gently pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers for a peaceful, warm moment.

"So what are we to each other now?" Lam Khe asked, her voice a bit confused and happy.

"I think, we are two people playing a new game of chess together," Nam Phong replied, smiling. "A game of chess that both want to win, but not by defeating the other, but by building something good together."

Lam Khe smiled, feeling her heart filled with a warmth she had never fully experienced before. They sat together until it was completely dark, hand in hand, talking about future plans, about the upcoming tournament, about the dreams that they both cherished but had never dared to share with anyone else.

On the way home that night, Lam Khe texted Yen Chi, telling the whole story with an excitement that was hard to hide. Yen Chi responded immediately with a series of overly celebratory messages, along with the teasing: "I said it from the beginning, you two will get together sooner or later!"

Lam Khe smiled as she read the message, her heart filled with happiness. When she got home, she told her parents about her new relationship, and both of them were happy to receive the news, especially her father, who had the opportunity to meet Nam Phong several times and always had a good impression of him.

"I believe he's a good person," her father said, a warm smile appearing on his face. "And more importantly, I see you're truly happy when you're with him. That's the most important thing."

That night, before going to bed, Lam Khe sat in front of the old wooden chessboard, looking at the two kings standing opposite each other as usual, but for the first time, she no longer saw that image as a symbol of deadlock, of a chess position that would never win or lose. Instead, she sees a beautiful balance — both sides co-exist and develop together, it is not necessary for one side to completely win for the relationship to be meaningful.

She smiled, turned off the lights, and fell asleep with a heart full of hope, ready for the next chapters of her life — not just on the chessboard, but in all the other aspects of life she had learned to engage fearlessly.

On Monday morning, when Lam Khe arrived at school, news about the new relationship between her and Nam Phong spread quickly throughout the twelfth grade, partly thanks to Duc Anh's inability to keep the secret after accidentally seeing the two holding hands in the cafeteria last weekend. Lam Khe walked into class a little embarrassed by the curious eyes and some gentle teasing from her classmates, but she realized that she no longer felt like she wanted to shrink and hide her true feelings like before.

"Congratulations," a classmate said as he passed her desk, winking meaningfully. "The whole school says you and the head of the Chess Club are dating."

"Thank you," Lam Khe replied, smiling naturally, no longer dodging like she had done with similar questions before.

At recess, Yen Chi pulled her to a familiar corner of the yard, hugging her best friend excitedly. "I'm so happy for you," she said, her eyes sparkling. "You know, looking at you now, you look completely different from the person you were a year ago. That day you didn't even dare to try anything new, now..." Yen Chi laughed loudly, "now you just won the chess regional championship and have a boyfriend who is the club president, life is changing really fast."

"I didn't expect things to change so quickly," Lam Khe admitted, looking out at the schoolyard where a few students were playing in the sun. "But I think, that's what I've learned over the past year or so — sometimes, the best changes only come when you're brave enough to step out of your comfort zone."

"You've come a long way, Lam Khe," Yen Chi said, a sincerity in her voice that was rarely seen amid everyday jokes. "From a friend who only knew how to play for a draw, she has now become a person who dares to love and live her life to the fullest. I'm very proud of you."

Lam Khe was touched by that sincere compliment from her friend who had always been by her side throughout the most difficult years. "Thank you," she said, hugging Yen Chi. "For always believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."

That afternoon, in room 203, Nam Phong welcomed her with a bright smile, not hiding his happiness in front of the other club members, who also gradually learned the news and sent sincere congratulations to both of them. Teacher Hung, when hearing the news, just smiled kindly and said that he had predicted this a long time ago, making both of them feel embarrassed.

"Now then," Mr. Hung said, his voice joking but still maintaining the necessary seriousness, "you two, remember not to let your love life affect your concentration for the city-level tournament. There are only three weeks left."

"Yes, we understand," both replied in unison, looking at each other and smiling, filled with determination for the journey ahead, which is now not just a personal journey for Lam Khe alone, but a journey they will continue together, hand in hand, with all the understanding and trust that has been forged through many challenges.