Chapter 29 — No One Wants to Lose

The months after the city-level tournament passed quickly in the rush of graduation exams and university preparation, but the Chess Club still maintained regular activities, now with much more abundant funding and the number of new members skyrocketed after impressive achievements in the city-level tournament.

Lam Khe, despite being busy studying for exams, still tries to arrange time to go to the club every week, partly because of the love she has rediscovered for chess, partly because she does not want to leave her friends, and especially Nam Phong, too soon before the end of her senior year.

"Which school are you planning to enter?" Nam Phong asked during an afternoon when they studied together in the school library, which had become a familiar place for both of them since their first sessions together analyzing classic chess games.

"I plan to take the exam to major in Psychology," Lam Khe replied, a decision she had thought carefully about for many months. "I think, after everything I've been through, I want to learn to understand more deeply about human psychology, about how people deal with fear, with trauma from the past. Maybe one day, I can help others who are going through what I went through."

Nam Phong looked at her with eyes full of admiration. “It's a great choice,” he said, his voice sincere. "You will become an excellent psychologist, I'm sure of that."

"What about you?" Lam Khe asked again, curious about the future plans of her lover.

"I plan to take the entrance exam to major in Mathematics Education," Nam Phong replied. "I think, I like teaching and inspiring others, like the way Mr. Hung has done with our club over the years. Besides," he smiled, "I think I still want to continue teaching chess, maybe open a small class on weekends when I have time."

"Sounds very suitable for you," Lam Khe smiled, feeling warmed by the compatibility between their dreams - despite studying in two different majors, they both aim to help and understand others in their own ways.

The graduation exam was stressful but smooth for both of them, and not long after, Trung Vuong's graduation day arrived, marking the end of an important chapter in their lives.

The graduation ceremony took place in the school yard, brightly decorated with flags, flowers and colorful ribbons. Lam Khe stood in the ranks of twelfth grade students, wearing a formal uniform, her heart filled with mixed emotions - both proud of what she had achieved, and a bit scared at the thought of having to leave the school she had been with for the past three years.

When it was the Chess Club's turn to be honored on stage for its outstanding achievements during the school year, Mr. Hung stepped up to speak, his voice filled with emotion. "Our club, a year ago, was at risk of dissolution," he said, looking down at the members standing below. "But thanks to the tireless efforts of the students, especially those who are graduating today, the club was not only saved, but also achieved unprecedented achievements in history. I am proud to be the advisor of such a group."

Lam Khe and Nam Phong, along with Quang Minh and Duc Anh, were invited on stage to receive a special certificate of merit from the school. As she stood on the stage, looking down at the crowd of students, parents, and teachers applauding and congratulating her, Lam Khe couldn't help but remember the long journey she had gone through - from a girl who only knew how to play to not lose, to someone who had learned how to dare to attack, dare to love, and dare to live fully with her own passion.

After the ceremony, family and friends gathered at the school yard to take commemorative photos. Lam Khe's parents stood next to her, both of them could not hide the radiant pride on their faces. Yen Chi, although not in the same graduating class this year because she is one year younger, was also present to congratulate her best friend, hugging Lam Khe emotionally.

"I will miss you very much when you go to college," Yen Chi said, her eyes slightly red. "But I know, wherever you are, you will shine in your own way."

"We will still see each other often," Lam Khe reassured, tightly hugging her best friend who had accompanied her through many ups and downs throughout her student years. "Thank you, for everything, especially for pushing me into the internal chess tournament last year without asking first."

They both laughed at that memory, which has now become a memorable story, an accidental but fateful beginning for a journey that changed Lam Khe's life.

Nam Phong came to her after Yen Chi left to take photos with a group of other friends, holding two glasses of sugarcane juice bought from a stall near the school gate. "How does it feel, officially graduating?" he asked, handing her a drink.

"It's both happy and a little sad," Lam Khe answered honestly, accepting the glass of sugarcane juice. "I will miss this school very much, miss room 203, miss the afternoons of practicing with the team."

"We'll create new memories," Nam Phong said, holding her other hand. "University is not far away, and I believe, no matter what the road ahead is, we will still find a way to continue to walk together."

Lam Khe nodded, resting her head lightly on his shoulder for a moment, looking at the schoolyard bustling with laughter and chatter around, the late afternoon sunlight covering everything in a warm, gentle yellow color. She thought about the journey of the past year, about all the challenges, the wrong moves, the moments when she almost wanted to give up, and about how she had learned, step by step, how to face her own life without fear.

"Thank you," she said softly, looking at Nam Phong with eyes full of affection. "For being the first person to see something in me that I never dared to believe myself."

"Thank you," Nam Phong replied, gently squeezing her hand, "for being brave enough to believe in it."

They stood there, in the bustling school yard with the farewell atmosphere, hand in hand, looking towards the future with all the trust and hope that they had built together through the most tumultuous but also meaningful school year of their lives up to this point.

Late that afternoon, after most of the students and parents had left, Lam Khe asked his parents for permission to stop by room 203 one last time before leaving school. Nam Phong went with her, the two quietly walked up the familiar stairs, along the third floor hallway that had marked so many of their memories over the past year.

Room 203 was quiet on the last afternoon of the school year, the sunlight streaming through the window covered the neatly arranged chess boards with a familiar soft golden light. Lam Khe stood in the middle of the room, looked around, letting each memory rush back - the first afternoon she timidly walked through this door, the first chess game with Nam Phong, the hard training sessions, both the tense and warm moments that created her journey to maturity.

"Do you remember the first time you came here?" Nam Phong asked, standing next to her, also reminiscing about similar memories.

"Remember," Lam Khe smiled. "I stood outside the door for several minutes, not daring to go in, until Yen Chi pushed me inside."

"And now look at you," Nam Phong said, his voice full of pride. "From a girl who didn't dare walk through this door, to a city-level individual champion. It's been an incredible journey, Lam Khe."

Lam Khe walked to the glass cabinet where the trophies and medals the club had won in the past year were placed. His eyes stopped at his own personal medal, solemnly placed next to the regional championship trophy and city runner-up trophy. "I'm going to miss this place so much," she said, her voice a little choked up.

"This place will always be here, waiting for you to come back to visit whenever you want," Nam Phong said, gently holding her hand. "And who knows, maybe in a few years, we will return here as alumni visiting the old club, telling the next class about our journey."

Lam Khe smiled, imagining that scenario with a pleasant warmth. “I like that idea,” she said. "Maybe we'll tell them about how no one wants to lose, but sometimes, it's daring to accept the possibility of losing that helps us find the most meaningful victories in life."

They stood quietly for a moment longer in the empty room, enjoying that last moment of peace before walking out together, closing the door of room 203 behind them, taking with them all their precious memories to enter the next chapter of their lives, with a heart full of gratitude and hope.