Chapter 9 — Pride And Scholarship

On weekends, to cover living expenses, Hoai An took a part-time job at a coffee shop near the commercial center, where Royal School students often visit on weekends. She wore the restaurant's uniform, her hair tied neatly, and busily served tables during busy rush hours.

Saturday afternoon, Bao Tran and a group of friends stopped by this cafe after a shopping session, not knowing that the waiter approaching their table was Hoai An. When they recognized each other, they were both stunned for a moment.

“Eh, isn't this…” Diem Quynh spoke first, her voice filled with surprise and excitement, “a scholarship student in my class?”

Hoai An tried to stay calm, even though a feeling of embarrassment was rising in her heart. “Hello guys, what do you want?” she asked, her voice trying to maintain the professionalism of a waitress.

Bao Tran looked at Hoai An from head to toe, her eyes showed surprise, but quickly turned into a familiar sarcastic smile. “I didn't expect you to work part-time here,” she said, her voice deliberately loud so that the surrounding tables could hear, “it's strange for Royal School students to have to carry and serve others.”

A few giggles rang out from Bao Tran's group of friends, making Hoai An feel her face hot with embarrassment. She tried to stay calm, not letting those sarcastic words make her lose control during working hours.

“Every job deserves respect,” Hoai An replied, her voice still remaining calm even though her heart was deeply hurt, “I don't see anything shameful in making money with my honest labor.”

"Well, I don't mean to criticize anything," Bao Tran said, her voice still holding a sarcastic tone, "I'm just a little surprised. Give me a cup of pearl milk tea, a little sugar."

Hoai An recorded the order, trying to keep a professional smile even though he was suffering an indescribable humiliation in his heart. She turned her back and walked towards the counter, clearly feeling the eyes still watching her from behind.

The restaurant manager, witnessing the entire situation, pulled Hoai An to a corner after the order was transferred to the kitchen. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice full of concern, "If those guests cause trouble, just say so, I'll let someone else serve that table for you."

“I'm fine, sister,” Hoai An replied, trying to smile reassuringly, “I'm used to being looked down upon by others, it's okay.”

But in reality, when returning to serve Bao Tran's table with a glass of milk tea, Hoai An still couldn't avoid feeling deeply hurt by that public disdain. She put the tea cup on the table, tried to maintain a professional attitude, turned and walked away without revealing any negative emotions.

That night, at the end of his shift, Hoai An sat alone in the corner of an empty restaurant, tears finally flowing uncontrollably. She took the phone and was about to call Thao Nhi to confide in her, but then stopped, telling herself that she needed to be stronger and couldn't keep letting other people's sarcasm affect her spirit like that.

Meanwhile, on the way home, one of Bao Tran's friends, Thuy Duong, seemed guilty about her group's actions just now. “Do you think me? Isn't that a bit too much for that girl?” she asked Bao Tran, her voice somewhat reserved.

“I'm just telling the truth,” Bao Tran replied, but her voice no longer held the same confidence as it did at the shop, it was a bit more shaky.

“But looking at her eyes at that time, I felt so guilty,” Thuy Duong continued, “she both studied well and worked hard to help the family, she should have been admired, not ridiculed like that.”

Those words made Bao Tran silent, not responding, but an uncomfortable feeling arose in her heart, not because she was angry with Thuy Duong, but because she also implicitly realized that that comment was not wrong.

Returning home, Bao Tran lay on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. The image of Hoai An serving with an expression trying to stay calm even though she was clearly hurt kept appearing in her mind. For the first time, she felt a flicker of regret at her own actions, though she wasn't ready to admit it explicitly, even to herself.

She took her phone and intended to text an apology, but then deleted it, not knowing how to start, and not sure whether Hoai An was willing to accept an apology from the person who had continuously caused her trouble all this time. She put down the phone, sighed, letting her confusing emotions settle down in the quiet night.

As for Hoai An, after calming down, she dried her tears, telling herself not to let those sarcastic words defeat her spirit. She took the phone and finally decided to call Thao Nhi, not to complain, but to find a familiar spiritual support to help her regain balance.

“Are you okay?” Thao Nhi asked as soon as she heard her best friend's somewhat hoarse voice, "What's going on?"

Hoai An recounted the whole incident, her voice still shaking with self-pity. Thao Nhi listened attentively, without interrupting, letting her friend vent all her pent-up emotions.

“That girl is really too much,” Thao Nhi said, her voice filled with indignation when Hoai An finished, “but you know, I think it's because you can do things she doesn't dare to do — be independent, earn her own money, don't rely on anyone — that's why she feels threatened and has to find a way to humiliate you like that.”

“I don't know,” Hoai An sighed, “I'm just tired of having to constantly face things like this.”

“You have done very well,” Thao Nhi encouraged, her voice warm, “don't let a few mean words make you forget what you have achieved. You're good, you're hard-working, you deserve everything you have."

Those sincere words of encouragement helped Hoai An gradually regain his spirit. She thanked her best friend, hung up the phone, then stood up and prepared to leave, telling herself that no matter how many challenges lay ahead, she would not let herself be defeated by anyone's meaningless sarcasm, including a haughty lady like Bao Tran.

On the way home, she stopped by the hospital to visit her mother before closing time, trying to keep a bright face so as not to worry her mother. But Ms. Hanh, with the sensitivity of a mother, still immediately realized that something was wrong.

“What's the matter, child?” she asked, holding her daughter's hand, her eyes filled with worry.

Hoai An hesitated for a moment, then decided to retell part of the story, although the harshest details were omitted so that her mother would not be too hurt. After hearing this, Ms. Hanh squeezed her daughter's hand tightly, her voice filled with sadness but no less firm.

"Son," she said, "I know you are suffering many disadvantages compared to your peers. But remember, honest work is never something to be ashamed of. It is thanks to your hard work and independence that our family has been able to overcome the difficulties over the years."

“I know, Mom,” Hoai An replied, resting her head on her mother's shoulder, clearly feeling the familiar warmth even in the cold space of the hospital, “I'm just a little sad, but I won't let this discourage me.”

Ms. Hanh rubbed her daughter's head, her eyes filled with love and pride. “I am proud of you,” she said, “not because of your scores or achievements, but because you always maintain your self-esteem and sincerity, no matter how many difficulties and challenges you face.”

That word of encouragement was like a valuable spiritual medicine, helping Hoai An regain the necessary stability before leaving the hospital to return home, mentally preparing for a new school week full of unpredictable challenges.

On Monday morning, when Hoai An walked into class, she did not know that the story about her being caught working as a waitress had spread among Bao Tran's friend group, although luckily it had not spread to the whole school. Minh Khoi, sitting next to her as usual, immediately recognized the unusually tired look on his tablemate's face.

“Is something wrong with you?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

Hoai An hesitated for a moment, then briefly recounted the events of the weekend, trying to keep his voice calm even though there was still some warmth in his heart. After Minh Khoi heard, his face showed anger on her behalf.

“Bao Tran has really crossed the line,” he said, his voice hard, “I will talk to him directly about this.”

"There's no need," Hoai An quickly stopped, "I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I just need time to get better. I'm used to having to prove myself against prejudice."

“But you don't deserve to endure that,” Minh Khoi said, his eyes determined, “your part-time job is something to be proud of, not something for others to make fun of.”

That sincere support made Hoai An feel warm, although deep down, she still couldn't help but worry that Minh Khoi's increasingly obvious concern for her might make the relationship between her and Bao Tran even more complicated in the future, when she realized that Bao Tran's eyes often followed her every time she and Minh Khoi talked intimately.