Chapter 28 — Puppets Under the Lights

The weeks following the county festival passed in an atmosphere of lasting excitement. The article about Nguyen Du School's Water Puppet Club was published in the local newspaper, accompanied by pictures of an impressive performance and a touching story about Minh Long's journey to preserve his heritage, attracting the attention of many people, including a number of other schools in the area who expressed interest in learning the club's operating model.

The number of members registering to join the club skyrocketed after the article, forcing Diem My and Minh Long to organize additional selection sessions and arrange new practice schedules to ensure the quality of training is not affected. Teacher Phuc, with new financial support from the District Department of Culture, also began planning to invite another local artisan to assist in teaching, reducing the burden on Minh Long as he entered the important period of studying for graduation exams.

While busy with both studies and club activities, the relationship between Minh Long and Diem My gradually became closer and more stable. The two now openly reveal their relationship to friends and family, no longer hiding simple intimate gestures like holding hands on the way home, or affectionate glances exchanged during practice.

One weekend afternoon, while the two of them were studying at a small cafe near school, Diem My mentioned a topic that they were both gradually having to face. "Have you thought about what major you'll study after graduation?" she asked, her eyes still glued to the Math textbook in front of her.

Minh Long put down his pen and thought for a moment before answering. "I've decided," he said. "I will apply to major in Fine Arts Education, combined with courses on intangible cultural heritage preservation if the school has that program. I want to become a teacher, like Mr. Phuc, but also want to continue to research more deeply about the art of water puppetry, so that I can contribute to preserving it in a more systematic way."

"It was a great choice," Diem My said, her eyes shining with pride. "I think you will become an excellent teacher. Just looking at the way you teach everyone in the club is enough to know."

"What about you?" Minh Long asked again, curious.

Diem My smiled, a bit hesitantly. "I'm also considering a major in Art and Cultural Management, at the same university you plan to apply to. I think, if we both study there, we can still continue to support the club, and can even organize exchanges between the university and our old club."

Hearing that, Minh Long could not hide the happy smile spreading across his face. "So we're going to the same school?"

"If everything goes well," Diem My nodded, "and if you don't mind having me by your side for four more years of college."

"I don't mind at all," Minh Long replied, taking her hand across the table, "in fact, I'm looking forward to it more than anything else."

They both laughed, a sense of relief and happiness spreading between them as they realized that, although the road ahead was still uncertain, at least they would not have to face the separation anxiety that many high school senior couples often experience when entering the threshold of college.

In the following weeks, Minh Long spent most of his time studying for exams. Although he still tried to maintain club instruction on weekends, he now had additional support from newly invited artisans, helping to significantly reduce the pressure. He also spent the weekend continuing his work in the small workshop corner that his father had rearranged in the attic of the house, where he began to try his hand at carving a new puppet, this time entirely from his own ideas, not his father's unfinished work.

"What puppet are you going to make?" his mother asked one evening, when she saw her son toiling at the small desk in the attic.

"I wanted to make a slightly innovative puppet," Minh Long explained, "combining the traditional techniques he taught me with some new design ideas I learned through books. I think that's also a way to continue the legacy — not only keeping what's already there, but also developing and creating more based on that foundation."

His mother smiled, her eyes filled with pride as she looked at her son, now not only the heir to his legacy, but also becoming a young craftsman with his own ideas and vision. “He will certainly be happy to see you doing this,” she said. "He always said that art needs to live, breathe, change with the times, and cannot always stand still."

One evening at the end of the month, when the graduation exam was approaching, Diem My stopped by Minh Long's house to study together, and during a break, she went up to the attic to see the new puppet he was making. The puppet, shaped like a stylized swallow, has both traditional and modern lines. The wings are designed to flap gently when controlled, creating a vivid flying effect on the water surface.

"So beautiful," Diem My admired, looking at the puppet with obvious interest. "What are you going to do with it?"

"I think, maybe this will be my graduation gift to the club," Minh Long said, smiling. "A symbol of new beginnings, of what the next generation can continue to create, building on the foundation he and the whole club have built."

Diem My looked at him with eyes full of love and admiration, feeling more deeply than ever the incredible growth journey that the boy next to her had gone through, from a closed, miserable person, to a young artisan full of passion and vision for the future.

The weeks leading up to the graduation exam passed quickly in a stressful study pace, interspersed with evenings where the two of them studied together, occasionally taking breaks with conversations about the future, about plans after entering university, and even small plans such as returning to visit the club together at every major festival, even though at that time they were both freshmen busy with their new lives.

One evening, while solving a difficult math problem, Minh Long suddenly stopped writing and looked at Diem My who was attentively reading a Literature book in front of her, the study lamp shining a warm yellow light on her face. "You know," he said, "I often think about it, if last year, when you first came to see me, I had resolutely refused to the end, not changing my mind, then maybe my life would be a lot different right now."

"How different do you think it will be?" Diem My asked, looking up at him.

"I think, maybe I will forever be immersed in pain, closed to everything around me," Minh Long replied, his voice thoughtful. "I will never be able to complete your dragon puppet, I will never find the joy in teaching again, and certainly, I will not have you by my side like I do now."

Diem My smiled, put down the book, and held his hand. "But you didn't refuse until the end," she said softly. "You were brave enough to open your heart, even if it was just one small step at a time. That's what's important, Long. It's not that you've never suffered or been afraid, it's that you've chosen not to let that fear dictate your entire life."

Minh Long nodded and gently squeezed her hand. A feeling of deep gratitude rose in his heart when thinking about everything that had happened over the past year - from the extreme pain of loss, to the arduous yet meaningful journey of healing, and now, to a future full of hope that he and the person he loves are building every day.

That night, after Diem My returned, Minh Long went up to the attic, sat next to the unfinished swallow puppet, and continued his carving work under the light of a small table lamp. He worked while thinking about the conversation just now, about how Diem My saw in him a courage that he, at times, still doubted whether he really possessed or not.

He remembered the first afternoon she appeared at his door, holding a file in her hand, her eyes both nervous and determined. He remembered the emphatic "no" he had given back then, and felt a deep gratitude that, even though he had refused, she still did not give up, still waited patiently, still left an open door, until he had the courage to step through it.

He carefully put down the carving knife and looked at the unfinished work in front of him. The swallow's wings had begun to take shape, soft and lively. He smiled, thinking that perhaps, everyone's healing journey begins with such a small moment - a door left open, a patience that asks for nothing in return, and finally, a step brave enough to step over the threshold of fear, towards the light.