Chapter 23 — Second Floor Library Girl

Ngoc refused a family party on the same day the school held a second opinion session about the building.

Her father wanted to invite partners and relatives to the hotel to celebrate An Nhien publishing her millionth book. Mom sent the dress, the makeup artist and the car schedule. Ngoc looked at the calendar and saw that the group had to present their plan at the same time.

“You can attend for an hour and then go,” dad said over the phone.

“No time.”

“It's a family event.”

“The opinion gathering session is also something I have committed to.”

Dad, shut up. “You can't give up everything for a reading room.”

"I didn't leave my family. I chose to keep the promise I made to the group."

“You speak as if you are writing a legal letter.”

“Because I'm talking like someone who sent me a calendar.”

The call ended unhappily.

At school, Ngoc did not immediately tell the story of the party. She prepared a presentation with Minh Chau, Lam and the consulting team. Phuc sent from another city a copy of the approach inspection, clearly stating the points that need to be corrected.

“He still works even though he's not here,” Bao said.

“Don't use that to force yourself,” Ngoc replied.

“I'm forcing you.”

Ngoc looked at Bao. “I didn't attend the party because I wanted to go to the meeting, not because of Phuc.”

“I haven't said yet.”

“Your face says.”

The consultation session took place at the school yard. Neighborhood representatives wanted to know if the new center would be open to people from outside the school. One parent suggested keeping the old house as a legacy. A group of students wants the sports area to be fixed first.

Ngoc presented the plan to "keep the second floor, renovate each part, add access and book storage on the first floor". The plan is not perfect, the cost is higher than expected, but there is a phased implementation schedule.

Hoang Duy presented the new construction plan. He added an elevator, engine room, and living area. The two drawings are placed next to each other, with no clear winner.

Representative An Nhien asked if the second floor was kept, to what extent could the students be responsible. Ngoc said students cannot be responsible for the school, but can participate in operations, report errors and evaluate.

One parent asked who would pay after the first year. Minh Chau provided an estimate table and possible sources of support. Lam reminded that there is no such thing as a "commitment" if it has not been signed.

Bao stood next to the board and said: "And we need a budget for book wrapping paper, because people keep forgetting to buy it."

The audience laughed, but a teacher took notes.

The meeting lasted until evening. Ngoc received a text message from her mother: "If you don't go to the party, your father will be sad." Ngoc replied: "I know. I will call later."

The consultation session ended by requesting two additional options for financial planning and impact assessment. No decision yet. Ngoc exhaled.

On the way home, she called her father. Music from the hotel echoed through the phone.

“I'm sorry for not attending.”

“I don't need you to apologize for doing what you chose.”

“Are you angry?”

"I'm a little disappointed. But I also heard your presentation from Mr. Khai."

“Dad, do you see me leaving my family?”

“No. I see you're trying to do something meaningful.”

Ngoc shut up.

“But you also have to remember,” my father said, “the family won't know what you need if you don't say it.”

Ngoc asked: "Are you talking about me or about the second floor?"

"Both."

After the call, she felt lighter. She doesn't need to win in every choice. She just needs to make it clear what she chooses and accept other people's feelings.

The next day, her mother sent her a box of cakes from the party. There was a card: “Save it until your meeting is over.” Ngoc brought it to the library. Bao looked at the cake box and asked if it was considered a sponsorship.

“No,” Ngoc said. “It's a family gift.”

“So you can eat in the library?”

“Out in the hallway.”

They sat outside the door eating cake. Phuc was still in another city, only had a text message asking how the meeting was going. Ngoc sent the summary. He replied: “You made the right choice with the data you had.”

Ngoc: “There is no absolutely right choice.”

Phuc: “So choose what you can be responsible for.”

Ngoc looked at that sentence and remembered the day he said he wouldn't promise things that could fail.

In the afternoon, my father sent an email to the consulting group, not specifically to Ngoc. He proposed that An Nhien sponsor an independent structural assessment but did not request priority for the company's plan. He also agreed to make usage data public.

Minh Chau said this is a good step. Hoang Duy said it is necessary to ask if the company will change the conditions after being selected.

Ngoc said: "That's why all commitments must be in writing."

Bao looked at her. “You're talking like your father.”

"Are not. My father is learning to speak like us.”

No one laughed loudly, but Lam smiled.

That night, Ngoc opened the wardrobe and looked at the dress her mother sent her. She hasn't worn it yet, but doesn't see it as completely representative of her old life. Her family is still family, even though she's not sitting at the party. She can love the people in the house without making all the decisions for them.

Ngoc texted her mother: "Thank you for the cake. Next time, please give me the recipe.”

Mom replied: “Do you know how to cook?”

“I'm studying.”

“Then I will send you the easiest recipe.”

Ngoc smiled, thinking of the pot of mushy rice she once sent to Phuc. Perhaps a young lady doesn't need to give up everything to become a normal person. She just needs to know what is her choice, what is a shared responsibility, and what needs to be said before someone else writes it themselves.

Mom sent me a recipe for tomato eggs with a warning: "Don't add sugar if you haven't tasted it yet." Ngoc followed suit, but accidentally cut the tomatoes too big. She took a photo to send to the group. Bao said the dish has an architectural structure. Lam asked if he could eat it. Ngoc said yes.

Personal message: “You have improved.”

“You haven't eaten yet.”

“I see color.”

“Critics have no rights.”

“I have the right to ask for more bread.”

Ngoc smiled, then brought the eggs to the library for the group to try. Everyone eats in the hallway, Ms. Hanh allows it because it is a family connection activity, not a meal in the book area.

While eating, the group received an email from the council asking for additional planning if family support was withdrawn. No one panicked. They divided the shares: the school operated, the neighborhood supported the books, the students managed the hours, the local bookstore provided supplies, An Nhien only kept the signed evaluation.

Ngoc looked at the resource board and saw that her father's name was no longer in the center. She called him and said the plan was preparing for the possibility of the company withdrawing. Dad is not sad.

“A plan that can stand when dad leaves is a good plan,” he said.

Ngoc replied: "I still want dad to stay, but I don't want everything to depend."

“I understand.”

That night, she wrote herself a sentence: "Loving someone doesn't mean keeping them in every plan. To trust a person is to give them the right to enter and exit.” She didn't know how that sentence related to Phuc, but she didn't delete it.

Ngoc began planning in case her father withdrew his sponsorship offer. She doesn't want people to understand that the reading room can only exist thanks to her family. Same Minh Chau, she divided the budget into three parts: what the school can take care of on its own, what needs community support, and what can be postponed. The new shelf is in the third section; Fix the safe electrical outlet located at the top.

Phuc looked at the expense list and asked why book expenses weren't included in the deferment section. Ngoc said books can be donated. He shook his head, saying that old books are not always suitable, but repairing electrical outlets helps people use what they already have. Ngoc crossed out a line. She liked the way Phuc objected with reason, not with emotion.

That afternoon, my father stopped by the school without notice. He looked at the planning board and asked who decided the priority order. Ngoc said the group relied on surveys. Father asked if An Nhien did not contribute money, would she still be in charge of the project. Ngoc answered yes, but she would remove the introduction about the company and clearly state the missing resources.

Father was silent longer than usual. He said the company did not withdraw immediately, but wanted to see the plan without the brand name to evaluate sustainability. Ngoc agreed. She didn't consider it a victory; If the plan is only convincing when attached to a big name, it is not good enough.

In the evening, her mother sent Ngoc a box of eggs and tomatoes, telling her to cook them herself instead of eating noodles. Ngoc sliced the tomatoes too thickly, causing the eggs to burn on the edges. Phuc called just as she was trying to scrape the bottom of the pan. Hearing the metallic sound, he asked if she was repairing the car or cooking. Ngoc admitted defeat. Phuc said at least his bread doesn't require knowing how to watch the fire.

Ngoc took a bowl of distorted eggs and sent it to the group. Bao replied with a rescue symbol, Minh Chau sent a three-step recipe. The group talked about the budget and then moved on to arguing about which dishes should not be sold during the festival. Ngoc realizes that joint work is not always serious; Sometimes laughter helps people return to the meeting table without feeling like they are making sacrifices.

Before going to sleep, she sent her father a plan with the company name omitted. He replied: "Now it just looks like a school project." Ngoc put down the phone and felt lighter. If one day Phuc asks her what she is building, she wants to answer that they are building a place that can stand on its own, not a gift that requires gratitude.