Chapter 22 — Seeds After the Rain

Saturday morning, Gia Huy texted Dang Khoi, making an appointment to meet privately at the coffee shop near the school that they both often visited since they first met. Dang Khoi, although a bit surprised by the sudden invitation, still agreed to arrive on time.

"What's the matter that you asked to meet privately?" Dang Khoi asked, sitting down opposite Gia Huy, his expression still slightly cautious after the recent tension between the two.

"I want to talk frankly with you," Gia Huy replied, taking a deep breath before continuing. "About the trip to the beach the other day, and everything that happened after that."

Dang Khoi was silent, waiting for him to continue.

"I was wrong to lie to Nhu to go on that trip," Gia Huy said, his voice honest. "But I also want you to understand, I don't regret spending time with the Environmental Club, and I don't think I will continue to give in every time there is a conflict between the two sides like I did before."

Dang Khoi frowned, a bit of discomfort flashed across his face. "Are you blaming me forcing you?"

"Not really to blame," Gia Huy replied, trying to keep his voice calm. "I understand you have your reasons, the pressure from the election, the desire to preserve the group's bond. But I also need you to understand, I spend time in the garden not because I despise our friendship, but because I found something there that is truly meaningful to me, something I have never had anywhere before."

Dang Khoi was silent for a long time, gently stirring the cup of coffee in front of him, his eyes looking far away out the glass window of the shop. "Honestly," he said finally, his voice low, "I think I'm a little jealous."

"Jealous?" Gia Huy asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"Yes," Dang Khoi nodded, feeling a little shy. "You know, I always try to maintain a perfect image, always try to make everyone in the group happy, always worry about how I'm perceived. But you're different, you find something you're really passionate about, really believe in, to the point where you're willing to face the disappointment of your entire group for it. I've never had enough courage to do the same, because I'm too afraid of losing the position and image that I've built."

That unexpected confession made Gia Huy look at his friend with a different look, a new understanding. He never thought that Dang Khoi, who always seemed confident, decisive, and always the center of all fun, had the same insecurities as him, just expressed in a different way.

"You don't have to be jealous," Gia Huy said, his voice sincere. "I think, you can find something similar, if you allow yourself to try, instead of always worrying about keeping up an image."

Dang Khoi smiled slightly, a bit bitterly. "That's easier said than done," he replied. "But I think you're right. Maybe it's time for me to reconsider a few things in the way I live, instead of always chasing after being recognized by everyone."

The two sat in silence for a while, the atmosphere between them gradually becoming lighter than when the conversation first began. "I'm sorry forcing you too much that day," Dang Khoi said, his voice rare and sincere. "I didn't know the matter would be so serious that it would have such a big impact on your club's events. If I had known in advance, I certainly wouldn't have put so much pressure."

"Thank you for saying that," Gia Huy replied, feeling relieved in his heart. "I'm also sorry for not being straightforward with you from the beginning, instead of trying to please both sides and ending up hurting everyone."

"So what are you going to do next?" Dang Khoi asked, curious.

"There are still two weeks before the school board meeting to decide the garden's fate," Gia Huy replied, his eyes steady. "I will do my best to help the club, even though I don't know if Nhu still trusts me like before. But at least, I want to do everything in my power to make up for my mistakes."

Dang Khoi nodded, then suddenly added, "If you need more help, just let me know. I don't promise to be as good at planting trees as you are, but if you need to mobilize more support and call on people to participate, I think I can still help."

That unexpected suggestion made Gia Huy look at his friend with grateful eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice emotional. "That means a lot to me."

"Well, we have to do something to atone for our mistakes," Dang Khoi smiled and patted his shoulder. "Also, I'm curious to see what the garden that changed you so much looks like."

Before saying goodbye, Dang Khoi lingered for a while, as if he wanted to say something more but hesitated. "Hey," he said, his voice a rare hint of confusion. "Do you think... I should apologize to Nhu again? After all, that recording session was partly my responsibility forcing you to leave."

Gia Huy was a bit surprised by that suggestion. "You don't have to do that," he replied. "This is my fault, I can take responsibility for myself."

"No, I think I should do that," Dang Khoi said, his voice more determined. "If that club is really so important to you that it has changed you so much, then maybe I should respect it more, instead of just treating it as a joke to tease you all these months."

Those words made Gia Huy feel a sudden warmth rising in his heart. He never thought that just a frank conversation could make Dang Khoi change his attitude so quickly, but perhaps, that was exactly what they both needed - a moment of honesty, without avoiding, without trying to save face, to really listen to each other.

"Thank you," Gia Huy said, smiling. "But let me do it myself first. Maybe later, when things are better, you can stop by the garden and I'll introduce you to everyone."

"Okay," Dang Khoi smiled, seemingly relieved. "But I warn you, I don't promise to be as good with a shovel as you are. Besides, maybe I can find a few tricks to help promote the next event, if there's any left before the school board meeting."

"That's even better," Gia Huy replied, smiling, feeling a small ray of hope sparked in his heart at his friend's unexpected enthusiasm.

They both laughed, the atmosphere between them had returned to almost normal, although there was still a hint of something new, deeper than the superficial friendship, built on the quick fun they had before. Gia Huy realized that perhaps honesty, although difficult, is a much stronger foundation than constantly trying to please each other by avoiding all conflicts.

On the way home, Gia Huy stopped by a small flower shop near his house, stood for a long time admiring the potted plants displayed in front of the door, wondering what to choose to bring to the garden as a small gesture of reconciliation. Finally, he chose a small pot of yellow chrysanthemums, a flower that he remembered Quynh Nhu had mentioned in a conversation, saying that it was her father's favorite flower, because "yellow chrysanthemums always face the sun, never bowing, no matter how harsh the weather is".

He brought the flower pot home, placed it carefully on the window sill of his room, telling himself he would bring it to the garden at the next activity, as a silent apology, no need to show off, simply a small act of sincerity that he hoped would gradually be accepted again.

He sat by the window sill, looking at the pot of yellow chrysanthemums under the room light, thinking about the saying he remembered Quynh Nhu once told, about how that flower never bowed no matter how harsh the weather was. He told himself, perhaps that was also the lesson he needed to remember for himself from now on — not to become rigid or conservative, but to learn how to stand firm under pressure, learn not to bow to his own fear whenever faced with difficult choices in the future.

The conversation ended with a relief that Gia Huy had not felt in many days. Although the relationship with Quynh Nhu still has many things to mend, at least he has resolved part of the burden in his heart and has regained understanding with his close friend who has accompanied him since the first days of moving to this school. On the way home, he felt a new determination growing in his heart - determined not to let old fears continue to control important decisions in his life, and determined to do everything possible to redeem the lost trust from Quynh Nhu, even though the road ahead was still very difficult.