Chapter 27 — Seeds After the Rain

Quynh Nhu presented fluently, without any hesitation, recounting the entire two-year journey of the garden with confidence and sincerity, making the whole hall constantly fascinated. She presented specific figures — more than twelve hundred signatures of support, nearly three thousand views of the livestream, a list of other schools that had expressed interest in learning the model. She invited the ward representative to briefly share his impressions during his first visit to the garden, and this time, there were no interruptions from any technical problems.

Next, seven parents took turns standing up to speak, each bringing a different perspective - one person told how his child was originally quiet and shy, but since participating in garden activities, he has become much more open and confident; Another person shared about the value of practical education their children receive, something that books cannot fully bring. The diversity of supporting opinions makes the club's argument much stronger than when presented to the board of directors a few weeks ago.

During the question and answer session, another parent association representative, who supported the plan to expand the parking lot, stood up to raise concerns. "I understand the educational value of the garden," he said, his voice frank but not harsh. "But parents' parking needs are still a real problem that needs to be resolved. Does the club have a plan that can reconcile both of these needs?"

This is the question that the whole group has carefully prepared. Mr. Binh stood up and presented in detail the alternative land plan near the side gate of Le Duan Street, accompanied by preliminary drawings completed by an architect who was a volunteer student parent last week. "This land has a larger area than the current garden, fully capable of meeting the school's long-term parking needs," the teacher explained. "Initial renovation costs may be a bit higher due to the terrain, but the club has contacted a number of potential sponsors, including a few parents' businesses, who are willing to support part of the leveling costs if this option is approved."

That unexpected information caused the whole hall to stir. Gia Huy, sitting in the audience, couldn't hide his surprise — he knew that teacher Binh and Quynh Nhu had worked a lot in the past few days, but he didn't expect that they had gone so far as to find a potential source of funding.

After nearly an hour of heated discussion, with many comments from school board members, the principal proposed to pause so the board could discuss privately before making a final decision. Those fifteen minutes of waiting, for Gia Huy and the whole club team, felt like a century. He held Quynh Nhu's hand tightly, the two sat next to each other in silence, no one dared to say a word, they could only feel each other's heartbeat through their constant handshake.

When the principal returned to the podium, the entire hall immediately fell silent, all eyes turned to him. "After carefully considering all the ideas and options presented today," he said, his voice solemn, "the school board has come to a decision."

He paused for a moment, as if intentionally creating a nervous silence before continuing. "The school decided to keep the garden at its current location, and will implement a plan to expand the parking lot at an alternative land near the side gate of Le Duan Street, as proposed by the Environmental Club."

A short moment of silence covered the entire hall before loud applause rang out, mixed with joyful cheers from the students standing in the hallway outside. Quynh Nhu burst into tears on the spot, tears of happiness flowing uncontrollably. Gia Huy hugged her, both laughing through tears amid the continuous applause of the whole hall.

"We did it," Quynh Nhu whispered in his ear, her voice still shaking with emotion.

"You can do it," Gia Huy replied, tightening his arms around her. "You've been fighting non-stop for the past two years for this."

"It's us," Quynh Nhu corrected, stepping back to look at him, her eyes filled with happiness. "Without you, perhaps today wouldn't have had such a good outcome."

The principal continued to speak, adding that the school will officially recognize the garden as a permanent environmental education project of the school, with an annual maintenance budget instead of just a pilot project as before, and proposed expanding this model so that other grades can also participate in the experience more regularly in the regular curriculum.

The whole club group rushed to hug each other in the middle of the hall, Anh Duong hugged Quynh Nhu sobbing with happiness, Thao jumped up with joy, Mr. Binh stood there with tears in his eyes, his face shining with pride that he had probably cherished for two years since the first day he persuaded the school board to allow testing of this project on a desolate piece of land behind the gymnasium.

Dang Khoi, along with a group of filming friends, also ran over to congratulate and pat Gia Huy's shoulder strongly. "You did it, Gia Huy!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with undisguised excitement. "I've filmed this entire moment. I'll make sure to make a great commemorative video for the club."

"Thank you for everything," Gia Huy replied, hugging his friend's shoulders, touched by that unexpected enthusiasm.

Outside in the hallway, the crowd of students waiting for the results also burst into cheers as the news spread quickly. Some students even held up homemade signs with the words "Save the Garden" that they had prepared in advance, now becoming a symbol of a common victory that the entire student community contributed to.

The ward representative, before leaving, stopped by Quynh Nhu and teacher Binh and shook hands to congratulate. "I am very impressed with the maturity and dedication of the students in this project," he said. "The ward will consider supporting additional community activities related to the garden in the near future, possibly a small periodic agricultural fair, combining the school and the surrounding community."

That news made the atmosphere even more joyful. Quynh Nhu, although her voice was still shaking with emotion, did not forget to thank him solemnly, promising that the club would continue to make efforts to be worthy of the trust they had just received.

When the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the club group remaining in the hall, Teacher Binh gathered everyone together, his voice choked with emotion. "Two years ago, I stood alone and persuaded the school board for an idea that many people considered unrealistic," he said, his eyes glancing over the faces of the students surrounding him. "Today, I stand here, witnessing you not only successfully protect that garden, but also turn it into a symbol recognized and cherished by the entire community. I am proud of all of you, more than anything I can express in words."

The whole group was silent for a moment at those sincere words of sharing, then burst into laughter and hugged each other in bursts of happiness. Gia Huy looked around, saw Quynh Nhu smiling brightly in the arms of his friends, saw Dang Khoi busy recreating some additional footage for the commemorative video, saw Anh Duong and Thao hugging each other and jumping up and down like children, and he realized that this was exactly the feeling he had been longing to find for many years of constantly moving house - the feeling of being an integral part of something bigger than himself, of celebrating a victory that everyone had together. have all contributed to creating it.

On the way out of the auditorium, he and Quynh Nhu walked last, hand in hand, slowly walking through the school hallway, which was bustling with the laughter of students gathering to discuss the good news they had just received. Some classmates patted Gia Huy's shoulder in congratulations as they passed by. Some even joked that "Huy Vuon" now deserves to be changed to "Huy Hero Saves the Garden".

"How does it feel?" Quynh Nhu asked, looking up at him, her eyes still sparkling with joy.

"Relieved," Gia Huy replied, sighing deeply as if he had just relieved a burden that had been weighing on his shoulders for many weeks. "And happy. But mostly relieved."

Quynh Nhu laughed, leaning her head lightly on his shoulder for a brief moment as the two walked in the crowded hallway. "Then we deserve a real celebration," she said. "This Sunday, as scheduled."

"Just as promised," Gia Huy agreed, gently squeezing her hand, his heart filled with a complete happiness that he knew he would remember for the rest of his life.