Chapter 29 — Seeds After the Rain

The last months of the 12th grade year passed quickly in the cycle of studying for graduation exams, submitting university applications, and club activities still regularly took place every week, even though the garden was now completely safe from the risk of being wiped out. Gia Huy and Quynh Nhu, in the midst of their busy studies, still maintain the habit of visiting the garden together, even if only for short periods of time between stressful exam review sessions.

One afternoon, while the two were studying together under a mango tree, Quynh Nhu suddenly asked, "Have you decided which school to apply to?"

Gia Huy closed the book he was reading and thought for a moment before answering. "I've changed my mind about studying Economics," he said, his voice a bit hesitant but full of determination. "I decided to apply to major in Natural Resources and Environmental Management, at a university that has a study abroad joint program that I am still pursuing."

"Really?" Quynh Nhu asked, her eyes shining with surprise and joy. "When did you decide that?"

"Since the school board meeting," Gia Huy replied, smiling. "I realized that this is the first time in my life that I am truly passionate about something enough to want to pursue it long-term, instead of just choosing a 'safe' major following everyone's general advice. I want to learn how to do what Mr. Binh and his friends did — not just take care of a small garden, but learn how to apply that on a larger scale, to create positive changes for the environment."

Quynh Nhu looked at him, her eyes filled with pride and emotion. "I'm so glad you found something you're truly passionate about," she said. "But are you still planning to study abroad? Isn't that scholarship the dream you've been pursuing for a long time?"

"Yes, I still plan to go," Gia Huy replied, "but I did more research, and there are some scholarship programs at schools that have exchange links with domestic universities, allowing students to study the first two years in Vietnam before transferring to a foreign country to complete the program. I think, that could be a good choice, both meeting the desire to study abroad and not having to leave everything here too soon."

Quynh Nhu was silent for a moment, seemingly considering something. "How about you?" Gia Huy asked again, "Have you chosen a school yet?"

"I decided to apply to Nong Lam University," Quynh Nhu replied, "majoring in Environmental Science, just like I've been dreaming of for a long time. That school is not too far from here, only about an hour away."

"That's great," Gia Huy said, unable to hide the joy in his voice. "If I study my first two years at a school with a domestic affiliate program, we will probably stay in the same city for the first two years of college."

"Did you calculate that carefully?" Quynh Nhu asked, smiling teasingly, her cheeks turning pink.

"It has to be counted," Gia Huy replied, laughing, holding her hand. "I don't want to have to leave you right when things between us are really starting."

Quynh Nhu gently squeezed his hand, looking at him with warm eyes. "Even if we're apart for a while, I believe we can still keep in touch, we can still get through it," she said. "But I'm also glad that at least, for the first two years, we won't have to separate immediately."

The graduation ceremony took place on a late May day, under a cloudless blue sky. The whole school yard was filled with pure white uniforms, mixed with laughter and the bustling sound of taking souvenir photos everywhere. Gia Huy stood in the middle of a group of friends - both the group of old close friends with Dang Khoi, Tuan, Minh Quan, and the new group of friends from the Environmental Club with Quynh Nhu, Anh Duong, Thao - taking souvenir photos, there was no longer a clear boundary between the two worlds that he once thought could not be reconciled.

During the ceremony, the principal dedicated a speech to honor the Environmental Club, recalling the story of the journey to protect the garden as a typical testament to the sense of responsibility and community engagement of Nguyen Hue School students. Quynh Nhu was invited on stage to receive a special certificate of appreciation for her outstanding contributions to extracurricular activities, and in that moment, she gave part of her thanks to the entire club, specifically mentioning "a friend who learned how to turn fear into courage, and in the process, helped save the life of a small but extremely meaningful garden."

After the ceremony, when the afternoon sunlight began to subside, Gia Huy and Quynh Nhu, along with a few close club members, stopped by the garden one last time in their graduation uniforms, taking commemorative photos under the mango tree, which was much taller than the first day Gia Huy set foot here.

"I don't know how long it will be before I have the opportunity to come back here so often," Gia Huy said, looking around the garden with nostalgic eyes.

"This garden will always be here waiting for you," Quynh Nhu replied, smiling, holding his hand. "And so do I."

Anh Duong, standing nearby to witness that moment, pretended to cough loudly to tease. "Can you two please pay attention to your surroundings? There are other people standing here," she said, causing the group to burst into laughter.

"Anh Duong is always like that," Quynh Nhu replied, blushing but not letting go of Gia Huy's hand.

"Where is Mr. Binh?" Thao asked, looking around searching. "I saw him taking pictures with us just now."

"You're talking to the principal over there," Dang Khoi pointed towards the garden gate, where Mr. Binh was chatting animatedly with the principal, perhaps discussing plans to expand the memory garden for the next generation of students.

The group called Mr. Binh back to take one last group photo before saying goodbye. The teacher happily agreed, standing in the middle of the group of students, putting his arm around a few people's shoulders, a rare bright smile on his usually serious face.

"I will miss you guys so much," he said, his voice a bit choked as the camera finished taking pictures. "But I believe, no matter where you go or what you do, what you learn here will always stay with you for the rest of your life."

"I will visit you and the garden often," Gia Huy promised, his voice sincere. "No matter where I study, I will find a way to come back here every summer vacation."

"I hope so," Mr. Binh replied, patting his shoulder. "Also, the memory garden is almost completed, you should choose a tree to plant before leaving school, like a promise to come back."

That idea made Gia Huy and Quynh Nhu look at each other and laugh at the interesting coincidence. "We've thought about that already," Quynh Nhu replied, her eyes sparkling. "We plan to plant a small tree in the corner of the memory garden, as a milestone for both of our journeys."

"Then don't hesitate any longer," Mr. Binh smiled, gesturing towards the newly renovated corner of the garden. "The land is ready, the only thing missing is the seed."

The whole group laughed together, pulling together towards the new corner of the memory garden, where a few small plots of land had been prepared for this year's graduating class to leave their own mark before entering a new chapter of life.

Gia Huy and Quynh Nhu chose a small plot of land in the farthest corner, where they could catch the morning sun every day. Anh Duong ran to get a bag of sunflower seeds that she had prepared in advance, knowing that they would both need it. "Here, a parting gift from me," she said, handing the bag of seeds to Quynh Nhu. "Sunflowers always face the sun, just like how two people have found their way back to each other after many ups and downs."

Quynh Nhu received the bag of seeds, her eyes filled with tears of emotion. "Thank you," she said, hugging her best friend. "Thank you for always being by my side all these years, no matter how difficult things were."

The two knelt down next to a small patch of land, dug a small hole together, placed a few sunflower seeds, and then gently covered it with soil. Gia Huy scooped some water from a nearby watering can and sprinkled it evenly on the newly sown patch of land, while Quynh Nhu used a small wooden sign to write on it the neat words: "Gia Huy & Quynh Nhu — Class of 2026, a new beginning."

"Later, when I come back here, the flowers will probably have bloomed brilliantly," Gia Huy said, looking at the newly sown land with eyes full of hope.

"Yes," Quynh Nhu replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "And every time we see it, we will remember today, and everything we went through together to get to this moment."

The whole group stood around the new plot of land, taking a few more commemorative photos under the fading afternoon sunlight, marking not only the end of a meaningful student journey, but also the beginning of a new chapter, where the friendship, love, and values they have built together will continue to grow and take deeper roots over the years, just like the small seeds just sown in this land today.