Chapter 7 — Seeds After the Rain

"Where is Huy Vuon?" A voice rang out from the end of the lunch table, accompanied by laughter from the entire group. Gia Huy looked up and saw Tuan - one of Dang Khoi's close friends - smiling happily after just giving him a new nickname.

"What is Huy Vuon?" Gia Huy asked, trying to keep his voice calm, even though in his heart he had vaguely guessed the answer.

"It's because you've been going into the vegetable garden behind the school all day," Tuan replied, still giggling. "We just saw you post a story on social media yesterday, that picture holding the watering can, you look like a real farmer."

The whole table burst into laughter, a few people even pretended to water the plants teasingly. Gia Huy laughed along, trying to act like he didn't care, even though inside he felt a little uncomfortable. That photo was secretly taken by Thao while he was watering the spinach bed, posted on the club's story and tagged him, and he simply left it there without thinking much, unexpectedly it became a topic of discussion.

"Well, someone has to water the plants," Gia Huy replied, trying to joke around. "If you don't have vegetables to eat, how can you eat green bean soup?"

"Seriously," Dang Khoi spoke up, his voice a bit more serious than usual, causing the whole table to gradually quiet down and listen. "I see you don't hang out with us much lately. Last week you didn't come to the friendly basketball match, and on Minh Anh's birthday you also said you were busy. Do you really like that club?"

That question, although asked in a half-joking and half-serious tone, made Gia Huy feel an invisible pressure on his shoulders. He knew clearly that Dang Khoi had no malicious intent, he was simply a person who always valued the cohesion of his group of friends, always wanted everyone to be fully present in the group's important events, but that question still made him feel like he was being put on the scale, having to prove his loyalty.

"I'm just busy with club work," he replied, trying to keep his voice light. "I still have to prepare for the inter-school exchange in the near future. It's a bit of a lot of work."

"What inter-school exchange?" Tuan asked, looking curious and sarcastic.

"The Environmental Club was chosen to represent the school in an exchange on the topic of environmental protection with several other schools in the city," Gia Huy explained, unable to hide a bit of pride in his voice. "We were just praised by the school board for our activity report this semester."

"Oh, so proud," Dang Khoi smiled, but his eyes were a bit unpredictable, not entirely mocking, but not entirely supportive either. "You've really changed, Gia Huy. When you first joined that club, you said you were just volunteering."

Gia Huy was silent for a moment, not knowing how to respond. He didn't want to deny his change, but he also wasn't ready to fully explain what had changed him — the feeling of belonging, of being recognized for what he really did, the rare sincerity he found in that small garden, and perhaps, even vague feelings for a girl he hadn't dared to name clearly.

"There's nothing wrong with liking to add something beyond what was originally planned," he replied, trying to keep his voice gentle but firm.

"Yes, that's right," Dang Khoi nodded, but his voice still contained a hint of dissatisfaction. "It's just that we miss you. Also, you know, there's a gathering at Minh Quan's house this Saturday, the whole group is almost full, please try to arrange to come. It's been a long time since we've had a gathering like this."

"Yes, I will try," Gia Huy replied, even though he secretly remembered that this Saturday the club also had a meeting to discuss the presentation content for the upcoming inter-school exchange.

That afternoon, when he arrived at the garden, Gia Huy still had a lingering feeling of discomfort from the conversation at noon. He worked in more silence than usual, making Quynh Nhu, when passing by, couldn't help but notice.

"What's up?" she asked, squatting down next to him, shoveling the soil in preparation for the new sowing.

"It's nothing," Gia Huy replied, trying to smile lightly. "It's just that my friends tease me about going to the garden a lot these days."

"What kind of tease?" Quynh Nhu asked, her eyes a bit worried. "Is that the way to criticize our club?"

"Not really a criticism," he replied, trying to explain carefully so as not to make her misunderstand. "Just calling me 'Huy Vuon', just teasing a few words, nothing serious."

Quynh Nhu was silent for a moment, her eyes looking down at the bed in front of her, her fingers unconsciously drawing zigzag lines on the loose soil. "I'm sorry if your friends make fun of you because of the club," she said, her voice a little guilty. "I know our club is not as 'popular' as the Sports Club or the Music Club. Many people still think we are strange because we worry about trees all day."

"No, it's not your fault," Gia Huy said quickly, realizing she was misunderstanding the problem. "I don't mind being teased. I'm just thinking about how to balance my time, because this weekend there is both a club meeting and a group of friends gathering, both of which are important in their own way."

"Then you just choose to go to a gathering with friends," Quynh Nhu said immediately, without hesitation, even though something hard to recognize flashed through her eyes. "We can postpone the club meeting to next week, or I will report back to you what was discussed. Friends are important, don't miss it because of us."

That sentence, although said with generosity and understanding, made Gia Huy feel a bit heavy inside, as if she was trying to act unconcerned while actually withdrawing into herself, preparing herself not to expect too much from his presence — a reflex that she had probably learned after being disappointed many times by other members before.

"No, I'll try to arrange to go to both," he said, his voice surprisingly firm even to himself. "Maybe I can go to the club meeting first, then stop by Minh Quan's house later."

Quynh Nhu looked at him, a bit surprised by that determination, then smiled slightly, a gentle but warm smile. "Thank you," she said simply, then returned to continue working, but Gia Huy could feel that the atmosphere between the two had become much lighter than before.

In the evening, while he was sitting in his room reviewing lessons, his phone vibrated with a message notification from the chat group of his close friends. Tuan sent in a parody photo, superimposing Gia Huy's face onto a picture of a farmer wearing a conical hat plowing a field, with the words "Chairman of the Young Farmers Association for the new term". Some people dropped laughing emojis on the floor, some even commented a few other teasing sentences. Gia Huy looked at the photo and smiled softly, but inside he felt a little uneasy. He knew it was just a harmless joke between close friends, with no malicious intent, but for some reason, this time he felt more uncomfortable than the other times he was teased before.

He was about to text back a joke to get it over with as usual, but then stopped, thinking about this afternoon, about the drops of sweat on Quynh Nhu's forehead as she diligently planted each seed in the newly dug soil, about the meticulousness in each of her movements, and about the story about the mango tree that Mr. Binh told. For the friends in the group, that garden was just a joke to tease, a funny image to make; But for Gia Huy, it now has a completely different meaning, something he begins to truly appreciate.

He turned off the phone screen, did not respond to messages, felt a bit tired of the thought of having to constantly explain and constantly justify a hobby whose origin he himself did not fully understand. He wondered if he was overreacting, or if this was just the first sign of a distance that was gradually forming between him and his close group of friends, a distance that he was not ready to face.

On the way home that night, Gia Huy thought a lot about the lunch conversation with his friends, and about Quynh Nhu's slightly sad eyes when she thought he would choose the gathering over the club. He realized he was standing between two completely different worlds - one side was a familiar group of friends, where he was always welcomed easily but it seemed like he just needed to show up, laugh, blend in, without having to be himself too much; On one side is a small garden, where he has to really make an effort, really contribute, but in return is a truer sense of belonging than any place he has ever known. He didn't know how long he could maintain both worlds at the same time, but at least for now, he was determined to try.