Chapter 9 — The Arrow That Missed the Mark

Ly Thuong Kiet School holds its annual fall fair at the end of October, an event that brings together booths organized by each class and club to raise funds, accompanied by folk games and a small stage for cultural performances. The Archery Club, following a tradition of many years, is in charge of a mini archery game booth for students across the school to try, using light bows and small targets placed in a safe, fenced area.

Thanh Tam was assigned to work at the booth with Nam Khanh and Binh in the afternoon, instructing the lower grade students how to hold a bow and basic shooting techniques. The fair atmosphere was bustling with music coming from the speakers of other booths, and the laughter of students throughout the school yard, creating an atmosphere completely different from the usual quietness at the training ground.

"Brothers and sisters, can I shoot?" a sixth grader asked timidly, standing in front of the booth fence with eager eyes.

"Okay, come here, I'll guide you," Thanh Tam replied, smiling friendly, completely different from the serious and tense look she used to wear during her first training sessions at the club.

Nam Khanh stood nearby, watching her guide the young student with patience and warmth, unable to hold back the slight smile that appeared on her lips. "You're good at teaching children," he commented when there was a moment of silence between visitors.

"I like children," Thanh Tam replied, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Besides, teaching others helps me remember what I've learned, like reviewing a lesson."

The booth was crowded with customers all afternoon, leaving the three of them busy, not having much time for private conversation. But when it was dusk and the fair began to thin out customers, Mr. Kien allowed the group to take turns walking around to visit other booths before cleaning up.

"Binh, you'll be on duty first. Thanh Tam and I will go around and then return to change shifts," Nam Khanh said, naturally calling her name without thinking, a small intimacy that both recognized but no one mentioned.

"Yes, go ahead, I'll keep the booth for you," Binh replied, winking meaningfully at Thanh Tam, making her blush.

The two strolled through the stalls, bought some snacks - mixed rice paper, grilled skewers, milk tea - while eating and chatting about the fun games that other classes presented. Paper lanterns hung along the main aisle created a warm, naturally romantic scene that neither of them intentionally arranged.

Passing by the small stage area, they stopped to watch a performance by the school's music club, standing among the crowd of students enjoying it. The cramped space made Thanh Tam and Nam Khanh stand closer together than usual, their shoulders almost touching, and in that moment, Thanh Tam felt more clearly than ever his warm presence right next to her.

The song ended, the crowd applauded, and while everyone started to move, Nam Khanh's hand accidentally touched Thanh Tam's hand as they both stepped back to make way for another group of students to pass. Both of them paused for a second, neither of them hastily withdrew their hands, and in that short moment, Nam Khanh's finger gently touched her finger, a gentle gesture as if questioning.

Thanh Tam's heart pounded, she looked up at Nam Khanh and saw that he was also looking at her with eyes that were both gentle and a little confused. Neither of them said anything, but that silence contained more than any words could express.

"Thanh Tam! Looking for you forever!" A familiar voice rang out, breaking that private moment. Yen Thao ran from afar, waving her hands, completely unaware that she had just interrupted something important. "My class and I are playing hoops at the class 12A2 booth, come play together!"

Thanh Tam and Nam Khanh quickly withdrew their hands, both were a bit awkward for a few seconds, but quickly regained their natural looks before Yen Thao got close enough to notice the abnormality.

"Yes, I'll be right over," Thanh Tam replied, trying to keep her voice normal, even though her heart was still beating fast because of the moment just now. She turned to Nam Khanh, a bit shy. "Go back to the booth first. I'll go play with Yen Thao for a bit and then come back to change shifts with Binh."

"Yes, okay," Nam Khanh replied, his voice a bit different from usual. "Have fun."

Thanh Tam followed Yen Thao to the ring throwing booth, but her mind still lingered on the moment just now, the feeling of Nam Khanh's finger gently touching her hand was still imprinted on her skin, like a warm echo that would not easily fade.

"What's wrong with you, your face is red," Yen Thao commented as soon as the two stood in line waiting for their turn to play. "Did something happen just now?"

"It's nothing," Thanh Tam replied, but her tone clearly revealed insincerity, causing Yen Thao to raise her eyebrows suspiciously.

"Thanh Tam, I know you too well," Yen Thao said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Tell me, is there something wrong with Mr. Khanh?"

Thanh Tam sighed, knowing he couldn't hide from his best friend who had understood him since elementary school, so he briefly recounted the moment of touching their hands just now, his voice still filled with confusion mixed with happiness.

"Oh my god, why didn't you let me come a little later!" Yen Thao exclaimed, both amused and sorry for her friend. "Okay, let's consider it a practice session before the real moment. I believe that sooner or later the two of you will have a more complete moment."

The two played ring toss for a while, laughing happily, but in Thanh Tam's heart, the image of Nam Khanh standing under the lantern light, his eyes gently looking at her in that short moment, kept repeating over and over again like a slow motion movie that she didn't want to end.

When he returned to the archery booth to change shifts, Thanh Tam saw Nam Khanh instructing another group of students, but as soon as he saw her appear, his eyes immediately lit up, and a small, somewhat shy smile appeared on his lips - an expression that Thanh Tam had never seen before from Nam Khanh, who always remained calm and confident in all situations.

"Did you have fun?" he asked, trying to sound normal.

"Very happy," Thanh Tam replied, standing next to him to continue guiding customers to the booth. "Are you okay too?"

"Okay," Nam Khanh replied, then remained silent for a moment before adding, his voice lower so that only the two of them could hear it amid the noise of the surrounding fair. "Just now... sorry if I was a bit sudden."

"You don't need to apologize," Thanh Tam replied quickly, looking up at him with sincere eyes. "I don't mind at all."

That answer made Nam Khanh smile, a smile of relief and warmth, and the two continued the rest of the evening's customer service without saying anything else, because the comfortable silence between them was enough to convey everything that needed to be conveyed.

When the fair ended, the whole club group worked together to clean up the booth, rearrange the bows and arrows, remove the tarpaulin and some old practice targets because they had welcomed countless students all afternoon to try their skills. Mr. Kien came to check one last time, praised the group for their hard work, and then allowed everyone to leave early because they still had to go to school normally tomorrow.

"Today my booth has the most customers among the sports clubs," Binh boasted, packing several bows into a bag. "Probably thanks to Ms. Tam and Mr. Khanh's enthusiastic teaching, the children kept asking each other to come and line up."

"You also contributed a lot," Thanh Tam replied, smiling at Binh. "You make the kids laugh all the time with your jokes."

"That's my secret to attracting customers," Binh grinned, hoisting his shopping bag on his shoulder. "Okay, I'll go home now, see you tomorrow everyone."

After Binh and several other members left, only Thanh Tam and Nam Khanh remained to clean up the remaining small things. The schoolyard was now deserted, with only paper lanterns still shining along the path, creating a quiet scene different from the bustle of a few hours ago.

"Thank you for today," Nam Khanh said when they both finished putting their things in storage and lingered a bit before leaving. "Not only because it helped keep the booth crowded, but because... I had a very fun evening."

"Me too," Thanh Tam replied, smiling, the distant lantern light cast a warm halo on her face. "This is probably the most fun fall fair I've ever attended."

The two walked to the school gate together, not in a hurry, enjoying the cool atmosphere of the late October evening. On the way, Nam Khanh told a few more funny stories about previous fairs, when he was still a new member of the club, making Thanh Tam laugh endlessly. She realized that every moment with him, whether it was serious training or small talk like this, gave her a sense of comfort that she rarely felt with anyone other than Yen Thao.

At the intersection where the two had to turn in two different directions, Nam Khanh stopped and hesitated a bit, as if something was about to spill out of his mouth but couldn't find the right words to express it. "Thanh Tam," he began, his voice trembling slightly, different from his usual calmness. "There... there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but I haven't found the right time."

Thanh Tam's heart beat faster, waiting, almost guessing what he was about to say, and a part of her was also longing to hear it. "Tell me," she replied, her voice shaking slightly.

But at that moment, Nam Khanh's phone rang loudly in his pocket, breaking the fragile moment that had just formed. He looked at the screen, saw his father's name appear, his expression flashed with confusion and then changed to a guilty look.

"Sorry, I have to answer the phone first, my dad probably called to ask when I'll be home," he said, then turned away to answer the phone for a few short sentences, his voice returning to its usual seriousness when answering his dad.

When he turned back, the private moment from before seemed to have disappeared, replaced by a gentle awkwardness hovering between the two of them. "I have to go home now," Nam Khanh said, with some clear regret in his voice. "What I was about to say... can it be another time? I promise to say it, just not now."

"Okay," Thanh Tam replied, trying to hide the slight disappointment in her heart, although she also understood that maybe it was better this way - she had the regional tournament ahead to focus on, and a part of her was still hesitant about how to face this new feeling if it was named too soon.

"Let's see you some other time then," she said, smiling, even though the feeling of nervous anticipation was still intact in her heart.

"Yes, see you another time," Nam Khanh replied, also smiling, his eyes still lingering on her face for another second before turning and walking home.

Thanh Tam stood and watched his shadow disappear into the pale yellow streetlight, filled with a mixture of emotions that were difficult to name - both regretful for the unfinished sentence and eagerly looking forward to that moment that would come one day not too far away. She knew, even though it hadn't been said out loud, they both had a tacit understanding of what was growing between them, and perhaps, letting it wait a little longer, ripen a little more before being officially named, wouldn't be such a bad thing.