Chapter 15 — The First Heartbeat

The week after Community First Aid Day, the Red Cross Club became the center of attention of the whole school. The school board organized a small honor ceremony during the flag raising hour on Monday morning, inviting representatives of the organizing committee to come on stage to receive the certificate of merit. Thien Kim stood on stage with Minh Vu, Ms. Hoa, and other core members, feeling hundreds of eyes from the entire school focusing on her — a feeling of both shyness and pride that she had never experienced before.

"I want to especially acknowledge the efforts of Ngo Thien Kim," the principal said, making Thien Kim startled with surprise. "Ms. Hoa shared with the board of directors that the instruction on handling foreign objects that she was in charge of received the most positive feedback from participating parents, and the personal story she shared inspired many people."

Applause echoed throughout the schoolyard, and Thien Kim felt her cheeks heat up with embarrassment, but at the same time, a deep sense of pride welled up in her heart — not the frivolous pride of being recognized in front of a crowd, but the pride of realizing that her most painful story had, at last, found a meaningful purpose.

After the ceremony, when returning to class, Tuyet Mai pulled her to a corner of the hallway and hugged her friend. "I'm so proud of you," she said, her voice choked up. "Three years ago, I never thought that one day I would see you standing on stage, honored by the whole school for the story you once kept hidden."

"I don't think so either," Thien Kim replied, her eyes also red. "But without you, without the club, without... Minh Vu, I would never have had the courage to go to this step."

The club activity that Thursday had a completely different atmosphere - no longer the usual serious technical lessons, but a small party to celebrate the success of the event. Ms. Hoa brought a few boxes of cakes, and everyone sat around, reminiscing about memorable moments during the festival.

"I have another good news to share," Ms. Hoa said in the middle of the party, her voice full of excitement. "In addition to the sponsorship from the city Red Cross, the school also decided to invest in additional facilities for the medical room, turning it into an official first aid training center of the school, not only serving the club but also opening short-term courses for all students."

That news made the whole club cheer with excitement. This is a huge step forward, far beyond what any of them dared to dream of when the club was founded just a few months ago.

"And I also want to announce," Ms. Hoa continued, her eyes directed towards Minh Vu and Thien Kim, "the basic first aid certification exam, which was at risk of being postponed due to lack of funding, has now been confirmed to take place as planned in mid-December, with all the necessary resources."

Thien Kim felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness when she heard this news. The certification exam, the goal she had been working towards for the past three months, had now become a solid reality, no longer something vague that could be postponed at any time.

After the party, when everyone started to leave, Minh Vu held Thien Kim back for a bit. "I have something to ask you," he said, his voice a bit more serious than the cheerful atmosphere just now.

"Ask," Thien Kim replied, sensing the change in his tone.

"With the success of the last event, and with what you have shown, Ms. Hoa and I are thinking of nominating you to be the vice president of the club for the next school year, when you will be in the 12th grade and will need to prepare to gradually hand over responsibilities," Minh Vu said. "This is not an official decision, just something I wanted to ask your opinion about first, because this is no small responsibility."

Thien Kim was stunned for a moment, feeling both honor and fear mixed together. "I... I don't think I'm ready for such a big role," she said, her voice still a little hesitant. "I've only been in the club for three months."

"I know," Minh Vu nodded, smiling understandingly. "But do you remember, three months ago you told me the same thing when I said you would be in charge of an area during the festival. And you did it, even better than expected."

That reminder made Thien Kim laugh lightly, realizing the truth in it. She'd learned a lot about trusting her own abilities over the past three months, but the habit of self-doubt still had a tendency to rear its head every time she faced a new, bigger challenge.

"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice a little more certain. "But I think, if everyone believes in me so much, maybe I should also believe in myself more."

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear," Minh Vu said, his eyes filled with warmth and pride.

On the way home that day, Thien Kim felt her heart filled with a rare peace and contentment. She thought about the journey of the past three months — from a girl always stressed, haunted by nameless fears, to someone who dared to stand in front of a crowd and tell her most painful story, to being trusted with increasingly greater responsibilities.

She thought about Minh Vu, about how he patiently accompanied her through every small step forward, without forcing her, without judging the times she stumbled. She thought about Ms. Hoa, about Tuyet Mai, and about the strange parents who listened to her story with eyes full of understanding. And she thought about herself, about the fifteen-year-old girl who, three years ago, had stood dumbfounded in front of her cousin, had now become someone who could inspire and help others.

That night, before going to bed, Thien Kim opened her notebook and reread the entire journey she had recorded over the past three months, from the first line filled with hesitation to the recent lines filled with confidence and hope. She picked up a pen and wrote down the last lines of an important chapter in her life:

"Three months ago, I walked into the Red Cross Club with an unnamed fear, carrying the scar of a helpless moment three years ago. Today, I stood on stage and was honored by the whole school, was nominated to be vice president of the club, and most importantly, I found someone who always believes in me, even when I don't believe in myself.

I know, there are still many challenges ahead, and I know I will never become an absolutely perfect person, I will never be able to guarantee saving everyone in every situation. But now, I understand, that's not what I need to do to be worthy. What we need to do is just keep trying, keep learning, and keep believing that, even though imperfect, our efforts are still valuable and can still make a difference.

My heart rate, now, is no longer beating as fast because of fear as it did three months ago. It beats fast because of hope, because of happiness, and because something new is budding in my heart, which I think, I'm ready to receive."

The next morning, when telling Tuyet Mai the story of Minh Vu nominating himself to be vice homeroom teacher during recess, Thien Kim was still half-confident in her own abilities. "Do you think I should accept it?" she asked, fiddling with the hem of her uniform as is her habit when she's nervous.

"Why not?" Tuyet Mai replied immediately, without any hesitation. "Why are you asking anymore? Look back and see what you've accomplished in the past three months. If someone had told me three months ago that you would stand in front of dozens of strange parents telling the story of baby Bin without crying in the middle, I wouldn't have believed it."

"I cried a little," Thien Kim smiled, wiping the corner of her eyes even though there were no tears there, just a reflex of rising emotions when remembering.

"Yeah, just a little bit, it's okay," Tuyet Mai patted your shoulder, her voice warm. "You know, what makes me most proud is not that you did it perfectly, but that you dared to do it, even though you knew you might stumble along the way. That's what's important."

Thien Kim nodded, feeling those words like a layer of glue that strengthened the trust she had begun to build over the past three months. She realized that accepting the nomination to be vice president was not a demonstration of her perfection, but simply the next step in the journey she was on — a journey that did not have a final destination of perfection, but a growing confidence in her ability to face the unknown.

That afternoon, before Tuesday's voluntary practice session, Thien Kim proactively sought out Minh Vu before the class started. "I've decided," she said, her voice full of confidence. "I will accept the nomination to be vice president."

A bright smile appeared on Minh Vu's lips, his eyes lit up with joy. “I knew you would agree,” he said. "Miss Hoa will definitely be happy to hear this news."

"But I have one condition," Thien Kim added, half joking and half serious. "You must promise to continue to guide me more, at least until you are truly confident in taking on that role on your own."

"I promise," Minh Vu replied, his voice firm, without any hesitation. "Actually, I think I'll want to stay with you much longer than that, not just in club work."

That statement, half joking and half serious, made both of them laugh, erasing the remaining awkwardness after the insinuation. The practice session that day took place more gently than usual, interspersed with review exercises to prepare for the upcoming certification exam and quiet, intimate and comfortable conversations between two people who had gone through a long and meaningful journey together.

She closed the notebook, placed it next to the small roll of gauze that Minh Vu gave her, and fell asleep with a peaceful smile on her lips, ready for the next chapters of the journey ahead - even though she never knew that the hardest, most painful challenge was still waiting for her ahead.