Chapter 18

Ngoc Lam did not answer Van Thac.

On that night, Ngoc Lam is diligently supervising her two former music teachers in the Music Room with books in her hands. She is undoubtedly the best student in her grade. As she is engrossed in studying, M approaches her and rests her hand on Ngoc Lam's shoulder. It causes Ngoc Lam to pause from reading her book and turn her gaze towards M.

"Do you need help?" she asks

"Have you thought about Thac's proposal?"

Hearing what the teacher has said, Ngoc Lam immediately turns to look at Thac, just in time he happens to look at her and M. Thac suddenly turns away when their eyes catch, not realizing that K is smiling at him.

"You're thinking about it, right?" M has been with Ngoc Lam long enough to understand her student, "What makes you feel so difficult? Could you share with me?"

Ngoc Lam never wants to lie to M, nor could she bear to go against the compromises she has come up with. She takes a breath and responds.

"I can help, but I only help."

That's the best solution for all of them. If Thac wants to take this opportunity to be recognized, she can support a little, as long as she is not the star of the performance.

Ngoc Lam offers two conditions for her participation.

First, she requests to wear men's clothes and stand behind Thac and the pianist classmate, as hidden as possible. It will be best if everyone in the instrument player group wears masks.

Second, if there is any problem that Ngoc Lam is not comfortable with, she will have the right to withdraw from the list right then.

Both conditions meet the homeroom teacher's acceptance. She is happy that Ngoc Lam finally agrees to participate. Thac is even happier. He immediately gives her the trio sheets of music which are full of notes that he carefully marked for Ngoc Lam. Thuy is also told about this by Thac, the friend's eyes light up with sincere joy.

"Ngoc Lam, you are wonderful! Do you know how to play the violin? For real?"

Ngoc Lam looks at the admiration on her face and replies humbly.

"I only support the trumpet and piano. I'm not the main player."

"Wow, that's great after all! I heard that the violin is very difficult to play. On the rehearsal day, I will cheer for you!" Thuy says excitedly.

Everything goes smoothly beyond Thac's expectations.

K found Ngoc Lam a mid-class violin, just as she wanted to not stand out. The group practices the piano-trumpet-violin trio together. There aren't many changes with the notes, and with the addition of Ngoc Lam, the practice is giving positive results. K and M keep refusing to return to the Conservatory every time Mr Woods reminds them. M complains that they are there just for show. There's no shortage of lecturers there. M said she and her husband have already known the rector's intentions. He wanted to take advantage of their presence to make a sign to the International competition's judges to gain their respect. Therefore, he may secretly arrange for the Conservatory to gain some considerable achievements. For a long time, since Ngoc Lam retired, no contestant from the Conservatory of Music has won first prize.

Feeling that it doesn't matter whether they stay or not, and that some bad people will make the best of exploiting their names, K and M prefer to be with Van Thac. The young boy has a pure passion for music and is untainted by calculating benefits.

"You are also attracted to Thac because of that, right?" M asks Ngoc Lam

Ngoc Lam does not respond, but it could be true. 

Thac's music is always as radiant as the sun. 

There are approximately ten days until the rehearsal, and the musical group is starting to rehearse with the drama group. Some classmates, including Thuy, stay to watch the play. She often helps Ngoc Lam by giving her water or holding her camera. Everything goes so smoothly that it feels surreal. After the session, Thuy and the group take a selfie together. 

Van Thac looks at the picture of himself and Ngoc Lam standing in the frame with his friends, including K and M, and his heart blooms.

At that same moment, a sense of foreboding flashes across my mind. Thac quickly shakes his head with the thought that he can shake the premonition away from reality. He tells himself everything is going well, and he shouldn't think too much.

Two days later, the rain is pouring in the morning.

The cold rain is falling on the people on the streets. The morning is as crowded as always, but the visibility is reduced because of the rain and cold. Thac is riding his bike to school today when his teeth are chattering. That's why when a motorbike rushes out recklessly from a corner, Thac cannot react and fall. Luckily, because of the rain and the city being crowded in the morning, the vehicles slow down. Some passersby proactively stop to help him and the careless motorcyclist. The elders even forced the person who caused the accident to give Thac his name and phone number. If anything happens, his parents can contact him to demand compensation.

Thac receives the piece of paper with information, but he feels it is unnecessary. He only has a scratch on his knee, and the rest is fine. In his mind, he is only concerned about getting to school on time, so he quickly cycles away. Yet, the bad luck still seems to be following him. Just as he approaches the school gate, a car overtakes him, accidentally splashing water all over his body. If he weren't wearing a set of raincoat with a separate shirt and pants, he would be soaking wet right now. He grimaces and runs into the parking lot, not noticing that the luxury car is stopping in front of the school gate. From the inside of the car, there is the silhouette of a woman he once met.

Students stay in classrooms instead of lining up to salute the flag and sing the National Anthem on Monday morning. They are talking about gossip and stories from their school life. Thac is also sitting in class, telling his friends about the accident earlier and the hasty car, not realizing that in the counselling room, Mr Woods is glaring at the woman from that car.

It's November, but the storms haven't passed yet.