CHAPTER 10: 9 PM - FANTASTIC MEETING

There are love affairs, there are things, even though we know in advance that we should not start, but why do people know that there is a sea of fire ahead, but still want to bathe in that heat once? Like love, knowing in advance that it will be painful, but still stubbornly conquering.

After 60 minutes of working on the test, I consider this topic very difficult. Maybe I won't get a perfect score, but I did my best. I submitted my papers, said goodbye to my two dear friends, and quickly ran to the social work team room.

"Hello everyone, sorry I'm late"

"It's okay, you come in, let's start the meeting," Huy spoke up and pointed at the empty position where I always sat.

As soon as I got to my seat, I discovered that there was a bread and a milk carton in the desk drawer, and there was also a note that said "Remember to eat and drink milk, you must have just finished the exam and ran here before you could eat anything. Don't underestimate your health." I smiled and looked up at Huy, he was handing out the plan that we discussed and drafted, and when he came to me, he suddenly smiled.

“Thank you, I will eat well”

He just nodded and smiled and walked back to the podium, continuing his work. I felt a warmth from his concern.

“Think we'll start planning this campaign tonight, location and time available”

"Why do you have to start so late, now few people can go, the room and dormitory are difficult too." A friend in the club spoke

“Because this is a supplementary campaign, and usually only then do we meet those who need help. Huy knows that 21 o'clock is too late for everyone but this is not forced, if you can arrange it, let's go, and the rest will arrange for the programs we discussed in the morning."

"So what's the name of our campaign?" Suddenly Huy looked up at me, I understood what he meant, and immediately opened my bag and took out the pad of paper I had written down a series of names for everyone to choose. A yellow note fell out, I sat down to pick it up and opened it to see "9 pm", I didn't understand anything, and I don't know who put it in my bag. But a thought crossed my mind. I stood up.

"This campaign is called '9 PM', how do you feel?"

"Okay, it's meaningful, focused, and concise." Once again, I was praised by everyone when I made a contribution statement.

"First Huy will get the list of participants at 9 pm for tonight, who can raise their hand to help Huy."

After a while, the list was finally closed. Most of tonight's campaigners are male, only I am a girl because the time we have given is from 9-12 pm. At that time, who would ever let girls go out on the streets, but I signed up.

“Tonight at 9 pm we will start to gather in the team room, get lunch boxes and drinks to go. Each location will be 2 people going together, we will distribute rice and charity water, warming the cold hearts of this winter. If you can't attend, help Huy take care of the rice and water so that you can come and get it quickly."

“Ok” everyone shouted in unison, and smiled to joyful applause, filled with happiness because we were about to help so many people.

After the meeting, everyone left, to prepare for tonight's campaign. Of course, I did too, so I packed up and prepared to leave.

"Let's go home now"

"That's right, Mr. Huy, I'll come back to talk to my parents again."

"Tonight, you and I are going together, because I'm late, I don't feel secure letting you go with new friends"

"Okay, I'll be back, see you soon"

"Okay". I smiled and finally said goodbye to him

At this point, I just took out the memo, continued to think, about who is it, and what 9 PM means. Suddenly in my mind appeared the figure of a man with diamond eyes standing leaning against the car, and the image of Luc Duong sitting behind me in today's test. 'Probably not him.' A thought crossed my mind.

When I got home, I immediately ran to find my adoptive mother: "Mom, I'll ask for permission to go to the school's charity campaign tonight, maybe I'll be back late."

"What time is it late?" Mom still looked at me with gentle eyes

“About 12 PM ”

“Well, it's dangerous for a girl to go alone at that time. Where not"

I ran to hug my mother's arm: "It's okay, there are seniors from the school with me, I  want to go".

Mom looked at me with worried but affectionate eyes: "Then ask someone to follow and protect you from afar."

"No need mom, I'm grown up, I've been independent for more than a year without you" I suddenly stopped, unable to say anything, looking at my mother also seemed sadder: "I'm an adult, I can I can take care of myself, don't worry, I still have this baby." I hugged my mother in my arms, comforting her and reassuring myself.

After eating and drinking, I prepared, was about to go, when I heard the bell ring, who would come at this hour, my father was on a business trip, so there is usually no partner until now. Curious, I walked down to the living room and saw a familiar face talking to my mother.

"Brother Huy, how did you know I was here?"

"Oh, I'm..."

"Do you two know each other?" My mother suddenly asked when she saw two bewildered faces.

“Yes, this is my upperclassman, I am going to campaign with him today. How do you know Huy?"

"This is Duong's best friend, the son of the president of the PR group, ah Huy, introduce me to you, this is the adopted daughter of Uncle Trinh An Thu, who is also Duong's sister."

Turns out this is the close friend he always told me about, and I have also heard Anh Huy's voice many times through the calls between me and Anh, no wonder since the first time I met him, I heard him familiar. So still extremely sympathetic to Mr. Huy. Before he went to study abroad, so I never met Mr. Huy, it is true that the earth is round. I finally met his best friend. I'm still pretty close to him, so don't worry, I'll get along and be nice to your friends.

"I came to visit Uncle today, ready to bring some of Duong's things." After saying that, Huy looked at his mother and then quietly turned to look at me. Perhaps his departure caused everyone pain. We looked at each other, then I took the item from him and brought it to Duong's room

"I bring it up and down here, seniors take me away"

"That's right Thu, you go with Huy, mom will be less worried"

“Yes,” I simply replied and gently took the box that looked like a gift box and brought it up to my room.