Today is Tuesday.
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I arrive at school a bit early.
The class isn't complete yet, and there's less noise in the hallway.
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Entering the room, I see people working intensely on the props.
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Guys.
The event is next week. We also have a quiz today. Chill.
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The first teacher of the day enters half an hour after.
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"So, with the event next week, and a school program on Thursday, all the teachers agreed to give you the time to work for the Physical Activity Day."
The teacher exits the room.
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Ah, yes. Plot convenience.
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The entire class screams in joy.
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Do not be fooled. Projects are still given even with that.
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They start to work on props.
An hour passes, and another teacher comes in.
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He doesn't greet the class, he just enters and writes something on the blackboard.
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And with that, tired groans are heard across the entire room.
Yep. Even with the class hours given for work, projects are given in replacement of that.
That's right, that means more work.
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But then again, these people on my class don't mind that.
They're happy they have more time to work.
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I sigh, reading what's written on the board.
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Wait.
WAIT.
A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES YOU TO USE A PARTNER FROM ANOTHER SECTION?!
WHAT IS THIS?!
ANOTHER GADGET FOR PLOT PROGRESSION?
WHY?!
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Sigh. It's a pair project of building a miniature modern building for the Art and Math subjects.
And they required the pairs to be from different sections.
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Hmm.. Maybe they know of the class wars, and they want to fix that.
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Odd for teachers to actually take action on the problems of students.
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Well, it's still a bit hard for me. I don't have that much "friends" on my own section, much less on the others.
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I look at the window with deep wonder.
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I'm waiting for something to start my story for today.
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"Ey, Josh. You now have something to do." The president sits beside me.
"Ah, yes. It has begun."
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It really has begun.
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"We're about to run out of colored papers, tape, glue, metal bars and nails. So go get that for us." (June)
"Can I leave the schoo-- Wait, metal bars?!" (Josh)
"The cosplayer goes to the gym everyday. So we used metal bars for his costume to make it even more realistic. He also does some weapon training, so making his cosplay weapon as heavy as a normal sword makes it easy for him to do some actual character action."
"You really get into this, huh?"
"Not only me, look at everyone."
"It sure is easy to command people here."
"I'm not sure about that. They're the ones who suggested it."
"I guess you do manage to form a great team after working with them after a few years. Also, who's the cosplayer?"
"Oh, it's just Bryan. He volunteered on being the cosplayer after a couple of guys didn't want to lift the sword."
"Ah, Bryan. Never knew he went to gym. So that's why he looked buff recently."
"Recently? He's been going to the gym a year ago or so."
"Hmm, no wonder I didn't know." I smiled.
June looked at me in confusion.
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"Wait, are students allowed to go anywhere? Even leave the school?" I asked.
"With that announcement, us presidents were informed that the following days are treated as holidays, except for the ones with school events."
"So they're just tired of giving classes?"
"Yeah, they're probably even more lazy this year. They didn't give an entire week of work days for events. They just gave a day or two before."
"Gotta love this school. I'll leave then." I packed my things.
"Sure."
"Oh right, who was the guy in my place as the errand boy last year?
"Carlo. He became an important part of the basketball team of our class."
"Huh. I never thought he'd even play a sport."
"He's been playing since second year of high school as well! Did you skip an entire year?"
"Heh. I sure missed a lot." I weakly smiled, leaving the room.
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Bryan Sorna and Carlo Nateron.
Names I haven't thought of for a year or two.
It's been a long time.
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These two were my closest friends in 3rd Grade. We became a trio that were always together on every activity.
They were my "group", but we agreed to not count ourselves as that.
We didn't have that many members. We didn't go with the cool trends.
We didn't force each other on our interests.
We simply hung out with each other because it was fun.
Simply sitting beside each other resulted to lots and lots of honest laughter and pure enjoyment.
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I didn't have to be conscious of myself with them, and I'm pretty sure they felt that too.
Well, those were fun times.
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Fun times indeed.
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I left the school, waiting for a bus to arrive.
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I then felt something vibrate in my pocket.
It was my phone.
It was a notification.
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I've haven't received messages in messenger apps for 2 years.
And my parents just call me.
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I checked the notification-
It really was a message.
It's from Shaina.
We're not even friends in social media apps.
I'm guessing she just found my account now?
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THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.
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--Where u at?-- (Shaina)
--About to leave. At the gates right now.-- (Josh)
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Huh, I did tell her I was about to have a busy time starting today.
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--Wait for me-- (Shaina)
As she sent that, the bus arrived in front of me.
--I'm already on the bus-- (Josh)
--I was just about to leave the room, Josh.-- (Shaina)
--Too bad.-- (Josh)
--I was told to practice, so I'm at the gym right now. How about you?-- (Shaina)
--Why'd you leave?-- (Shaina)
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--Props-- (Josh)
--Well that's lame. Is that gonna take hours?-- (Shaina)
--Probably. This is my first time. Why ask?-- (Josh)
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Is it because you care about me?
If it's from other girls, I would probably think of their intent immediately.
I could think of those things with other girls, but I couldn't think of those things seriously when it's about Shaina.
I forget deciphering the intent, and just go with the flow.
And I think I enjoy it too.
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But it's damaging my chances with her.
And I also sometimes forget I aim for taking the chance with her.
And I don't want that. Probably.
I should think about what to reply to her carefully now.
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Actually, nah. It's just casual conversation.
I'm also at the bus, which makes me dizzy when looking at phones for too long, so I can't think of good responses.
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So I'll just chat casually.
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--I'm asking because thinking about a shut-in walk around the city like a lost kid is funny to me.-- (Shaina)
--I've been living by myself for 3 years. Of course I'd know where things are.-- (Josh)
--Sure you do, City Boy.-- (Shaina)
--If you're having trouble with locating stores, just ask me. I'll be sure to aid a gremlin having contact with sunlight for the first time~ -- (Shaina)
--I guess you won't be getting messages from me for about 2 hours then.-- (Josh)
--Let's see about that.-- (Shaina)
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I keep my phone into my pocket.
It vibrates again.
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--Anyways, take care of yourself there. Imma go back to practice.-- (Shaina)
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I smile, returning the phone into my pocket.
I think I should reply to her message, but I also think it's fine not doing so.
It's Shaina. She knows I don't chat often.
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That feels nice. Seeing that message gave me a feeling of safety.
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That is..
Until I looked at the window of the bus.
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Unfamiliar buildings. I have not seen these structures.
This isn't a place I commonly see when I get on the bus.
Ah.
I got past the area I'm supposed to drop on.
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The feeling of safety turned into an awareness of danger.
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This is because I got focused on my phone.
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I got down on the bus, and looked around.
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I really don't know where I am.
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Dammit.
Do I really have to?
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I pull out my phone.
--So, I got past where I'm supposed to drop, and I'm lost. What I can point out here is a tall building in pink, and I'd like to know where to go from here to the store.--
I message Shaina.
This damages my pride.
And it hurts.
It hurts a lot just after that banter I had with her.
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A couple of seconds pass, and she sees the message.
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I'm about get a lot of laughter from this. And I'm gonna be reminded of this for the rest of the year.
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My phone vibrates.
Shaina started a video call.
Should I accept?
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Dammit.
This is gonna be a lot.
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