36 HOW THE WEEKEND WENT (2)

It was Sunday and the last day of the field trip.

The last day of the field trip was scheduled for a local tour in the province by bus. The facilitators shared bits and pieces of valuable information and trivia about the province's colorful history, customs, traditions, local food, and festivities. 

The tour started at eight in the morning and ended by around a bit past ten.

Afterward, the participants reconvened at the function hall where the talent show was held the previous day, for the event's closing ceremony. 

By one in the afternoon, everyone returned to the school in a grueling three-hour bus ride. 

This time, Chen Lihua sat with Xue Guangxi and Kang Sola, and Chen Lingtian sat with the grandparents. 

Unlike sleeping while on the way to the school event's venue, everyone was wide awake, staring out at the picturesque landscape views through the bus' windows, at the ruddy, and somewhat daunting yet melodramatic sunset view.

By the time they arrived home, it was already half-past four. Still not tired yet, the kids went on in arranging the photographs they took with their polaroid cameras the last two days. 

By the time they arrived home, it was already half-past four. Still not tired yet, the kids went on in arranging the photographs they took with their polaroid cameras the last two days. 

"Weee!!!" They cried, hands in the air while they ran towards the playroom. One twin fetched a new hard-bound journal and sketchbook in one, while the other twin gathered the art materials. They had a collection of acrylic paints, washi tapes, colored pencils, watercolors, brushes in various types and forms, colorful pens, and crayons.

Kang Sola was smiling too as she followed them into the playroom. 

"They're energy just shot through the roof." Xue Guangxi observed arms crossed on his chest.

Jiang Biyu chuckled good-naturedly.

"So were their voices." Chen Lingfang's gruff voice cut through. 

 "Shouldn't you go home and rest, son? Aren't you tired yet?" The man inquired with a tap on his shoulder.

"I'll stay for a few more hours." He retorted, with a huge grin on his charming, handsome, youthful face.

"Why don't you just move in here? Saves you the trouble." The older man suggested as he headed up the stairs. 

"It isn't such a bad idea, isn't it?" The Chen matriarch followed through, rubbing her palm with such maternal concern at the young man's arm. Xue Guangxi loved this pair of parents tremendously. Truly, the world compensates its harshness with the presence of good people.

"Just a couple more of persuading and I might just consider. Don't get surprised if you see me in your doorstep one day with all of my luggage. Don't forget I have a dog, too. Are you fine with that?"

"Sure, no problem, son." 

Jiang Biyu also headed up the stairs to rest.

"Hehehe. At least I know I wouldn't be homeless." Xue Guangxi under his breath as he walked towards the twins' playroom.

Kang Sola, Chen Lihua and Chen Lingtian were currently sorting the photographs and pasting it onto the journal and decorated it to their liking. "Let's see. I'll help you with that."

The lady introduced the twins to some of the best practices and most common rule-of-thumb when it comes to junk journaling. She had done a vlog about that before.

Huddled around a mini table, they all seated themselves on stools and worked with the art supplies industriously. No one could have broken a sweat more than them.

"You had fun, didn't you?" The lady asked the twins.

"En!" The twins both nodded their heads with enthusiasm and gusto beyond bounds.

She squished their fluffy cheeks gently as her eyes twinkled with delight. "Let's participate in the next school event as well."

"En!"Off they went to work with their masterpiece and burnt some more midnight oil sparingly so.

Xue Guangxi joined in the fun. He squatted by the tiny kids' table. "That looks cool." He noted, a warm smile plastered on his face.

Xiao Lihua raised a photograph to Xue Guangxi. The girl pouted as she did so. "But Uncle, why aren't you looking at the camera at this photo? See? All of us were attentive." 

*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*

Kang Sola could not help but cough as she choked on her own saliva after having a glimpse of the photograph. Xue Guangxi was not looking at the camera because he's looking at her!

'No, maybe he's not. He's looking at somewhere else – somewhere far! Way past me! He's not looking at me!'

As she got flustered by the photograph, her face turned purple the way it used to, while her face remained as stoic as a robot's apathetic face. Except for the slight discomfort brought by the coughing a while ago, her face looked unperturbed. 

As she got flustered by the photograph, her face turned purple the way it used to, while her face remained as stoic as a robot's apathetic face. Except for the slight discomfort brought by the coughing a while ago, her face looked unperturbed. 

"I'll get us some refreshing juice from the kitchen." She sprung to her feet. 

"Thank you, Aunty~" Xiao Lihua lifted her head from her craft. She's now holding on to a metallic colored pen in the shade of rose gold.

Xue Guangxi grabbed her wrist. "I prefer coffee."

She shook off his hand and said, "Do it yourself, then. We promote self-service here. All three of us want juice. I'm not your servant."

"Geez, Sola, are you ill-tempered again? Mad at me again? What did I do?" He stood up too, following just closely behind.

In the Chen household, there were actually maids who would gladly serve refreshments for them. There wasn't any special reason for Kang Sola to do it herself other than, perhaps, attempting to escape and get as far away as possible from the young man.

Tough luck, though, because the very person she wanted to get away from followed her to the kitchen. 'Can he leave me alone? For once?!' She thought helplessly. Her muscles tensed up, aware of his presence.

At the kitchen, he asked her in hesitation as he fidgeted on his feet, "By any means…"

He dallied for some more seconds, not knowing how to continue. It would be presumptuous on his part to say the next words.

Yet, he still went on. "Are you avoiding me? Does my presence make you uncomfortable?" His nerves got the better of him but he spouted the words with success.

Awkward silence engulfed them.

'Think! Think, say something, girl!' Kang Sola's body froze and the kitchen atmosphere turned frosty.

Then, as if the frost had suddenly thawed, Kang Sola surprised the young man by her uncalled for levity.

"Pfftt.. Hahahahaha!!" She paused then burst into subdued laughter. "You're delusional. I can see why people say you're conceited."

"Conceited? Who? Me?" His ears burned red. "I'm just asking! If not, then all's well! I'm not conceited. Geez! I worried over nothing!" All his nervousness dropped on the floor. He retrieved a mug from the open utensils stand and a teaspoon from the wooden drawer and proceeded in making his coffee. Some freshly brewed coffee was already available in the coffee machine. He poured the hot liquid onto his mug, then he clanked his teaspoon with great consistency as he swirled his cup of coffee with it.