Transferee Welcome Party

Time flies so fast, like a flash of lightning, and before the other students knew it, the class already end. As soon as their science teacher walks outside, the noise from both sides, front or back, arises in split seconds. Some of them gather based on their circle of friends. On the other side, Georgina fixes her things without turning both gazes to the left side where Giovanni sits. Amidst fixing her things, a woman from before approached him, still wary of her presence. She's the woman from the cheer dance club, not the same woman on the rooftop.

"Gina, are you going home now? Let's go home together," Marga said out of nowhere.

"Ms. President, you'll come with us, right?" She was startled when Joshua pop-out in front.

"Come where? Is there any event I'm not aware of now?" She asked before standing up.

"It looks like there're many transferees this year, so the other Student Council requested to give them a welcome party, but since we're out of budget. All of us share some of our pocket money for this. The party is impossible, so let's all hang out in a cheap place instead. Come with us." He explained.

"W-what? Don't come with them, and let's go home, Gina."

Marga clings to her arms and is about to drag her outside the room, but Joshua grabs Georgina's wrist with a mischievous smile.

"Ms. President is still on duty. You'll come with us, right? Giovanni will come with us with two other new transferees in the class next door." She gulps at what he blurted out.

Her gaze turns to Giovanni's direction, where a woman is walking behind him. Once again, their eyes lock on each other, but she's the first to look away.

"Fine. I don't have a plan today. Besides, it's the Student Council's effort. How can I waste it?" She said as Giovanni walked past her along with the woman.

"Argh! Gina, how can you..."

"Don't be stubborn. Let's go."

Marga left dumbfounded as the two walked outside. She stomps her feet and follows them with a heavy step.

***

It's already past six o'clock in the evening. Besides the four people earlier, Kathy, Louie, and Trina joined them as representatives for those who couldn't attend. They went to the Empire Mall to buy some clothes to change into before going to their destination. Besides, they're still waiting for the other two transferees who run late. All of them went to a boutique to buy. Georgina chooses a simple white sleeveless crop top, a blue blazer as top, short shorts, and sneakers since it's not good to wear black leather shoes. Marga wears a white see-through top paired up with a black top and skirt, as well as the black ribbon on its collar and brown high heels. On the other side of the boutique, she saw Giovanni wearing an oversized white shirt used as an outer layer under the black shirt, black pants, and white sneakers. The rest choose whatever they want.

After almost half an hour inside the boutique shops, they went to a fast-food chain to eat while waiting for the other two. The rest of them are talking and trying to get along with each other, but Georgina sits in the corner, eyes focusing outside the fast-food chain while taking a sip on her coke float. Conversation from a different group of friends, family, or co-workers lingers inside. A few minutes passed, and their table turned quiet that caught her attention. She turned towards them but saw two familiar faces from the past. A tall, pretty woman with a slender body and medium-length black hair wears a black draped-neck pullover sweater, faded blue jeans, and black sneakers. Beside her is a tall man with wavy brown short hair who wears simple black jeans, a white, plain t-shirt, and a checkered long-sleeve polo on top. It's not that long, but their face looks familiar. The woman turned her gaze to Georgina and went to Giovanni's side.

"Y-you're here at last. We've been waiting for both of you." Joshua broke the silence.

"I-I'm sorry, there's traffic on the way. We couldn't do anything." The man said.

"Anyway, sit down first. Louie and I will order food for both of you. You better introduce yourself in front of the Student Council President. Kathy, you can introduce them to each other."

Louie and Joshua went to the counter together to get some food, but the awkward silence at their table didn't vanish. Kathy and Trina keep looking at each other and waits for someone to break the awkwardness.

"A-ah... Gina, since you've been busy fixing the troubles recently on the school grounds, maybe this is the first time you've seen each other." Trina breaks it.

She sighs and looks to those two who sit beside the cheer dance club member. "It's not the first time since the both of you seem familiar, or maybe not."

"We already met two years ago, but I'm Jin Carson, Van's friend since middle high." The man said. "We're friends, but it looks like you forget about it," he forces a laugh.

"Friends? It's good we're friends. Back then, I only have a few enemies rather than a friend, so I know you are not lying." She blurted out before gazing back at the woman, sitting elegantly. The cheer dance club member and Kiela whispered to each other. "How about you?"

The woman turns her glance to her. "Oh, I'm Kiela Fuentes. We know each other way back in middle high school, and I'm one of those few." She chuckled. "Based on how you talk now, the rumors around appear correct. You've changed for the worst."

The two women glare at each other before a short, scornful laugh escapes her mouth. A deafening silence echoes between all of them. Even the tension arises as the two won't let go of each other gaze.

"I'm Van's current girlfriend. I thought you needed to know a little fact about his life." She titters still without breaking their intense gaze.

Georgina tightened the grip on her coke float as she chuckled and broke their gaze.

"Mr. Javier's girlfriend? Good for the both of you, then."

"Hey Gina, isn't this woman rude to you? Who is she to stare at you as if you're the lowest of the low? Do you think you have such beauty to be proud of?" Marga snapped, standing up and slamming the table with both hands.

"Sit down. There's nothing wrong with those words."

"But,"

"Sit down," her voice gone stern. Even those around them jolted as they watched her face change to a grim look.

The awkwardness remained at their table. Not until Joshua and Louie come back with food. Even while eating, the tension didn't change. Until they left and went to the amusement park, the atmosphere didn't change. Even those who are not involved feel it. Amidst the rowdy surrounding, the people come by and go as they please. Their group remains silent. Only Joshua and Louie try to cool down the situation. Couples, circle of friends, family, and some tourists. You can see all of those in the area if you look around. There are some stalls where you can buy food, different rides you can enjoy, and booths if you're tired. They continue to walk more inside the amusement park. But, Georgina walks alone behind them while the other four Student Council member tries to entertain the rest.

It's more chaotic than she expects.

The surroundings are deafening. Left and right, you can only hear other people's conversation and shouts or laughs. She roams around and then realizes it's been too long since she came to this kind of place. People look like they don't have any problem, just having fun. Amidst looking around, a group of other teens rushes towards the Ferris wheel direction to line up. It made her stop and lose sight of to rest of them. She tried to look for them ahead, but more people came out on the way. She decided not to bother and walk on her own.

Almost half an hour passed, and she almost saw everything around the amusement park and memorized every nook and crook. Since she's not riding any rides or playing something in the game booths all over, Georgina walks and watches them instead. Not until she stops in front of a fountain where only a few people are lurking throughout the area. Most people who stay there are a couple but still choose to go forward and find a bench to sit on. A long silence continues. Even at this kind of distance, the noise from the center of the amusement park seems to echo all over the place. She heaves a deep sigh, leans on the bench, and closes both eyes—savors a bit of peace alone.

Not until she senses someone glaring at her in front. The moment she opens both eyes, a menacing aura of Giovanni Javier welcomes her. Without a word, he grabs her shoulder and checks every nook and crook of her body.

"You didn't get hurt, right?" He said that made her speechless. "Why did you vanish without a word? You have a phone on you, so better check if someone calls the hell of you." He shouted in anger.

"I-I'm not a child..."

He hissed, pushed her light, and looked away. "Tsk. You looks stupid sitting alone here in-between those couples."

She looks around but stares at him again. "There's no policy here that says, 'only couples allowed.'"

"So, you'll wait until the policy got made before your common sense hits you? Are you stupid?"

Georgina chuckles in disbelief before she stands up and faces him. They face each other, but she looks away first. She clenches both fists and strides a walk, but after three steps, he grabs her wrist.

"Where do you think you're going now?"

"Home... Don't worry. I'll text them, so go back to your woman." She tried to remove her hand, but his grip tightened. "V-Van..."

"Let's go,"

"H-huh? Where do you think you're dragging me? Hey, Mr. Javie—"

"Shut up and follow me."