Chapter 7 - Into a new leaf

COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!

"Alright, let's do this!"

My hair was all messy from rising up.

Even though the sun has risen, the entire place was still freezing cold, yet the warm sunlight has made me feel a bit better when I bathed on it outside.

At the kitchen, I gargled some water, and drank some afterwards.

Based on my observation, it appears that this shelter of theirs--- or should I say ours since I'm with them now, is just like a full blown house, yet the catch is that each of us workers have our own rooms given. As expected of the madam.

"Oh~ Good morning to you."

"Good morning to you too Aunt Rose"

In the first place, without really having to know what to do first, I was wandering around to find something to work at, and surprisingly

I have bumped into Rosalie at the process.

"Aunt Rose, can I ask for help?"

"Oh sure! And please don't hesitate Hanzaki, you can always address your concerns to me." She exclaimed as she showed me her bright smile, and I nodded in response.

For introductions, Rosalie is a co-worker of mine and is already in her 40's. She lives in the city but currently is residing here for work, and furthermost, she was tasked by the madam to guide me here in the farm. Standing the same height as me, most likely, her slim figure was making it hard for me to believe that she is a mother of five and especially considering that age of hers. Despite reaching a milestone, she was emitting such beauty that may likely be the same aura when she was young.

I guess this is what you call a baby-faced person then? Well, she do kind'a look like it with that pony tail and fat cheeks of hers.

Anyways, I then asked her for their usual routine in the area and have been given instructions afterwards.

Later, I had engaged with the other people working at the place, and apparently they were nice. We cleaned the area first thing in the morning and were feeding some of the farm animals after. The works weren't that difficult to understand, but it would take a lot of effort and stamina to do it.

After our early morning works, we were having our meals at the spacious dining room.

From what I observed since yesterday, it seems that the appliances and technologies inside were pretty high-tech despite of the appearance of this varnished, wooden structure.

Whew~ I guess I'm really forgetting all the time of how rich could the owner of this property be, but I really don't know to what extent. All I know is that she's rich, period!

As we were enjoying our time, we start to have a little chitchat with each other, and on a plastic chair that was paired with a round, plastic table good for 4, I was sitting down while taking a sip of my coffee, and along with me was Rosalie, who was also sitting and taking a sip of her hot drink.

"So Hanzaki, do you still have enough money to accommodate for your expenses?"

Oh right, when was the last time I took a count of my cash? It was just yesterday from going down the stairs with disappointment, and remembering my mood back then is making me shiver.

"Yes I do have, though it is really a few amounts left." I replied.

"I see… but if you would have troubles regarding it, just talk to me about it and I'll help you, okay?"

"You're too kind Aunt Rose, but I guess that won't seem to happen in these incoming days for now."

"So kid, do you know how to get to your school from here?" Bob, another co-worker of mine asked and has joined the two of us.

Bob is just around his 30's and is quite the muscle head, and his semi-bald. It's infuriating to say but, he's taller than I am, and maybe because of that advantage of his, he was somehow going buddy-buddy and kidding around with me. Sometimes he likes to bully me a little despite knowing I'm a newcomer.

Jeez. What a troublesome kind of person indeed.

Also, he was one of the people who helped me with my works yesterday and especially just recently. Frankly speaking, I'll be in his care together with Rosalie.

"Of course I know, its---"

Huh? Where was this place again? Ah right, I remember. Mrs. Teresita said that this place is Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Then to go to school, I just need to---wait--- Bukidnon?

"EEEEEEEEEHHH!? OH NO!"

I carefully thought of it at first and have reacted out from the alerting realization.

"Oh my, don't tell me you haven't realized that we are a bit far from the city Hanzaki."

Crap. I was too overwhelmed of the things that happened and was focused in setting my mind-set here for work. Although I've been thinking a lot about school, the part where having to make a plan for my travel from this place to the campus has been forgotten.

I scratch my head for not being mindful, and my free time last night has now been gone to waste.

"Listen here kid, I'll tell you everything you need to know."

Somehow, I got a bit of relief when a saviour just spoke. Bob begins his instructions.

"First of all, if you intend to take a bus just outside the main road, then you're risking, and maybe at the end, wasting time. Most buses won't just stop in the middle of nowhere, mostly also it's because the passenger vehicle is full."

I can't argue with that.

"In order to be assured, you need to take a bus on the bus station with a sign "Cagayan" in front of it. Its stop would be at 'agora', you know that place right?"

"Uh… Yeah. But where is this bus station exactly?"

"Oh that? It's in the municipality, but it is quite a bit far going back there, and by that, you need to ride a 'motorela' outside, though you would get to wait for a little longer, but that would be better than recklessly waiting for a bus."

"Eeeehhh?"

Goodness. How tiresome this could be.

"And it will take you an average of 55 minutes to get to this school of yours under a fine state of traffic."

"I see, oh then what time is----"

Honestly, I'm kind a bit of an irresponsible guy sometimes, but this time was just unlucky.

It was already 6:53 in the morning when I looked at the clock in which it had me rattling around from the fear of getting late.

"EEEHHH! Class starts at 7:30 am! I got to go!"

I then came rushing inside my room to change into my uniform and pack up my things for school. Thankfully I was done with my bath before breakfast started.

"Hey kid, Do you remember everything what I said!?"

"Yeah no problem Uncle Bob, and don't worry about me!"

I moved with haste when everything was ready.

The next step is to wait for a 'motorela' at the side of the road while also keeping in mind of everything that has been instructed to me.

Along the way, I managed to completely made

my way through the initial and unfamiliar grounds with ease and full of confidence, and also with not having a bit of fear of just being by my own.

No doubt. I would arrive at school on time with no sweat---- Or so it is what I would like to say.

-----*-----

Stepping out of the Jeepney coming from a long, long time trip of mine…...

"What the hell! There goes me~ Crap, why did I suddenly forget the way around?" I sighed at mid-way.

It was very unfortunate. It is currently 8:49 am and with a disappointed face I was standing in front of the school gate.

Sadly my first trip didn't go well as what had been hurriedly planned about an hour and a half ago.

I was irresponsible this time around for being overconfident and not to mention also because of the traffic that had caused my misfortune when arriving in the city. Tch.

But anyways, I'm already considered late by leaving the place at that kind of time.

Meanwhile as I attempted to go in, the guard at the place had already noticed my appearance and readied a late slip.

"What happened that it took you this long kid?

With his somehow irritating question, I didn't say a word and have just shown a forced smile while hiding the lame truth.

-----*-----

"Okay, that's it for today. Dismissed."

"Goodbye and thank you sir Roxas!"

Before I could even go inside, the first subject of the morning has already ended, and I was just standing in front of my classroom's door while being hesitant to open it.

The thought has just sunk into my mind about being absent for quite some time. I was feeling embarrassed of the thought of showing myself inside.

"But there is no backing out now, and why did

I even bother to come here in the first place anyway?" I shake my head, persuading myself to get in.

Of course this is for my sake, and as I made up my mind…

"Oh! Hanuzuki!"

The door was suddenly opened.

A loud voice was up close and has startled me. Looking in front of me, it was coming from my homeroom teacher who's close upfront. His reaction was just priceless but this was not a good thing to be proud of.

On the other hand, peeking at of what was behind my teacher, my sudden appearance has also caught my classmates' attentions at the back and especially my friends who were gladly making wide smiles on their faces about the news of having me return to school, probably.

Their eyes had gone wide and they quickly jumped off of their seats out of relief.

Seriously, are they kids?

"Why have you come just now? And, you have been absent for 3 days. Hey! Hanuzuki!"