Chapter 32 - From class-bonding to self-bonding

Time check, it is 7:50 early in the morning.

On a terminal beside at 'PURE GOLD MALL' which is located at Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, I was standing under the huge structure of the said mall, waiting for some certain people to arrive at this so-called meeting place of ours.

Yesterday night, I thought at first that the five of us, Romeo, Kevin, Kenneth, Francis and I were the only ones involved in this trip, but I was mistaken. When I checked thoroughly of what Romeo had sent, it seemed that we will be going and tagging along with our classmates on this trip to the beach. Frankly speaking, this is what you call class bonding.

Good grief, there are more people now, but still I didn't hesitate to come along since I was really disturbed of what that silly co-worker of mine, David, had spouted something about youth.

My legs vigorously stomping up and down on the ground, I was starting to get restless and irritated of the situation. Our meeting time was agreed and scheduled at 8:00 in the morning by everyone, but as what I'm seeing now, there are no other people beside me in the place waiting.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Just where in the hell are they?

"Baaaah! This is tiring me out. Maybe I should just cancel in tagging along. I want to go back." Feeling regret of my decision, I let out a deep sigh. "I think I shouldn't have come early. Jeez, I was really expecting for them to---"

"Expecting for what?" Out of nowhere, a warm, light voice that was likely coming from behind me has inserted through my words. "Hehe, hello there Hanuzuki." The voice added, seeming to have already known me.

Turning myself back to the person, with my body turned slightly, the voice was coming from a--- coming from a--- from a--- ahem, ahem!

It was… coming from a beautiful girl, whose eyes were sparkling like stars with her long black, smooth silky hair that slid down covering her white-skinned face paired along with a long pointed, her enchanting aura was so mesmerizing. Standing almost the same height as me, her white long legs were exposed while wearing shorts and with a sleeveless shirt that showed her thin and very lady-like arms.

Realizing who it was, she was none other than our class president, Alisha Jermosa.

"Aahh" Petrified of the gorgeous girl in front of me, I showed out the usual, poker reaction, but my heart was secretly racing fast from the instant I saw her.

"Hey… Are you just going to stare at me like that?" As she started nearing towards me, she returned the favour by staring back closely.

"Oh, sorry for that. A good day to you." My eyes averted, looking at the ground due to her charming cute face that she brought up closed to me.

With only having to see her at school wearing only the usual uniform, I didn't know that the class press could be this good-looking. I guess a bit of change can really completely turn someone into anew, it was really surprisingly shocking for me to know and discover.

"Let's wait for a little longer, okay? Our classmates are currently inside the mall, buying some stuff." Standing right next to me, she said.

"Oh… So you've been with them just a while ago?" With a calm face I replied, but deep inside I was internally screaming in rage of what I heard.

"Yes." With a bright, lovely smile, she shot back.

After a few minutes of awkwardly waiting outside together with Alisha, the whole class has finally arrived, and seeing along in the crowd that was closing in, I saw Romeo and the others.

Jeez, these idiots didn't let me know of what they were doing all along this whole time. How could they, just letting me wait here in this warm place alone, and meanwhile them, they were just chillin' around inside the cold mall. I wanted to buy something too in the mall you know. This is unfair!

I sigh.

But I guess it was partly my fault since I didn't take the initiative to ask them online. Yet still, this is making my veins go explode because of high blood pressure.

The five of us then have rendezvous, and without ado, the whole class has started to make their move in taking two Jeepneys to accommodate us on our trips in travelling to our destination.

-----*-----

Seeing the view in front of my sight, there were no clouds above on the plane blue sky, but the sun's heat was radiating intensely as ever before.

Birds were still flying up high while chirping around despite the melting temperature.

The sound and the force of a strong blowing wind have reached me from a certain direction together with the sound and smell of sea water.

The waves were loudly rushing to the shore, devouring the people as it hits them.

At a distance, seashells covered by sand were slightly to be seen.

Children were actively swimming and playing on the water, and the life guard was alertly sitting tight at his post.

And most importantly, the women with their swimsuits, and the men, likely enjoying the view.

It was the typical things that could be seen at the beach.

After a long hour of our travel, we successfully had arrived at the place, and together with the whole class, we were already at our cottages.

We brought along with us some foods and drinks for the day that we had prepared, bought, and probably some of it were handmade, and also we rented a karaoke as planned.

Not for long, Romeo, Kenneth, Kevin and Francis had already gone into the water and have started their swimming; however, with my skin that is very sensitive to the sun's violate-rays, I decided to be left behind and have stayed inside the cottage, sheltering myself.

"Don't worry, I'll guard the food". Earlier, I exclaimed my excuse with a thumb up when they went rushing to the shore.

Fortunately, they didn't mind me at that spur of moment and were just charging towards the water while yelling happily, loudly like the idiots that they have always been. Yet still, I'm quite surprised of it. I thought that they would be ganging me up and would be dragging me forcedly into the shore, but thank goodness, it was a sound of relief for me at the end.

But on the other hand, despite of my decision to voluntarily stay, I expected that I would at least have a few companions with me, but good grief, it was the unexpected that happened… everyone has gone ahead, leaving me as the only person behind at the cottage.

Well, I couldn't say that it was bad since I could enjoy the peace, being the only one here, but it seems that I would have difficulty in guarding all of my classmates' numerous stuffs just by myself and especially our meals over here that were still kept for later.

But In the first place, I already had decided not to go swimming, and no matter what reasons that my friends and classmates would say if they ever would persuade me to, I really won't go.

When I was still a kid, and whenever there were outings at the beach, I would always get excited to take a swim despite the heat, and especially getting sunburns for myself.

Yet at some point when I had a high level of self-consciousness, I instantly had enough of it, looking at the charcoal-like colour of my slightly peeled skin all over, and not to mention it was quite tiresome in bearing the pain.

Yet still, on a wooden chair under the cottage, I was just quietly sitting while looking at the beautiful view in front of me, enjoying my time in my own way.

Shortly after, it was eventually noon, and my classmates together with my four buddies came back for lunch.

We took out all of our meals and drinks, and afterwards we started eating.

In the afternoon, everyone had gone back on the water, and yet my situation was still the same. But surprisingly, my four buddies have decided to be with me for a moment.

"Jeez cuz, does your skin really burn that easily?" Kenneth questioned while everybody took their chance to sit on the long wooden chair.

"Kind of, that's why I'm here." I replied, eyes fixed at the scenery in front.

"It's been a month since we all saw each other right?"

"Yes, you're right… but not for me and Hanzaki, hehe."

"Did you two saw each other somewhere?" Francis, Kevin and Kenneth respectively followed.

"Yeah, kind of… at the mall." I shot back with only a few words.

"Eeehh?" Romeo loudly reacted at the side.

"Yeah, he's right." Kevin agreed.

"But still, you should just enjoy for today Zaki." Romeo remarked.

"How is it fun when your skin is burning in pain?"

"Well, you can just put lotion on your body. Or are you just afraid to swim on the water?"

"That's not really the case. I really just don't want to swim under this heat. It'll make my brain explode."

"That's quite a bit exaggerating, you know? Or maybe there is another reason?" Romeo and I continuously exchanged a few lines, but right after Romeo had spouted something that could lead into a misunderstanding, all of them have gone weirdly silent as they were staring at me with malice, obviously.

"Oh I see… trying to enjoy the view eh? Zaki, you are one sneaky bastard!" Romeo dug out a random thought with a grinning face.

"Don't make me look like you, you maniac." I replied.

"Hey, check out our baby girls playing over there." Romeo pointed at our female classmates who were wearing their swimsuits.

"Hmmp. Not interested." Looking away, I mumbled.

"Oh really? But oh… what were you doing together alone with our class press earlier this morning? Could it be?"

"Could it be what? Hey, don't make stories!" I strongly exclaimed at Romeo.

"But hey, don't you think that the class press is quite the beauty and hottie?" Romeo continued with his annoying and misleading thoughts.

But to be honest, I do find Alisha quite attractive. It is not only in face and body, but also her personality. And don't think the wrong way… her personality was the first thing that caught my attention.

Alisha is a very hardworking and responsible person that she always had been busy and pressured due to our loaded studies, being one of the top 10 of the overall sections in our strand (ABM).

Due to her being in such a situation, she rarely had time to spend around with some of her friends and interact with other people, but except in our class activities and when leading the class because of course… she is the class president.

Don't misunderstand, okay? I'm not stalking her, nor am I somewhat obsessed to her. It's just that she stands out in class that it made her presence to be known and getting the attention of everyone.

"OH NO!" Returning to my senses, Romeo suddenly shouted with a shocking face.

"Hmmm? What is it bro Rom?" Francis asked.

"Zaki! Don't tell me…"

"Huuh!?" My one brow went up from wondering about the likely incoming accusation.

"You are into your same kind, do you? EVERYONE! STAND BACK!"

What the hell is really up with this guy? I guess he needs some serious beating in his head. I sigh.

"You idiot, it's not like that." Covering my face with my hand from having enough of the humour, the rest of the gang were just enjoying as they were bursting into laughter from hearing the conversation between the two of us, Romeo and I. "I just don't have the time to have one yet." I added.

Somehow, Romeo, Kenneth, Kevin and Francis have suddenly, weirdly gone silent once again with their somewhat wondering faces.

For a moment, it had me looking at their ugly faces, but at some point, I realized of what I have said recently.

Oh crap. I think I made big mistake over there.

"I see...." said Romeo who was touching his chin while seeming to have an idea of it.

Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!

With my body has gone tense and stiff, I was out minded when I dug my own grave.

"You're really quite the studious type huh, Zaki?"

Then with just a second, my troubled-self went back to its normal state and mood.

Phew~ I'm glad he took it the other way, good grief.

"Man, Zaki! You can get a girl anytime when you feel like it with that face of yours. Dude, you don't know how lucky you are bro." Romeo exclaimed.

I'm not boasting, nor claiming to be one, but Romeo do has a point.

Yet on the other hand, the conversation that we had hasn't really came into my interest, still keeping my calm and serious composure in the inside, and well of course… it's because there are other things needed to be put and kept in mind.

Once again, I, Hanuzuki Hanzaki, have evaded a critical strike.

Later after this outing of ours was over, we took our time in fixing up ourselves and as well as cleaning up of whatever we had littered around in the area, if there was any.

Even inside the jeepney after taking off, the students were still rowdy in talking and chitchatting even though after spending a lot of time at the beach while the vehicle was moving insanely fast because of the empty, quiet road.

Good grief~ I can't believe they had still the energy to do that, and meanwhile I who was just sitting away under the cottage and had did nothing else but watch, I got exhausted just by it.

After another long hour of travel, I finally got to arrive at my board place. In the instant I step foot inside my room, I dove onto my bed and have passed out for being extremely tired from the trip, loudly snoring asleep.