SECRETS

Chapter 4 - The start of Something New.

January 24, 2013, The first day of the emersion project. The whole whole sociology class was asked to come at exactly 8:00 am. There were 2 buses waiting for us. I looked around and soon realized who I was looking for. I spotted him leaning on the shed, wearing faded blue jeans, and a plaid shirt with earphones plugged in and eyes tightly shut. He was carrying 1 brown duffel bag and a black binder on his right arm.

I decided to approach him.

"Hey," I said, and later realized that the music was too loud for him to hear. I touched his left arm. "Hey?"

It was the first time I touched him. I felt this electric shock, I automatically removed my hand. He shot a glance at me. I was kind of hoping that he'd smile at me once again. But unfortunately, the mean Miguel was back. I cursed inside my head.

"Yes?" He said, obviously irritated.

I handed him the folder containing my research work. "Here, population is approximately 3,200." He took it from me abruptly. "Did you do your research on its geography?" I asked deliberately.

"Yes" He replied coldly.

I took a step backward and decided to walk away. I wanted to be rude to him. I wanted to reciprocate what he makes me feel every single day. But just when I was supposed to make my dramatic exit, Sir Angelo spoke through the megaphone.

"Line up! Pair by pair please!" He exclaims, shouting even through a megaphone. Too deafening.

"Perfect timing." I hissed.

I walked on my fastest pace and lined up behind Ricky. The guy who likes mythological stories too much that he assumes he came from one. Miguel stood beside me, carefully removing his earphones.

"...Meyor, Rono. Seat number 29. Two nine!" Sir Angelo shotus.

He lets me get in first. I blush. Gentleman, check. I sighed as the irritation I felt was suddenly gone.

I sat beside the window to get a better view of whats outside. He sits beside me. Our elboxs touching. I cant help myself from blushing. He reaches into his bag and pulls out his Ipod. The bus roars to life. I glance at my wrist watch, 8:45 am.

- - -

Someone nudges my elbow... I start to realize that I was leaning on HIS shoulder. I rubbed my eyes and pulled away. Time check, 12:00.

"Wake up miss." He says. "We're here."

"Sorry." I yawn involuntarily.

We were the third pair to be dropped off to our destination. Before we got off the bus, we were instructed that the family that would welcome us would be the Sanyo's. Sir Angelo hands us our slips and wishes us luck.

The bus engine starts again. We were left standing there. In front of us, was a big wooden signboard saying, "GREENFIELDS"

Greenfields, by the way, was a small district best known for being the best vegetable plantation within the whole country. But after a huge Christmas fire razing the whole area, (3 years ago) the district was never given the chance to rebuild itself ever again. Their government even claimed the property, they threatened its citizens, but the people were brave enough to rally against the bulldozers parked at their entrance. Fortuantely, all but one 3 year old innocent child had survived..

3 years later (which is today) Greenfields stands as a cheap area where insufficient families -including the families who rallied- choose to live.

Gilbert Sanyo -father of 6 children according to his Bio- approached us with a smile and a wave.