sucked in

Chapter 15

We're now in the middle of nowhere. The nearest building is probably a few kilometers away from here. Kahit saan ako tumingin, ang nakikita ko lamang ay naglalakihang mga puno --- well, maliban na lamang sa building sa harapan namin. This is probably where we will be staying. It's a four-story building. Kada palapag ay may anim na kwarto. I guess this is big enough for us all. Also, I heard this building is solar-powered. Cool.

Yep, in the end, I decided to go on the trip. May nurse ako na kasama. My parents paid the school para makasama siya sa akin. Her name is Nurse Lana. She's nice. For now, she's with the teachers. She actually gave me something. I don't know what it is, but it has a button. She told me to just push it if ever something happens to me. 

"Oh, my God. I suddenly regret going here," bulong sa akin ni Lia habang nakakapit sa braso ko. Parang takot na takot siya. 

I chuckled. "Why?"

"These insects are getting on my nerves," may halong gigil na aniya at pinagpapatay ang mga lamok na nakikita niya. 

She's right. Marami ngang insekto rito. But that was expected, since we're in the middle of a forest. Buti nalang naka-hoodie at pants ako. Binalot ko talaga ang sarili ko because I was expecting this to happen. 

"Just don't mind them, they'll leave you alone," natatawang sabi ko sa kaniya. 

She rolled her eyes. "How can I f*cking ignore them when they're sucking all my blood?" 

I just laughed. 

"Listen, students!" a teacher yelled through a megaphone, making everybody shut up and pay attention in front. "Ibaba niyo lahat ng mga bag niyo sa may paanan niyo. We'll be checking all your bags one-by-one. Alcohol is not allowed, so we'll be confiscating them if we ever see one." 

 Mukhang nadismaya naman ang iba sa naging anunsiyo ng guro. Seems like they were planning to drink. 

"I thought this was a vacation? Why can't we drink?" reklamo ng isang estudyante. Sinang-ayunan naman siya ng iba pa.

The teacher in front gestured for them to stop talking. 

"Okay. Listen, all of you. First of all, some of you are still minors. Kami ang mapapahamak kapag hinayaan namin kayong uminom. Pangalawa, kung pag-iinom lang naman pala ang habol niyo rito, sana hindi na kayo sumama at nag-inom nalang sa isang bar." Pinanlakihan niya ng mata ang mga nagreklamo kanina. Hindi naman na sila umimik. 

Napailing-iling ako. Kids these days, seriously. 

"Now, move! Ibaba niyo na lahat ng mga bag niyo. Don't worry, no alcohol doesn't always mean no fun. We've prepared many activities for you, guys. This trip won't be boring."

Maya-maya pa, nagsimula na silang kalkalin ang mga gamit namin. Ang mga adviser ng bawat section ang nagche-check sa mga bag. May mga nakumpiska silang iilang mga bote ng alak sa ibang mga estudyante. Some even brought boxes of cigarettes.