meaning of love

6.Becoming strangers

"Mom, in school, the teacher signed me up for a science project. I just don't get it. I'm so bad at science, specifically the physics part. I can manage biology, but physics is a big no-no." I kept rambling on for 10 minutes, and my mother patiently listened while cooking dinner. Or maybe she wasn't actually paying attention, but she still made humming sounds of acknowledgment, and that's all I needed.

"Why are you stressing so much? Just talk to your teacher if you're not up for it, but I think you should try participating. The whole point is to learn. Although you're bad in science, you may actually improve or gain knowledge on this specific lesson. It's not like you're the only one in your team; you have groupmates. You don't take the lead of the project and instead follow whoever's taking the lead," she replied after my rambling session.

"I guess that makes sense. I will think about it, Ma."

But my biggest concern is not the subject, it's the awkwardness during the project work. Yet he pretended as if everything was fine, and here I am, the one stressing about it. If he can do it, I can too. After all, I am not the perpetrator, and he should be the one feeling ashamed.

*****

"Students participating in the project should assemble in the auditorium after class. Now, for today's class, we will discuss reproductive organs......."

"Hey, somebody is going to have fun today," teased John.

"It's not funny at all," I said.

"Hey, it's not that big a deal. Just keep working on the project as if you don't know him. Also, ma'am is going to be with you guys all the time, so he can't do any of his underhanded tricks," said Nat.

"Really! That's such good news!" I exclaimed.

*****

"We are going to explain the process of rainwater harvesting. We have to create a rain garden or some kind of field, as well as an underground tank to store the water in. It should be self-sustaining and self-explanatory. Do you understand?" asked Lizzy Ma'am in the auditorium. We all nodded our heads and started brainstorming for ideas.

This is good. It's just biology, and a topic I am very familiar with, so it's not going to be a problem. I was worried I might embarrass myself with my lack of science knowledge.

"What are you thinking? Have you come up with any ideas for the project, Lillian?" questioned Matthew.

"I...yeah, maybe we'll start with a thin plywood for a strong base and pile it with sand and maybe a transparent sheet on top as the sky...something like that..."

"We can go with that, Lillian," replied Lizzy, our teacher, and I nodded my head.

"Even I have an idea. We can make holes in the transparent book cover and pour water on top to make it drip slowly. Since it's hard to make fast-falling rain, the drip should be enough as a small drizzling rain," chipped in Sierra.

"Alright, based on these ideas, list out the materials that we will need for the project and who will bring them. I will pay for the expenses. That's all for today." Saying that, Ma'am walked out of the auditorium.

"That's the end of the list. Does anyone want to add anything else?" asked Matthew after a while of discussion.

"Nothing more," Brad replied, and we all nodded our heads in agreement.

*****

"So, spill the beans, girl?" asked John with a raised eyebrow.

"You have to answer that. Even John is behaving girlishly and is eager for the juicy gossip," said Nat.