The Shy Boy: Something New

Chapter Eight - Brains before Games

   I scroll through my Facebook feed and see the posts of Clark's official page.

   It's a bunch of photos of them setting up their camp, along with many other schools and students. You can also see all the activities they've done, like first-aid training, going through obstacle courses, waking up super early to do push ups and more.

   In one of the photos you could see the boys all muddy but smiling. I don't see Wayde in it though.

No, I'm not looking for him, maybe you are.

   I finished my activities as early as possible so I can make use of the fact we don't have to go to school for a whole week.

   I miss my classmates already. Sure, they're a pain in the butt, but I'm a very sentimental person and I personally see them as my siblings, family.

They're better than whatever I have here.

   It's Monday, again. And we finally get to go to school.

   I enter the classroom, it was quite empty, the seats were arranged just like how they were last time I saw it.

"Hi." I say to Maria as I settle down, she's the only other person here. "Hi" she greets back, chatting someone on her phone. "Who's that?" I ask. "Ace, di daw ata sila papasok [they're not going to school, I think.]" she says.

I knew they were getting close! At least Maria is a good match for Ace, as a friend at least.

"Why?" I ask again. "Nilalagnat si Archer. [Archer has a fever.] But I think Ace is going to school." She waves around her phone as she explained, and I nod.

   "Hi!" Laine enters the classroom, with her many bags, she puts her stuff at her chair beside me and sits down. "Hi, it's a miracle you're not late." I tease and she narrows her eyes at me.

   "At least I'm not waiting for someone to arrive." She smirks at me. "Ay! Sino yan? [Hey! who's that?]" Maria giggles overhearing what Laine said.

"I bet only half the boys can make it. Imagine spending all week at camp." I say, "Kaya nga eh. [I know right.]" Maria says, still on her phone.

   The door opens, Jeff enters the classroom with his black backpack. "Hi mars." He sits at his seat. "Di daw papasok si Wayde, nagka Dengue. [Wayde isn't coming to school, he had Dengue.]" Jeff explained,

"Sad ka ba mars? [are you sad, mars?]" He asks. "Huh? Sino? [Who?]" I ask, he shakes his head holding back a laugh, "Wala. [No one]" He laughs.

He calls all of us mars. Well, just the people he's actually friends with.

   I was right, during flag ceremony the only people were all teachers, girls and just a few boys from each class.

Even Patricia isn't here, a lot of the boys aren't here.

   "Do you think we'll still have classes?" Laine wonders as we walk back to the classroom. "Not sure." I reply.

    We sit down, but Jeff decided to sit at Wayde's empty seat. The classroom was really empty, the entire middle and front rows were empty except for Ace, Zed, Ben, and Vince.

   "Okay guys I have an announcement." Ma'am Marielle enters the classroom, "Good morning, ma'am Marielle!"

   "Since halos wala kayo, [most of you aren't here,] we will postpone our class, but I don't know about the other teachers so you will stay here. And also, you will be having a long quiz next week, all of you should finish all your activities by next week monday because the school will be having an event." Ma'am explained and we started murmuring in excitement.