Un atardecer contigo

Chapter 6: Protect-Oceans

In the last two days, my parents have been coming and going everywhere because of the house we're going to move to. With the group, we only meet to study. Luke and I take care of Kimba every day, and I talk to Flor almost always; she loves everything I do in Hawai'i and emphasizes that she's still saving up to visit me.

I'm doing very well in school. I love biology because it talks about the sea and the pollution caused by humans.
The bell just rang, and I had an idea in my head. I took advantage of the fact that we're all here to propose it and see what they think.
"I came up with something," I said, sitting down in one of the chairs in the school cafeteria.
"We're listening," Laila said excitedly.
"What do you think if we do some kind of project related to ocean pollution?" I asked, waiting for a response.
Everyone seemed to agree.
"But how would it work?" Luke asked.
"It would be about promoting respect for nature. Encouraging people not to litter plastics, to take care of the beaches..." I said, gesturing with my hands.
"That sounds epic," Caleb said.
"Oh yes, count me in!" Laila commented.
"I think it's a tremendous idea," Iván said.
"And for those who join, we can also go to the beach to clean it up," Zac suggested.
"Of course. In Uruguay, there are many environmental groups that clean the beaches, and besides, it's a country with a lot of marine territory," I said.
I like doing this kind of thing. When I finish school, I want to study marine biology to take care of the sea and its inhabitants.
"We have to think of a name for the project," Laila said.
We all thought of names, but then the bell rang, and we went to our classrooms.
Since we have biology now, we took the opportunity to talk to the teacher, and she loved the idea.
"Do you already have a name for the project?" she asked.
"Not yet," Iván said.
"'Protect-Oceans'," I blurted out.
They looked at me and nodded.
"'Protecting the oceans'... I love it," the teacher said.
"That's an epic name," Laila said.

Throughout the school day, I thought about the format for making the posters. Laila threw ideas at me because she loves graphic design, and I think if she takes care of making them, they will turn out very nice.
Then I saw that Iván and Caleb were also organizing themselves.

The final bell rang, and we all gathered at the treehouse to talk more quietly about "Protect-Oceans."
We divided the tasks. Zac and Laila will take care of the posters, Iván and Caleb will create a website and social media accounts. Luke and I will be in charge of finding someone with diving suits so we can also clean the seabed.
"Well, are we going diving too?" Iván asks.
"Yes, but we need to have a schedule for those who want to join, and it should be once a week," Luke informs.
"We'll start creating the website tomorrow," Caleb says.
"Great."
"Laila and I made a draft of the poster," Zac says and shows us the sketch.

After finishing organizing ourselves, we did other school tasks and went to Iván's house, who invited us to spend the afternoon in the pool.
These days I always carry a bikini in my backpack, as Laila said I should.

Iván's house is quite large; his mother welcomed us very kindly. Actually, everyone here receives you kindly.
"I'm going to make an apple pie. I hope you like it."
"I love it," I said.
"It's my favorite."
"Epic."

I went to the bathroom and put on a blue bikini and let my hair down so it wouldn't get wet.
When I opened the door, I saw Luke outside.
He looked at me, but I can't describe how he looked at me; I just know I blushed.
I was speechless. In these situations, I don't know how to act.
Until I managed to speak.
"Uh... I have to..."
"Yes, go ahead," he says, freeing my way.
I nodded in gratitude. I wanted to escape from there.
I felt like he was still looking at me, but I just kept walking.
I got into the pool and joined the water war the others were having.
"Shall I put on some music?" Zac asks from outside the pool.
"Yes!" Laila cheers.
"But let it be Bob Marley," Caleb says in his typical calm tone.
Music started playing from the speaker, and Caleb smiled triumphantly.