Gravitation

Chapter 2

Jay

Second day at school. The principal announces that there will be a field trip tomorrow and all students will join except for the seniors. The students are all excited, they don’t even remember that they have classes. Pg can’t contain his excitement that he jups around while saying "For three!"

After the announcement, we all get back to our rooms, and the first period class begins to start. The teacher explains all activities on the field trip, what time will we assemble and where will the field trip be held.

Our beloved adviser says that we shall find a partner.

"Ma'am, why are we finding our partners?" Vincent asked. It was the first time that I heard him speak so loud.

"Because, that minimizes your noise, and it is the head teacher's idea, not mine" our teacher says.

Suddenly my classmates hurry to find a partner. I ask Pg, but he already has. I asked each of my classmates.

"You already have partner?" I ask Roger.

"Yes," he says, "it's Violet Chase"

"OK, who has no partner?"

"Pauleen, has no partner" he says, "maybe you should ask her"

“Thanks" I find Pauleen sitting in front, who’s also finding a partner (I hate this partner-thing).

"We're partners," I say, "I guess"

"Don’t you have a partner?" she asks, "So that means we're partners…"

"Yes…" I agree to her obvious fact that is stated already.

"I hope I’ll get sick tomorrow," she soliloquys" so that I’ll have an excuse for not attending the field trip"

I am kind of disappointed in what she says, I just don't know why.

***

Today is the field trip. My classmates are so excited, they bring cameras, cellphones (those are allowed), and many other gadgets. I only bring myself, clothes, water, food, lighter, cellphone and jacket.

"Excited kna ba?" Pg asks. (Are you excited?)

"Not really, Pauleen doesn't want to be my partner."

"Ganun lang problema mo?" he asks. (Thats your problem ?)

"Yep, why?"

"Babaw mo?" (You're cheap)

"Huh?"

"Hayaan mo, masasanay rin yun." (She will adapt eventualy)

"Maybe."

"Here's the bus!" I said

"Lets go."

We hurried to the bus bumping from each other and finding a nice seat, but our teacher suddenly speak.

"Lahat kayo umupo sa tabi ng mga partner niyo, walang mag-iingay, limang oras ang biyahe natin, pwede kayong matulog kung gusto niyo" (all of you sit next to your partners, do not make any noise, we will travel for five hours, you can sleep on the way)

I search for Pauleen

"Nakita mo si Pauleen?" I asked Erwin. (Did you see pauleen?)

"Nandoon sa harap." (There at the front)

"Salamat." (Thank you)

I went past the front door (buses are quite different here) and saw her grieving face.