GROWING PAINS

Life is full of unknown and unexpected twists.

But there are also unavoidable events that you can't stop or you must adapt to in life.

Ely went back to Japan, Tony's farm is developing to be modern mechanized farming soon with Ely's help from Japanese agricultural technology. Paulo is continuing special studies in arts. Ruthie to finish Elementary and Juan to push through a Mechanical Engineering Course and Jacky to have a pre-med course in Biology.

All are normally having its expected course...

"Wait, We have not yet graduated from high school." Jacky is discussing with Juan's plans after high school.

"That is coming so soon and what could life be after high school? Will, there be changes, I don't know, actually, I don't want to think about something I can't control. I just want to finish soon so I can court you." Juan said.

"Eight years of studies not including review and board exam is still a long way to go..." Jacky sighed.

" I will declare it now so you will not worry. If ever you will find someone who you will love in the process for what reason. Then decide there and then. I want you to be happy than to be miserable waiting for me." Juan saying as if they will not see each other again.

" No, that is tragic, why to anticipate a sad ending from a friendship that is just starting," Jacky said.

" All possibilities may happen. I want to give you a leeway. If we are meant for each other, then God will preserve each of us for each other, if not, then no regrets, but even just the thought is already hurting. I hate this feeling that I will suffer regret and pain, like who will expect that Mom Martha will be lost in Japan without a trace." Juan is speaking as if crying.

" That's another case from ours. You promised to court me after college. I will wait for it. Focus on my studies, and wait for it. Period!"Jacky speaking with determination.

" Maybe because men can't trust themselves to be faithful? Jacky said.

"Hey, that's... " Juan did not finish.

" Sorry, I know many men who are faithful to the end." Jacky retracted her first statement.

"Let's eat some ice cream to cool us down." Juan invited her.

" Better! that conversation will end to a fight! Jacky said

Both of them laughed. Let's invite our classmates in the canteen.

In the canteen, Rose confronted Jacky, "Do not deny Jacky, Are you and Juan in a relationship?

"Yes!" Jacky replied.

"See! I told you..." Rose shakes her head.

"You did not ask if what kind of relationship, Rose. Do not jump to conclusions." Jacky said then get her ice cream and went outside the canteen.

All of them are feeling the pressure of the future. Many "what ifs" are playing in their minds. This is the challenge of leaving adolescence and facing the facts of adulthood.

Some students were early to mature especially those who worked early in life. While others are still child-like and gullible. They still run around chasing each other and playing elementary school games.

"Please we will start the meeting." The class president Lalaine called the class to gather inside.

The secretary wrote the agenda: Preparation for graduation, class retreat, and class official picture.

Mixed emotions...

The class adviser Ma'am Otic has given a short speech about what to expect and what to prepare after graduation, ending with thanking everybody and said: Pass all your classes and hope to see you succeed. We are only counting days and we will part ways to find our own path in life. Always remember, I will remember each one of you in prayer.

Some cried, some happy, some hopeful...

The meeting ended, everybody is excited.

High School is the most exciting for most. The jealousy, the fights, the immaturity, the lust, the curiosity, the gullibility, the temptations, the wrong decisions, and its consequences had made its marks and scars in their lives as they grow.

Some died in the process, some damaged emotionally, and some just survive the trauma of their experiences.

The class retreat was held in Sarangani Gufadweng Overlooking a Paragliding Resort. This place is visited by international paragliders, they even had contests here.

The class rented four vans. The students were assigned tents to accommodate the forty students and their adviser and Pastor Nartiz was invited to give the lecture and message for the graduates.

The students sang songs inside the van, laughter, jokes, and teasing were going as they travel.

The last van did not arrive.

"Help me..." One of the passengers is crying penned down by another passenger who collapsed. "Call an ambulance!" A man shouted to another man as he is pulling the driver out of the van. Another is taking pictures and video. You can smell some blood and the driver looked dying.

Ma'am Otic is crying while talking on the phone. " Let's pray for your classmates."

Almost everybody cried.

Jacky contacted Rose who was late during the meetup and was with the fourth van crying: " Rose, what happened? Are you OK? Are you hurt?"

"Jacky, I just had some bruises but I'm alive. Everybody is alive only the driver is in the ICU. He had slept driving" Rose reporting.

Ma'am Otic continued the program with a short prayer, song, and message from the Pastor, then all of them went to the hospital.

It seems they have their retreat in the hospital.

Rose embraced Jacky who just arrived from the hospital. "Thanks, you really care for me," Rose said.

Ma'am Otic requested her friend in the hospital that she will borrow the conference room of the hospital to talk to the students and the parents who checked their children. The back yard of the hospital is a large vacant land, She also requested to borrow it to put the tents there and continue with the retreat if the situation allows it.

Ma'am Otic and the principal was there comforting the parents and students.

"What really happened?" asked the principal.

" The van started to swerve. Going to the left to hit the truck in the opposite lane, the truck try to avoid the collision and it did, but our van went to the side canal then climb and hit the tree." Manuel replied to the principal.

if we hit the truck many have died, I think. Manuel added.

Rose remembered clearly, how the van loses control when the driver is already asleep, it went left, students shouting from fear, then she sees the truck facing them tire screeching and trying to avoid the van. The students, crying and shouting as they are hurt by the van falling in the canal and all of them were thrown to each other inside with the inertia as the van climb the canal and hit the tree. All of them thrown going to the front, while the driver was pinned down in the door and steering wheel. If not for the seat belt, he went out of the front glass.

Raul narrated his experience with his brother. It is so fast, actually, I'm sleeping sitting as the van is running. Then suddenly, The break of the truck wakes me up then "Boom" we fell in the canal and hit the tree. I can hear the shouts, the cries of my classmates. I can smell blood, sweat, and canal odor. I felt the pain in my legs, my back and head have bruises. I thought we will die.

A parent shouted, " This is the problem with drivers who do not have proper sleeping time. They must not drive if they have not slept last night!"

Another parent shouted: "The insurance must pay this."

Another parent said: "Let's thank God that nobody died today. If the truck hit the van, I'm sure somebody is in the morgue now."

"It is sad to finish high school and be separated from friends, but that is life. We must accept that as we grow, we feel growing pains. But we must move on and grow." The principal said.

Everybody calmed down, everybody except the driver is in critical condition, All students have no major wounds or injury and one the student shouted; "Let's continue the retreat!

"Yes! Continue the retreat!" Many students chanting in the conference room.

The principal, asked the parents in the room, what do you think? I will print a parent consent form, sign it if you want to continue with the retreat.

"Retreat! Continue the retreat!" Students chanting.

Ma'am Otic talked actually I have asked the hospital administrator if we can use the large vacant lot of the hospital in the back to set up our tents for the night and they agreed. We can use the conference room for our activities. This is a soundproof room so we can't bother the patients, but if we finalize the plan with the parent's consent now and you will behave we continue it here.

"Big yes!" Yes! students shouted.

The principal gave out the newly printed consent forms and it was agreed to continue the retreat on the hospital grounds.

The program went smoothly.

"Students talk about their good memories in the school, and what they learned."

"Many thanked their teachers and classmates."

"Many enemies reconciled, many asked apologies for their wrong decisions done, many said their regrets of what they should have done and avoided it."

"Many cried and said, we should have done this sooner, but let's make the most of our last days in our high school life."

They sang the song: " If we hold on together" led by Lalaine, the class President.