Chapter 10 - Laborious studies and works

Arriving at my stop, it was already hard to get a clear look of the darkened surroundings. My shoes were making crunchy noises from walking on the dusty road, and with the injuries that I got, I made a cease along the way.

I tried covering all of it, from my hands to wherever it can be seen, but I ended the act as I remember the Band-Aids sticked on my face.

I couldn't cover it with clothing because that would be weird, and I don't want to have any further injuries since I might trip due to this stupid idea.

Frankly speaking, there was no used hiding it in the first place.

"Hey kid! What happen?"

Bob and Rosalie have gone over to my side with a shocked expression when they noticed me approaching the gate.

"Oh my, what could've happened that led you to this?"

As everyone has eventually surrounded me, they were bothered in looking at all of my wounds.

But before I could even explain to them what happened this afternoon, we went first inside the shelter, and they couldn't believe when I had told them of the reason.

They continued to show disturbed and concerned faces as they probably were imagining what I have just gone through.

Also as expected when I got back, my eyes wandered and have seen that there was work to do, and it was necessary.

The incident got me tired, but I stood up from my seat, trying to finish those works for the day yet, I was then stopped by my co-workers at the process.

"Yow kid, what are you trying to do? Look at yourself." Bob tried persuading.

"Please."

With just a word, I insisted to get things done with a tired and contradicting face.

"At least let me do a bit of my part." I remarked, trying to make face of being a responsible and independent person.

The people then looked at each other in silence, trying to make a decision, and in the end, they nodded in agreement of letting me do what I wanted to do.

-----*-----

COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!!

Slowly I open my eyes from the disturbing noise.

"Ugh, my body feels heavy, and as just as I returned from school and that happened."

Even with the exhausting works yesterday night, I have rose for another one this morning, and shortly after the morning works, breakfast has been served once again.

"Food is ready!"

Rosalie called us for the meal, and together with Bob inside a barn, we have started heading to the dining hall where Rosalie is.

"Hey kid, are you feeling better now?"

"A little bit."

"Whoa, why such the long face?"

"Sorry, I think yesterday was just too much and unexpected."

"Bring me with you next time so that I can help you kick their butts off!"

"Okay okay, that's enough Bob." Rosalie warned Bob as we arrived at the door.

"What? I'm just cheering the kid up."

She thought that Bob has been a bother to me lately, but actually it was the opposite.

I'm grateful to my uncle for doing that, but having this kind of mood especially when one has gone through such incident is unavoidable.

Afterwards, in the morning before class could even start, eyes were disturbingly gazing towards me coming from the students as I was walking through the hallway, and within just a minute, I have arrived early inside my classroom, and my friends were already sitting on their seats while busy talking to each other.

"Oh! Bro is here already." Francis has noticed me first, but more importantly, his concerned face was a surprise. I didn't know he could be like that.

"Hanzaki! Thanks man you're just alright."

As expected, Kevin's usual smooth way of talking.

"What just happened yesterday went uproar here in our school."

"Yeah, and it looks like we are the topic for today's time. Well, mainly those section 4 dudes, but yeah, pretty much we're included." Romeo and Kenneth respectively joined through the conversation.

"But the band aids look cool on you though, bro Zaki." As Francis delivered his unanticipated statement, the rest of us four have gone staring at him in disturbance.

Francis, I'm now taking back my good impressions of you. Was that supposed to be an insult, or a joke? Whether each of the two, this is probably not the time to show case your stupidity.

"That's not helping Francis."

Romeo caught up quickly, but of course it's likely because his partly involved. I guess Francis' words had hit him too.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. But still, I can't imagine that. They attacked us just for the reason of a bet game? It wasn't even that much."

Ho~ Now this is unanticipated coming from Francis.

"Those guys maybe had nothing aside. They only had that bet game to rely on. Those poor insects are just lazy to do other things. Right Ken?"

"Yeah. I agree with you Kevin."

They sure are ganging up the violent students of Sacred Gem with their gossips, yet I was kind of disturbed about the lines they said in their conversation.

They do have some point of what they have stated, but I won't go so far as judging them like that. They don't know the root and influences that made those people into who they are now.

Without knowing any of their backgrounds and with today's influences, we can just complain yet judging them would be harsh.

Well… criticizing people about their lives are really not my thing. I know I sound insane for defending the people that almost beat us up to death, but for the sake of humanity's future, one must look and see the goodness or the good side of another despite the flaws.

As the saying goes; spread love, not hate. But naturally on the other hand, not every time would go smoothly in our way, and with this fact, dominance is a factor in fighting for the sake of others.

I know I also sound bias, so I'll just let them be with their talks to make it up for them secretly.

"Okay students! Please take your seats."

Once again, we prepared for our first class and everyone has gone rushing back to their seats.

After another dismissal, the room has gotten noisy again while I was packing up my things, and at the same time was getting a bad feeling about Romeo who has gotten restless all of a sudden.

"Oi Zaki!" Romeo hurried towards my seat.

"What is it now? Maybe we'll get into another trouble with it." I stared at him out of uneasiness and doubt.

"What? What are you talking about? Relax, this is something else. Anyways, let's go to a fast food restaurant. We should discuss our plan for our Business Project."

"Huh? This early?" My one brow went up from wondering.

"Of course, why not?"

"And, why are you asking me? The class haven't made a group yet."

"What are you talking about?" Romeo then sighs out of disappointment.

Romeo pointed at himself, and when the other three came close, he continued pointing at the rest of us.

"Oh right, Stupid me. That's already automatic, right?"

"Now let's go! We need to give way to our priorities if we want to have fun."

He's right. Balancing studies and fun out-goings should be the obvious move for students like us.

If it weren't for Romeo's leadership, I guess the five of us would end up the same as those cramming students in this world.

Moreover, I could lead us if I wanted to, but I think that my mental endurance won't last long by leading and working with two people or more.

After fifteen minutes, and inside a restaurant not far from our school, we were sitting down on a wide seat with our foods on top of the table, and we have already started discussing some parts of our work.

The restaurant was busy and a lot of customers were present inside when we arrived, and we were also taking our time despite the noisy environment.

But I wonder, why have we gone into a crowded place like this when we're going to have a serious planning anyway?

I have no idea what has gotten into Romeo's mind, and up 'till now, I have been wondering about it.

"So the budget has already been estimated and all that's left is the time needed to execute it." stated Romeo.

"I guess that's all, and yeah planning this ahead is a good thing because of the consecutive exams approaching. Nice going Romeo!" Kevin strongly approved.

"Now for the Interviews and for the operations to be made, it is going to be difficult for us who have no experience." Francis remarked.

Surprisingly Francis had also something to say. I shouldn't be underestimating this guy.

"That is why we are here! "

Romeo exclaimed, and still we haven't understood what he was really trying to do here in this place.

"Huh? I don't get it. This is really hard to understand. Spit it out already bro." From a sigh, Kenneth whined out of confusion.

"Romeo! sorry for the wait"

Surprisingly, a man in his working uniform has suddenly showed up in front of us.

"Oh you're here! That's fine Uncle-- or rather Manager Alvarez. We had our time discussing other stuffs."

Now I understand. The rest of us had the same expression when we have known the person's identity, and the reason why we have gone to this place.

"Eh!? Really? So your uncle is the manager in this restaurant. Is that really true?"

Kenneth couldn't believe at first, but I think he was just overreacting.

"Then this would go nicely for us don't you think?" Francis happily concluded.

"Okay Zaki! We'll be relying on you for this part, our Ace hahaha." Romeo pointed out a certain part of our business plan.

"You're making it look easy but it's not." I complained.

Come on Romeo, I have my limits too you know.

These projects of ours are so tiresome, nevertheless, the day went on and both Romeo and I were taking our time once again in asking for advices and suggestions from the experienced person, meanwhile Francis, Kevin, and Kenneth were also taking their fair share of the work.

After two hours have gone by, we got our parts done during the day, but it was not entirely finished yet and it needs to be continued in these incoming days.

"See you around guys!"

Francis waved his hand to each of us as we called it a day and have parted ways, and the sun was also nearing to set as of the moment.

"Alright! Another Saturday for the week!"

I stretched my body to release the stress out, and afterwards it got me happy and excited about the weekend that is just a night away but--- I got instantly disappointed as I remember my current situation.

"Oh man, what was I even thinking?" I sighed and lowered my head while taking my time to go my way back. "I have a feeling that I've got a lot to do and trips for tomorrow." I added, my guts telling that it is likely to happen.

-----*-----

Wearing multiple thick clothes that covered almost my entire skin and with a hat on my head, I was helping the others in planting some crops on the field.

"Kid! Come with me, let's go to the super Market. We've got a lot of things needed to get." From a distance, Bob called me while showing out his excitement.

"What are we getting uncle Bob?"

It looks like my guts were right from yesterday.

"We're getting supplies and food for work, they're already near out so we've got to replenish them."

"I see."

"Here's the list to save talks."

"Eehh, this is a lot Uncle Bob! How are we supposed to carry all of these with just the two of us?"

"Don't worry! Help will be on the way later, so right now, we just got to purchase them. Adam will pick us there using the truck."

"But don't you think these are too much?"

"What are you talking about? It's because you're here kid."

"Oh, right."

I assumed that I was a hindrance for the people working here because of my special condition, and adjustments were just made because of it.

"Naah, don't sweat it. It is much better having you here than just us having overloaded work. When you aren't still here, we have been pushing some works to each other hahaha."

Bob sure knows how to cheer someone up.

"Then let's get going."

"Right back at you kid."

The both of us have then started to prepare ourselves for the trip.

At the side of the road, we were standing and waiting for a 'motorela' to come, but it appears that a bus with vacant seats has stopped when we tried signalling it, and so we took the lucky chance and have gone inside the passenger vehicle.

We sat at the back portion of the vehicle which also has a good view for sightseeing, and as we waited for the bus to arrive at our destination, I took my time to enjoy the view of the land.

The place where we are currently staying, Bukidnon, is full of mountains and hills that are visible to see even from a very far distance. And when looking up above, the sky looks larger than it used to be because of the wide plains and fields that are covered with the green grass all over.

When night would strike, the temperature of the place would be colder than that of the city, but the risk of skin exposure to the sun during the day would be greater due to the lack of structures present in the place.

But the people have been continuously working under the sun despite its very warm sunlight. They covered their whole bodies with thick clothing together with a hat and with the use of sunglasses to avoid any injuries, risking their selves for the sake of their livelihood and raising their families.

"Oh crap. How much longer would it take to arrive?"

While looking around, I suddenly got an upset stomach because buses aren't my things, and it leaves me no choice but to bear the sickness until we could arrive at the supermarket.

After minutes of struggle, the bus has finally stopped, and I hurriedly stood up to go outside and get some fresh air but--- unfortunately, the people inside were blocking my way out.

Oh crap. If I don't get out of the bus sooner or later, then one wrong move or maybe a bump could make me vomit anytime.

"Ouch my butt--- Hehe, we've arrive kid."

Finally after that struggle inside, the warm feeling of the sunlight has cured my mood when I finally got out of the passenger vehicle.

Looking at the place, it was huge and was full of people that were moving around all over.

There were also a number of noisy vendors and stores that were selling the various good that they have. The place was enveloped with talks regarding buying and selling.

Meanwhile at my side, I was blowing warm air towards my hands to completely let out the coldness.

'Taking it aside, let's finish this job real quick. I still got a lot of things to do besides these stuffs.' I thought.

Without further ado, the shopping has started for us as we moved and took our time to find the necessary things.

While going to the stores and places, we have been also struggling in making our way through the mass of people that is present.

At some point, our hands were full with the newly bought stuffs that we were carrying.

"Hey uncle Bob, what should we do? We can't carry any more of these goods."

"Hmmmmm-- Oh!" Bob looked around, and instantly has found a solution to our problem, probably.

"Over there kid, there's a baggage counter."

"Good heavens!"

Well, not a bad idea.

We then lined up and deposited what we have, and have left it behind as we proceed to our way to buy the remaining goods.

This cycle continued until we have successfully bought all the items in the list.

At some point due to the heavy goods that I was carrying, I stopped along my way.

Meanwhile, Bob was already far ahead of me at the counter together with the last of the goods that we had recently bought.

I then put the goods down temporarily to catch my breath.

"Damn, these things have gotten heavy lately. I think my muscles have gotten stiff now. Hey Uncl---"

"STOP! STOP RIGHT THERE!"