Chapter 6 - Mangrove Planting

Sabrina's POV

I woke up to the constant ringing of my phone. Who would call me at this hour? What time is it? I'm still sleepy. Irritated, I reached for the cellphone on the bedside table. This better be important or else!

"Hello?" I said still sleepy and did not bother checking who is calling.

"I hate people who are late, so get up and get ready." I heard a man's voice from the other line.

"Who's this?" I slowly opened my eyes and check the screen. It's an unregistered number. I didn't hear any reply from the other line. "Hey! Are you still there? You know what if this is some kind of joke you'd better find someplace to hide because I will find you. Get a life!" and then without a warning, I drop the call.

Gosh! Why are there such people who only know how to pissed other people? I am ready to sleep again when the phone rings again. I lazily checked and it's still from an unregistered number, carried by irritation and sleepiness I answered the call.

"Who are you? Don't you understand what I just said?"

"Don't you ever hung up on me, Miss Castillo" said a familiar baritone voice "and don't try to sleep again" he added.

"How did you get my number?"

"Of course from our student database. So, get up already! I know you'll be late so I called to make sure that the team will not wait just for you.

"Gosh! You disturb my sleep just because of that!" I said just whispering to myself.

"Are you saying something, Miss Castillo?"

"Nothing" and rolled my eyes even I know that he can't see me.

"Stop rolling your eyes on me." What? How did he know? I'm starting to think that he's really a stalker. "Now, the team will leave at 6 am sharp, so better start preparing," he said and then hang up on me.

What's wrong with him? Is he that dedicated at work that he would go the extra mile like calling students just to remind them not to be late? He's getting into my nerves.

What time is it? I checked the clock and it's still 4:30 in the morning. What's wrong with him? It's still so early but he reacts like I'm already late.

I'm going back to sleep, who is he anyway. I wasn't born in this world just to follow his order. I already set my alarm and I'm confident that I'll be in school on time.

I am in a dark place. I don't know why I'm suddenly in there but I have a feeling that I'm waiting for someone. It's odd that despite the dark place, I didn't feel fear instead I'm excited. I took another step and as if it was the cue, the place was suddenly illuminated by string lights and candle lights, at the same time romantic music was played. Everything was set up perfectly. Then, I saw a shadow of a man, just a glimpse of him already brings a thousand feelings I couldn't explain. I can't wait to see him.

He's almost near but I can't still see his face. I slowly took two steps forward to close the gap between us. I have a feeling I've known him for a long time. His blurry face is now starting to get clearer but the romantic vibe was ruined by a loud noise of a ringtone.

Ringtone???

Then, I open my eyes and I'm back in my room, lying on my bed. So it was just a dream? I stared at my phone. My dream felt so real and I want to go back to sleep and maybe I got to see the man in my dreams but when I checked my phone. I saw 3 missed calls from an unregistered number.

It just means one thing! I close my eyes and slowly opened it and my eyes widened when I checked the time.

It's already 6:05 in the morning. And what time will the team be leaving again?

"6:00 am" I just answered my question. Gosh! I'm super dead!

***

"Why are you late? The team waited for you for another 15 minutes but what time did you arrive? 6:45 Sabrina. Are you forgetting that this is supposed to be your punishment and yet you let other people wait for you?" Red confronted me the moment I arrived at the school. Disappointment is written all over his face.

Feeling guilty, I just let him speak and accepted every word he said.

"I'm sorry. I did set my alarm but I overslept---"

"Stop being immature Miss Castillo. I already warned you that I don't tolerate people who are late especially today."

He shook his head like he doesn't know what to do with me anymore.

"And why are you wearing that?! He looked at me like he was disgusted with what I'm wearing.

"What's wrong with it?" I am wearing black denim shorts and a plain white shirt. "Duh! I'm going to a Mangrove planting, right? Do you expect me to wear jeans?" I can't help but rolled my eyes at him again. Why doesn't he mind his own business?

He eyed me up and down again before he massaged his temple like he owns all the problems in the world.

"Anyway, obviously the university bus already left," he said with a calmer voice this time.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to justify my actions because it's solely my fault." I said without looking at him "I can clean the girl's bathroom or the hallway instead if you want?" I offered to let him know that I'm sorry for what I did.

He let out a deep breath.

"Follow me," he said and started walking. Here we go again with his follow me statement.

I silently followed him and ready myself for a very tiring day of cleaning dirty bathrooms and hallways. My parents don't know about this and I only asked Manang Fe, one of our house helpers to signed the parental consent.

I walked past him when I noticed him slowed down a bit as if he was waiting for me.

"Where are you going? We're going this way" he said and then pointed the way to the parking.

"Where are we going? I thought I'll be cleaning the hallways?"

"You will do Mangrove Planting as planned. I need to be there too," he said and then resumed walking until he stopped in front of a familiar car. How could I forget his car?

"Hop in!" and went inside his car. The car window open when he noticed me still standing meters away from his car.

"What are you waiting for? We're already late!" he scowled at me so I get into his car and he immediately started the engine. As soon as we hit the road, Red got a call probably from one of the officers. I heard Red answered that he's already on the way.

"So, you waited for me so we could go there together?" I teased him the moment he drops the call. He glanced at me before setting his eyes again on the road.

I saw him smirked "Don't be too full of yourself, Miss Castillo. It just so happen that I need to be there and you of all people didn't make it on time so I have no choice but to drag you with me. Stop thinking as if you're about to go on a field trip because this is your punishment. Remember that!

I don't want to think that he's insulting me but that's how I felt when he said that. It sounded like if he's given a choice he would never take me with him. I'm just teasing him but he's taking it so seriously.

Arrogant!!

"Sorry, our College Governor!" I sarcastically said and chose to keep quiet and turn my gaze to the window. I heard him took a deep breath before playing some music. I even hear him murmur something but I guess he's just talking to himself.

"Sta. Barbara is a 2-hour and a half drive. If you're still sleepy, you may go back to sleep."

I simply nod at what he said and didn't bother looking at him. I see him stealing glances at me but I didn't mind him and just focus on the beautiful views outside.

***

"Hey, Sab. Wake up!" with a gentle tap on my shoulder, I opened my eyes and saw Red staring directly at me. He looked amused like he just saw something funny while I was sleeping. "We're here," he added.

I didn't notice that I fall asleep during the trip. I nodded and removed my seat belt. I looked outside, from a distance I could already see that some students already started planting mangroves.

"Thanks for the ride" then I went out of his car.

What should I do now? Maybe I have to ask someone for help.

"Sabrina" I heard Red called me. I turned my head and met his serious eyes.

"Where are you going?" he carefully asked like he's afraid that wrong words may come out to his mouth.

I can't help but raised an eyebrow upon hearing his question.

"I'll start doing my punishment, the reason I'm here, right?" I sarcastically told him before walking away.

***

I've been trying to plant the mangrove seedlings but it's hard to do it just by using a piece of wood with an improvised sharp point at the end of it. It turned out that there are many volunteers today and they only brought limited gardening tools like a shovel.

"You should dig deeper Miss" he suggested and then smiled at me. If I'm not mistaken, he's Red's friend. I can still remember him with Red after that incident when Red brought me to the School Morgue instead of the clinic. He pulled a very dangerous prank at me and now I am the only one who got punished.

"Easy for you to say. You have a shovel with you" I said to him and continued what I'm doing.

He laughed at what I said.

"Alright. I'll dig the soil, you plant, sounds fair?" he said and gave me an okay sign.

"Okay, fair enough"

And just like that, we worked as a great team. We planted many mangroves in a short period. I have to be honest that it's not really easy but quite fulfilling to see many mangroves. I just hope they will grow.

Eric excused himself for a while and he let me borrowed his shovel. I continued planting until I noticed that the water is already rising. I think it's high tide already. It's more challenging to plant now that the waves are also getting bigger.

"Red, help me" someone shouted and I saw Red hurriedly went to the girl.

"Kelsey, what happened?" Red worriedly asked her. It seems that she got a cut on her hand and now it's bleeding. Some of the volunteers even went to her and check it as well.

I secretly checked my hand and I even have small cuts and blisters from digging yet I didn't say anything. What for? This is my punishment, right? I guess this is just part of it. I'm not here as a volunteer just like the others, I'm here because I'm being punished.

I closed my eyes for a while and took a deep breath. I just shrugged my shoulder and continued planting. It was not long after when I felt some raindrops. Some immediately stop planting and went straight to the cottage. As much as I wanted to stop but who I am to do that when I can still see others planting despite the rain.

"Miss Castillo, stop planting" Red shouted. "The rain is getting heavier. All of you, stop planting and take shelter. We'll just continue it later when the weather permits us to do so.

All of us gathered in a big cottage. I sit on the far corner of the cottage and carefully wiped my feet and hands. I can't help but bit my lips when I felt the pain from the cut and the blister.

"Are you okay?" Red suddenly appeared beside me. I quickly hide my hands and nod.

"Yeah" His eyebrows furrowed and his eyes are still in my hands. Feeling awkward by his stares, I stood up.

"Excuse me, I have to drink some water" I reason and started walking when he suddenly grabs my arm and check my hands.

"Let's get that treated," he said coldly. I saw how his jaw clenched when saw the cuts and blisters.

I snatched back my hands from his grip.

"Stop acting like you're concerned about me, this is why I'm here for, right? My punishment. I suggest you stay focus taking good care of the volunteers instead."

Then I walked away.