Chapter five

Although he hanged out with us, he was mostly silent. " Why don't you ever say a thing" Nadia asked looking at him with small eyes.

" I just love my silence, and I don't know what to say with you guys" he replied as he took a bite of his Pão de queijo.

" You are so boring, tell us a little about yourself, let's get to know you better" Celestia suggested.

" Well there isn't much about me, but, Meu Nome é cayo Fernandes, E eu tenho 18 anos" cayo said in Portuguese.

( My name is cayo Fernandes and I am 18 years).

" Certamente há mais em você do que apenas seu Nome, não é?" Nadia asked taking a sip at her blueberry juice.

( Am sure there is more to you than your name, right?)

" There sure is, but am not saying a thing, with time you would see and understand all there is about me. Am sure a person's behavior is far better than their words" he said with a smile.

" Enough of the questions, you people should really let him breath in peace" I chided.

The day ended well, with me feeling more attracted to cayo.

In a few weeks we were pretty close, honestly am not the most friendly with guys. I have guy friends but I don't feel this magnetic towards them.

He was sharp to details, and his gentle behavior just attracts me more. It happens that he is not from a rich family like all of us and got admission here based on scholarship, but that only made me feel more respect for him.

We all are mostly rich brats from rich families, but he got here in his merit, people like him when dedicated to their goals often rich higher lengths of success in life, plus he is really a wonderful artist.

" So class, today we are going to talk about the country side" the teacher said putting on the projector.

Soon some videos were played. It was videos of beautiful rolling hills covered in vineyard, olive gorves and Cypress trees.

There were alsk quaint villages perched on hilltops, charming towns with their medieval architecture and art treasures, scenic roads winding through the country side, perfect for driving and cycling.

There were also historic villas, castles and monasteries, and also thermal hot springs.

" So students this is Tuscany, it's located in Italy and it's considered one of the world's most beautiful country side".

" All what you are seeing are not just mere beautification, but they all hold great significance".

"The vineyards you see are where some of the world's best wines are produced".

" The olive groves produce high-quality olive oil. The cypress tress add dot to the landscape like sentinels, the historical buildings whisper secrets and the thermal hot springs are usually places for visitors to relax and rejuvenate" the teacher explained pointing at the various locations on the video.

" Wow, I really wish am able to visit this place atleast once in my life. I want to dance in the falling rain on top of the hill in the midst of grasses" I wishpered to myself.

" You have never been to a country side before" cayo said frightening me because I didn't realize someone was listening to my blabber.

" No I haven't, they won't allow me at home, but I really really wish to go there some day. It looks so beautiful and peaceful, it's going to be an amazing time" I said fantasizing again.

" What if it's a school trip, won't you be allowed" he asked again. " This school, it will never host such a trip ever" I replied with a roll.

" I can help, we can actually pressurize the school to host such a trip, but I need all of your help" cayo said.

" Are you sure cay, would the scholl really low it" I asked with uncertainty.

" Well I can't be very sure, but it's worth giving it a try, that's only when you and a few others are ready to help" he said.

" Then count on me, I would help you get the support of as many as we need if it means realizing my dream of going to the country side" I said with a determined gaze.

When class ended I went up in front of the class to talk.

" Hello class, I need your help with something, hope we all can cooperate" I said turning everyones attention towards me.

" What is it Luna" Sebastian a foreign student asked.

" The class that just ended was about countryside, and I am sure we all loved the simplicity, beauty and nature of the countryside, right?" I asked not very sure if they did.

" Well, it does look good in the video, but what are you hinting at, stop beating around the bush" Rafael said.

" I want us to go on a trip to the countryside, a school trip, what say" I asked and everyones expression changed.

" You must be joking right?, don't tell us, you want us, to go to the countryside. Do you want us to go and catch some infection or what" Clarissa said.

" Who said you would catch a flu in the countryside. Come to think of it, chances of falling sick is higher in urban areas than rural areas. The countryside is a natural habitat free from what you think" I said.

" We don't agree with you" another student argued.

"Researchers have consistently shown that rural areas have numerous benefits. For instance, Kaplan (1995) found that being in natural environments like rural areas reduces stress levels, improves mood, and enhances cognitive functioning. These findings suggest that spending time in rural areas can have a positive impact on both mental and physical health." I said.

" Well even if that's the case why should we go when we can simply go to Italy itself, why most we go to Tuscany" Nadia argued.

" That's exactly the problem. We are always traveling to other countries like mexico, France, Italy, America and so on and so forth, but we never take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature, just the glamour of the world. When we want breaks from studies, we go to another country and have a time of our life, but have you ever took a minute to understand that it's not really break".

" It's always the same thing, fancy hotels, spas,shopping, social media, IG posts and so on. What about hiking, Cycling, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, visiting local farms, exploring hilltop towns and so on, wouldn't that be the real break from our hectic life of glamour" I argued back.

" I think you are right, I support you" Sebastian said. " Me too" another student echoed. And then more and more student agreed to my suggestion.

" What's the plan" Celestia asked. " I don't have a plan" I blurted and they all gave me a bombastic side eye, " I mean I don't have a plan, cayo has" I rephrased my sentence.

Everyone turned to look at cayo who had been silently watching me debate with the class.

He stood up and walked to the front of the class, his every movement was graceful.

" Hello class, without wasting time I would go straight to the point. The school wouldn't easily agree to a countryside trip, but we can make them agree. I would send a letter first requesting for the trip, it won't be agreed with ofcourse. After three days of my first letter, everyday 5 students would keep sending letters requesting for the trip".

" After two weeks of this persuasion, the last letter to be sent would declare that if the school doesn't organize the trip then the whole class would stop coming to school and will even ask their parents to change their school. This would really pressurize the school authorities and they would call for peace, agreeing to host the trip" cayo explained to the whole class and we all agreed.

So the plan was set to motion.