Chapter 5 - A new leaf

The madam’s farm is really quite far and outside of the city, but it only took us half an hour to arrive at this place and it was a bit further from the main road.

I stepped out of the pick-up, filled with amazement upon seeing the enormous area.

It was wide and there were already people working at the place.

Probably her land is about 50 square meters.

Most of its part hasn’t been put to use yet but there are already farm animals which consumed a large space together with crops, large barns, and a huge wooden apartment-like structure, seeming to be the people’s shelter.

At this point, my doubt has completely gone away.

As we started walking further, I noticed the warm temperature of the area in which it had caused me to look up to the sun.

“Ouch Ouch! Stupid! So stupid!”

Yet it was too bright and has burned a little of my eyes, making it hurt, and so I quickly covered and rubbed them gently like a crying baby while realizing the stupid act at the same time.

While I was busy with my ignorance, the madam was already nearing towards the wooden gate, and it wasn’t surprising this time around.

“Welcome! This is one of my places.”

She loudly and proudly said while facing towards me, and with her hands held high and fingers spread in the air.

‘One of my?’ Seriously?

Well in any case… there are important things needed to be focused at now.

“Why don't I show you the place first, okay?”

I nodded, and it was already expected, but when I just caught up, she began to move forward again.

Does this old woman even get tired?

If I don’t have these heavy bags with me, I’ll--- Nah, forget it. This was necessary.

As we head further, it was pressuring by just getting a good look at the hard working people in the place.

This job should need to be taken seriously; otherwise, I would really get a scolding or maybe something even worse due to my incompetence.

Their serious faces at work were the things making them look scary, and mostly giving me the pressure as they poured sweats all over within the warm environment.

“Good Morning Madam! You’re finally back!”

“Ah yes! Good morning to all of you too”

Our presence finally got noticed, or to be exact, hers.

"Is he the new one ma'am?"

Now this is surprising, they also knew of what’s going on.

“Yes he is!”

She also louden her voice to be audible, and the workers happily showed their reactions of the news.

‘Hello and welcome’. I received a bunch of these words as we have gone closer to the people.

“What’s your name young man?”

It’s been a long time since I’ve experience something different again.

A warm feeling has questionably lightened up inside me when they unconditionally put on smiles on their faces as they gave their welcome.

But on the other hand, the nervousness has kicked in due to the unexpected number of eyes that were gazing at me, and including for the introductions.

“Ma—Mm—Maa—Maii”

I stuttered when I tried to say something to them, and got frozen like ice when the fact was just realized.

“M- Ma- My--- name is Hanzaki. THA-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME!”

I bowed and thank them just like before at the cafeteria, yet they kind of got silent because of my sudden and weird act.

Their faces were confused. Maybe they do find my actions weird and are now disgusted.

Oh man, my dignity is slowly crumbling in the moment, and the embarrassment is making me want to jump off a cliff, huhu.

So much for being a new comer, shame has already been brought upon my own self.

“Well, we’re glad to have you! You’re part of this family now”

Family huh? Yet still I appreciate them for being understanding, and the usual thing, I couldn’t control myself from overthinking.

After that scenario, I’ve been introduced to the others that were working there whenever we passed by them.

When every area was already shown, we went to the room that I’ve been given.

Madam Teresita has helped me organized my things inside, and immediately my work started when we were finished.

I started little and was being helped by my co-workers who gave me some tips and instruction, and the jobs were completely finished with concentration all throughout the time; helping in carrying stuffs and tools back to its proper place, finding and lending the workers of the tools needed as per their requests, cleaning pathways and rooms inside some barns and the shelter, and helping in taking care of the farm animals by feeding and washing them up, though I spent only a short time due to me being inexperience of it.

On the other hand, the madam too has successfully accompanied me for the whole day as a newcomer, especially when we ate our meals while talking about other information related to the place.

After hours of works, it was already night, and then the madam accompanied me for the last time up to my room as it was about time for us to go to rest.

“Mrs. Teresita Ma’am. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.”

“You’re welcome Hanzaki, but no need to be so formal. From now on, you would have a long day ahead of you.”

I bowed as the owner walked off, and finally the days full of problems have just ended for my daily necessities.

“Alright then. Hmm, I guess today is

Wednesday. Guess I can go back to school tomorrow without worries. Oh wait, guess I should make an excuse, and not tell that I’d actually run away from home huh.”

My chest tightens as I remember my way of life not long ago.

Inside my room, I was lying on the bed, resting for the day, yet as minutes have gone by since I closed my eyes, it was just hard to go to sleep as of the moment.

The pillow is comfy and soft, the bed is quite convenient even though it is wooden, and the foam is the one that is giving it a better sensation for sleeping.

From one position to another on the different sides of the bed, there wasn’t even one snore made.

Since it is still the first day, the place was a bit uncomfortable for me and my mind was still filled with worrying thoughts.

I get up to open the windows, and have stared outside of the place.

The moon and stars are currently dazzling at night, and its beautiful flickering light has helped me feel at ease, forgetting a little bit of the troubles.

And without having to know what may come in the future, I was just enjoying the calm and peaceful scenery of the place in the meantime, and while also waiting for myself to be sleepy enough to go to rest.

--*--

COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!

“Alright, let’s do this!”

My hair was all messy from rising up.

Even though the sun has risen, it was still cold, yet the warm sunlight has made me feel better.

At the kitchen, I gargled some water, and drank some afterwards.

It appears that this shelter of theirs is just like a full blown house but each of us have our own rooms, as expected of the madam.

“Oh~ Good morning to you.”

“Good morning to you too Aunt Rose”

In the first place, without really having to know what to do first, I was wandering around to find something to work at, and surprisingly

I have bumped into Rosalie at the process.

“Aunt Rose, can I ask for help?”

“Oh sure! And please don’t hesitate Hanzaki, you can always address your concerns to me.” She showed a bright smile towards me, and I nodded in response.

Rosalie is a co-worker of mine and is already in her 40’s; she lives in the city but currently is residing here for work, and furthermost, she was tasked by the madam to guide me here in the farm.

I then asked her for their usual routine in the area and have been given instructions.

Later, I had engaged with the other people working at the place, and apparently they were nice.

We cleaned the area first thing in the morning and were feeding some of the farm animals after.

The works weren’t that difficult to understand, but it would take a lot of effort and stamina to do it.

After our early morning works, we were already having our meals at the spacious dining room.

From what I observed since yesterday, it seems that the appliances and technologies inside were pretty high-tech despite of the appearance of this varnished, wooden structure.

Whew, I guess I’m really forgetting all the time of how rich the owner of this property is, but I really don’t know to what extent. All I know is that she’s rich, period!

As we were enjoying our time, we start to have a little chitchat with each other, and on a plastic chair that was paired with a round, plastic table good for 4, I was sitting down while taking a sip of my coffee, and along with me was Rosalie, who was also sitting and taking a sip of her hot drink.

“So Hanzaki, do you still have enough money to accommodate for your expenses?”

Oh right, when was the last time I took a count of my cash?

It was just yesterday from going down the stairs with disappointment, and remembering my mood back then is making me shiver.

“Yes I do have, though it is really a few amounts left.”

“I see… but if you would have troubles regarding it, just talk to me about it and I’ll help you, okay?”

“You’re too kind Aunt Rose, but I guess that won’t seem to happen in these incoming days for now.”

“So kid, do you know how to get to your school from here?”

Bob, another co-worker of mine asked and has joined the two of us. He is just around his 30’s and is quite the muscle head, and his semi-bald. He was also one of the people who helped me with my works yesterday and especially just recently. Frankly speaking, I’ll be in his care together with Rosalie.

“Of course I know, its---”

Huh? Where was this place again? Ah right, I remember. Mrs. Teresita said that this place is Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Then to go to school, I just need to---wait… ‘Bukidnon’?

“EEEHHH!? OH NO!”

I carefully thought of it at first, and have reacted out from the alerting realization.

“Oh my, don’t tell me you haven’t realized that we are a bit far from the city Hanzaki.”

Crap. I was too overwhelmed of the things that happened and was focused on setting my mind-set here for work, although I’ve been thinking a lot about school, the part where having to plan for my travel from this place to the campus has been forgotten.

I scratch my head for not being mindful, and my free time last night has now been gone to waste.

“Listen here kid, I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

Somehow, I got a bit of relief when a saviour just spoke. Bob begins his instructions.

“First of all, if you intend to take a bus just outside the main road, then you’re risking, and maybe at the end, wasting time. Most buses won’t just stop in the middle of nowhere, mostly also it’s because the passenger vehicle is full.”

I can’t argue with that.

“In order to be assured, you need to take a bus on the bus station with a sign "Cagayan" in front of it. Its stop would be at ‘agora’, you know that place right?”

“Uh… Yeah. But where is this bus station exactly?”

“Oh that? It’s in the municipality, but is quite a bit far going back there, and by that, you need to ride a ‘motorela’ outside, though you would get to wait for a little longer, but that would be better than recklessly waiting for a bus.”

“Eeeehhh?”

Goodness. How tiresome this could be.

“And it will take you an average of 55 minutes to get to this school of yours under a fine state of traffic.”

“I see, oh then what time is----“

I’m a bit kind of an irresponsible guy sometimes, but this time was just unlucky.

It was already 6:53 in the morning when I looked at the clock and in which it had me rattling around from the fear of getting late.

“EEEHHH! Class starts at 7:30 am! I got to go!”

I then came rushing inside my room to change into my uniform and pack up my things for school. Thankfully I was done with my bath before breakfast started.

“Hey kid, Do you remember everything what I said!?”

“Yeah no problem Uncle Bob, and don’t worry about me!”

I moved with haste when everything was ready.

The next step is to wait for a ‘motorela’ at the side of the road while also keeping in mind of everything that has been instructed to me.

Along the way, I managed to completely made

my way through the initial and unfamiliar grounds with ease and full of confidence, and also not having a bit of fear of just being by my own.

‘No doubt, I would arrive at school with no sweat!’ Or so it is what I would like to say.

After a long, long time has gone by of my trip…

“What the hell! *Sighs*. There goes me. Crap, why did I suddenly forget the way around?”

It was very unfortunate. It is currently 8:49 am, and with a disappointed face I stand in front of the school gate.

Sadly my first trip didn’t go well as what had been hurriedly planned about an hour and a half ago.

I was irresponsible this time around for being overconfident, not to mention also because of the traffic that had caused my misfortune when arriving in the city. Tsk.

But anyways, I’m already considered late by leaving the place at that kind of time.

Meanwhile as I attempted to go in, the guard at the place had already noticed my appearance and readied a late slip.

“What happened that it took you this long kid?

With his somehow irritating question, I didn’t say a word and have just shown a forced smile, hiding the lame truth.

“Okay, that’s it for today, dismissed.”

“Goodbye and thank you sir Roxas!”

Before I could even go inside, the first subject of the morning has already ended, and I was just standing in front of my classroom’s door, being hesitant to open it.

The thought has just sunk into my mind about being absent for quite some time, feeling embarrassed of showing myself inside.

“But there is no backing out now, and why did

I even bother to come here in the first place anyway?” I shake my head, persuading myself to get in.

Of course this is for my sake, and as I made up my mind…

“Oh! Hanuzuki!” The door was suddenly opened.

A loud voice was up close and has startled me. It was coming from my homeroom teacher who’s close upfront.

His reaction was just priceless, but this wasn’t a thing to be proud of.

On the other hand, my sudden appearance has also caught the students’ attentions at the back, and especially my friends who were gladly making wide smiles on their faces about the news of having me return to school.

Their eyes had gone wide and they quickly jumped off of their seats out of relief.

Seriously… are they kids?

“Why have you come just now? And… you have been absent for 3 days… Hey! Hanuzuki!”

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