CHAPTER 18: TEENAGE FREEDOM

Aivy and all of her batchmates are waiting for others. The day is very bright. Birds are chirping on the branches of the trees.
“Alright everyone, I guess we’re all here. Thank you very much for coming. Bestie, thank you.”, said Aivy.
Kiesha smiled back at her best friend. Aivy stared at Justin. That time, Kiesha noticed everything.
“Hey, I texted Matilda by the way. Will she not come? Oh come on please.”, said Claudia, Matilda’s closest friend.
“What are you thinking huh? Do you think we will invite her after all she did with my best friend?”, asked Aivy.
“Oh please stop it guys. Come on, let’s just have some fun after all the tiresome works we did at school.”, replied Kiesha.
“Whatever poor girl.”, replied Claudia.
“Claudia!”, shouted Justin.
Everyone looked at Justin surprisingly.
“Ooohh.. What’s going on? Are you inlove with her?”, asked Claudia.
“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”, replied Justin.
“I mean just shut your mouth. I don’t want that name to hear again.”, he added.
“But what can I do? She’s your girl friend for four long years Justin.”, replied Claudia.
“She’s the one who left first. Not me. Okay?”, replied Justin.
“Alright, fine! But if something happens to Matilda I’m gonna cut your leg.”, replied Claudia.
“Oh really? Go on! Go on!”, shouted Justin.
“Enough!”, shouted Kiesha.
Susan was observing the group.
“Hey kids, are you alright? Just lower down your voice. Our neighbors might be asleep until now. Sorry.”, said Susan, Aivy’s helper.
“Sorry for that Ma’am.”, replied Kiesha.
“Oh I’m Aivy’s helper when she was just a little baby. Don’t call me Ma’am. Just call me Susan.”, replied Susan.
Everyone remained silent after the little fight. Others went outside to relax, while others were seating at the couches. Some are in the kitchen grabbing some foods.
“Everyone please gather around.”, announced Aivy.
“So, time check. It’s already 9:00 am in the morning. As planned, we will go to the Mendocino County just near the Boonville coastline. It’s way too far but I guess we’re done preparing for everything. Right? Just check all of your luggage, your back packs, your brought foods, drinks, clothes, tent, utensils, plates, containers, tools used for cooking, your sleeping materials, pillows, towels and many more. And last thing, please don’t forget your entrance fee for about $10. Alright?”, instructed Aivy.
“Thank you Aivy.”, replied Kiesha.
“You’re welcome best.”, replied Aivy.
Everyone checked all of their belongings and excited for their summer getaway.
“OMG! I am so much excited for this.”, said one of their batchmates.
“Me too! I’m very luck because mom and dad had their business trip for this week. Instead of being alone at home, why not having a trip with you guys. Thank you for this Aivy. You saved us from stress huh.”, replied the other.
“Thanks Of course!”, replied Aivy.
Kiesha was outside all alone while staring at the beautiful flowers. Justin saw her and came closer to her until Aivy saw them.
“Hey, Kiesha best. Why are you all alone in there? I got cha!”, replied Aivy.
“Oh hi.”, greeted Justin.
“Hey..”, replied Kiesha.
“Come on. Join us here.”, replied Aivy as she pulled Kiesha away from Justin.
“Hey, did you forget what I told you? Don’t mess with him okay?”, said Aivy.
“Huh? Best, I’m the one who stayed there first because I was mesmerized by your beautiful flowers.”, replied Kiesha.
“Oh. Thank you. Mom brought it last summer from our farm.”, replied Aivy.
“Wow..”, replied Kiesha.
Kiesha accompanied Aivy back to the living room. She looked back at him and Justin was also staring back at him.
“Bro, what’s that beautiful eyes huh? Where are you looking at?”, asked Kenneth jokingly.
“Oh stop.”, replied Justin as he hit the right shoulder of Kenneth.
“So what now? Are you planning to make the first move? Are you gonna tell her your true feelings towards her?”, asked Kenneth.
“No, not now. Not this time. We haven’t met yet with Matilda. I don’t want to just left her. I want to tell her how I badly needed to break her up already.”, replied Justin.
“Oh really? Can you say that?”, asked Kennneth.
“Well, of course. After all, Joshua lately told us that he saw Matilda hanging around with some other guy. That’s how she replaced me that easily bro. But honestly at first, I really liked her.”, replied Justin.
“Hey bro, maybe you forgot that like and love are different. The question is, did you really love Matilda?”, asked Kenneth.
“Yes. Of course I loved her.”, replied Justin.
“Did you miss her?”, asked Kenneth.
“Yes before.”, replied Justin.
“Hey guys, come on now. Our trip will get started. What are you guys doing there? We’ll take to a ride now.”, said Aivy.
“Aivy we have only one driver. How could this be possible.”, asked their classmate.
“Don’t worry. I’ll drive for you by the way.”, replied Aivy.
“Wait what? Are you serious?”, replied the other.
“Yes of course. I have already a driver’s license and I know how to drive.”, replied Aivy.
“Alright.”, replied her classmate.
“By the way, please choose where you want to take a ride. The red SUV or the orange one? Make sure no batchmates will be left after the trip okay?”, said Aivy.
Justin was waiting if where would Kiesha will take her ride.
“How about you bro, where are you gonna seat?”, asked Kenneth.
“I’ll choose the red one. Come on in now. What are you waiting for?”, asked Kenneth.
“Later. I just want to breathe some fresh air.”, replied Justin.
“Kiesha, best, come on join with me at the front seat.”, said Aivy.
“Oh right.”, replied Kiesha.
“Alright everyone, please gather around and we will start praying for our trip to become successful until we arrive safely in each of our homes next week.”, said Aivy.
“Lord, thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you for gathering us here today. Thank you for giving us a summer break to let ourselves relax from the stressful days in school. We thank you that at last we surpassed all our projects, assignment and exams in high school. We are very much thankful that we already graduated this year. We hope that one day, Matilda will return home safely and be back soon. We hope that after this trip, everyone will be safe when arriving home safely. Amen.”, prayed Matilda in front of everyone.
“Yes. Amen Lord.”, replied everyone.
Justin saw that Kiesha will take her seat at the orange SUV.
“I think I will be here bro. Come on. Join me here.”, replied Justin.
“What the. Hey!”, shouted Kenneth as he transfers on the other SUV.
Matilda’s friends seated on the red car.
“Hey, I don’t think we should not observe how Justin will do for this trip since I bet he and Matilda will gonna break up one day. And I don’t want to be included in it anymore. That freak, she can’t even update us where she is now. We should not also update her what is happening with Justin all this time. I think Justin is happy without her.”, said Claudia to her friends.
“I think so. So what, should we not transfer to the orange one in which Justin was seated on?”, asked the other.
“No. We will just stay here and enjoy ourselves girls.”, replied Claudia.
“Yeah you’re right. Let’s enjoy this moment without Matilda.”, replied the other.
“Hey, you’re too bad with Matilda now.”, replied the one.
“Well, what can we do? It’s not our fault she made that mistake. I’m thankful enough that we’re not included from her very rude decision before the graduation or else, we might be suspended too.”, replied Claudia.
Everyone came in already to each SUV. Aivy drives the first SUV while her driver drives the red one.
Justin and Kenneth took a ride in the orange SUV. Aivy saw them.
“Hey come on in. Join us a ride.”, said Aivy.
“Hey, what are you doing here huh? Go and ride on the red one.”, said one of their classmates.
“Oh we like it here. What’s the matter?”, asked Justin.
“Alright. Fine.”, said the other.
“Kiesha are you okay there?”, asked Justin.
“Oh well yeah. I’m fine. Thank you.”, replied Kiesha.
“So I think we are all set. It’s time for a summer vacation!!!”, shouted Aivy excitedly.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!!”, shouted everyone except Kiesha.
“Hey guys. Just chill. Please don’t shout too much. Okay?”, said Kiesha.
“Oh sorry best. We’re just too excited for this. At last! We’re already have our freedom.”, replied Aivy.
Kiesha looked at them happily until she and Justin both stared with each other.
“Ehm! Ehem!”, said Kenneth as he clears his throat.
Justin immediately looked away and stared Aivy. Kiesha noticed that the two are staring at each other. She just looked at the brilliant sea at the left portion of the SUV window. The road trip took three hours for them to have their lunch.
“Hey, who has an extra money there? We will have to stop by at the fast food first because I think most of us were hungry already? What do you think?”, asked mostly of them.
“Yeah Aivy. Can we stop for a while? It’s 12:00 nn already. Please..”, said the other.
“Alright, alright. I got you. I have to call my driver to turn on the left lane near the McDonald’s drive thru.”, replied Aivy.
“Hello Sir? Please stop by at the McDonald’s Drive Thru first. We need to take out orders. Okay?”, called Aivy.
“Oh yes Ma’am. Noted.”, replied the driver.
Both SUVs are lined in the drive thru lane. Each separated group take out some orders. Kiesha only wanted a one piece of burger. Justin noticed it and he treats all of her batchmates from the car he’s riding to except for the other group who rides the red one.
“Hey, everybody listen. Because I am excited for today’s trip I’ll treat you a meal. Everyone who’s joining with me right now. I guess I cannot do this with the other group as well.”, replied Justin.
“Fine. I will be the one who will treat the other group with foods included the driver.”, replied Kenneth.
“Oh how sweet of you both. Thanks a lot!”, replied Aivy.
The group parked the vans at the near the park. There, they ate their lunch meals. After an hour, the group proceed to take some photo shots.
“Hey Aivy, come on, let’s take a photo here best. But I don’t have any phone yet. Can I borrow yours? Please best. Let’s take a photo here. Look, there are beautiful flowers.”, said Kiesha.
“Oh, yes best. Wait for awhile. I’ll take my phone. Here.”, replied Aivy.
“Hey, Justin can you take us a photo with my bestfriend?”, asked Aivy.
“Oh yes, sure.”, replied Justin.
“Ok girls. Make a pose.”, said Justin.
“Come on Aivy. Let’s take a pose here. Great!”, said Kiesha.
“Yes, that’s awesome! Both of you.”, said Justin.
“Hey look girls. Those two best friends are eyeing on Justin right?”, said Claudia.
“Yeah. Now what? I don’t care at all. Matilda’s not here guys. Oh come on.”, replied the other.
“Thank you.”, said Aivy at Justin.
“Thanks by the way.”, thankfully said Kiesha.
“You’re welcome.”, replied Justin.
“Hey hey! Wait a minute. You lack one picture.”, shouted Kenneth.
“Oh gosh. I know what you’re thinking. Stop it.”, replied Justin as he slowly pushes away Kenneth.
“What? Come on. Here the two of you stay here make a pose with Justin.”, suggested Kenneth.
“Justin must be at the center between the two of you.”, he added.
Aivy held Justin’s arms.
“Hey I thought you don’t like me.”, said Justin.
“Oh that’s from the old days. Alright.. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Will you forgive me for what I have told you about Kiesha? Honestly, I was just provoking you last time about not giving your attention to Kiesha.”, replied Aivy.
“Huh? I don’t understand.”, replied Justin.
“Oh just forget it.”, replied Aivy.
Kiesha noticed that Justin and Aivy were instantly talking a lot. Kenneth noticed it so he found a way to destruct the two.
“Hey, here take this photo of yours. Are we not included?”, asked Kenneth.
“Oh sorry. Guys! Come on! Let’s have a group picture here!”, shouted Kenneth.
Everyone came. However, Justin accidentally stepped on the right shoe of Kiesha which caused her shoelace untied as she moved forward. Instead, Justin hold her arm and apologize for it. He immediately kneeled down to fix Kiesha’s shoe lace and tied it again. Everyone noticed it especially Matilda’s friends.
“Come on, take a pic Claudia and send it to Matilda. Let’s see what will be the reaction of Matilda.
“Oh how sweet.”, said Kenneth.
“No, it’s okay.”, said Kiesha.
“Hey, what have you done? Step aside.”, replied Aivy.
“I’m okay now best. Thank you. Thank you also Justin.”, said Kiesha.
“You’re always welcome.”, replied Justin and smiled back at her.
“Now everybody, please get in the van right now.”, said Aivy.
By 1:00 pm in the afternoon, the group stepped into the van and excitedly go in and enjoy the ride.
“Hey I want to play a song for this time. Is it okay romantic songs this time?”, asked Aivy.
“Everything best. Anything you like.”, replied Kiesha as she smiled towards her in the front seat.
Aivy played the song of Ronan Keating entitled “When You Say Nothing At All”.
Everyone sang and Justin’s voice raised higher.
“The smile on your face let’s me know that you need me. There’s a truth in your ice saying you’ll never leave me. The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me. Whenever I fall, you say its best, when you say nothing at all.”, sang Justin wholeheartedly.
“Hey, for whom are you singing to huh?”, asked Kenneth.
“Nothing. It’s just that I feel happy lately.”, replied Justin.
Kiesha heard it and her heart flutters. Aivy looked at Kiesha’s blushed face.
The group of graduated students headed their way to the Mendocino County and continued singing inside the van. Others were sleeping while some of them were talking about their life and their cherished moments after graduation.