They now go back to school after they’re done eating. Entering their designated room for Ms. Berido’s class, they notice that not many students are in it. Samantha asks some of her classmates what is happening, and why there’s so little of them here. They reply to her that they don’t know.

One of our classmates approached us and said that Ms. Berido didn’t want to attend today’s class because Sir Garcia committed suicide.

Mark thought, ‘Why does that have to do with her?’

Justin inquires our classmate, “And how does that affect Ms. Berido being in this class today?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“Inform us, please,” says Samantha.

“Ms. Berido and Sir Garcia are both engaged. And they are supposed to get married this month.”

We, who are listening, are astounded by this. We didn’t expect or even know that they were recently engaged. He said that that was only known to her inner circle, and that matter should be kept as a secret between them.

Justin sighs and says, “I guess we have to wait it out, do we?”

Out of nowhere, a teacher enters our domain. He tells us to go home because the school would need to take care of the Sir Garcia incident, and that an investigation would be necessary for this situation.

So we went out, talking to each other along the way, and parted with our classmates. The four of us; Samantha, Ruth, Justin, and I went to the plaza. Samantha messaged Cesar that we would be in the plaza.

So I guess we’re gonna be playing basketball. Well, not really, we’re just gonna hang out. Do you think that we’re gonna actually play basketball? Pathetic. Only Cesar is the star of basketball. Justin and I are novices while Samantha and Ruth have no skill in basketball. So it’s improbable that we would play basketball. Well, if we’re gonna play basketball, we would limit ourselves to just shooting the hoop, not playing actual basketball.

While we were waiting for Cesar, we got bored and bought some bananacue just by the road and went back to the plaza. As we were going to our table, Cesar was standing in the plaza looking for us. I waved my hand and he noticed and then walked towards us. Cesar offers up a high five and I and Justin conceded, we raised our hands and created an explosion as our hands met together, no homo.

“Hello, guys. What are we going to do today?”

Samantha says, “We don’t really know, it’s just abrupt. We have no idea but to stay here in the plaza doing nothing.” Then a loosened bulb was tightened. “Oh, I know.”

They looked at her curious.

“What is it, bes?” said Ruth.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Samantha faces Ruth and says, “Why won’t we go into our house and hang out there. We could play chess together. Heck, the boys could play our basketball court there.”

The boys looked at each other, then Justin looked at her saying, “There’s a basketball court in your house? Does your house have an entire ocean too?”

Mark laughs then apparently all of them laugh.

Justin adds, “I’m not surprised if there’s a tennis court there, Samantha.”

She looks at him and says, “Well, we don’t have a tennis court but we have a pingpong table.”

They were wide-eyed and their jaws dropped to the ground. Samantha just smiled at them while they looked at each other.

“So, I invite you all to my house.”

They nodded.

“Good, we’ll walk there,” Samantha says.

As they are about to go to Samantha’s house, her phone vibrates. She looks at her phone and is surprised.

She received a text from her father saying, “Your teacher informed me that you will have no class today because of a suicide from one of your teachers. So, I’m sending Robert to pick you up.”

She replies, “I’m bringing my friends to the house so that we can hang out.”

“Is Cesar gonna be included in it?”

“Yeah, dad. They’re gonna use our basketball court so that they could practice.”

“Ok, but I will have Robert watch the two of you so that you won’t have any fishy ideas.”

“Don’t worry, dad. I won’t do anything stupid.”

“Good girl. Just wait for Robert to pick you up.”

“Yes, dad.”

She then received another text, “It’s from Robert.”

It says, “Where are you, Sam? I’m at your school, your father says to pick you up since you don’t have school today.”

“I’m at the plaza.”

“Ok, just wait there and I’ll pick you up.”

She says to her classmates, “Let’s go by the road so that we can get a ride.”

Cesar approaches her and says, “Are we riding a tricycle?”

“No, we will ride our service van.”

“Oh, sweet.”

So they stride towards the side of the road and wait for the van to come.

Ruth nudges Samantha and says, “I sure am excited to see your house.”

Samantha smiles and says, “Just keep the excitement, and let’s have fun in there.”

“I sure will, bes.”

Their van finally arrives and stops at them. Samantha opens the sliding door and lets in first her classmates and they oblige. They enter the air-conditioned van with Samantha being the last.

Robert looks through the rear-view mirror and says, “How do you do fellow, kids?”

Justin replies, “We’re as good as new, sir.”

“Good.”

Then silence creeps in the van as Samantha closes the sliding door. With the door closed Robert steps on the gas pedal. As the van starts moving, on they go towards Samantha’s house.

Mark says, “Cesar, we’re gonna practice on the basketball court.”

Cesar replies, “Heck yeah, we do.”

Robert interjects, “You’re not allowed to use the court without the permission of Sam’s father.”

Samantha replies to him, “I asked dad for permission and he says ok.”

“Oh, really? I never received a mes-“ he pauses, “Oh, I forgot to bring my phone with me. I guess he messaged me that you’re allowed. I’ll take your word for it, Sam.”

Mark says to Cesar, “Yes! We can use the court, Cesar.”

Robert says, “Just clean the court first before you will use it. It rarely gets used.”

Cesar says to him, “We sure will, sir.”

“Good.”

Justin says to Robert, “Is the court big?”

“It sure is, it’s a professional-sized court. And we have a leather ball, it might be heavy but it’s a good ball. The floor is hardwood, the boards are fiberglass, and the rims have springs. You could dunk the rim if you can.”

“Oh, we got one who can dunk.”

“Oh, really? Who might that be?”

“It’s our brother, Cesar Owens.”

Cesar says to Robert, “I’ll just try a dunk if the rim can handle it.”

Robert says, “Oh, don’t worry, the rim sure is strong.”

Justin says to Cesar, “I’m excited to see you dunk, Cesar.”

Cesar says, “Be ready because I’m gonna bring the house down.”

Cesar laughs along with Mark and Justin.