Felix stared at his phone as if waiting for a text. He wanted to forbid his sister from going camping this week. There are many rumors spreading that several underage girls went missing on that camping trip, where the two siblings actually died.
He was scratching his head. He read the parent's consent that this is required for students to attend.
Felix, it's just three days. He is trying to convince himself of this. Their adviser and some teachers were there. Said in his mind.
He didn't want to stop his siblings from doing what they wanted, so he would do everything for his three siblings. He values his siblings so much for a variety of reasons. For him, his siblings are not a hindrance. He wanted to provide them with a good life after their parents abandoned them. If his body can do everything, he does it.
He didn't tell his young siblings where he was getting the money because he had many jobs that the faint-hearted couldn't handle. His job is selling the meat of animals that have died from disease. He is involved in what they call an illegal market, which he can't tell his siblings about. There, he earns money based on his quota.
He knows that someday, when the illegal market is busted, he will be imprisoned. When he gets imprisoned, he wants his siblings to be in a favorable situation. Even if others say that he is feeding his wrong job to his family, he is just holding on to the edge of life.
"Older Brother." There was a voice that brought him back to his senses.
He immediately looked to see who had called him. "Oh, you're already here, Jenny." He just scratched his head.
Her sister's brow furrowed. "Are you okay, bro?" Jenny must have noticed his deep thinking and realized that his phone was low on battery.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about Thalia."
"What happened to Thalia? Has she not gone home yet? Jenny asked Felix.
"It's in your room. Ah, about their camping trip that will be held in a week."
"What are you worried about, brother?" She asked him who had sat down then.
"I gave her permission to participate in these activities, and he also needed to go there. What concerns me is his sudden disappearance. It's common nowadays for young people to suddenly go missing, isn't it?" He asked Jenny.
His sister was just listening to him and nodded. "You probably heard about the place where many women go missing." He looked at Jenny.
He immediately noticed her frown. "Don't tell me it's about the crime involving the two murdered sisters?" Jenny asked him
He just nodded then. "I don't want to exclude Thalia for that reason alone. There has been a lot of speculation about the location of the two siblings' deaths." Said Felix.
"Do you want me to talk to Thalia about this so she won't be allowed in anymore?" Jenny asked.
"Don't worry, I'm just concerned; I trust your younger sister. Jenny." Felix said.
Jenny just nodded, "Whatever is best for Thalia, brother." She said. He just smiled. When they talk about things like this, Jenny, who followed him, is no longer a child and has her own decisions in life.
"Jen, please call Thalia; it's time for dinner."
She didn't answer, just nodded at him. He, on the other hand, immediately set the table so that the siblings could eat.
Not really; they took a long time to arrive too, the sister, and their youngest was also there. They all ate together.
"Be careful there, Thalia." That's all Felix said.
Thalia just furrowed her brow and looked at him. "Yes." That was the only answer he gave.
He looked at his three siblings.
Even if I am the only one with sinful staining, you are all well. I will take all the blame. He thought to himself back then. He didn't say anything more.
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Thalia looked at her parents' consent; she really didn't want to go and was having second thoughts at that time. She arrived at school early; she was surprised because when she walked up to their classroom, the door was already open, even though there were no people in their classroom yet. She just thought that maybe their adviser had already arrived.
"You're early today, Miss Thalia Blanco." Greetings from the person behind.
She was surprised, so she immediately turned to look at the person speaking.
She saw the face of their adviser.
"Good morning, Sir Jake." She greeted her adviser.
"Yes, good morning." He smiled at her, went to the teacher's table, and they faced each other. She felt a bit awkward at that moment.
"Oh, that's your parents' consent, right?" He noticed the paper she was holding.
He just nodded and handed it to his adviser.
He immediately looked at it. "That's good, that's good your guardian allowed you. I'm happy, Ms. Blanco." Her adviser was smiling at her.
"Sir, I just have a question." Thalia said she finally gathered the courage.
"Yes, what is it?" Jake asked her.
"When the student cannot attend. What will happen to their academics?" She politely asked the teacher.
Their teacher looked at her meaningfully, frowning. "I get what you want to ask, Miss Blanco." He paused speaking and looked at her parents' consent.
"It won't really affect you much if you don't join the camping trip, but the truth now is it will help your academics in other ways. You know that we have what we call extracurricular activities that require your presence as a student. Moreover, it is mandatory; the school needs your presence. If you listen carefully to what I said the other day, this camping trip will help you in many ways." Her teacher gave her a long explanation.
She immediately realized that no excuses would be accepted, except if the guardian or parent did not really allow the student, depending on how serious the reason was for the parent not allowing the student to join the camping trip.
Thalia just nodded then. "Thank you, sir." Her gratitude towards the teacher in front of her.
Their adviser stood up and tapped her. He stepped out of their classroom for a moment. She noticed that her schoolmates and classmates were gradually arriving at school as the surroundings began to get noisy.
Thalia, there's nothing you can do; you have to join so your grades will improve too. Make your guardian and your parents proud now. Don't let fear take over. She even scolded herself for feeling something she couldn't explain.
The students had already rushed in, and she just sat quietly on the chair.
"Wow! You're early today, huh!" Then she hit her arm.
Thalia didn't need to look back to see who had hit her.
"Good morning, Ruth."
She just smiled at her. "Were you allowed?" her classmate immediately asked.
Just a nod, she answered Ruth's question.
"Yes!" she exclaimed joyfully at what she heard. "Let's buy the stuff together on Saturday." This is what Ruth said.
Thalia simply nodded in agreement with the person she was talking to. She didn't know what would happen during their three-day stay in that place.