Chapter six

"Oh, I guess it's too late to be regrouped."

Why are there so many group projects? No, seriously. Who thought that was a good idea? “Collaboration builds character”—yeah, so does surviving a war.

I do just fine alone.

This is a different class from Friday. New teacher: Francis.

Not a fan of him. But I’ll admit he’s commendable. Whatever that means anymore.

Of course, he “knows” me. All too well, according to him.

So I didn’t even get the usual awkward silence and waiting around. Nope. Francis just slaps me straight into a group.

With four girls. Atleast hree of whom are shorter than me,wonderful 

Francis, I’m begging you: why?

And just to sprinkle extra sugar on the situation, he pulled me aside to deliver his “wise mentor” monologue:

“The road you walk on was built by someone, for you. The bus you ride was driven by someone, for you. You need to start doing something for others.”

Great. Thanks, Confucius. Let me just go rewire my trauma.

He has no idea.

No idea I’m basically allergic to girls.

Yes. I’m a little scared of them.

not proud of it.

Anyway. Our mission? Go study a hotel’s sustainability efforts. Which is a fancy way of saying: field trip.

With four girls.

Wonderful.

And guess what? They started fighting.

Like, actual drama-level fighting.

One of them—apparently on her period—didn’t want to stand in the train.

Totally fair. Honestly.

Been there, in a metaphorical sense.

 I’m still limping from that concussion I gave myself weeks ago ,I don’t want to stand either.

But Hazel, our very own fellow Chinese squad member, wasn’t having it.

“I don’t want to sit.”

“Well if you don’t want to sit, you can go on and take this train yourself.”

And then she did.

She just left.

That’s one way to make an exit.

The remaining three? Not pleased.

Cue the passive-aggressive texting, whispering, gossiping. All the best hits a teenage girl can pull.

Meanwhile, I’m over here, silently judging them from the window reflections.

Those cockatoos outside? Fascinating .

They kept going.

And going.

30 minutes .

Finally got to the hotel. Hazel was already there. Standing. Like a statue of vengeance.

No one said a word to her.

Except Tall Girl. She felt bad and broke rank to talk to Hazel.

Big mistake.

Now the other two are mad at her too.

This is like watching a soap opera but with more perfume and less logic.

 I tried.

“So? We good?”

“SHUT UP.”

From all four. perfectly rehearsed.

“Okay, damn.”

Hotel time.

And naturally, I have to talk to the hotel staff.

Because of course , I’m the “man” of the group.

Fantastic.

The hotel is decent. Clean. Fresh floral scent in the air,blessing my nose.

People are dressed sharp.

My kind of place.

Home turf.

The girls? Not so much.

Suddenly they're a united front again. Fear does that,it brought them togather. 

The “sustainability champion” greets us. Name’s Nick. He leads us to a briefing table.

I pull out a chair for the group leader. She stares at me like I just performed a magic trick.

Alright. I take the seat for myself.

I love myself.

Session starts. Questions fly.

No one asks the staff his name.

Amateurs.

So I ask him what he’d like to be called.

He hands me his card. I bow a little, respectfully.

Nick and I vibe,in my mind I am just a little over his age.

Five-second silence.

He’s waiting for the girls to introduce themselves.

They don’t.

Not my circus. Not my clowns.

Then it begins.

Questions about the herb garden. Central chiller.

Groundbreaking stuff,I dont care.

I know just what to say.

“I want to know about the robots. I heard there’s one called Aura?”

Boom. Nick lights up.

“We have seven robots here—two for housekeeping and five for F&B…”

He keeps going. I’m locked in.

Do I care about robots? No.

Do the girls hate this? Yes.

So I love it,thrilled. 

Every so often I glance at them. Their souls are leaving their bodies.

What a view.

Elevator ride:

“So, sir — do the robots have names?”

“BOEN!”

They all scream.

The unison. The panic. The betrayal.

I am so happy.

Nope. Robots don’t have names.

We tour the rooms. I keep chatting with Nick like I’m being recruited.

Honestly, I’d accept the job. For the aesthetic.

He asks if I want to be a bellboy.

Pass. But I’m flattered.

Girls are silent the whole time.

Nick tries to get them to interact with the AI system.

Crickets.

They all turn to look at me.

Oh,i've been waiting. 

“Hey AI, tell me a joke.”

It’s lame.

Well,I tried.

I poke around the minibar. Ask questions in the bathroom. Play the part.

All that stuff.

After we left, the girls make me give up the name card.

Whatever. I was done with it anyway.

Hazel and I walk the same way home. I’m in a good mood. So I try.

“How are you feeling?”

“Shut up.”

“Okay,dam”

I took another route.