"Teacher, can we talk to you for a minute?"
Rai was startled out of his thoughts the moment the voice cut through the air.
A student was suddenly standing right in front of him.
He hadn't even noticed him approach.
'Damn it… how distracted was I?'
His grip tightened slightly around his phone before he slowly lowered it, forcing himself to focus. He exhaled quietly and looked up.
The boy was in Grade 8, smiling awkwardly upon finally getting his attention. Behind him stood a few of his friends, slightly farther back, whispering among themselves, glancing over nervously as if they were pushing him forward.
Rai frowned faintly.
"What is it?" he asked, still slightly confused.
The boy hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Sir… we have our school annual trip next month. We always go to the same place every year."
He paused, scratching the back of his head.
