Beginning

Neo City, Central University South campus.

High in the sky, the morning sun was shining brightly, indicating the start of a fresh day. The sunlight was falling upon the ground, illuminating the whole campus just like any other day.

The campus was bustling with students; some laughing and chatting with their friends, some were sprinting due to being late for their classes and others were busy with their phones or minding their own businesses.

Among all the regular affairs, there was one peculiar thing which seemingly stood out today on the campus grounds. A small gathering of students with camping bags and other necessary gears could be seen standing on the grounds.

At first glance, the group appeared to be waiting for something or someone. Well, nobody told them to stay put or anything. So, in order to pass the time, most of them started talking and laughing with each other.

*****

Another student who was going for his morning class, came to notice the group. After thinking for a while, he moved towards the gathering with a curious look.

Reaching close to the group, his gaze moved from one student to another with a somewhat hopeful look. Soon, the curious student found an odd looking boy who looked rather silent as compared to others in the gathering.

The curious fella surprisingly chose him and after nearing him, he inquired the odd looking boy in a friendly tone, "This friend here, you guys seem to be going on a trip or something, huh?".

Although slightly taken aback with the sudden question, the odd looking boy still looked at the querist.

Pausing for a while, he answered in a neither polite nor arrogant voice, "Yes! All of us here have signed up for a hiking trip on a newly found location at the countryside. And today happens to be the day we are supposed to start our trip".

Finally getting his curiosity fulfilled, the student nodded and grinned, "Oh, that's really great! Hope you guys enjoy your trip. See you again sometime friend, getting late for the class".

Between his congratulations, he got a fleeting look at his wristwatch and his expressions instantly changed. So, the curious student said his farewell and hurriedly went on his way.

Looking at the departing silhouette, the odd looking boy mumbled to himself, "What a strange guy!".

After saying this, he chuckled and slowly shook his head.

All of a sudden, a slightly grumpy voice with a mix of ridicule reached his ears, "Alright you little Jinx, what the hell are you mumbling about? you a magician or something".

Hearing the mocking words, the odd looking boy turned his gaze towards his friend, who seemed to be a head taller than him, while a look of mockery was unconcealed on his face.

The boy knew it would be such a drag to argue with this friend of his. "No need to be worried for my sake", the odd looking boy slowly spoke with a nonchalant expression.

"You!!!!", apparently angered by these words, the taller boy started moving towards the odd looking Boy in an intimidating manner.

"That's enough out of you two! I am already in a bad mood today. Just quit your babbling and keep it for the trip later", an authoritative voice spoke, with a hint of slight annoyance and impatience.

The owner of this impactful voice was a good looking girl with a tall stature and a beautiful face. Her naturally cold disposition only gave her a unique charm.

The boys hastily closed their mouths as if both of them were aware that with an expression like this on her face, if they didn't listen to this friend of theirs, things won't be ending well for them.

"The organiser should have come here by now, where the hell is he now?", someone with a frowning expression shouted angrily. It happened to be one of their male friend, who was the most sturdy looking of their group of friends.

"Damn that bastard, for making us gather here so early in the morning. I didn't even get enough sleep", another male friend of theirs cursed while yawning from time to time.

He even had distinctly visible dark circles under his eyes. Looking at his poor appearance and listening to his words, one couldn't help but feel pity for him.

"Umm...! I...I think may..maybe he got stuck with something important", a slightly timid and meek voice sounded out from their group. It was so low that if they weren't standing so close to each other, it would be nigh impossible to hear these words.

All of them quickly shifted their attention towards the only person with such a low voice, who appeared to be a petite and frail looking girl, popularly called as the shy beauty among this group of friends.

Finding herself to be the center of attention, the frail yet adorable girl embarassedly lowered her head. At one point, her head was hanging so low that if she went down any further, she might fell down.

"Alright guys, enough with the staring contest. Can't you all see that you are making our timid beauty even more shy?", a melodious and gentle voice rang from the group of friends.

These words came from the last female member of this group, who had a soothing air around her and a gentle smile was ever present on her serene face, giving others a warm and comfortable feeling.

After listening to her voice, all six friends of the group first looked at each other and then together glanced at the shy girl who still had her head lowered, with no indication of raising it any soon.

The next moment, all of them burst into laughter. Even the cold beauty had a subtle smile on her face.

Laughing and talking together just like this or maybe targeting one particular member and making fun of them, the seven friends somehow forgot all about their past grievances.

Just like this, time kept on flowing...

*****

"Hey! Guys look, isn't that our 'On the time' organiser?", loudly yelled the sleepy boy, bringing the seven's conversations and laughter to an abrupt stop. All of them hurriedly faced the direction where he had pointed.

Looking ahead of the gathering, one could easily spot a fatty running with arduous breaths and he seemed to be heavily sweating all the way.

"Sorry! my wonderul friends, I didn't want to make you all wait this long during such a sunny day, it's just that I...", as soon as the fatty organiser reached the gathering he started apologizing, but before he could finish his sentence, he started panting with a pale face.

When the fatty reached them, the first thing, the gathering saw him doing was to apologize with an honest face. Moreover his 'out of breath' appearance didn't let them pursue the matter any longer.

Most of the gathered students decided to leave him be. Some who seemed more frustrated than others only released some grunting sounds, but didn't do anything else.

After taking his sweet time to catch his breath and gaining some colour to his face, the fatty organiser once again gave everyone an instant apology.

"Alright everyone, I don't have to ask to know that you fellas have already done enough waiting. So, let's not waste any more of our precious time and simply begin our adventurous trip", loudly proclaimed the fatty with smiles all over his face.

His words seemed to have hit the spot as everyone started cheering with great enthusiasm.

After getting everybody's attention, and noticing their expectant looks, the fatty organiser gave everyone an unexpected bright smile which poured cold water over their passion as his smile looked somewhat wretched on such a crude face.

Registering the change in atmosphere, the the fatty organiser let out some dry coughs.

"Alright, my friends. Please follow me towards the bus parked outside the college campus. Don't forget your belongings and necessary gears."

"One more thing, before getting into the bus all of you need to sign besides your names on the list which is in the hands of another member of organising committee, just for the sake of records and stuffs. Let's go.".

After giving these essential instructions in his own unique and funny way, the fatty started moving ahead of the gathering, towards the gate.

Seeing everyone else following behind the fatty, the group of seven unusual friends also picked up their belongings and tagged along. Due to the sleepy guy, they ended up becoming the last ones to move from the gathering.

After reaching the area where the bus was parked, the group of seven got in the queue of students for getting inside the bus.

Since they were the last, They had no other choice but to wait for their turn.

*****

The seven friends patiently stood in the line while they chatted or even bickered with each other from time to time.

At last, it was the time for one of the seven to sign and get inside the bus. The first one happened to be the odd looking boy.

Taking the list from the hands of the member of organising committee, he found his name "Eiesh" and after signing, he passed the list to that friend of his who was bickering with him earlier, before moving inside the bus.

Now, the boy with the list in his hand looked for his name "Joey", then signed it and passed the list to the cold beauty. After this, he got inside the bus.

The cold looking girl didn't take much time and quickly signed in front of her name; "Neela" and passed the list to the tall and well built boy who signed beside his name "Rocky".

Just like this, the list travelled in between the rest of the seven friends, the sleepy boy "Ron" and the last two girls of the group; the gentle and kind girl, "Rhea" and the shy one, "Mini".

Since, the last ones had entered. So, after making sure that everyone who was supposed to be here today had checked in, Fatty told the driver to start the bus after closing the gate behind him.

Just like how the wheels of the bus were rolling towards an unseen and unvisited place, similarly the enthusiastic youths inside the bus were also being unknowingly pulled towards a mysterious and uncertain future....