No Time for Love (6)

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(Meanwhile at N.P.U....)

We were assembled at exactly eight o'clock in the morning of Thursday at the second gate of the school. The class planned a Christmas picnic at the nearest river. The Line River as they called is a long and big river that originated from the Northernmost part and exits to the southeast side of the region. We wanted to have fun swimming and fishing at the same time to enjoy our company after our preliminary exams and before we separate our ways for Christmas and New Year break. We rode the bus that passes by around that time although some preferred to walk the three kilometer distance which is actually not bad. The ride took us there in about thirty minutes because it has to stop every now and then to pick up some passengers. We spotted a very good place just further below the Line Bridge. This large bridge connects the opposite sides of the river and is passable by big vehicles two-ways. Everyone who is crossing this bridge whether riding a car or walking will be equally amazed by the scene of the beautiful flowing clean water below. One can also clearly see everyone picnicking down there and along the river.

After a short while, those who hiked joined us then we started as planned. At 10:00 o'clock, everybody was already splashing in the cool water while others moved aside to bait some water animals they could find.

At twelve noon, we were all exhausted and hungry. Our skins were already wrinkled like senior citizens due to long time soaking in the water. Some are even turning cold blue. Some of the classmates who went catching games have already started a fireplace and were grilling their games. We sorrounded the fireplace as if we were doing a class religious ritual. Someone pretended to cry over the grilled fish and shrimps, others sang Amazing Grace as if to console the ones crying. Our singing sweetheart in the class brought his guitar with him and he started to play his guitar while others like me cant help but laugh hysterically. My stomach was hurting so bad for laughing while moving around. I lifted my eyes to the bridge to see a tall figure standing on the side of the bridge. He seemed to be admiring the view. There was no way I can see his face since we were way down the river side about 500 feet down. Aftert having satisfied ourselves with the fun, we all brought out our potlucks then started ravishing our food.

We enjoyed swimming again after lunch then went back at half past three in the afternoon agreeing to hike since our back packs were now empty from food.

Along the way, we met several vehicles which honked their horns at us because we were either blocking the road or they know someone in our company. We were half way hiking, and I was with my two married classmates, three males and a lady a year older than me. Our friendship was like a company of stupid people sometimes because we pretend not to know what others are saying. We would tell wierd jokes and spell the most obvious just to make fun of ourselves. Overall, our batch has been tagged as "the easy-go-lucky batch" when it came to our studies. One professor even predicded that ' there will be nothing good that will come out from this batch'. When we first heard those labels, some sneered while some chuckled. These professors sometimes think they can read everything like people's minds and future. We laugh together when we recall those tags.

We were recalling our class picnic and how some swam like frogs, some like ducks, some don't know how to swim but dared and ended up almost taken away by the current, some drunk a lot of water with pee, and how we sorrounded the fireplace like mourners. We were again laughing and laughing as we followed the road back to school. My cousin Stanley was in the act of crying like a mourner infront of me while I was grabbing his shirt trying to push him away when a big wheeled car came approaching us at opposite direction. It slowed down when it was infront of us and the tinted window rolled down. We stopped laughing as we stepped aside to give way to this brand new strange car. We were surprised that it stopped infront of us. The driver wore shades, had a cap on his head and has mask covering his mouth and nose, perhaps to avoid dust. We thought he was going ask anything but he just turned his face to us for some good seconds as if to scan our minds, waved a hand, then slowly drove away.

"He looks suspicious! " I said as I turned to see the plate number of the car. X777Z was all I saw plus an extra tire attached on its back.

"I've never seen a car like that pass here before.!" Stanley said. "He must be hiding behind those shades and masks and cap. Come to think of it, its useless to wear a cap inside a shade! It's an insult to the roof above. Same as the shades! The sun is almost setting, hello!?" He said acting like a gay which is very unbecoming of his masculine built. We all laughed at him again as we poked him with our bags.