What do you call the force of nature that comes before spring and is the epitome of a relationship breaker?

Winter.

It even stopped Napoleon and Hitler from conquering Russia, but nothing can stop or reject the mongol hoard. Take that mother nature!

Winter is a terrible season like any other. But it ranks as one of my favourites. There isn’t any rain and heat is minimal........ The downside is it’s freaking cold.

And it’s also a festive season, there’s snow too........

But besides those things, winter is still a good season.

Three classes periods after a free period for supper was in session.

I walked around the exterior of the school administration building. It was a nice stroll. Everyone was inside the building which has a controlled climate if I might say. I, myself was fond of staying inside away from the darned cold.

But it was too noisy inside and out of the only 3 vending machine that pumped out coffee, was stationed outside the administration building just in the view of the gymnasium. And as you might take it, the other two were being occupied by the tyrannical forces of guys with too much money on their hands. Jeez, how much coffee do you need?

I rather stand in line, so I took the decision to venture outside. It’s not like I’m gonna be attacked by a bear. The only way you could see a bear in these parts was by going to the zoo.

There wasn’t anyone in sight. I approached the vending machine and I analysed it. It had 7 variants of canned coffee and tea. So many choices.....

I stood there for a while, gaping at the options. Vending machines and variety of options were the wonders of capitalism.

Black mirage, no, not in the mood for bitterness. Plus it says illusions on the label...PetersonBrewery.....Some sweetened milk in my tea should work....so many fucking choices. Choose wisely, Takeo. This is the last of your lunch money.....Let’s just play it safe with some sweetened caffeine.

I put in my money and clicked on button for my chosen beverage. The van was pushed off by a metal leverage and it rolled down.

I took in my hand, a can of White Paradise....why do these names sound so racist? Are the Chinese really out of names for beverages they export.

I opened the can by pulling the pin, almost like you would a grenade. Only Xiamen phones were like that.

I started gulping it down. The vending machine kept the cans warm using a built in heater.

White coffee with condensed milk, what could be better. Though I might have to avoid it in my thirties. Diabetes is a bitch.

I stopped to catch my breath and to calm my tongue which was more than a little sensitive to the heat of the coffee.

The football team was at it, with the baseball team also roaring up. I could see Choi and Sanji drifting with the ball. The shouts and grunts of the athletes made the scene just more melancholic.

Still, do you guys not feel atleast alittle chilly? Are you all androids by any chance?

I started gulping down my coffee again. In few seconds, it was empty. I crushed it and threw it into the trash bin beside the vending machine.

I started walking back inside, nothing do out here anyway.

Nouta wasn’t around today. He was sick. So, I had nothing to do but sit in my seat.

He couldn’t even bother to come on the last day of school before the winter vacation.

I went up the flight of stairs to the floor, my classroom. Everyone was inside. The outside was frankly too cold for them except those people that had sports activities and the gardening club was at it too.

I had no club to attend. And that is because I am not in any club. Because I really didn’t want to join any clubs. I had to pester my mother and beg help from my brother to get my mother to write a letter to the headmaster stating I had “disabilities” for which I couldn’t join any clubs.

I was a free man in school. And would be in the future as well. Even in my dead end job career.

I went into my classroom and sat down. The classroom was filled to the brim. It was particularly humid and noisy. But quite nice.

So much that my eye lids began getting heavier by the minute that was ticked off the clock.

Today was the last day of school before the winter break. But it wasn’t the end of this routine .

How does that poem go again?

Row, row you’re boat. Life is but a dream. So, row row your boat down the river?

It’s like that life feels like a dream. A never ending dream. After the new year, I will be back and then again, I’ll be starting another semester in April. And then on to high school then on and on. Life was a endless surreal dream. You just gotta row your boat down the river.

The person infront of me chatting on his phone and then he let out a yawn. Suddenly, I had the urge to yawn as well. Damn my impersonation genes!

All of this was making me more sleepy. Maybe it was boredom.

I put my head down to the desk, with my arms cushioning my head.

Let me just take a nap. Did I have anything else to do anyway? The ending was the starting to something and the starting was the ending to something. Thinking that my senses became more dull.

To my starting and ending, I’ll sleep on it for the moment.