12. Outing in Antong Falls

"OUTING IN ANTONG FALLS"

"ARAY! Anak na lase! It hurts!" Blade treated his bruise on his left cheek.

Raphael’s punched is solid, he was still in pain.

"It's your fault. You lose yourself and you knew that Raphael was there. And that’s what you get for being crazy!"

Drake laughed and scratched his neck. They are in the kitchen and they just came home from school.

"Enough with your sermon, Drake. And stop laughing at me.” Blade smirk.

He stood up and Drake was looking at him.

"Are you going to sleep?" Drake asked.

"Yes, why? You want to go with me?"

"YUCK!"

"Huh, it's just a joke!"

Blade put away the ice and ointments he used. He went straight upstairs and fell asleep. He really forgot that Raphael was there, he even promised him that he would avoid speaking brutally. But, his mouth slipped over when he was angry or upset. How can this be? This is just Raphael. What if the great Saint Michael thought of visiting him? He is going to be dead!

The next day... Blade is busy watching...

"All right! Beat that animal Crocodile, Luffy! That! Son of a bitch! No more water!" Blade's favourite anime is One Piece!

Ehem! That's how Blade really watches his favourite anime. He records the episodes for Drake to watch at night. They are both addicted to anime.

"There! Crocodile is weak! Finish him!"

Until....

"ANIMAL! BROWN-OUT!"

Blade turn off the T.V. and unplug it. He is about to go to upstairs but he stopped when he heard a series of knocks on the door. He frowned and went to the door. He opened it and...

"GOOD MORNING SIR!"

The whole class II-A, and they also include Rane's younger brother Conrad. To Blade's shock he suddenly closed the door.

"What are they doing here?!"

He opened the door again. And his eyes widened.

"HELLO SIR BLADE!"

Class II-A is with class III-A. He slowly came out and frowned at them. What is going on?

"HAYSS... What are you all doing here?!"

"Sir, we just want to tell you about the outing. It's tomorrow, right?" Barry reminded.

"All of you... When we are outside the school... You just call me Blade, okay? Wait, why are you with class III-A?"

"Err... We heard about your outing. We want to come along. Can we, fafa Blade?" Leah.

"It's up to you. It's KKB(Kanya-kanyang bayad-pay your own expenses). Oh what? Is that the only reason why you came here?"

"We all worried about you last night. After you were knocked out." Rane replied.

Blade was stunned and he looked at the children.

"Oh gosh! I'm okay, I'm still! Don't be like that and I might even cry. Come on! You all go inside!" he was happy to find out that they were worried about him.

"Yeheey!"

"Help me clean up the house!"

Everyone reacted and complained.

"It’s just a joke. I was able to clean up earlier. How much will your fare to Antong Falls cost?" he asked them ..

"The fare for the jeep to Sison is ten pesos and the fare for the tricycle to Antong Falls is fifteen pesos, and the entrance fee is ten pesos." replied the gay Van.

"Is it really nice there?" he asked curiously.

"Yes! That was a very nice place." Leah replied (He really doesn't want to call by his real name Leo)

Everyone's meeting place is at school and they have already talked about what they will need to bring for the outing tomorrow. Everyone is excited. Most of them have never been to Antong Falls and so is Blade. He is curious about the place. The place is said to be beautiful and just nearby.

The next day, Rane was busy with the things to bring. As well as the food. Of course, Conrad will go with her. Because her brother loves to tail Blade.

"Here is the sandwich you are going to eat. Take care of Conrad, okay? Your food bag, is it okay? Bring a medicine kit. Don't let your brother dry out a sweat. I also made your favourite cookies. "

Rane frowned as she looked at what her stepmother, Aunt Kristine, was packing. She was kind, it was not like the stepmothers she was reading on books.

"Mom, I don't think I can take all this anymore." she complained.

"It's just light, don’t worry. Karen, won't you go with them?” she asked Karen.

Karen belongs to class III-A.

"Hmf! I don't like Ma. I’m just going to be tired and I might get my skin burn from the sunlight." She said before ascending up to stairs.

Rane knows the real reason why she doesn't want to come. She hates Blade.

"Be careful there and watch your brother. Do not swim in the deep." her stepmom reminded.

"Yes, I will remember all your orders."

"Okay take care!" she kissed her on the cheek. And so did Conrad.

"Mommy, that's enough!" his brother's complaint.

"Oh my baby!"

She messed up Conrad's hair before they left. They went straight to school. When they arrived, almost everyone was already there. A few more moments and they were also completed.

"Is everyone here yet?" Blade asked everyone.

"Everyone is present!" Alex announced.

"Let’s go, then!" Blade's command to everyone.

They went to the highway to park a jeep. There were some unaccompanied students in class II-A and III-A. It looked like a jeep would just fit them. Then suddenly a jeep, stops at them.

"Where are we, boss?" the driver asked Blade.

"In Sison. We're going to Antong Falls. How much is the fare?"

"Ten pesos, boss!"

"Eh when hanging?"

"It's free."

"Free?!" he was excited.

"Yes, boss!"

Blade turn towards the children.

"Hoy! Take the ride! Slow down, don't push each other!" he calls the children.

They immediately complied...

"Tatay, I'll just hang up. It's free, isn't it?"

(Tatay-literally means father but we used to address this on old folks even they are not related to us. It is a sign of respect.)

"All right, boss. There are many of you." the driver laughed at him.

"You drive slowly, okay? Your passengers are children." he reminded him.

The driver just nodded and he went to the back of the car. He hooked up. Hmmm... Well, that's just a way! They left and soon they were in the town of Sison. They got off and Blade thanked the driver for his free ride. His the only one who didn’t pay the fare. Because he hang at the back of the vehicle for the whole ride. (don’t do this because it is dangerous)

"Where are you going, Sir?" one of the tricycle drivers asked him.

"At Antong Falls. How much is the fare?"

"Only fifteen pesos, Sir!"

"If I hang, can it be only ten pesos?"

"Err.. All right... That may be okay, Sir." he shook his head on Blade and laughed softly.

"All right, we'll all ride. How many tricycles can we have? Me, I'll hang up ah."

"About four maybe..." he laughed looking at Blade and called some of his fellow tricycle drivers.

They got on the tricycles and of course, Blade... Rode on top of the tricycle. He sat there and the view was very pleasant. (Again, don’t do this. Riding on top of the tricycle is dangerous.)

"I want to be there, Sir Blade!" Conrad whispered to him.

"You're just inside, with your sister Rane. It's dangerous here. I got stuck because I don't have enough fare."

The tricycle drivers and the students laughed at what they heard.

"You are embarrassing Sir!" everyone's comment.

"Anak na lase! That's just the way it is!" the laughter grew louder.

His students took a picture on him and what he did is to pose and smile at the camera!

The vehicles started moving. The way was up and down. There are some parts of the road that are not concrete and when you gossip... You can definitely bite your tongue. It 's really very far, it' s a long trip and you will be shaken. In fact , the fifteen pesos fare is well worth it. Even though gasoline is still expensive these days. As they passed by, people look at Blade at the latter just smile and wave. He feels like he was a celebrity!

Finally, they have reach their destination, in barangay Immalog. It is said that the vehicles will not be able to pass the way to Antong Falls. They will have to walk towards it. They got out of the car and paid their respective fares.

"Okay, those who know to Antong Falls... Be the first to walk!" Blade commanded.

"All right, Sir!" presented by Van and Leah ...

They first passed the side of a creek. The water was very clear then, there were snails and fish. It was flowing towards the fields. They were stunned when they came up to a hanging bridge. It was thin and rusty. Only one person can pass through it (but for now this hanging bridge was already fix and upgraded). Below it is a river with huge rocks. The bridge is high. Conrad is riding on Blade's shoulder. Van is already on the other side and Leah also.

"Fafa Blade! Come on!" Leah called.

The two waved at them. Blade look at his students.

"Only one by one will pass. Conrad and I will go first. When we cross to the other side, then you will follow one by one. Just one by one, clear?" he asked everyone.

"Yes!"

And that 's it! When you have not yet balanced your body on the bridge it is slightly tilted. It seems to be reversed when you lose your balance. Blade and Conrad cross the bridge, first.

"Aray! Don't tweak me, Mr. Conrad!" Blade complained.

"It's scary!"

"Don't look down!"

When Conrad and Blade finally cross the bridge, everyone followed them one by one. Rane was scared while she is crossing the bridge. She gulped, because she was afraid of high places. She guess that she’d called all the Saints she knew in this moment. She wants to cry in fear but she’s restraining herself. They might laugh at her and it's embarrassing. She breathed a sigh of relief as she reached where Blade and his brother were They even waited for the others. And finally... Everything also went well.

"Sir Blade! Looks like we're close!" Alex's happy language.

"Why did you say that?" he asked frowning.

"Look at that arrow on the camachile tree. There is a sign and its written-To Antong Falls! It means, we’re close!"

"Yes indeed! " everyone said happily.

They walked vigorously towards the vast countryside. You will not find any houses there. Only a few trees and farms. They stopped at a large mango tree. As they walked away, they saw of a few huts and households. They don't think they even reached ten.

"It's close, isn't it?" Blade's sarcastic language.

They are all sweating and out of breath. They have also been drinking a lot of water. They are under a large mango tree for now. They stopped to rest for a while. This tree was different from the mango tree they had been passed before.

"Sir, it looks like we are close. Look at that arrow on the mango tree... To Antong Falls!" Katrina gasped.

"I hope so?!"