Oh my, the expiry date is 28th of February, but it's already 2nd March today. How could I eat this thing?
I was drown in deep thoughts when looking at the bread on my table. I'm not sure what things made me so busy lately, the bread has been accompanying me all this few days, be it when I was on my laptop playing games, studying on the table or even resting on the bed... But sadly, I didn't fulfill its duty by sending it into my tummy. Such a waste, I told myself. Was it that I ate too much bread lately? Nope, I didn't. One thing for sure, recently, I don't have much appetite to eat. Sometime I was deep in thoughts for what to eat later. Am I sick? Nope, only cough a bit once in a while, which I doubt would ever affect my appetite.
While my thoughts were miles away, suddenly I recalled there was quite a few times when I followed my friend jogging from hostel till the lake in front of the main gate of my university, with expired bread in one hand. I enjoyed accompanying lots of friends whom are mostly course-mates, to have meal. It's rather sad that I'm mostly alone nowadays, my course-mates are mostly living outside, so hard to meet up most time. I missed the old times, my friends. Hmmm maybe I'll just bring this expired bread to the lake to feed those hungry fish. Not only could I relax a bit, but also could recall back bits of the lost memories I had there lquite a ong time ago.
While riding on my bike, I put on earphones to listen to music played from my ipod. It was a song revised by Jay Chow's fan, consisting of lines from a few Jay's famous songs. Although the overall lyric is a bit off, but the tune is quite well-put, still using the original tune of the lines taken. Simply amazing, you could become Jay number 2 in no time.
Without realising, I've reached the lake. After parked my bike, I walk towards the wooden bridge. Strange, I always have the impression that there are always lots of people coming here especially in the evening. Only a few came today, perhaps it's too much examinations lately, or perhaps rushing for assignments, could be, it's part of school life after all. Since I've come all the way here, I should just enjoy myself and not letting other itty bitty things to affect me, I tell myself. Yeah, why should I bother about others.
This is a good location for jogging. Each evening, students would come here to stretch their muscles, sometime raft could be seen too. It's been my dream to try a raft one day, finally I could make this dream come true during the tutor camp last month. While relaxing at the lake here, it's not hard to see some lecturers spending their times here with their kids.
While untying the knot on the plastic bag consisting of bread, my eyes were scanning around, searching for the whereabouts of the fish here. Strange, I couldn't detect any yet. Don't tell me that when the lake dried up months ago, the fish here disappeared in the same time too? I hope it isn't the truth, I've just reached here with some bread, getting ready to feed the fish. Maybe I shouldn't jump into conclusion so early, trying for a while isn't a bad idea, I guess.
Hence, I carefully tear the bread into teeny bits, then cast them on the surface of the lake. The originally calm surface turns into a war zone, impatient fish pop out from nowhere and gobble down all the bread on the surface in split seconds. Whether the bread has exceeded the expiry date is no longer a concern, perhaps they are just too starving to consider this problem, or they aren't bothered at all. My left hand slip into the bag again, tearing the bread into teeny bits while my right hand is occupied with my flash monster, Olympus digital camera, hoping to capture the moment the bread pieces hit the water surface with the fish swimming towards the food. Hence, I quickly spread out the bread pieces as my right hand tried to capture the best moment. However reality is always full of unpredictable unknowns, once the bread touch the water surface, the hungry fish finish up the bread in not less than 2 seconds. Dang, it's too fast for me to react, no sweat, I'll just try again and again, perhaps there are a few lazy fish which would be a bit slower to react like me too, I might stand a chance to capture these slowpokes. However reality is always cruel, speed is a major disadvantage for me, what's more, the water here is of the similar colour as the fish, making it even harder to notice them, the difficulty suddenly seems to stake so high.
Whatever, I'll just forget about my intention to get a few shots. Just let me enjoy my time with this fish feeding activity. While feeding the fish, I noticed a lost tortoise swimming slowly towards the group of fish, it can't be that it wants to eat some bread too? However the tortoise doesn't seem to be interested in the bread at all, it simply swam away without batting an eyelid on the bread. In the same time, I notice a mother with her son walking slowly towards me. When they stopped at the bridge, I slowly walked towards them, I hold out my right hand to offer the kid half pieces of bread. The kid was overjoyed, when the bread reaches his small palm, he quickly tears them into tiny bits, then throw them into the lake. Upon seeing fish swimming forward to eat the bread, the kids dances proudly to show how happy he is, he keeps pointing his tiny finger at the fish while looking at his mom with a wide smile. The mother is somehow affected by her child's happiness, she nodded quite a few times as if agreeing with how smart her child is. Having seen others also enjoy feeding the fish, I feel much relieved that my bread could bring joy to others too.
Fish feeding come to an end when the bread in my hand finish, I guess it's time to return to my hostel. Before leaving, I take a few pics around the lake. It would be a good memory to recall back the lost memory with my friend few years back. This piece of writing is especially dedicated to you, my friend, Waie. Thanks for the great moments we had together last time. Friendship forever.
