About Time

Chapter 8

July 2014

Preboard exams are coming up. I didn't really dug into the hype of it. I was still gonna be serious about it, but I also wanted to be focused on the real thing. I didn't want to be side-tracked by a pretentious preboard exam. The review center even said the preboard is harder than the real thing.

When the center said that, I thought, "Fuck it, to hell with the preboards."

Everybody was so busy for it...everybody became so tense about it...

They should be worried about the real thing. But, no matter, I ended up studying anyway, even my roommates are picking up the pace. I hated the atmosphere at the dormitory, though I didn't really like it in the first place. 

The days prior to the exam, it was even worse. Almost everybody was using the lobby. Different people were using our room to study. It was awfully suffocating to study even at my own room. If this is gonna happen during preboards, I wondered what happens during the weeks prior to the real thing.

March 2014

Automatic.

That was how I felt through the remaining days of March. Day in, day out I focused on my paperwork, nothing else. I was flunking my other major subjects, but I didn't care. I can figure out a way somehow, that was what I thought of the situation at hand.

Like an automaton, I had my days scheduled out. Normally, I would do things spontaneously. Spontaneous plans always tend to go through compared to predetermined ones. I spent hours on end in front of a laptop, thinking about what happened during our final defense.

It was a day like no other. The outcome of this day determines the culmination of our college life's work. It was make or break day, if we make it out of it, my batchmates graduate on the 28th and I would punch a ticket for my May graduation. 

I suited up, readied the money to buy for snacks for our panel, and set up our device on the audio-visual room where we were scheduled to have our defense.

The panelists. Five of the respected professors of our college, four of which come from our department. I was sweating cold sweats even though it was an air conditioned room.

"We're not gonna fuck up. Device don't fail."

That was my mantra throughout the day, and until the last panelist said that it was a pass, I didn't stop. We presented our thesis to them and they asked questions. Most of them were pretty answerable, the other questions were downright unbelievable.

But we did it.

It took us 5 hours to defend our thesis, longer than most of the groups that came before us. After much deliberation on our paperwork, and instruction to add more content, our adviser congratulated us. Our labors bore fruit, a fruit in which we didn't think was possible, but happened anyway.

Sitting at the cottage, I contemplated on what just happened. I was in no mood to eat, probably due to excitement and exhaustion. I checked my phone. It was 1:30 in the afternoon. I hesistated to message Marge on what just happened. I wanted to tell her, but I didn't want to text first, so I didn't.

The day went on and I talked to Kirk that our defense was a success, which was why he suggested that we should celebrate again at Edz's place. I thought about it and took him on his offer. With my defense done, only finals exams were left to stand on our way.

 And now, back to where I was. A week and a half before the 28th, we were already going to print everything and put into hardbound our papers. Around this time, I figured that Marge was on the verge of graduating as well.

Time flew by and April was already at my doorstep. With my batchmates graduating, I was also doing my part in the celebrations. I went on 4-day trip to anywhere with them. Eating at picnics, swimming in resorts, doing things I should be doing if had truly graduated by March.

With April on full swing, they were set for reviewing for the board exam. I, on the other hand, was set on looking for a possible schedule for my summer class. With the Holy Week set on the second week of April, summer classes were pushed to the 20th. I was bummed, simply because extending the day of the start of classes, pushes back our graduation date.

With four subjects left, it was almost impossible to find a schedule to fit them all. Still, I counted myself lucky that I found a perfect schedule. Basically, it was Monday to Saturday, 7AM to 11AM, then 1PM to 5PM.

It was a grueling schedule. I have to wake up early on a summer day. Waking up that early should be illegal. Still, it was another sacrifice I had to make in order to graduate that summer. Kirk was graduating that summer too. He had remedial exams coming up. If he doesn't pass this one, he'd be pushed back to October.

Days before our summer classes start, Edz, Kirk and I hung out at a bar. We talked a bit on the future that was ahead the three of us.

Edz drank on his glass of beer then asked, "So, what're your plans, guys?"

I looked at Kirk with a knowing look and said, "We're gonna graduate this summer, is there any chance you'd be there for the celebration."

While Kirk was munching on a cheeseburger, Edz said, "Oh man, congrats in advance. I'm gonna have to make a rain check on the celebrations though. I'm really set on going to medical school. I might be leaving before you guys graduate."

"That's too bad, Edz. We'll just have to celebrate some other time, then. Unless, you're too busy studying, that is.", I told him as I bit on the burger.

"You guys are lucky, our review center is on another city. You two are gonna be on the same province.", Kirk said as he was chewing away.

"You should've thought of that before enrolling, dude. The three of us wouldn't have a problem celebrating if you transferred.", Edz said.

The three of us were laughing away, then Edz asked, "So, how are things between you and Marge?"

I fell silent, while Kirk was still laughing, so I told them, "She loves the other guy. End of story.", and then drank the beer in front of me.

"Really? That's it? After all the times you two were hanging out, that's it?", a surprised Edz asked.

"Yeah, dude. Nothin' I can do. I don't want to be the bane of their relationship. She has feeling for him, I want nothing to do with it.", I told Edz straight.

"Are you guys still maintaining contact? Through social media? Texting?", Kirk asked.

I breathed a deep sigh and reluctantly told them, "Yes, from time to time, yes. B-but I rarely initiate it. She's usually the one who texts first."

Edz had a stern look on his face while Kirk had the not-a-big-surprise look. I told them, "Well, there was one time I texted her congratulations for graduating."

"Uh-huh, move on already, dude. Why not go for Joyce again?", Kirk said with a sly smile.

"Fuck you, man. I am not going on another ego trip with a girl. Especially with Joyce for the matter.", I told Kirk sternly.

"Ego trip?", Edz said with a surprised look on his face.

"Oh, right. Ralph used this other girl to boost his own ego, Edz.", Kirk told Edz.

"Shut up, Kirk. I never forgot what you said about that karma thing.", I told Kirk as I grabbed my glass to drink.

"Well? What about it? What was the big return of karma?", Kirk asked but the look on his face told me he already knew.

I simply said, "Marge chose the other guy."

"Ouch, dude. Hahahaha.", Kirk laughed.

Edz and I laughed after that. Life's too short to be gloomy all the time. With that said, my summer classes was just about to begin; my last two months in college.