Flickers

Chapter 19

Teacher, please teach me
Can I, who is unskilled, still become an adult?
Teacher, please teach me
I want to live happier than anyone else
Just like right now

- Teacher, IU

It was so easy to write the words I love you and when you're about to open your lips and speak out those words, you're tongue-tied, like a cat got your tongue or you suddenly became mute.

It was sudden but something that I truly held dear when he said those three words. I know it was cliche and a bit cheesy for us to exchange I love you's to each other but somehow, I get myself too invested in the secret love affair that we're doing.

Eric: Good morning, love! Time to wake up, always remember that I love you

It was the first thing that I see every time I open my eyes in the morning, something to make my day feels more special and adds a bit of spark into my monotonous shade of grey.

Ange: Good morning! You seem chirpy today? Got yourself a good dream?

I typed then out my phone into the table beside my bed and collected my pillows and blanket and arranged it neatly to the side.

Eric: Yep, I dreamt of you. You said yes at that dream and I thought it was real

I snorted at his message, he has been trying to trick me to say yes to be his girlfriend but I held onto my will and wanted to wait for a year. It's already March and it's already the fourth month, eight more months and I'll become his girlfriend. 

Eric's girlfriend, it sounds even better if it was said out loud but I would be beaten or even get myself succumbing to Eric's persuasion, so no.

Ange: You've got eight more months till that dream happens so, keep up the good work

I laughed seeing the crying emoji he sent and closed my phone before going to the bathroom to clean my face and then cook breakfast for my family.

Saturday rushed in with the usual flow of time and within just a few hours, Sunday arrived and I soon get myself ready for the final test due on Thursday and Friday. That would be two half days and after the test, we are free to do whatever we want now without worrying over our grades. The teachers would be lax at their job and would give their energy and focus more on calculating the grades. The grade 10 students would then be the first batch for the new curriculum, the k-12, and will be known as grade 11 students and will have their first moving up.

(AN: Moving up, this ceremony signifies the grade ten completers to pursue their senior high school career comprising the junior high and senior high level)

"Ugh, I hate exams" Faith continued to struggle with memorization, while I dabbled in math with my meer ability to comprehend the equations. Geometry is making a mess in my head.

"I wish we could have more Fridays and vacation time" So do we Alyssa, so do we.

Faith has my English reviewer, Irish has her own along with Alyssa and Meryl borrowed Physics from Alyssa while I have my own which I made on Saturday.

"You still with Eric?" I heard Meryl asks and I nod my head yes while examining the number of equations I have to memorize.

"Eight more months right? Woo, that's a long time but hey, I think Eric can make it" Alyssa said, her relationship status must have influenced her mindset towards Eric, she was also a bit apprehended at Eric but then changed when she got herself a boyfriend, must be because of how the world looks more beautiful and perfect in a happy person eyes.

"He would if he want to keep himself sane then" a smile crept in my face at Faith's protective words.

"Aww, faith! You're such a sweetheart!"

"No! Get away from me!" In attempts to hug her, she naturally shies away from any extreme physical contact like hugs.

Shortly after, the exam began with our teacher telling us to move our desks one seat apart. The scrapping of metals against the floor creates loud, screeching noises that we were told to lift. Papers, notebooks, and bags, as well as phones, were sent to a space below the blackboard just steps away from our adviser's desk.

All that could be heard is the kind beating of my heart against my rib cage, the ticking of the clock above the blackboard, the passing of papers while it shuffles around an individual's desk. The unbelievable loud noise coming from someone's leg jerking in anxiety, pen tapping against the desks rang into the noiseless room as I sweated from the summer heat that only the Philippines could bring.

Four hours had passed in such a manner like that, it's like we were robots as we take our exams in such a rigid manner. Sometimes I could feel myself getting drowsy from the cool whisper of the electric fan behind me and then felt wide awake when I see the test papers filled with numbers and equations. 

Two days passed after and I and the rest of the students finally finished the final exam. It was such a nerve-wracking moment that I wish it never happen again, but who am I kidding? Unless I graduated from college I wouldn't be free of such academic stress from these tests.

***
Chapter 19 is up!

Tests are the number one enemy of students besides assignments and laziness.

Have a great day everyone! Stay safe and happy!

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