Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 9

The days elapsed swiftly. The hell week everyone was not ready for, came.

'Hell Week'

Hell week sa isang catholic school, how ironic. Panahon kung saan halos lahat ng subjects ay may long tests at projects. Sabay-sabay kaya hindi mo alam kung saan mo ilulugar ang sarili.

Our midterms will take place this week. Two days are alloted for the exam, Thursday and Friday. Pinaghiwalay nila ang mga major para hindi gaanong mabigat. Napakiusalan rin nila Xy ang mga major teachers namin na magbigay ng extra time. Higit namin iyong kailangan sa paggawa ng balance shit.

Balance Shit! I should say.

The excitement I was feeling for the Acquaintance party that will happen this coming Wednesday disappeared. Iyon pa talaga ang naisip nilang date for the party. The day exactly before the exam.

Mas gusto ko na lang ata matulog at paggising ay tapos na ang exam. How would I enjoy the party, knowing that the next two days will be the real hell?

"Nagawa mo na 'yung journal sa Filipino?"

"Tapos mo na ang video tutorial sa Math?"

"Nakapag-interview na kayo ng business owners for Business Math?"

"Ngayon ba ipapasa 'yung assignment natin sa Personal Development? The personal schedule?"

"Bukas pa 'yon, ang ipapasa ngayon 'yung video natin while doing warm-up exercises."

Nakatakip ang pareho kong palad sa tainga. Nagsalitan sa pagtatanong si Idris at Yelah. I don't know whose question I should entertain first.

Inom pa ako nang inom ng gamot para sa puso ko, sa requirements rin naman pala ako mamamatay.

There is a lot going on inside our classroom. Yellow papers are everywhere. Laptops or any gadgets are allowed for the first time. Hindi na muna ito kinokolekta tuwing homeroom. Kung hindi kasi reflection paper ay video ang ginagawa namin.

This is the only time when we do not care about breaks. Hindi na baling magutom ka, ang mahalaga ay may maipasa ka. And even if I don't care about my grades, Dad will freeze my accounts again if I don't get a passing grade.

That's the only reason why I'm stressing over these darn projects.

I decided to take a mini-break because my mind would explode if I don't. Kahit saan ako tumingin, nakakainit ng dugo. Stress is embedded in everyone's faces.

"I'll be out for a minute, Yeh. I need some fresh air."

Tumango lang ang kaibigan ko at hindi na ako tiningala.

From the moment I got out of the room, I felt a little relaxed. The ambiance inside our room is really distressing.

I was appreciating the light aura outside not until Zach followed me. Simula noong payagan ko siya manligaw ay abot ang buntot niya sa akin. Sungay lang ang meron ako noon. Ngayon, may buntot na rin.

No matter how many weeks have passed, we still fight over small things. I'm still making a fuss out of everything but I must admit that we grew closer.

Maybe because we talk through chats almost daily.

Araw-araw ay nagcha-chat siya sa akin to explain our lessons briefly. Kung ano ang pagkakaintindi niya sa mga 'yon. He's sending his notes to me. At kahit ayaw ko mag-review, nanghihinayang pa rin ako sa effort niyang mag-type. Kaya naman ang plano kong pag-unfriend sa kaniya ay naglahong parang bula.

"Stress ka na?" Tinabihan niya ako at dumantay rin sa hand railing.

I boringly looked at the field. "Who invented education? I want to slap him. Kahit isang libong beses lang."