Answers: A prequel to 'Bad Romance'

Level 3: Wonder

October 21st, 2010
Time: 3:45 pm

Michael

College has certainly been something else. I'll admit, it's definitely better than high school. I mean, I get to take classes from the career I want to pursue, I get to choose the day and times my lessons can be at (if there was spots available), I've visited the big city countless of times, eaten at countless cafes and restaurants, it's been great! Anything I could ever ask for. 

Except-

"Mike you sure you don't want to come?" Rich asked me from his bed. I stop typing away from my laptop stationed on my lap, surrounded by nothing but physics papers, sticky notes, and can't forget the amount of peach Red Bull energy drinks I've consumed as well.

"No Rich, I've already told you I have this big exam tomorrow morning. I can't flunk this one as well, my grade depends on it."

"Mike, you need to take a break. You've been at it since last week, I don't think you've even slept. I get it you want to pass, but your brain deserves a break. It can't function without at least taking a step away from the equation sheets."

"I'm fine Rich, just go and have fun with Jace and Ezra. I'll join you three next time."

He groaned irritably. "Michael that's what you said last time, and the other five times before it. You can't burden yourself with this any longer you know?"

"I can take the pressure Rich."

At that, we finalize the conversation under my requests. And right on time too, we then heard a knock at our door. Rich walked over and opened it to welcome Jace and Ezra inside. "You ready to go Rich? Reservations have been made."

"Yeah let me just put my shoes on and we should be on our way." Rich grabbed a pair from the stand at the doorway and quickly manages to put them on.

"You sure you ain't up to go with us Mikey?" Jace asked me just as I'm finishing a gravitational field question.

"As much as I'd love to. This test isn't gonna give me an instantaneous A+ from the air."

"We get it Michael, just please take a break soon."

I sighed defeatedly. "I will, I've got this!"

The guys wave goodbye at me just as Rich manages to grab his jacket. He looks at me concerned and is tempted to tell me something but hesitates against it and follows suit out the door.

When I hear Rich lock the door, I slam my laptop and collapse into my bed. Dios por favor, end me gently with a chainsaw...

I hate to admit that Rich was right on an enormous amount. However, I'm too stubborn to admit it. This workload is getting too much to handle. And that ain't the worst part, this felt more forced upon myself than anything. Aren't you supposed to enjoy or at least find some sense of satisfaction of studying your future potential career? I liked physics in High school, why don't I enjoying it right now? Maybe I should have gone with the guys to lunch, but would it have benefited me or drawn more wrong? Is this how I want to be for the next four years of my young adult life?

I hear my vibration of my notification go off from my phone. I instantly snatch it from my night stand to check the notification. And it wasn't what I was expecting, well more like who I was expecting. Stupid scam texts, like sir I don't own a property stop asking me for my personal information.

I have all the doubts and questions. However, none of them have answers. I perplex as to what high school me would do right about now when practically giving up on studying for a weekly quiz. Huh, probably I'd be in my basement, being high as fuck, playing video games with-