The College Diaries

2 • eyes on the prize

Lucille

It's five in the morning and I'm ready to seize the day. I just love Mondays. This semester I have swimming. I've been practicing on my dive all month long and have been switching my morning jogs to swimming practice. Let's get it, girl!

I'm off to Billie's house to use their pool. I glanced at a sleeping Isla who introduced us last semester and I couldn't be more grateful to my favorite roommie. Sofi was snoring below her and I chuckled quietly at our cutest roommate. Above me, sleeping beauty Jax was gracefully asleep. Anything she does is graceful and classy. Aww, it must be nice being the prettiest girl in the room. And mind you, not only our room–Room 341–but in every room she'd be in.

But it's okay, I don't like to be pretty. I want to be known as the best in everything I focus on. I have to. Okay, Lu, you're spiraling again. Focus, focus, focus. Eyes on the prize. Which brings us back to my diving practice. I couldn't wait to ace the diving test on Friday.

I bumped into Richmond along the stairs. He was Sofi's crush in freshman year and I still couldn't figure out why. Maybe Sofi is just into funny guys. Funny in a way who's...not normal. He gave me a faint smile which I returned. When we reached the parking lot he quietly got into his car as I walked towards the gate.

It's a quiet morning as usual. I love walking too but I got into a jeepney then trike to get to Billie's house. She met me outside while yawning. I can see why she's friends with Isla. They're like the cool kids in the block without trying at all. She's effortlessly looking chic in her silk pajamas and tousled hair.

"Hi, Lu. Feel free to swim all morning. My parents aren't home, they went to Manila for business stuff." She told me.

"Thanks, Bee. Sorry for waking you this early though. " I smiled at her.

"No worries. But I'll just catch some more sleep, okay? Wake me up in my room when you're done, sabay na tayo pabalik campus." Billie offered.

"Alright, will do! My next class is at 10am pa." I answered.

"Samesies. Okay, I'll leave you to it, Lu." She yawned and headed to the house. I thanked her again.

It's more peaceful here in their neighborhood and I'm loving every bit of it. But I'm not wasting time, I have to perfect my diving routine today.

••••

"The last dive was perfect. I'm sure you'll get an uno." Billie said as she drove us to campus.

"Really? You think so?" I asked excitedly.

I really do hope so because I need to get an uno for every class. I want to maintain my University Scholarship.

"Definitely." She assured me and my smile got wider.

"So what's up with you? Any boys in your life lately?" I turned to her.

"Wala 'no. Just the usual cute boys in class lang." She chuckled. She's so cool and chic.

"Girl, where?? Wala sa amin." I complained.

Honestly though, there is a deficit of cute guys in my department. My roommates are convinced College of Economics (CEM) are filled with them. I keep telling them they're just well dressed. Sofi agrees though, all she sees in College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT) are guys in t-shirts, shorts and tsinelas. But Isla and Jax argues that the hottest and cutest guys are there. Kahit naka tsinelas pa yan, they say. Jax is half biased since her boyfriend Evo is one of those hot and cute CEAT guys.

"I still have a few GE classes eh, so I bump into different departments. Madami from Vet Med though." She said. And I second the motion.

Jax is from CVM and sometimes she introduces us to her cute classmates. Also General Education classes are indeed the best. You get to meet at least one student in each department. Literally how I met my long time crush.

"Yes! Agree! Do you know Hiro Felipe? Crush na crush ko yun." I squealed.

He's an upperclassman but I was classmates with him in Speech Com class. And Jax knows him so we get to say hi when we bump into him. Kilig.

"Girl. Yes! But I like his younger brother more, Hale Felipe." Billie said excitedly.

"Oooh, he's a cutie too. Probably one of the few CEAT peeps who wear sneakers." I laughed.

I remember Sofi telling us about him. Yes indeed, one of the campus heartthrobs by popular demand.

"See? So many campus cuties. But Isla still likes him." She remarked.

I groaned in agreement. Our mutual friend is in love with their orgmate slash best friend. And we all hate it. The guy is single though but it seems like he doesn't feel the same way or else they would be more than best friends now. Either way we bystanders don't know how Jao Perez feels so it's so confusing what to tell Isla. Not that she listens to our advice anyway. But wait, I didn't know Billie knew about it.

"Wait, girl. You knew?" I asked in disbelief.

"Slight lang. Isla doesn't know that I know. But she's so obvious at times." She muttered.

"And they're so clingy, right?" I asked. I barely see my roommie anymore.

"Yes! Although Nathan and I meet with them too, but sometimes they hang out alone. I don't want to encourage Isla and don't tell her this but honestly Jao might like her. It's annoying that he's so inconsistent. So I'm not sure if his feelings are real." She added.

"Right?? Us too! We all scold Isla like all the time but she doesn't care." I pouted.

"Ugh, she's so stubborn. Akong bahala, girl. Either I'll make her see that it's unrequited love or I'll make Jao realize his true feelings." Billie told me with conviction.

"Yes, go, girl! Operation Save Isla. It's gotta be one of those two." I answered and she nodded.

Billie and I talked more about our similar classes, more cuties and the hell week that is to come. We reached the campus in a jiffy and I thanked her for letting me use their pool and dropping me off at CEM building. I was absolutely hyped up by the morning magic that I was so ready for my classes like a first grader.

Monday sickness, what? I'm immuned, girl.