Chances of Time

Chapter 6

“I’m so tired!” I looked at Michelle teasingly. “What?”

I laughed immediately. “Did you excel?”

“Hindi ko alam, wala akong paki, at least natapos kami,” sunod-sunod niyang sabi. Sumandal pa siya sa table dahil nakabaliktad siya ng upo, while I’m facing the table because, as always, I’m reading.

“Congrats then.”

She just looked at me and shrugged it off. Nag-present sila ng paper nila for final requirements. She kept on complaining about these research papers from the past few weeks, kasi dalawang subject niya ang may final requirement ng research. I have a research paper too, pero isa lang, then may concept paper pa kami sa minor and another paper for another minor, which is individual.

Randomly, Mich asked, “anong plan niyo for summer?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. This is our first summer together, kaya—” I shook my head to show her na hindi ko pa alam. “Usually, kasi pupunta lang kami ng Spain to visit some friends of my grandfather, then travel for our remaining days bago bumalik. It’s impossible to go us there this time.” I looked at her. “How about you?”

“Baka bumisita kami sa mga lola ko, then stay for a week, siguro, then the rest, bahala na.”

“Ano bang karaniwang summer dito?” I asked with a random curiosity.

She shrugged. “Just as usual, kung hindi ka naman lumalabas, boring lang din.”

I raised my brows. “Then, pagbalik mo, you should guide me para hindi boring, am I right?”

She immediately smiled. “Gusto ko ‘yan!”

We went home together after staying in the park.

At dinner, I asked my parents about our plans for this summer. Immediately, Mom volunteered na mag-set ng itinerary that we could try here in Baguio. Of course, Dad told her he could suggest places we’ve never been, so they’re doing the planning by pair while I will be the third wheel again.

We presented our research paper. Na-approve din ang concept paper namin. Ang personal diary and reflection ko for UTS, napasa ko na rin, so… basically, finals week na lang, then we’re done with the academic year. Depende if babagsak, pero I’m confident naman na hindi ako babagsak.

“Two more exams na lang bukas,” mahabang sabi ni Michelle as she held my shoulders and kept on pushing me.

“Three more for me,” sabi ko pa.

Tinapat niya pa ang face niya sa akin. “At least, same tayo ng last subject.”

“Yep.” I smiled, trying to convince her. “That’s why bukas na lang tayo mag-café,” I insisted.

“Magkasabay na major ang nairaos ko ngayon, Harly-bebe, so we can try it ngayon.” I sighed at hindi na nag-complain pa.