the stars above us

15

"The antibacterial activity was tested using the agar well diffusion method. Wells in agar plates were filled with varying concentrations of the Hibiscus extract, and zones of inhibition were measured after incubation," I uttered. Sergio nodded and paused the timer. Halos dalawang oras na yata kaming nagpa-practice para sa presentation bukas dahil bukod pa sa itatanong sa'min, kailangan din na around 20 minutes lang ang presentation namin kaya sobrang summarized na talaga lahat ng kailangan naming sabihin. Kapag lumagpas pa kasi kami sa 20 minutes, may deduction na kaagad sa points. Sayang naman.

"Possible kaya mahiram natin 'yung calipers sa laboratory, so we can also demonstrate kung paano natin nakuha 'yung zones of inhibition?"

"Hm... I'll ask Sir Madrigal after this. But I think he'd allow it since it's easier for the panel to know how we were able to come up with the results," sambit niya. "Okay... The timing is perfect, actually for the presentation. So we just really have to wing the questions."

Tumango ako habang umiinom ng softdrinks. Pakiramdam ko kung walang sugar na dadaloy sa katawan ko ngayon, baka mamatay na lang ako sa mixed emotions... Problema nga lang, hindi dahil sa SIP o sa midterms, pero dahil kay Sergio.

Pota naman talaga. Ang lakas ko pa maging basher kapag may nababasa ako sa Reddit na rants ng mga nawawala sa tamang direksyon dahil sa lalaki, tapos parang kaunti na lang papunta na rin yata ako sa gano'ng direksyon.

"So, what if they ask us how we ensured the accuracy and reproducibility of the results?"

Mabilis kong nilipat 'yung page ng hawak kong papel at nag-highlight ng sagot, "Dito sa page 10, we can defend that we were capable of ensuring both accuracy and reproducibility by performing the experiment in triplicate, including appropriate controls, and also 'yung maintaining a consistent incubation condition na appropriate for the growth requirement of E. coli. Documented din naman lahat 'to so nasa powerpoint na rin naman 'yung photos."

Sergio nodded, "Okay, that's one possible question out."

"Possible rin itanong 'yung mechanism of action, 'no?"

"Yep, very possible," sagot niya. "We can argue based on the related literature that we've gathered..." Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin kay Sergio habang nakakunot ang noo at binabasa sa iPad niya 'yung finalized paper namin. Seryoso, kung ganito lang ang view ko kada nag-aaral ako siguro araw-araw akong good mood.

"Well, I might melt, Mads." Nanlaki ang mga ko nang mapansin kong nakatingin na rin pala sa'kin si Sergio at napangiti. "Enjoying the view?"

Napairap ako, "Wow, kala mo naman napakagwapo mo."

Sergio chuckled, "That wasn't what you told me in Rizal, though," he uttered dahilan para mas lalong manlaki ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko tuloy napigilang hampasin nang mahina 'yung balikat niya.

"Akala ko walang reminiscing!?"

"Sorry," sambit niya habang natatawa. "You looked like you needed some break."

"Ewan ko sa'yo." I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling at nagkunwari na lang na nagbabasa no'ng paper namin kahit ang totoo gusto ko nang gumulong sa sahig. Sinusubukan ko na ngang kalimutan 'yung Rizal tapos ipapaalala na naman niya! E 'di back to square one na naman si tanga. 

"Anyway, this part can be used for our argument." Napalunok ako nang lumapit sa'kin si Sergio at inilagay sa harapan ko 'yung iPad niya na may naka-highlight na isang buong sentence. Bahagya akong napatingin sa kaniya nang hindi gumagalaw dahil nag-lean pa talaga siya para magkapantay kami habang nakatingin pa rin siya sa iPad na parang nananadya pa.

Mentally, gusto ko na talagang sampalin 'yung sarili ko.

Umayos ka nga Lula Madaline! 

"The mechanism of action by which the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa inhibits Escherichia coli involves several potential pathways, supported by the bioactive compounds present in the plant," bulong ko habang binabasa 'yung mga parts na naka-highlight.