Sovereign of Shadows

II

Dr. Damion Alexander Suarez

"FUCK, BRO, YOU DID IT MY MAN!" Shawn pops a bottle of champagne, "WOOHOO!!!!" He swishes it around as foam sprays out, drenching all of us around him. "DAMION ALEXANDER IS DOCTOR-FUCKIN' SUAREZ! FIRST OF HIS NAME!"

When it ran out, he pulled another one from the bucket and shook it again, popping the cork toward the pool this time. Reymart and Remark followed his lead, each holding two bottles of their own.

"Dam! Come 'ere!" I take another shot before letting Vic pull me by the shoulder, dragging me to stand beside him on the poolside.

"Gather 'round people, gather 'round! It is time to honor..." Glenn walks along the coping with a wireless microphone in hand and a small speaker on the other. "The man of honor,"

We're gathered in my house tonight, at a party they arranged for me.

They all pulled me out of my bed this morning to see the Physician Licensure Exam results with me.

I woke up to a banging on my bedroom door. I'm pretty damn sure it's Shawn and the rest of the gang. I don't move to answer it. I'm sprawled on my bed 'cause I didn't get much sleep last night. And I couldn't bring myself to sleep well knowing the results would come out today.

I took the exam almost a week ago, and I must be losing my shit if I say I'm not nervous to see the results at all.

I'm shaking to the depths of my bones.

Legal Med had been on my mind since last night. Did I answer the questions right? I'm most conscious when it comes to law. I have a lot of questions about the loopholes in laws.

I'm not the best in my class, nor am I close to it. But I have to pass, otherwise all my rebellion against my father would've been for nothing.

Somebody slams their fists on my door again, "GET UP, DOC!" Glenn's voice. "Somebody find the doctor's spare keys!"

"May susi ka rito?" tanong pa ni Shawn

"Siyempre, amin to eh,"

"Shut up!" I shout, burying my face in my pillow. I wish they would just call me that, what if they jinx it?

"Found it!"

I hear the jingling of keys outside followed by the fumbling of my doorknob, then the door creaks as it swings open and I can now hear their noise inside my room.

"Damion, get up! Results are released at eight!"

Someone pulls my blanket off.

I pushed myself up to take the blanket back from Vic, but he tossed it out of the room and zoomed a camera into my face.

"Give it back man, it's freezing!"

He ignores me with a teasing grin. The other guys took the chance to pull me off bed, the twins, Remark and Reymart held both of my arms, while Glenn and Shawn each held me by the calves, and then they all lifted me up 'till my feet were off the floor and over their shoulders.

My world jumped up and down as they chanted, "Dr. Damion Alexander Suarez, AWOO-WOO," over and over again.

I couldn't fight back. My head's still groggy with hangover and lack of sleep 'cause they funkin' made me drink last night.

"Last title-less shot!" said Vic.

The last shot turned out to be seventeen shots.

I don't know how on earth they seemed fine. We're currently in Baguio, where we have been for the last four? Or five days? After the last weekend of PLE, they literally picked me up from my testing center and took me here to hang out 'for the last time' 'cause I'll be busy with internship and residency by then.