under the university lights

chapter 15

The day of Olivia's thesis presentation arrived, a day filled with equal parts excitement and terror. She stood backstage, clutching her notes, her heart pounding like a drum solo. Chloe, Miguel, and Mark were in the audience, ready to provide moral support (and hopefully, not too many distractions).

Olivia took a deep breath, whispering a silent prayer to whatever deity might be listening. "Lord, wag naman sana ako ma-blank! Wag naman sana ako mautal! Lord, help!" (Lord, please don't let me go blank! Please don't let me stutter! Lord, help!) She muttered, her voice barely audible.

As she walked onto the stage, a wave of nervousness washed over her. She started her presentation, her voice initially shaky but gradually gaining confidence. She was explaining the intricacies of her research, using technical terms and impressive data, when suddenly, she heard a muffled giggle from the audience.

She caught Chloe's eye, who was trying desperately to suppress a laugh, her face turning various shades of red. Olivia fought back a smile, reminding herself, "Teh, wag kang tumawa! Ma-distract ako eh!" (Girl, don't laugh! It'll distract me!) She mentally scolded herself using a common Filipino term of endearment, "teh."

But the distractions continued. Mark, ever the comedian, was subtly making faces at Miguel, who was trying to maintain a serious expression, but failing miserably. Olivia could feel her concentration slipping, her carefully constructed train of thought derailing.

She persevered, however, employing various strategies to maintain her composure. She used her power poses, took deep breaths, and even resorted to whispering motivational mantras to herself: "Kaya mo 'to!" (You can do this!), "Go, Olivia, go!", "Fighting!".

Despite the near-constant threat of laughter erupting from her friends, Olivia managed to deliver her presentation. She finished with a flourish, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. As she walked off stage, she was met with a chorus of cheers and congratulations. Chloe, Miguel, and Mark rushed to hug her, their initial attempts at silent support replaced by unrestrained laughter and celebratory high-fives.

Later, over merienda (snacks), they recounted the hilarious moments of the presentation, their laughter echoing through the air. They used a mix of slang terms to describe the experience: nakakatawa, nakakakilig, nakaka-stress, nakaka-pressure, epic fail (if she had actually messed up). They agreed that while the presentation itself was important, the shared experience and unwavering support of their friendship made it truly unforgettable. The laughter, the near-disasters, and the shared triumph solidified their bond, proving that even the most serious academic endeavors could be made infinitely more memorable (and hilarious) with the presence of true friends.