The Fifth Date

Epilogue (Part 1)

I yawned as another minute has passed by. The need to get out of this dull and stuffy room was unrelenting and the chirpy voice that resonated through the theatre from Atty. Fields was strangely lulling me to sleep. The pep talk to self-study and immense analysis on every case presented today and for future classes was yet to end. I was glad I was able to answer most of her perplexing questions when my name was called. Atty. Fields is a cheerful 50-year old divorced woman but could get really mean when you fail to please her with articulate answers to mind-boggling questions thrown at you. And I never failed to stuck my nose into my Criminal Procedure Code notes these past few days, I definitely cannot fail and have to keep my grades up above average. My internship in a medium-scaled law firm near my dorm will be ending in a few months and if I continue doing my best, graduate, and pass the bar exam, my supervisor is willing to write me a recommendation letter for a renowned law firm in the city. Being complacent is never an option. I was out-of-nowhere aiming for excellence and I hardly blinked at night. Classically, third year Law School is trying to kill me.

When Atty Fields ended her pep talk with a 'Ciao!' and hastily left the room to rush to her next class, I couldn't be any happier. I collected my pen and notebook and dropped them in my bag before I excitedly stood up to leave.

"Kristin!"

I turned around and found Princess down at the busy hallway, waving her hand high up in the air. I threw a smile and walked towards her.

"So, are you coming?" she said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Where?" I asked.

"Didn't you read my message last night?"

I thought for a while and remembered that I was talking to Micky on the phone the entire night and failed to read my messages right after and haven't bothered to do so this morning. "Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't had a chance to check my phone," I lied. My habit of ignoring my phone except when someone from home calls was notorious enough to earn a glare from her.

"Well, anyway, there's this art exhibit that Abe was exclusively invited to and he's allowed to bring someone with him. I was supposed to go with him but it's Valentine's, I told him that I wanted to go to that dinner cruise instead—"

"So you're ditching the art exhibit and wanted me to go since I'm single and I have this mild fascination for arts?" I sighed nonchalantly as I removed my glasses and put them back on after cleaning it with the hem of my jacket.

A sympathetic smile drew on her lips as she pulled me into a hug and stroked my hair dramatically. "Well, darling, if only you had stopped that young boy from leaving, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

I laughed as I pushed her away. "Oh please!"

"So, you're coming, right? 3pm at Abbey's second floor. There's lots of good-looking guys there, so go!" With a playful smirk and no interest in my response, she left me with the invitation card that I didn't even bother looking at. I shoved it in the pocket of my jacket and headed outside the campus.

As soon as I arrived at my dorm, I plopped myself in the bed and stared at the clock by the window. It marked 12:15nn and I was too lazy to grab lunch so I succumbed to the luxury of taking a nap.