The Perfect Mix

Twenty. The Perfect Mix of Breathing and Shouting

                I couldn’t describe the feeling of encircling the last letter of my answer on the last midterm exam. Like all the weight on my shoulders just flew off and landed elsewhere. Finally, I don’t have to spend every night with my head down facing a book! Finally, Tam won’t be trying to stay up too late just to help me review.

                As I leave the classroom, Lucas immediately grabbed me and told me to come with him. He told me that there is a surprise waiting for me. Oh, by the way, we never practiced this week. I told Lucas that we’ll practice on Friday (which was today). I followed Lucas to the building entrance where we were immediately greeted by Mark.

                “Heeeeey! What’s up dudes!” Mark greeted us enthusiastically.

                “No way! Why are you here?” I said.

                “I just dropped by to get some papers for my new school” He said. “By the way, I heard you were going to replace me as the lead vocalist of our duo?”

                “I was forced into it!” I replied.

                “Mark, please don’t be jealous and don’t make Red uncomfortable, it was really hard to make him do it!” Lucas said. “Don’t worry, in my heart, you’ll always be my original vocalist!”

                “ Haha, you ass. Stop bullshiting me” Mark said.

                Suddenly I felt my phone vibrating. I would have ignored it if it were a text. This BROment (bro-moment) was too priceless to be interrupted by a text message. But the phone kept vibrating indicating it was actually a call. So I immediately looked at it and saw that it was mom. I answered it right away.

                “Mom?”

                “Red? Are you home?” She said.

                “No, I have something to do, Tam knows it, you can ask her.”

                “Are you done with your exams?”

                “Yeah, mom what is it? You sound disturbed”

                “Red, we rushed Tam to the hospital.”

                “What is she going into labor now?”

                “Just come here.” Mom said.

                “Okay, please look after her”

                “Yes Red.” She replied. Then she gave me the name of the hospital then the call ended.

                It didn’t sound like Tam was going into labor. She was a little above 7 months.

                “Lucas, Mark.” I looked at them with the most serious look I have given them since ever. “I need to go to the hospital.”

                Mark and Lucas didn’t say anything, they just ran with me towards Mark’s car and we drove off. In the car, I explained to Mark and Lucas what had happened. They do not know who Tam was, and what she was going through, but they cared about her unconditionally, for they both cared about me.

                I began calling Claire and she picked up after just one ring.

                “Claire?”