The College Diaries

5 • all about stress

Evo

As per usual I wake up at noon on Mondays. Today was no different from the last. And topping my monday daze off with a light hangover from last night, my head is absolutely killing me. I should probably eat brunch but I'm bummed about the recent messages that I got from my parents. My separated parents. They both have a thing this weekend and I'm torn. So here I am sulking in my desk as I fiddled with my Gundam collection. I just completed this piece but I may or may not take it apart just because.

I'm fncking used to this dual setup with my parents ever since their annulment a year ago. That was just the official seal. This family issue has been stressing me out since I was in grade school. As an only child all I do is pick one of them in every choice and situation. I'm sick of it to be honest. Going back to the most recent dilemma, my mom is having a birthday party this weekend. My attendance is a must. She was already asking about my cousin Isla's whereabouts so we can carpool on Friday night to a resort in Batangas. My dad, on the other hand, got a company wide activity about bringing their kids to work. He has been bugging me all weekend. He definitely just want to show off his Iskolar ng Bayan son to his employees.

Usually I weigh in on the pros and cons. I don't really favor one over the other because they both messed up the family. So I observe fairness as much as possible. I'm taking Mom's side this time. Birthday trumps an office activity. I both texted them separately to inform them about me going to Mom's birthday this weekend. I'll handle any wrath or complains later.

I just remembered that my Trese exam is tomorrow. I think I'm gonna be dead meat. Good thing Sofi invited me and Jason to have a group study-slash-dinner at Mcdonald's later. Actually I think she wanted me to come along (and Jax too) because she won't survive being alone with Jason. Seriously though, those two are hilarious when they're together. Just like cats and dogs.

I was chilling in the apt after getting tired of putting my Gundam back together when I got a text from Jax. She said her group meeting finished early and she's on her way to Mcdo. I told her I'll be on my way too. I grabbed my bag, checked my hair on the mirror and went for the door.

••••

I saw my girlfriend sitting inside, busily using her  iPad. She looks too cute with her eyebrows almost joining together.

"Hi. Why the frowning face?" I asked amusedly, as I sat beside her. I put an arm behind her chair.

"94%. Animals with horns?" She asked, not even glancing at me.

"Hmm, goat?"

"Meron na."

"Buffalo."

"Same."

"Unicorn?" I tried, running out of animals to say.

"Weh? I don't think–" She was saying, "–omigod, it's correct! Why didn't I think of that?" She continued, laughing.

"Well, because–" I tried to say but I was interrupted by someone I know yelling at someone I definitely know too.

"Bwisit ka! We should've won 20k if it weren't for your cockiness. Ugh!" Sofi cried. She looked exasperated as she sat across from Jax. I glanced at my girlfriend and she was looking as delighted and amused as I was, if not more.

"I'm sorry, I can't be perfect..." Jason sang, or tried to because he is as sintunado as I am. "I can't help being awesome, okay." He added as he sat in front of me. He winked at me. What a cocky sunavabitch, indeed. One of these days he's gonna get punched. By Sofi, most likely.

"What's wrong?" Jax asked them. She sounded a little bit too excited, it was funny.

"We won 1st place in the quiz con but she's mad at me." Jase answered. Sofi rolled her eyes.

"Well, yeah. We won 1st place but we only got 2k cash prize! The 2nd placers won 20k!" Sofi cried in frustration.

Oh, I remember this unique and interesting quiz con. If you win 1st place, you'll take home 2,000 pesos. But if you win 2nd, you'll get 20,000 pesos. The 3rd placers will get 200 pesos. I don't really get why it works that way and how you'll even manage to win 2nd. Hassle, man.

"You just couldn't answer one question wrong, can you?" I grinned at him.

"Of course, bro." He said, fist-bumping me.

Jax and Sofi ordered for us while Jason and I started sorting our notes. I mean, my notes. The guy doesn't have any nor does he need them. When the girls arrived, we decided to attack our food first before getting on with Trese. Sofi was still lamenting over the quiz con which annoyed Jason.

"Oo na. Kasalanan ko na! But can you please focus on our exam tomorrow, Miss Second Taker." Jason said, stuffing half a handful of fries in Sofi's mouth, shutting her up.

Jax looked bewildered. Sofi looked murderous. I stared at the Jason and Sofi. Seconds later, fries were flying towards Jason's face. The idiot caught at least two in his mouth. I laughed my guts out.

"Chill kasi. Wag ka na mabadtrip. I'm here to help you pass! Bayaran mo lang ako ng 500, sapat na. I'm your superhero, baby." Jase sugarcoated.

"Wag mo kong ma-baby baby dyan, sasakalin kita!" Sofi cried. I almost choked on my Coke. I imagined her trying to strangle Jason, despite their height difference which is 2 rulers. Yup, two fncking feet.

"Guys, can you not?? My tummy hurts from laughing way too much. Magbati na kayo please." Jax managed to say. She's close to tears from laughing.

"Fine." Sofi shrugged.

"Okay. I'm sorry. Anyway, san ka ba nahihirapan?" Jason asked. We started to clean up the table and spread our handouts and notes.

"Um, sa stress tsaka strain tsaka expansion."

"So in short, sa buong topic para sa exam?" Jason mocked.

Sofi cried in exasperation and complained how hard the course was. And she's right. I'm not here just to watch these two cat and dog fight for my amusement, I also need Jason's expertise in passing Trese.

Half an hour later, we probably tackled half of the topics. I am a bit enlightened already but somehow the two lovebirds were still arguing about something which is why we cannot move on to the last one. Jax was now too busy for the amusement as she was also reviewing for an exam tomorrow.

"Can you explain the Stress part again?" Sofi asked.

"I already did, twice. Mukhang uumagahin na naman tayo neto." Jason sighed.

"Ang hirap eh!" Sofi cried cutely. Jason was now smiling a bit despite getting annoyed. This guy's patience is as short as Sofi.

"Kanina pa tayo sa stress. Stressed na ko sayo!" Jason sneered. This guy is really asking for it.

To my amusement and Jax's shock, Sofi reached out over the table and smacked Jason on the head with the lecture notes. That's what you get for being cocky, man.

"Aw." My friend pouted.

"Sige na kasi. Let's start over." Sofi asked a little bit nicely now. Jason seemed to ponder for a second but gave in. And for a moment everything was peaceful again.

"I'll never get tired of these two." Jax whispered in my ear.

"Same, bubba, same." I whispered back.

Knowing my buddy for almost a decade now since high school, I know when Jason likes somebody. It's getting pretty obvious to me now. I can't wait how this pans out. As stressed out as Sofi was at Jason and how sick I was of Stress and Trese in general, I'm glad my family stress was relieved by these three.