Shawn and Andrea

6

I went to the library to study. Finals namin ngayon and the clinical internship is about to start next month.

Napressure ako bigla. I don't want to fail my exams because that would mean no internship for me.

Nakakahiya sa mga magulang ko. I don't want to disappoint them. I'll be the first doctor sa family namin. Kaya the pressure is real.

My phone vibrated and I saw Shawn's name on it.

Andito na si doc.

I hurriedly packed up my things and ran outside. Shit. This is so not good! Baka sa kakatakbo ko, mahulog yung mga pinag-aralan ko na nakastore sa utak ko!

I was about to make a turn at the corner when I bumped into someone. Nahulog yung mga notes ko. Dali-dali ko namang pinulot yun. The stranger helped me pick up my notes. I was about to apologize and give him my gratitude when I looked up and was shocked to see Iñaki. He just gave me a hard look before walking away.

Laking pasasalamat ko na lumabas lang muna saglit si Doc nang makarating ako sa room. Nakapagayos pa ako ng mga gamit at pinakalma ang sarili ko.

"Good luck." Shawn whispered from behind me.

Nilingon ko naman siya at nginitian. "Good luck din. 'Wag mong iperfect ah?" I joked dahilan para matawa siya.

Minsan talaga nakakainggit itong si Shawn. Isang basa lang niya ng notes, keri na. Nakatatak na sa utak niya. Samantalang ako, kailangan ko pang ulit-ulitin para maalala ko. At ang masaklap pa ay short term memory lang! Habang si Shawn ay long term!

Let our response be:

SANA ALL!

"Okay, class! Let's start."

Drain na drain ako after ng exam. Lumabas naman yung mga pinag-aralan ko. Konti lang yung mga foreign questions na nagpasakit ng ulo ko.

"Bagsak ako dun sureball," sabi ni Francesca. "Nastress ako sa ibang questions!"

"Sa Harr yun kinuha ni Doc." Sabi naman ni Shawn that made Francesca and I groan.

Iba talaga 'tong lalakeng ito! Magtatop 'to sa boards!

"I should've trusted my instincts and tried to read Harr." Sabi ko.

May Harr akong libro pero 'di ko binuksan. Nakadisplay lang siya dun. Ang ganda pa ng pagkaka-acetate at ang bango-bango pa!

Biglang ginulo ni Shawn yung buhok ko.

"Shawn, ano ba?" inis na sabi ko pero tinawanan niya lang ako.

"Don't overthink. Papasa ka."

I just stared at him. One of the best things in the world is when someone believes in you. Shawn became my motivation. He inspired me to become better.

"Mag-babarbeque daw sila. Sama tayo!" aya ni Francesca.

Natahimik ako. I'm not close with my classmates. Minsan lang ako makipagusap sa kanila kasi masyado akong mahiyain.

"Do you want to go?" Shawn asked.

I wanted to say no, but he looked like he wanted to go. Kilala ko si Shawn. 'Pag sinabi kong hindi ako sasama, hindi din yun sasama. Siguro it's time for me to get out of my shell and... socialize.

"Tara."

At first, my classmates were shocked to see me there and it was uncomfortable, but as time passed by naging okay na lahat. My classmates told me they wanted to talk to me for a long time na, but they couldn't kasi they were intimidated.