At What Price (Completed)

VI

#AtWhatPrice 6

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
– Eleanor Roosevelt

•••

"Ayoko naaaa. Pagod na pagod na utak ko." Napahilamos ako mukha. Sobrang nakaka-stress.

The information that we need to know just came down crashing on us. Seriously, one meeting already encompasses half of the book. To put further wound, may given activity about it na kailangan matapos within the day.

Nandito kami ngayon sa library ni Margot. It's already 10:30. Parang ang haba ng umaga ko sa sobrang draining ng subject kanina.

"Hey, future nurse, what's up." I stopped writing when I heard Margot.

Si Hadwin. May hawak ding makapal na libro. Pharmacology.

He gave out a smile when he recognized us. Ayon na naman ang eye smile niya. Lumapit siya sa'min at naki-upo.

"Bro. San friends mo? Ikaw lang?" Margot asked. Close na close na ba tayo dyan teh?

Hadwin chuckled. "Nasa computer shop mga 'yon, naglalaro. O di kaya nag-aaral sa dorm. Dito ako nakakapagreview."

"Ang sipag mo naman. Matalino ka siguro." Margot commented.

Hadwin blushed. "Hindi ah. Sakto lang. Kayo nga dyan, subsob mag-aral eh. Busy?"

He looked at our table. Kalat-kalat ang mga papel. Ang haba din naman kasi ng columnar. Saka naka-spread out yung parehong books namin.

"Ito, binagsakan na naman kami ng gawain." Margot and I sighed simultaneously. Ganon kami kapagod.

"30 questions pa lang nasasagutan ko. 75 'to lahat. Ang tagal pa naman mag-compute, kinginang yan," I skimmed my paper. "Ang dami kong nilagpasan na item. Uggh, gusto ko na matapos," my frown deepened.

"Hanggang 3:00 p.m. pa naman pasahan. 45 na natatapos ko pero di ako sa ibang sagot ko," saad ni Margot. She turned to Hadwin who's preparing to study now. "Uy, bigay ka naman ng tips. Paano ka mag-aral? Ang hirap ng science, di 'ba?"

Accountancy kasi tayo. I remember when I was in senior high, and we took Applied Physics as a subject. Sobrang technical nung naging teacher namin doon. Syempre, ABM kami so it wasn't a major subject. However, whenever we attend that class, nararamdaman kong nalulusaw ang utak namin.

"Yeah. Marami kayong mine-memorize, right? Gosh, I can't even imagine answering questions about medicine. Not for me." sabi ko sa mahinang tono.

"Tama kayo, madami talaga. Pero bawing-bawi naman pag nag-practical. Masarap sa feeling iyong magpaka-nurse o doctor ka. Pero siyempre bago 'yon dapat gets mo yung theories at concepts." He tapped his pencil as if thinking.

Dumantay muna ako sa upuan at tumigil magsagot. Margot, however, kept on answering. Pareho kaming nakikinig.

"Hmm, for me, I don't rush it. Hindi ako nagpapakamartir. Mahirap na nga 'yung nursing, papahirapan ko pa sarili ko? I just tackle one thing at a time. You're not out to impress people; you're out to get things done, right? Slow and steady lang. Lalo na't sa field namin, buhay ang nakataya."

"Sorry, andami kong sinabi. Ang daldal ko no?" he shyly added, at lumabas ang dimple niya. Wow.. I blinked. "Anyway, wag niyong madaliin, sabi niyo nga hanggang hapon pa naman 'yan."

You're not out to impress people; you're out to get things done, right?

Sa kursong 'to na maraming sumusuko... it's hard to look at things clearly. Laging unsure. Uncertain. Unknown.