At What Price (Completed)

IX

#AtWhatPrice 9

"Syempre pinili kong mag-aral dito, kaya kasalanan ko din."
- a meme from facebook
(maiba naman gahahaha)

•••

Since humina immune system ko kakaaral, I decided to increase my movement. Ayos naman na 'ko, it has been 3 days since nawala ang lagnat ko. I have been sitting non-stop without proper exercise kaya medyo humina ang katawan ko.

Margot and I decided to go to an ice skating rink.

I can glide, but I cannot make big movements. Margot, on the other hand, can even dance on the rink. She learned it noong bata pa siya. She even joined a few competitions, but she enjoyed it as a mere hobby.

"Margot!" tili ko nang hilahin niya ako palayo. Tapos ay binitawan niya ako bigla, causing me to struggle my balance. "Punyeta ka!" tuloy-tuloy ang mura ko sa kaniya.

Tumawa lang siya at sumayaw-sayaw.

Sa tuwing lumalapit siya, tumatakbo ako agad. Dahil don, medyo nasanay akong mag-skate. Makatakas lang sa kamay ni Margot. Kaya lang dahil mabagal nga ako, minsan nahahabol niya. Hinatak ko nga 'yung buhok. Lalo lang lumakas 'yung tawa ng baliw na babaeng 'yun.

Before our time ran out, she ice skates to a one full song around the whole rink. It was actually a pop song by Ariana Grande. People clapped when she finished performing. Galing naman kasi talaga.

Afterwards, we decided to rent a bike. It was fun sightseeing. Nagpaikot ikot lang kami hanggang sunset.

•••

Kinabukasan, siyempre may pasok na naman.

Nakasandal ako sa pinto ng tren. Hindi naman nagbubukas ang side na 'to kaya okay lang. Hindi rin gaano masikip ngayon dahil lumipas na ang rush hour sa umaga.

At the same time, pinapanood ko iyong dinowload kong video about Production Losses. Kailangan kasing mag-advanced reading ng dalawang topics. And it's impossible to cover them in the books dahil nagmamadali ako. Hindi naman ako pwedeng pumasok sa klase nang walang alam. Hilig pa naman mag-suprise quiz ng prof na iyon.

As always, dumiretso muna ako kay Margot.

"Umuwi ka sa inyo?" Because Markus is there, sa mansion siya umuwi this weekend.

She grinned. Mukhang good mood. "Yep. Nag-bonding kami. Also, ang dami niyang pasalubong sa'kin from Michigan. He even has one for you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. Here." Abot niya sa'kin at tinanggap ko. She clasped her hands.

From the looks of it, it's obviously some expensive kicks. I don't even exercise.

I opened it and I saw a Balenciaga shoes. Damn. Ang mahal nito. I pursed my lips, di ako pwede umangal. Baka sunugin 'to ni Margot. Ganon panakot niya pag di ko tinatanggap regalo niya. They're such galante friends.

"Tell Markus my thanks. I liked it."

"Tell him yourself. We'll see him again this weekend. Busy pa siya bisitahin barkada niya."

"Can't wait." Ang tagal ko na rin di nakita iyong anghel na 'yon. They balance each other. Margot is the devil bratty one.

Unfortunately, we continued the real deal. To study. As usual, I'm having my daily dose of milk. Sa dalas ko dito, may stock na si Margot para sa'kin. I have no complaints.

"Receivable financing is the financial flexibility or capability of an entity to raise money out of its receivables." she loudly reads.

"When does it happen?"

"Pag may business decline. Or if the company is in a tight cash position."

"Why would it be?"

"May sales decrease, probably. Or customers are just not paying on time."

"Why the need for receivables financing? Can't you let it be?"

"No. Because then the company would be in financial distress. Delayed yung collection, pero yung bayarin tuloy-tuloy. Financing it's receivables are ways to look for cash." She explained. This is how we review. We take turns with questions.

What we do, is that we both review the same contents. After we did, we'll write down our own questions to exam the other. Nakalista iyon at dapat masagot namin ang tanong ng bawat isa. Wala ring libro kapag nagtanungan na kami, so that we can study harder.

It's fun. It's like a competition but we're in this together.

I clicked my tongue. "Halos wala na daw tayong minor subs sa second sem." I said, full of agony nang maalala ko yung nakita kong facebook post dun sa page ng confessions.

Minsan din, di talaga maiiwasan na magchikahan while we're reviewing.

"Shet. More pahirap to come."

As if hindi nakakamatay subjects namin ngayon, di'ba.

Margot smiled in font of me. "Kaya natin 'to, Atleast pag third year na tayo, kaya natin i-brag na nasurvive natin 'yung year na to."

Seems so f-cking difficult to see. However, I just nodded. I want that too.

•••

Taray. Tren buddy ko na ata 'tong si Hadwin.

Nakita ko na naman siya habang nakapila. With that height and that OB bag, I can recognize him anywhere. Dahil delayed na naman iyong tren, nagpasya kaming bumili muna ng merienda.

I was mixing my halo-halo when my phone vibrated.

I swiped to open the notification. Napangiwi ako.

"Bakit?" Tanong niya nang makita ang ekspresyon ko.

"My prof posted an assignment."

"Hmm. Kelan deadline?"

"As always, bukas agad. Before lunch."

"Magpupuyat ka?"

"As if I have a choice. May klase ako sa umaga."

"Yakang-yaka mo yan."

"I don't know. I have an idea na from watching youtube videos pero anlaki kase ng coverage sa book."

"Try to sleep in the train, then." he suggested.

"Of course. Expert na 'ko dun." Kahit nakatayo ako, kaya kong umidlip. Epekto ng sobrang kulang ko sa tulog.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami. Puro ako tanong sa kaniya about sa mga medical myths at kung anong nangyayari sa nursing, which he gladly responded. Tapos sa huli siya pa namilit magtanong ako, para ma-review ko daw siya.

Tapos ako parang dumudugo yung utak ko sa medical terms niya. Walking dictionary yata 'tong tao na 'to.

"Bwisit ka. Matalino ka eh. Taas siguro ng ranking mo." sabi ko.

"Sakto lang." He shrugged. "Kulang pa 'to kung gusto kong mag-doktor."

This guy. I could see him going to med school.

"Walang kalimutan pag doktor ka na ah."

Humalakhak siya. "Salamat. RN muna."

Naubos na namin yung halo-halo, kaya tumambay na kami sa station. A little bit later, the train thankfully came.

He patted me on the shoulder. "Ingat ka."

"You too." I waved and entered the train.

Time for my nap.

---x---

A/N: No portrayers but I imagine Margot as Rayana, a model (@rayanaeissa)

Yung looks lang, pero the ugali is completely from my maarte side hahaha.

Yung performance din sa skating rink, naka-link sa media yung na-iimagine ko. It's one of my favorite vids.