At What Price (Completed)

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#AtWhatPrice 10

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” – Christopher Reeve

in short... kaya mo pala.

•••

Pagkarating ko sa classroom ay agad akong tumungo.

I felt Margot's presence beside me.

"Woy. Musta review?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin. She was wearing a cream cami top. May hooded red eye make up pa siya with faded red lips.

"San party?"

She rolled her eyes. Mukhang nag-blow dry pa talaga. "Sponsored brand. Nagpost ako one hour ago sa Insta."

The thing is, kahit hindi alam dito na belong siya sa 1%, ang lakas pa rin ng elite aura niya. Ang alam nila social media influencer siya. Pero hindi naman big deal 'yon. In college, people doesn't care. You do your own thing.

"Kamusta nga pagreview mo?" ulit niya.

"Bugbog na 'yung utak ko kakaaral kagabi. Gusto ko na lang matapos na."

Seryoso.

Ang lala. Gusto ko na magpahinga.

"Sana naman walang major today at bukas. Pahinga muna tayo." she said.

Magdadaldalan pa sana kami nang dumating yung prof. "Okay, settle down. Put away all your reviewers. Write your name solutions, name and section on your worksheet. Pag nakita ko kayong lumingon, pupunitin ko ang papel ninyo. Maliwanag ba?"

As if may magchi-cheat sa class na 'to.

Mas nagkokopyahan lang kami pag sa mga minor class. Pero the sense of dignity is high pagdating sa major classes. Syempre, pag nagkaroon ng qualifying exam at sanay ka mag-cheat, iiyak ka. Tanggal ka agad pag wala kang ideya kung anong sinasagutan mo.

That's why I'm calling all the saints now. Sana talaga maayos naging pagreview ko.

•••

Natapos iyong quiz. As usual, bangag kaming lahat. Bakit ba lahat ng pangyayari sa college, binibigyan ka ng existential crisis?

If you overcome one, you'll still face another.

I'm so over this week. Bakit ang tagal ng weekend? Also, why am I talking as if hindi ako mag-aaral sa weekend? Hays.

I am blanking at the blackboard. I can stay up hours calculating amounts in accounting, but why can't my mind seem to process economic models and formulas?

Kaloka. Feeling ko nagdudugo ang ilong ko.

"Group yourselves into three." the professor in Economics said. "I want you all to watch this 50-minute video about The Starving Urban Poor. Then answer the guide questions, to be submitted through my email. Don't forget the citations and your sources." With that, she wrapped up the discussion.

I can feel my mind staggering down. Jusko, kailangan ko nang kumain.

Margot and a classmate, si Nailea.

"Hey, we got a recruit." she grinned. Nailea waved.

"I'm really wondering why you're not a sorority leader." I deadpanned. Margot flipped her hair. See? Big sorority leader energy.

She chuckled. "If I did, they're all done for."

"So, what's the plan?" Nailea asked.

"Kain muna. Dun na rin tayo mag-usap." sabi ko dahil nagmamakaawa na ang tyan ko.