Forecast

February 17, 2010

What’s today?

Today’s supposed to be a day to relax since there are no classes, one thing I love to do every Wednesday. However, today’s also the last day for the campaign and unfortunately, I have chosen to run for the position of Auditor. Today’s the day that I decided to join the Physics Inter-University Quiz Show tomorrow, something that took me five days to decide. Today’s the day we’re going to continue and hopefully, finish the Chapter III of our Thesis Paper. And lastly, today’s going to be one heck of a journey.

I was at school from 10 AM for the campaign and stayed there until 9 PM, something against the 2 PM meeting me and my group talked about for our Thesis Paper. I was believing, though, that they would understand. By 9 PM, I went to Rona’s condo to work on the paper, carrying two very thick Physics books, two notebooks that Kuya Jhun lent me and a cellphone. The Quiz Show’s a few hours away so I told my groupmates, Lara, Arnie, Rona, Esther and her boyfriend, Venjo that I would do some reviews instead. I never thought they would actually agree with me and I thank them for that.  After a while, at last, I got home safely by 12 AM.

In other terms…

Today’s definitely not a day to relax, although there are no classes. Today’s the day that I pondered to live the next school year in misery, if I win. Today’s the day that I decided to look forward onto a tomorrow filled with humiliation, during a last-one-minute decision-making. Today’s the day that I  chose to kill myself. Today’s the day that I die.

Although physically and mentally exhausted after a restless today, not as expected, I survived.

February 18, 2010

I had no time for sleeping. In preparation for the Quiz Show to be held at TUP-Manila that very morning, I had undergone a short limit-breaking review in Engineering Physics I and II from 12 AM to 2:30 AM followed by a short rest before my execution from 2:30 AM to 4:30 AM.

After un-conditioning my already unconditioned mind, body and spirit, I took one last leap of faith towards the end of the road and ended up being the first student to arrive at  my so-called university. I waited for half an hour for our “quiz show trainer” and another half-hour for my quiz show partner (from the other section), whose endearing last-minute participation made my joining possible. I grabbed the chance and took that one hour of waiting worthwhile doing short reviews. Almost late for the 8 AM to 8:50AM registration period, we went out and took a quick trip to TUP-Manila by 7 AM.

One of the four things I won’t forget that day was having the chance to meet two outstanding personalities that I may not have the chance to work  with if I didn’t join, Sir Glenn and Mr. Eduardo Jr. of 2A. In a flash, we’re already a team, I must say. Sir Glenn payed everything we needed for the trip, from jeepney fares to lunch. Just the thought that he’d accompany strangers without whining was enough for me to tell how good he is. Edu, on the other hand, is a friend of mine. As I’ve heard, he’s one of the best students, if not the best, from section A. We’re both high-spirited and probably, both skilled and self-conceited in some ways.

Not attending my first class in FIL102, we arrived at TUP-Manila by 8:30 AM. Probably the second highlight of that day was the fact that that was the first time I’ve ever joined a quiz show on another university, outside our own. A feeling of excitement and something else told me I”m slowly growing up.

Written on the invitation letter was the exact location of the event – TUP-Manila, IRTC Conference Hall, 5th Floor. A perfect place for the event indeed – a secluded building on the corner of the university. From the entrance door, we took a few more steps to reach the 5th floor, something that almost killed me. I was dying, enough said. The 5th floor was different than the previous floors, it was crowded with a lot of different students from different schools. The funny thing was we really stood out. Against everyone’s white school uniform, only the two of us were wearing black college shirts. Across the large and spacious rectangular room were thirteen tables and two chairs adjacent to each. The other teams together with their respective trainers and some TUP students were scattered inside and outside the large room. Among the crowd, on one side of the hall, probably the farthest from the entrance, someone very familiar caught attention. He was there, the first person that I would most likely meet on a gathering of this kind. My best friend, someone I never forgot these last two years.

When I saw him, he was already looking at me, with eyes in disbelief, as if he was seeing a ghost and a smile that is asking me why I’m there.  I know he wasn’t expecting me to join on such event, especially on a Physics Quiz Show. Slowly, he stood up and he greeted me and I greeted him back. Weird enough, there was no longer this invisible barrier that used to separate us. Back then, I used to ignore him a lot, a habit that made me forget how to confront him completely. Maybe this time, thing’s were different again because, the last two years made me forget how to ignore him. It was like starting anew or meeting a new friend. We’ve changed. He’s very much taller than me now, a bit fatter but still with that same stern look. He told me he was only there for support. It was a good thing we don’t have to compete with him and a bad thing because I wanted to. Too bad I had to leave him for  a while to register for the quiz show and the event’s about to start.

The quiz show started with the National Anthem and ended with the University Hymn. The Quiz Show was quite disappointing. The champion was from TIP, garnering only seven correct answers from thirty questions. They were followed by Adamson University, also garnering seven correct answers. The rest, I no longer remember. At least we’re not the last. We’ve tried our best, just not that well-prepared. The questions were not even suitable for an average sophomore college student and we’re up against other courses who definitely have the advantage. The quiz show was suppose to cover up all areas from Mechanics, Fluids, Thermodynamics and Electromagnetism. Mechanics, the only branch of Physics we’re good at, was almost out sight. I guess the competition’s totally not on our side. We’re not going to bring home the bacon this time but at least we’re going to bring home a shirt from the event.

Before leaving, I talked to my old friend again and bid him goodbye before we left. Next time we meet, I’m not going to lose again. That’s a promise. The trip back to PLP was hellish. The sun was sitting high on its peak, air pollution was evident and the trip was interrupted with frequent stop-and-go’s. Back at PLP, the Meeting de Avance of the candidates for the next set of officers was about to begin.  It was already 1:30 PM.

Sir Glenn, Edu and me had to part there since Sir Glenn still has to inform Ma’am Senase about our shameful defeat. Our old professor, Sir Bilaw, was wrong to recommend me to join the quiz show in the first place anyway. My fellow college-mates were all eager to know the result of the quiz show and we can’t say a thing. What a drag.

After the quiz show, I had to face another big problem, the Meeting de Avance. Almost everyone gathered at the ECE Drawing Room to “know us better”. A lot of questions were thrown, most of which are in favor of the other party. They never even bothered to listen to most of what my party-mates had to say. And there I was, sitting idly and silently in front, doing nothing.

There was definitely a personal feud going on between the two parties. The audience were mostly biased. But I do agree that some of our party’s members were wrong. The other party was good, their members were more skilled and more charismatic. Sada, a good friend of mine, running for the position of Assistant Secretary, was probably the only one who stood a chance against the opposite party. I mean, even I had the chance but not as concrete as hers. The other party’s candidate for Auditor, Kuya Papa, was also a friend of mine, more admirable, funny and approachable. He was from a higher year. Needless to say, he spoke well during the meeting and everyone is yelling for him. What chance do I have? I have the support of a lot of freshman students, all of which, my friends. My classmates were also on my side, supporting me, Sada and two more classmates on the opposite party, Arnie for Third Year Representative and Rona for Secretary. 3B were also on our party’s side because of Kuya Jhun, running for VP Academics and Ate April, running for Treasurer. I do have a chance. However, during the meeting, our party mostly has negative feedback. Some even “advised” me to give up, some seemed to be against me. After that, I guess I don’t have a choice but to admit I’m going to lose. The election day’s suppose to happen the following day.

With another defeat on hand and my mind barely intact, some of my freshman friends cheered me up and told me that they would still vote for me. I appreciate that a lot – the fourth thing about that day I will never forget. However, I told them to vote for the opposite candidate instead. I know he’d make a good Auditor anyway. Their being there was enough.

By 6 PM, we finally went home. Half of me was dead, a loser to be precise. The other half was wide awake, a someone who can no longer wait to record this unforgettable experience. Relaxing on the couch, with a laptop on his lap, he wrote something about a forecast that was never told. A forecast of events he knew would happen. And with this forecast coming to a close, pressing the period (.) key on the keyboard, he ends this entry.