I must have been in my crazy state when between choosing what to take up in college, I chose a degree that would let me deal with numbers and equations and numbers again for the rest of my life! Seriously, what was I thinking back then?!

Why didn’t I choose something that would not let me integrate, differentiate, know the kinematics or kinetics whatsoever of materials and other stuff like that?! What delusions had I been thinking back then to let me suffer the wrath of conservation of energy and momentum, applying them to two balls colliding to each other, trying to know how much force the ball exerts to the other and vice versa?! I don’t even care about these balls!

I don’t care about them but here I am right now, in the confinement of my apartment, trying to make myself understand what significance these balls have to contribute in my career later.

“Ugh! I’m tired!” I complained, pushing the scattered scratch papers and the two-inch thick hardbound book that I almost wanted to rip off out of my sight. I had been reviewing for two days straight, trying to answer the set of problems given to us to help us in our exam later. I leaned on my study slash kitchen table here in my apartment as I glanced at the wall clock hanging on the wall.

Oh bite me! It’s almost examination time!

I scratched my head in panic as I banged my head on my notebook. “Dara you prick! You have to pass this exam if you don’t want to fail this evil, notorious subject!” I wailed.

“But I don’t understand a thing!” I tried to argue with myself. I actually have this weird habit of talking alone, trying to talk with myself whenever possible and luckily or unluckily, here I go again.

“Stop complaining! You haven’t passed any exams yet! You better pass this one already!”

“I’m telling you! It’s hopeless!”

“No, it’s not Sandara! Stop thinking negative thoughts!”

“But it is! I—” I stopped arguing with my pathetic little self when my phone started ringing. I slowly reached for my phone, still feeling hopeless, as I looked for the caller. Reading his name, I quickly answered the phone and started crying even before putting it near my ear. “Baaaaaabeee! Help me!”

I heard his faint chuckle on the phone and I cried even more. Seriously! I could feel my hot tears rolling down on my cheeks already!

“I’m doomed! I wanna drop this subject right now!”

“Oh c’mon babe, we’ve even reviewed for two nights straight remember? You can do it.” He tried to pep talk me.

“Yes we did and thank you for helping me but I’m going crazy already! There are still some concepts I could not understand and I think I’m going to vomit with nervousness now!”

I heard him crack up and I could not help but to whimper loudly. I’m just grateful that at times of examinations like this, he tolerates my whining even at times when I’m quite unreasonable already. Well, not tolerate that much ‘cause he would still scold me when I would turn out to be a giant pain in the already. Okay, I know there’s not much difference about being unreasonable and being a giant pain in the but do understand, I have an exam later and I’m getting dizzy!

“Stop laughing at me! I’m serious here!” And I do! I just can’t afford to fail yet another exam for the third time you know! It’ll be the death of me!

Okay, I might have been overthinking. Maybe not physical death but mental death! Yes, that’s it! Mental death!

“Okay… okay. I won’t anymore but you better stop thinking negative thoughts. I told you, you can do it. You got it this time!”

“Easy for you to say,” I hopelessly said. “You aced this subject before.” Why do I feel like I’m going to receive a serious speech from my boyfriend again after what I said?

“Dara, don’t be too hard on yourself! If I topped this before, so can you.”

“How can you be so sure?! You saw my quizzes! No offense to myself but they are so low!” Oh goodness! I remember those good for nothing quizzes once again! Can you believe it?! The highest grade I’ve gotten so far from this Engineering subject was just 63%, to think the passing grade is 60%, and do you know how many quizzes I’ve passed already? One out of nine quizzes! Who would not be this hopeless?!

“Well, as I’ve said we reviewed for two nights straight. You got this.” I could just sigh with the sincerity in his voice. Sometimes, I still wonder how on earth did I make him like me… Like seriously?! A plain old jane me? He’s too smart for my own good! He’s too positive for my own being!

“You’re always so positive on what I do. Why are you being like that?!” I tried to blink my sentiments away. “Why are you always like that?”

“Because I love you. I promised to always believe in you and I do. Not just on what you say or do but also with your capabilities and all.” A warm flush of emotion creeped all over my being as I heard his breathing on the line. “Is that enough reason?”

Now who would want to give up a man like him?! Saying words like that in some random time like oh goodness gracious! Sorry everyone but I am a selfish woman, once in a while, and I don’t share my man to anyone so back off! Even with our difficult situation right now, there’s no way I would give him up without a fight to death.

But don’t let him know what I’ve been talking right now because he could get conceited and would tease me again if he’ll know. Okay? Okay.

“Yah! You’re being too sweet. I have an exam later. Are you sure you want me to concentrate and ace this exam or just forget everything later and just think about what you said?” and yes people, I could be bold and could tease with my words sometimes. The funny thing is? It always works with him, much to my delight.

I heard him laugh for I know he understood what I meant and here I am, smiling like crazy. Also, don’t tell him but the sound of his laugh is so heartwarming you just kind of want to record it and play it over and over again. Yeah… I’m this crazy for that guy over the phone.

“That’s tempting babe but please do concentrate on your exam later, okay?” I could picture a suppressed smile from him and it made the butterflies in my stomach do some triple backflips. Yeah, the butterflies in me are gymnasts people! They know backflips.

“Fine but can I ask you one question?”

“What is it?” I scratched my nose as I bit my lip playfully though I must say I’m really curious about it.

“Is Professor Kwon one of those who made the exam?” I pouted as I blinked several times, looking as innocent as possible as if he’s just right beside me. I heard him let out a loud laugh.

“Why are you asking me about him?” said he in a playful tone, I supposed.

“I don’t like him making the exams. It’s so hard you know!” You see, we have departmental exams in Engineering that is, all the classes with the same course number have the same exam regardless of the professor taking the class. As for me, it’s not bad enough that my professor in this subject is Professor Kwon, he even happened to be one of the professors who made the first two exams that made me go crazy right now!

He laughed again with my rant and I could just blink an evil smile as a response even without him seeing me right now.

“You’re mean,” came his guilt-tripping. “But lucky for you ‘cause I heard he’s not contributing this time!”

“Oh good! Cause I really don’t want to flunk yet another exam you know! Oh my gosh! I’m getting nervous again!” And there he went laughing at me once again. Told you, my boyfriend can’t get enough of my comical jokes.

 

***

“Can you believe it? The dragon did not make the exam question this time!” I heard my course mate Chaerin exclaimed as I was making some last scanning on my notes. “I thought my prayers won’t get heard already but bam! Answered prayer!”

I couldn’t help but giggle silently as she was close to dancing in her relief. Well, who wouldn’t rejoice for that good news anyway? Since I came here a while ago, rather the exam itself, it’s been a hot topic that Prof. Kwon would not be contributing to the exam questions this time. And boy, when I say the whole class rejoiced? It really did!

“Right?!” Bom seconded, almost in tears. “Now I have some confidence that I’m going to pass this exam! I don’t care even care who made the exams anymore!”

“Me too!” Chaerin added and they even held hands and shook each other in their delight.

“Dara, stop reviewing now. I’m telling you, we’ll pass!” Chaerin convinced after their crazy episode.

“I’m just so nervous! I can’t get flunk this time Chae!”

“And we won’t ‘cause Prof. Jiyong aka ‘The Notorious Dragon’ Kwon will not give us the exam! Aaah!” And she went crazy with Bom once again. Oh well, they’re right. He is the only kill joy in this whole subject anyway, at least I believe.

I joined their happy moments as I also screamed like a lunatic with them and man if you’re looking at us from some distant, I tell you, we looked like morons.

“And no offense to his handsomeness though ‘cause you got to admit, he’s so attractive especially when he teaches!” Bom exclaimed once again when we stopped only to squeal like fangirls this time. “But when he gives exams? It’s a no no!”

“Well, he somewhat has the right though. He teaches well anyway,” Chaerin said almost seriously, contradicting Bom.

“Can’t argue with that though,” Bom answered as she sighed in defeat. “Why can’t he at teaching anyway so we can really justify our once in a while bashing of him? Is there even a thing he’s not good at?!”

Chaerin nodded her head, probably asking the same question. Well…

“I heard he big time at cooking!” I nonchalantly revealed and their heads quickly turned towards me, giving me a ‘how in the world did you know that’ look. I laughed at the both of them.

“Ya! What’s with that look? I heard Prof. Choi was teasing him once when I went to the faculty room. Besides, Prof. Kwon is my neighbor remember?”

“Yeah, right.” Chaerin said.

“Omo! Prof. Choi! That another handsome to the blood teacher!” Bom then squealed once again. She has a long time crush with that teacher of hers. He teaches the same subject as Prof. Kwon. “If only I’m not his student right now, I would have applied as his girlfriend already!”

And she squealed once more that Chaerin and I could only laugh at her.

I felt my phone vibrated in my pocket while the two kept on talking and it’s about our post exam celebration this time. Yeah, having Bom with us means giving ourselves a reward every after exam and reward means pigging out. And when I say pig out? I mean we pig out a lot!

Fishing out my phone, I smiled when I saw a text from my oh so caring boyfriend.

Are you here now?

Oh yeah! I haven’t told him yet that I’m in the department already. I typed a Yeah. Sorry I did not tell you sooner. I’m with the two crazy piglets by the way.

I couldn’t help but to giggle because I sure know that he knew I was pertaining to Chaerin and Bom.

“What are you giggling about sissy pants?” Bommie accusingly asked that I only shook my head as I dismissed them. I felt my phone vibrated once again.

You sure love calling Bom and Chaerin piglets huh? Anyways, you three better do good in your exam later!

I got another text from him.

Don’t worry. As I told you, PROF. KWON did not help with the questionnaire this time as you wished!

I cracked up so hard with his last text that when I looked back at Bom and Chae, they looked scandalized raising their brows at me.

“Ya! Seriously Sandara Park, what is wrong with you?” Bom asked me.

I just shook my head once more as this kind of scenario happens a lot on the three of us just because I haven’t told them yet that I already have a boyfriend. Not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I can’t… yet.

“Nothing. I just read something funny.” I said as I dismissed them by typing again on my phone.

And my wish was granted. Thank you very much! And yes, we’ll do good (I hope). Love you! See you later!

Love you too! Oh and by the way, Professor Yang made the difficult part of the exam. Just giving you three a heads up. :*

My eyes bulged out as I read his last text. He said what?!

 

***

It’s 10 minutes before our exam and Chaerin and I were already in the lecture hall like most of the students, waiting for Prof. Kwon. Bom was in the other room because she has Prof. Choi as her teacher and it’s just logical for him to be their proctor of course.

I was still spacing out once in a while as I was still thinking of my failing grades just because my oh-so-good boyfriend just dropped the atomic bomb when I least expected it. Chaerin kept on shaking my arms calling my name with the obvious fear on her voice because I basically told them about Mr. Yang.

Who wouldn’t fear anyway?! Seriously? Professor Yang made the difficult part of the exam?! Just when I thought we’re saved already from the wrath of the notorious dragon?! I’m taking back what I’ve said a while ago. Professor Kwon is not the most kill joy professor, it’s Professor Yang! Seriously! It’s true!

“Dara! I’m gonna drop this subject already. I can’t take this. Not Mr. Yang!”

“Daraaaa!”

“It’s fake news right? Tell me it’s fake news please!”

“Dara I can’t take this exam right now. I think I’m gonna be sick. I feel like vomiting!” I looked at this lunatic beside me as she was really trying to vomit.

“Where in the world did you get that rumor anyway? Is it posted somewhere we don’t know?”

I can’t take this anymore!

“Chaee! My grade!” and there goes my panic attack once again. Gosh! Just when I thought I could pass this exam in peace already!

So that’s why that boyfriend of mine patiently taught me everything that is to know on this particular exam and even cheered me up like crazy! That’s because Prof. Yang made the difficult part! This is so unfair!

Chaerin and I kept on wailing when we heard one of our classmates said that our teacher was coming already. Both of us almost fainted. Gosh! I could even hear my own heartbeat thumping like a mad cowboy now!

As soon as Prof. Kwon walked in and went straight to the front, Chaerin and I held hands. Gosh! I pity Bommie right now. She’s alone in this battle, well at least physically ‘cause she’s in the other room. At least Chaerin and I were on the same room.

“Okay. All bags in the front,” Prof. Kwon started with his scary teacher voice. “Put your phones on silent mode or better yet, turn them off. Put them inside your bag. You have two hours to finish this exam.”

Two hours?! Only two hours?! Our class grunted in disapproval. Gosh, what more when they learned that Prof. Yang contributed on the exam and in the difficult part at that. I bet everyone would go ballistic.

I placed my bag and Chaerin’s near where Prof. Kwon was standing right now. I glanced at him, showing my annoyance and he obviously bit his lip to suppress his smile. That guy! I went back on my seat irritated as he started distributing our papers.

“You can start as soon as you have your paper.”

And that’s what we all did especially with Chaerin and I because gosh this exam’s making us go crazy!

 

***

“You only have 15 more minutes everyone!” I heard him announced and I glanced at the clock to confirm it.

“Extend! Extend” I heard some of my classmates exclaimed and I couldn’t agree more. I’m still not yet finished with the last part and with that I mean the difficult one and definitely, I still need more time.

I was looking at nothing in particular when Prof. Choi suddenly entered the hall and went to him, suddenly whispering something.

‘Oh please let us extend! Please let us extend!’ I kept on saying in my head as Chaerin also looked ahead. After some nods, Mr. Choi left as Mr. Kwon suddenly looked at me, or so I thought.

“Okay, you got 15 minutes extension. We’ll finish at 9:15,” he announced once more and the class cheered so loud. Even Chaerin pumped her head in the air. I tried suppressing my smile as I looked back at him and he eyed me like telling me to keep answering.

I glared at him, trying to let him know that this exam was so hard! He just raised his eyebrow like silently scolding me that I better get back on my business or I’ll face death.

Ugh! This was so annoying. Okay fine!

 

***

“That was so hard! Why did it have to be so hard?!” Bom started as soon as we saw her leave her room. “This is unfair! Everything is unfair!”

Chaerin and I just went to her and hug her. Right now, what we needed most was comfort from each other’s arms. Gosh, we’re so clingy!

“Dara-yah! Chaerin-ah!” we just hugged each other tighter.

“We’re still gonna pass this subject right? Please tell me!” Chaerin cried and Bom and I answered her with a “yeah” but sounded unconvincing because we’re also crying!

“I wanna eat!” Bom exclaimed as soon as we stopped hugging each other like a bunch of lunatic. “But my brain is too tired right now to even think, yet alone eat!”

“Me too! I just want to sleep!” Chaerin seconded.

“So we’re going home already?” I asked and they just gave me a tired nod. Wow! For them to really choose sleep over food so suddenly was a no joke. These two must really be tired. Well, I am, too, was tired. It’s just that, I am more of in need of some food in my system than sleep. I guess I’ll just going to eat in my apartment then.

We were sulking while walking to the entrance-slash-exit of our university (cause yeah… our university didn’t even bother to put a gate for our campus) when I tried fishing out my phone from my bag. I forgot to tell that annoying boyfriend of mine that I’m just going to walk as I head home. And look