Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial, or during some other formal conversation, such as a hearing or oral deposition.

My mind has been wandering to places far from where it belongs; in my head.

I’ve been out of it since kaninang umaga or kagabi pa?

Kasi naman, I just pulled an all-nighter and spent hours sa pagbasa ng mga readings sa Ethics that Prof. assigned for our oral recitation, which would happen any time this week.

Prof. Ciriaco just gave us a heads up na magpapa oral recitation siya but that’s the only info na ibinigay niya. She didn’t say kailan and ano ang dapat aralin. No pointers, no reminders, no address, no contact number. Emz!

Ngayon naniniwala na talaga ako sa sinasabi ng iba na-

Minor subjects are not minoring!

At first, nahirapan din ako sa way of teaching ni Prof. though according to her, mas ok daw na may experience na kami sa ganito dahil it would be more intense and grueling in the next years.

But I’m glad to say na nung tumagal na, nasanay na rin ako and I even find myself kinda enjoying it.

Gusto ko kasi yung may thrill.

“Look at you! You look terrible. My God.” Gi is in her mom mode simula nung dumating ako. She noticed the evidences na iniwan ng lack of sleep sa mga mata at mukha ko.

'Di ko mapigilang ngumiti kasi parang ako pa yata yung magiging rason ng early signs of aging ng bestfriend ko.

“Why are you smiling? Are you even listening, Rina?” Oop. I kid you not, mad Gi is the worst Gi.

“I am listening po, mom.” I said in a calm way, trying to pacify her.

She just rolled her eyes. She hates it when I call her mom.

“Are you done na? Gosh pareho talaga kayo ni Dad na OA. He didn’t even let me breathe kanina dahil sa lecturing niya.”

My dad may be a ball of sunshine and my daily boost of serotonin, but I’m telling you; ayaw na ayaw niyang inooverwork ko ang sarili ko sa acads. Parang pinapatay ko na raw yung sarili ko kapag ganun.

He doesn’t want daw to be a witness sa process of slowly killing myself. Gosh, he’s so dramatic.

Hindi naman na ako bata ‘no. I know my limits pero nakakalimutan ko nga lang hehe.

Che! I have my reasons kaya!

Like, once I lay eyes sa mga readings and books ko, I’d think the opposite of what my dad said.

I’d feel alive.

It’s like floating in an unknown space, surrounded by countless constellations without knowing where I am headed but as long as it feels liberating, I’m content.

“Whatever. Suit yourself, Rina. Gutom na ako.” Eh sino ba kasi nag utos sayo na sermonan ako? Huhu kung kumain ka nalang kasi diyan eh.

“I know what you’re thinking.” She said while pointing her fork sa akin.

Sabi ko nga.

Tapos na rin naman ako kumain cause nauna akong bumaba rito so, while I'm waiting for them to finish their food, I massaged my temple and closed my eyes for the meantime. To ease the exhaustion na nararamdaman ko.

“Shin Ryujin, isa!” And there goes my peace. Lasted for almost a minute. You will be missed.

I opened my eyes, annoyed dahil na istorbo ang aking self-care. Ayaw ko pa sanang dumilat pero I was also curious on what is going on.

So much for being curious.

“Ba’t ako nanaman? Kung ikaw kaya Ning?” It’s Ryujin and her group of friends. Nagtutulakan kung sino ang kakausap sa forenjer who’s peacefully eating her siomai rice.

Wow. I never thought na makikita ko siyang ineenjoy ‘yan.

“Eh kung sabihin ko kaya kay Yej-“ Ryujin covered Ning’s mouth gamit ang kamay niya.

“Eto na nga eh. Inaabuso mo talaga kahinaan ko.” Napatawa ako kasi Ryu looks so defeated while walking toward Ms. Kim. Yeji pala ha.

“Hello. Winter Kim, right? I’m Shin Ryujin. Pwede ring Ryu na lang kasi yun naman tawag nila sa’kin dito pero if you want, you can call me bab-“

“Tanga, manahimik ka na.” Chaeryeong stuffed Ryu’s mouth gamit ang fries na kinakain nila.

I took a glance sa direction ni Ms. Kim. She looks so lost and clueless about the happenings sa harap niya.

“I’m sorry about her. She’s just like that. I’m Ning by the way. This is Chaeryeong and that one at the center of the quad, playing volleyball is Yuna.”

They exchanged smiles and handshakes but still received no verbal response from the transferee.

I was enjoying my time, witnessing Ning’s group, trying to befriend Ms. Aussie who lives in her own world nung-

“Hey, beautiful.” My God?! Abot mata na nga yung ngiti ko kanina, napalitan naman ng simangot.

“Can I help you with anything?” I replied, not bothering to look at the person who just popped out of nowhere.

“Should I be offended?” He tried to sound funny. Try harder.

He cleared his throat after receiving nothing from me.

“Rina, can we talk?”

“Rep!” Ugh. Thank heavens!

“Save it, Yeonjun. Gi, I'll go first.” I stood up and went towards Yuqi who called me.

Yeonjun is one of the guys whom I rejected. Ilang beses ko na rin sinabi na I am not interested at the moment pero he still let his vulnerable masculinity win over him. He couldn’t accept na ayaw ko talaga and kept on doing his stunts na hindi naman amusing neither is it flattering.

I just can’t see myself na in a relationship while doing law school.

I can’t even imagine, me being entirely head-over-heels on somebody? Over my dead body.

Yuqi was running and panting? So, I rushed my steps to meet her in the middle.

“What happened?” I asked, concerned. She looks like she’s going to pass out anytime.

“That happened.” Sabay turo kay Winter Kim.

“Does this have anything to do with Ms. Kim? And please, I need full context.” Hinila ko na siya pabalik sa council room.

Na mention ko na ba na I’m the 1st Year Representative from Political Science? If hindi pa, there you go. I didn’t even plan on joining the council. I know kasi na somehow, if I join, mas kailangan ko pang mag double effort in managing my time. It was my dad who encouraged me on joining.

I can’t really understand him, he doesn’t like it if I get pressured tapos siya rin pala ang tutulak sa’kin into joining the council. I think nakita ata ni dad yung bothered face ko nung sinabi ko na I’m not joining. ‘Di matiis ang anak eh.

“Yes, it has something to do with Ms. Kim and dalawang students na babae, galing sa ibang section.”

I think, I know where this is going.

Hindi na kami nag aksaya ng oras pa at umakyat na.

“Napaka assumera mo naman pala eh!”

“Eh anong tawag mo sa sarili mo?”

Directress assigned the representatives to be the one