Afternoons in Dapitan

thirteen

I decided not to sell fishballs today because I'm tired and I need to focus on my thesis paper. I went to Pipa's dorm since we needed to do some tasks and our thesis.

"Buti naman at nakapunta ka na?" Pipa laughed. "Tagal na kitang inaaya dito pero wala, puro ka tinda."

"Oo nga eh. Kailangan ko mag-focus ngayon dito sa thesis. Hindi katulad last year na may pambawi sa minor subjects."

After how many hours, we decided to go back to our dorms and rest. "Don't forget na lang yung deadlines natin ha." Noreen reminded us.

Nagising na lang ako nang may tumatawag sa cellphone ko. "Hello?"

"Teh asan ka na? May sakit ka ba?" Si Pipa.

Napabalikwas ako nang makita kong late na ako ng isang oras. "Teka Pipa! Papunta na ako. Sensya na."

Nagmamadali akong pumasok ng school. Mabuti naman at wala pa raw masyadong ginagawa. "Laura, okay ka lang ba? May sakit ka ba? Sabi kasi ni Pipa hindi ka pa raw pumapasok kanina." Tanong ni Royce nang nakasalubong ko siya papuntang CR.

"Ah. Okay lang naman ako! Napagod lang siguro kagabi. Halos maghapon kasi kaming gumawa nung thesis." I smiled. "Ikaw?"

"Ako?" I nodded. "Ayun tinutulungan ko pa rin si Stacy. Ayoko na nga eh. Pero wala akong magagawa." He chuckled.

"Good. Pagpasensyahan mo na si Stacy. Makulit yun pero mukha namang matalino, iniinis ka lang noon." I smiled, teasingly.

"Laura, I don't like her if that's what you're thinking."

"Wala naman akong sinasabi." I laughed. "Sige na, una na ako. Goodluck sa studies and kay Stacy!" I smiled.

Nang makabalik sa room ay inasikaso na namin ng groupmates ko ang Thesis namin. Dahil ilang araw na lang ay defense na.

"Pipa, pa-revise nito." Turo ko sa kanya. "Mas gawin mong research based yung sentence." Tumango lang si Pipa. "Tapos Noreen paki-ayos itong sentence structure mo rin, para kasing ang dami ng words. Too much na. Just summarized it." Tumango lang rin si Noreen.

"Grabe! Buti na lang kinuha natin 'tong si Laura! Magaling talaga." I just smiled at them.

"Bobo kami sa English, Laura. Pasensya na." Pipa laughed.

"Ayos naman ah? Irerephrase lang naman 'yan." I smiled. "Pero bobo man kayo sa English, magaling naman kayo sa Psychometrics."

"Hindi rin." We all laughed.

I became busy for a week since it is the week of our defense.

"Tay? Napatawag ka?" I asked when Tatay called me.

"Balita ko defense mo raw?"

"Opo. Kanino mo po nalaman?"

"Kay Nico, syempre." I smiled hearing that name. "Galingan mo nak ha? Kayang kaya mo 'yan."

"Yes, tay! Kakayanin. Promise, aakyat ka ng stage sa graduation kahit isang taon pa 'yun!" I laughed. "Love you tay! Ingat ka diyan!"

When the call ended, I decided to call Nico. "Hi."

"Goodluck on your defense, Laura."

"Thank you." I smiled after hearing his soothing voice.

"I'm so proud of you!" He said.

"Hindi pa defended, Nico. Wag kang atat diyan." I laughed.

"Kahit na. I know that you can do it, love."

"I love you Nico."

"I love you so much."

I decided to go to the chapel first to ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance over me and my groupmates.

"Laura! Kinakabahan ako!" Sabi ni Pipa nang makarating ako ng room.

"Ako rin eh. Pero kaya natin 'to. Last project naman na 'to tapos seniors na tayo!" I smiled, knowing that time really flies too fast.

"Sabagay. Gusto ko magpractice. Tara!" Si Noreen naman, halatang kinakabahan pero hindi niya sinasabi.

"Si-" Hindi ko na naituloy ang sasabihin ko nang dumating na ang mga panelists. Isa ron ay yung terror na professor namin sa Psychometrics, ang isa naman ay professor namin noong General Psychology at yung isa ay ang Thesis Adviser namin.

"Good morning everyone. Please be ready. Your group will be randomly called." Our Thesis Adviser announced.

"Group of Matias will be the first one to present. Group of Reyes will be the second. Group of Santos will be the third. Group of Gonzales will be the last."

We're the third one to present and I'm feeling nervous right now. The questions that were asked to the first group are difficult, even myself cannot answer them.

"Umayos ka, Laura." I whispered to myself. I need to pass this subject, para makapag-fourth year na 'ko.

"Okay. Thank you first group." Our Thesis Adviser said and we all clapped at them. "Group of Reyes please proceed in front."

"Noreen and Pipa we can do this, okay? Inaral niyo naman kahit hindi niyo parts diba?" They both nodded. "Celebrate tayo after this." I said.

"Inom ba?"

"Fishball, libre lang." We all laughed quietly.

Second group presented it very well. Tatlo lang ang naitanong sa kanila. And now it is our turn. I cannot breathe but I need to do this.

"Congratulations Santos Group, our panelists here and even me have no questions. You may now go back to your seats." Our Thesis Adviser announced.

I felt like I was about to cry. We really did it very well. Walang tanong. I guess all those sleepless nights were all paid off.

"Congrats sa ating tatlo!" I cheered.

"Iinom ba tayo?" Pipa asked.

"Fishball lang." We all laughed.

I went home after the defense and was shocked that Nico was there. "Hi." I said.

"Oh you're here na! Congrats my love! You did well." He hugged me tightly. "Here." Inabot niya ang isang bouquet ng flowers.

"Para saan 'to?" I asked. Nakikita ko sa mukha niya na parang galit na siya. It is our tenth monthsary today.

"You forgot?"

"No. I did not, Nico. It's our tenth monthsary." I smiled. "Happy Monthsary, Nico!" I kissed his cheeks.

"Damn. I thought you forgot." He chuckled.

"No. Kahit na busy pa ako sa thesis ko, hindi ko 'yun makakalimutan. Hinding hindi kita makakalimutan, Nico."

"I love you so much." He kissed my lips gently. "Shall we celebrate? Our monthsary and being able to defend your thesis?"

I nodded. "We shall."