| enrollment & tali blues
Last June 1st, I went to school because it’s the
scheduled date of enrollment for the incoming juniors from the College
of Nursing. In my case, however, I
only pre-enrolled. *sigh*  Tough times, people. Anyway, there I was, standing
under the scorching sun… craning my neck every now and then--trying to catch a
glimpse of people I know… And then I saw Leana, who in my opinion looked rather
radiant if I do say so myself. I told her, “Whoi! Blooming ah!” Instead of
complimenting me back *huffhuff* she just gave me THAT sort of naughty smile.
You know the almost-secretive-I’m-so-lucky-I-want-to-tell-you-but-guess-first
kind of smile. After a few seconds of silence, she couldn’t take it anymore and
gushed out her beauty secret. She now has a boyfriend! *clapclapclap*  Hurrah
Leana! And I told her just that. “Hurrah, Leana!” After a few minutes of
catching up, she told me that before I can get in I need to fill out this
contract of some sort about random drug testing in the campus. I was somewhat
perplexed  because… no one really had a choice in the matter. I’m not saying
that I’m into drugs or anything… but what about our rights? We have a choice whether
we would let ourselves be examined for drug abuse, right? I’m for spontaneity and
everything, but random drug testing? Like whimsical student assault? Since this
was being forced on us, I unenthusiastically took one of those damned contracts
from this rather smug-looking-git of a guard. “Fill up mo yan ha. ‘Di ko kayo
papapasukin.” Hello? Like, I already know that!  *girl snap* I grudgingly
snatched the contract from hell which was printed on this pathetic quality of
paper. This is no contract! It’s scratch paper! I wrote as illegibly as I
could.  Take that pompous school!
As I was venting my anger through writing, I saw my other
friends, Gian and Tien Po. Gian did a wutsup pose and said, “Dude! Tali?” Ha? I
asked him when. He gave me this incredulous look and told me later this
afternoon after enrollment. My jaw dropped because I so totally forgot!  And I told
him just that. “I forgot!” I then explained to him that I might not be able to
go because when I asked my mom last week, she said that she might leave for the
states this week so it would be better if I didn’t go this time. Gian clucked
and said, “You’ll be absent for the first time!” I  sorrowfully agreed and so I
glumly bade Leana farewell and then I went past smugly smirking guards. Cheeky
slimeballs. And so, the three of us, along with Tien Po’s girlfriend Cait,
trudged towards the inexplicably growing line. We were at the very end of the
line when we got there, and so we kind of scanned for “line-cutting”
possibilities, that is, looking for people who’d let us cut in their spot. I
was squinting in the sun when suddenly, I saw the rest of my friends! Trish,
Macky, Lourdes, Jonin, Chucky and
Bea were waving at me in that beckoning sort of way. I skipped towards them
with a squeal and then we had that sort of unintelligible-I-miss-you kind of
conversation.  Lourdes lost A LOT of
weight! I thought she looked amazing. And I told her, “You look amazing!” And
the dear angel said, “OMG, you look soooo much like that Korean girl in this
telenovela called ‘My Girl’!!” I tittered happily and said that it’s probably
because of my new highlights and new hair do. She nodded in agreement. She’s
such a dear. Anyway, Macky cut in and said, “Mela! Sama ka sa Tali later diba?”
I sadly said I might not be able to. Macky did a victory sort of yell and
pointed at Jonin, who, on the other hand, did a dramatic “Nooooooo!” It turned
out that the two idiots bet 200 pesos on me. Jonin poutingly explained that he betted
that I would go. He was so sure he’d win because I’ve never been absent on a
Tali trip before. The very thought was very impossible he added. It was agony.
I love going to Tali. And Macky could see my despair and so, being the evil
person that he is, he rubbed it in. “Whoa, Mela, Tali is going to be so much
fun, as usual! The swimming—the alcohol and ciggies! Plus the cliff! Tsktsktsk,
it’s too bad you won’t go!”  I wanted to pummel his ridiculously taunting face
into the concrete floor. But I didn’t. Instead, I did a morose groan and
babbled on how my mom was being so unfair. I even said that even if she let me
go, I didn’t have money to go on a Tali trip. They all assured me that money
isn’t important. Almost everyone who was going was broke. They all coaxed and
pleaded that I go. And then I had a brilliant idea. I forced Macky to call my
Mom up and ask if I could go! It was flawless! But Macky turned slightly green.
He did it anyway. It was a grueling 3 minute call! In the end, I did my own victory
dance! Take that Macky! I texted Josh immediately and told him about Tali. I
explained that money was of no consequence because he was broke too.
Ohohohohohohohohohoho!  By the time it was 5pm, we were all at Macky’s pad! My mom even
paid for our (Josh and mine) grocery and took us to Macky’s house!
Ohohohohohoho It was brilliant!
But since this has become a preposterously long entry, I
would have to dish out the Tali experience next time!
Til then….
TO BE CONTINUED!
|
And then frustration kicks in.
