|| Maryl
"I can't believe you finished this research! Hindi ko maimagine na makakagawa kayo ng research paper about sa hypebeast culture!" Dr. Faustino complimented.
We were at the 5th floor conference room of Alexandra University Research Centre and just had an intense defense regarding on this thesis paper. Yeah, I'm currently taking a double degree and next year pa ako gagraduate, and this is for the partial fulfillment of our IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma. I'm only 19 so I'm glad I still have some time to squeeze this on my schedule.
Dr. Faustino just scanned the main copy of our thesis and gave us some comments. Gladly he gave us 100 percent. I thought it would be around 75% since making it felt like shit and unreliable. He is the dean of our college; College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, so I'm currently praying for my soul.
"It was kinda broad sir, but I am looking forward for this study to be a useful RRL in the future. It was hardest to find." Jinyoung agreed and I nodded my head.
"It was a quirky study, but it was fun. I enjoyed the process."
Dr. Faustino gave me a mocking look "Sure ka ba diyan Miss Liu? Lumalaki eyebags mo oh. Baka naman inaraw araw mo na pagbabar hopping sa BGC? Sa bar tatambay tapos papasok ka kinabukasan?"
We all laughed about it.
"Seryoso po sir. I find this study absurd at first, but I learned a lot from it. Saka ang hassle ng araw-araw na bar hopping, it wasn't enjoyable in my opinion." I answered.
"Sabihin mo nalang 'in my standards'. Di kapani-paniwala kasi kung opinyon mo lang yun." sagot sa akin ni dean.
"Luh." and gave him an awkward smile.
He looked at Jinyoung. "Ikaw Mister Shin, gaanong karaming babae nahugot mo?"
"Wala sir." he answered. "Di ko po tipo yung mga hindi nagaaral nang mabuti."
I stared at him and mumbled. "Harsh..."
"Rinig ko yun." he answered.
"Pogi ka naman Mister Shin, matalino pa. Ba't ayaw mo?" Dr. Faustino answered curiously.
"Nanliligaw po kasi sir kay Reign." I answered and tapped Jinyoung's shoulder after giving me a glare.
"Ah, mga delikadong babae katulad pala ni Miss Midford ang tipo mo." and Dr. Faustino nodded with this new information. The blushing Jinyoung cleared his throat, trying to be serious.
"Alright. Congratulations for finishing this research." Dr. Faustino greeted and gave us a handshake. Jinyoung and I grabbed our bags and got out of the conference room after.
"Congrats Maryl. Worth it yung landian niyo ni Montecarlo." Jinyoung teased, at tinarayan ko siya dahil sa cringe.
"What the fuck... naaalala mo pa pala yun?"
"Yes." he smirked. "Kala mo ah, may nilalandi ka rin."
"So gumaganti ka?"
"Oo."
I crossed my arms. "At least di ako umaasa, how about you?"
"Alam kong magiging worth it naman panliligaw ko. Poging Koreano ako eh." he confidently answered, as if there's a dazzling aura surrounding him.
"Hm... let's see. I can't assure you that." and gave me a look.
"I am confident na mapapasagot ko si Lawreign my loves."
"Ew. My loves. My loves mo mukha mo." the cringe crawled onto my spine. I can't imagine them together, frankly speaking.
"Ganun talaga."
I ooked at my black G-Shock for the time. "I have to go. Magrereview pa ako."
"Magrereview o lalandi?"
I gave him a deadly glare for his mocking question, pero ngumiti lang ng nakakaloko yung gago.
"Oo na. Magreview ka na."
"Good. Byeee." I put my hands in my blazer's pockets, turned around and walked away from him. I immediately went inside the elevator. I went out at 10th floor, where our laboratory is based.
The only reason why I wanted to escape because I don't want Jinyoung to either tease me or ask about Reign. It can get annoying sometimes.
I opened the lab door with my AXU-RC ID and entered. I saw Reign sitting with her legs crossed on a L-shaped sofa, scrolling through her phone. I approached her and asked. "Ikaw lang ba nandito?"
She looked at me and ignored my question. "Ba't naka business attire ka? Saan ka galing?"
I am currently wearing a gray blazer, pink blouse, beige pants and beige ankle-strap heels. Had to look clean for defense, y'know.
"We just finished our thesis paper. Makakatulog na ako nang mahimbing!" I delivered a good news and sat beside her.
She placed her phone on the coffee table, and her eyes sparkled in enthusiasm. "Seryoso? Di mo na makakasama yung hayop na yun?"
"Yeah. I could finally take a break from his questions about you."
"Ghad buti nalang." and she sighed in relief. "Hindi ko kasi gets kung bakit ang consistent niya."
"I am certain that I could take a break from him, but how about you? Alam kong magyayaya ng date yun."
She gave me a look. "Gusto ko na nga ireject eh, kaso di ko alam kung paano ko idedeliver."
I tapped her shoulder. "Good luck on that. I am praying for your soul."
She sighed. "Yes, please do."
Reign stopped for a while and changed the topic. "Teka, aayusin niyo yung spy cams ngayon di ba?"
I nodded. "Yeah, what about it?"
"Naconsider niyo na bang maglagay ng spy cams sa mga ginagamit natin araw araw, tulad ng adaptor, o kahit sa sabitan ng damit?"
Our thoughts are synchronizing with each other. We could do our operations smoothly with that idea.
"I have actually thought of that, but we have to check those spy cams that we bought the last time."
"Ayun. Just let me know kung okay na. Siyempre ako yung secretary dapat alam ko."
I giggled. "Will relay the results to you after, Miss Midford." I stood up and was about to go to physical science lab when I remembered something, so I looked at Reign again. She was scrolling on her phone again.
"Di mo nasagot tanong ko kanina, ikaw lang nandito bago ako dumating?"
"Ah about dun. Actually ang napansin ko lang na pumasok ay si Carlo. Si Ian hindi ko alam, baka nasa loob din." she answered whilst scrolling.
"Ah." I nodded and went to physical science lab.
-----
Carlo
I've been on my laptop since I got inside this laboratory and it has been around an hour. I was busy programming a new application that 5 of us could use. I have been working for this for an entire week, and I hope I could finish this today.
Adriano was beside me, making some blueprints for the spy cameras, including the blueprints for every section so we could assemble some parts in our homes. I think we would improvise those? I don't know, I'm just waiting for the commands.
"Hiii." Maryl entered the room with her cutesy yet mature voice. We both looked at her, she was wearing a business attire.
"Saan ka galing? It's unusual for you to wear light make-up." Adriano asked.
"From a date." she answered in a serious manner.
My heart beated fast and loud from her answer, as if it's going to break apart.
She smirked. "Kidding! I already finished my thesis! Kakadefend lang namin ni Jinyoung. Saka I'm not wearing any make-up, this is a clear, naked face. I forgot to put some red liptint because I woke up late."
"Oh noted." Adriano nodded and complimented her look. "Either way, you look stunning."
Maryl smiled sweetly. "Thank you!"
Thesis? Second year palang kami ang alam ko, pero bakit may thesis na siya? And Jinyoung happened to be her partner?
I asked about it confusingly and out of curiousity. "Thesis? I thought you were a second-year biomedical engineering and medical technology student?"
She nodded in enthusiasm. "Yeah? It was for my IB diploma."
"Oh yeah! You were one of the IB Diploma qualifiers na napagbigyan. How was it?" Adriano asked.
Honestly, I have no idea what the fuck they were talking about.
"I thought you got yours when you were just 16?" she asked at Adriano.
"I just want you to share your experience. Nasa college-level ka na pero saka ka lang kumuha nito."
"Frankly, it was fun. It was a regret to feel skeptical about it. I was afraid na baka kung ano sabihin ng mga nasa environment ko. Now that I'm done, I could include that for my credentials."
"Ay wow. Credential collector ka pala." Adriano gave him a glare that made Maryl flip her low ponytailed hair whilst approaching us.
"But I don't blame you. Sometimes our employers suck." he added.
"What's IB diploma?" I asked, confusingly. I seriously don't know what it is.
Adriano looked at me and explained "It's a two-year program and an internationally accepted qualification for higher education. If you wanted to take bachelor's degree at other countries, you could use that."
"Oh..."
Napatulala nalang ako sa sagot ni Adriano. Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman to?
"Kung college requirement yun, edi dapat noong senior high ka palang kumuha?" I asked again.
"That's the problem." Maryl answered. "A lot happened back then, gladly Dr. Faustino signed my retake."
Adriano looked back at Maryl and shook her hand. "Anyways, congratulations in advance."
"Thanks bruh!" she replied and looked at the blueprint. "Yan na ba gagawin sa mga spy cameras?"
Adriano faced at his work. "Yeah, you are in charge of motion sensors, Carlo is in charge with the application."
Humarap ako ulit sa laptop ko and re-focused on programming, but I can still hear their conversations of course.
"Have you considered putting those cams on everyday items? You know, mas madaling disguise."
"Some of the spy cams we bought are disguised as everyday items. We can get idea from those, and improvise."
"We should make sure the quality is in high-definition, of course."
"Exactly. The footages will be automatically sent in our app and the command center. I made a travel-sized one, and we could test it in our upcoming event."
"Oo nga ang bilis. Ate Florence asked me to make the invitations yesterday, and I finished the copies for us five."
"Bilis naman ng kamay mo? Copperplate calligraphy part can be pretty exhausting."
"Yeah but it's for the party so I don't care. Are the equipments done by next week though?"
"Hopefully, we have 10 spy cams available. Let's see which type works the best after we improvised all of those."
They seem close, I'll try not to distract myself while listening.
"I have to go. I have to finish my project in Physics. I'll leave the blue print behind so that we could start tomorrow."
I look at his direction. He stood up and grabbed his bag. When he left, Maryl and I looked at each other.
"Hey..."
"Oh, hey." she replied
"Congratulations on getting that diploma. You're smart, you deserve that." and I smiled.
She smiled back. "Thank you. I appreciate your efforts for all of the coding work." she told me.
She sat down beside me and reviewed the blue print.
-----
Reign
Bored na ako, tagal ng tatlo sa lab. Gusto kong hiramin si Maryl para magfood trip kami. Magdadalawang oras na halos ako nagscroscroll sa Facebook at Twitter, di na ako natutuwa. Wala na rin clips ng babies o Return of Superman na dumadaan sa feed ko.
Mapapagbuntong hininga ka nalang eh. Ano kaya pwede gawin para matuwa naman ako?
"Hey Reign, mauna na ako! I have to finish a requirement for my Physics class!" bati sa akin ni Ian habang papalabas siya ng facility.
"Ingat sa paguwi Ian! Alam kong ikaw summa cum laude sa batch mo, so ayan nalang." bati ko habang mukhang tinatamad na nagscroscroll sa phone.
"Lol." sagot niya sa akin at nagtap siya ng ID paglabas. Yep, kahit paglabas kailangan tinatap ang ID para fully monitored ang in-and-out.
Saktong di pa ako gaanong kabored para gumawa ng kalokohan at tolerable noong pumasok si Axis. At last, di na ako mabobored yay!
"Axiiisss!" tawag ko sa kanya.
Gulat na lumingon siya, naninibago siguro dahil sa pagtawag ko sa kanya. "Ano?"
"Laro tayo ML. Classic lang. Nabobored ako eh." utos ko sa kanya habang nakalandscape na phone ko at binubuksan ang ML.
Napatingin ako kay Axis na nanahimik lang sa tabi.
"Dalian mo na. Dali!" pagutos ko ulit.
Agad na kinuha ni Axis phone niya, pero nababagalan ako sa pagmadali niya potek.
"Bagal bagal eh, babae ka ba ha? Bilisan mo!"
"Ito na ito na bubuksan na, nasa loading screen na"
Gumawa ako ng lobby at mga ilang segundo lang, nakita ko si Axis at ininvite ko siya kaagad.
"Wait lang nag cla-claim ako ng rewards!" lowkey na iritang sabi ni Axis.
"Mamaya ka na mag claim!" sagot ko. Papagmadaliin talaga kita hehehe.
Inexit yung pop up ng events at inaccept ulit invite ko. Paano ko nalaman? Syempre nagaccept na siya ng invite eh!
Clinick kaagad yung start.
"Anak ng! Lawreign Ellison kala ko ba classic lang, bakit rank game to!?" Pagtatakang tanong ni Axis dahil napansin niyang hindi siya classic game, kundi rank game.
"Oo nga rank game is classic game para sa akin." sagot ko at tumingin sa kanya with a smirk. "Pag ako natalo dito Axis, magtago-tago ka na. Makikita mo."
Napatingin siya sa akin ng may takot. Nakita ko yung paglunok niya at pagbulong sa sarili. "Shit ano 'tong pinasok ko?"
"May sinasabi ka ba dyan?" tanong ko.
"W-wala." pautal niyang sagot.
"Ano role mo? Mag aadjust ako dali." pakunwaring mabait na tanong ko.
"MM (Marksman) nalang siguro kasi mas gamay ko yun."
"Okay magsusupport ako, support kita."
After namin magban ng players since nasa epic si Axis at nasa legend na ako, kailangan na namin mag ban ng hero sa kalaban. Binan namin sila Harith at Ling, yung bagong player sa amin naman sina Esmeralda at si Valir.
Si Axis si Granger at ako si Estes. May mga skin din sila kaso season skin ang gamit ko. Napaghahalatang adik sa ML no?
Mid tayo. MM ka eh. Support ako, di kita kukuhaan ng buff.
Si Axis napatungo nalang sa pag sagot dahil nagfofocus siya.
Nag start na sila ng laro. Bumili agad ako ng roaming items para madaling lumakas si Axis. Bumili na din siya kaagad pang farm para mabilis din siyang lumakas.
Nakita ko na tatlong kalaban sa mid.
Tangina.
"3 kalaban sa mid wtf?! Di bale, kaya yan. Oy Axis ayusin mo ah." utos ko sa kanya
"Ayusin mo din pag support sakin."
"Oo na!"
After namin napatay yung creeps sa first wave, pumunta kami sa monster ng bot lane sa heal, tapos nag invade kami ng buff sa kalaban sa taas. Succesful naman kasi nag fafarm din yung kalaban. Pumunta na sila sa lane nila para idefend. After nila mapatay yung creeps, nag roam na sila sa bot since nag roam na din yung nasa mid lane ng kalaban.
"Axis lilikod ako, wag ka muna sumugod."
Di narinig ni Axis ang utos ko at sumugod agad. Hayop.
"Anak ng! Level 3 palang ako wala akong SS oy! Di kita kayang iheal ng first skill ko!"
Narinig ko ang 'first blood'
Di ko natiis, nagtype ako sa team namin. "Owemji ang bobo ng mm natin guys."
[You have slain the enemy]
Tapos nagchat ang teammates namin "Lakas ng support!"
"Axis kupal ka. Bahala ka na nga sa buhay mo. Di na kita isusupport. Mag mage build na ako!" sinabihan ko siya.
Hindi ko tinanggal yung roaming items ko. Pero nabuild ko na din yung boots for mana, and binili ko yung gamit pang farm.
[You have slain the enemy]
[You have been slain]
[You have slain the enemy]
[You have been slain]
Yan nalang lagi naririnig sa loob.
"Pota axis nag papafeed ka ba hayop ka! Mag farm ka nalang!" inis na sigaw ko.
"Wala akong damage tsaka trip ako ng assasin!" sagot niya.
"Bobo ka kasi eh, kung di ka namatay sa una di ka mahina!" sagot ko ulit.
Nagchat ulit ako sa team. "Tapusin na natin to guys. Iattack niyo na yung lord 3, inner tower naman na yung base nila kaya na yan. Yung isa segway."
Sinunod naman ako ng team. Ako, si Axis at isang tank nasa lord. Yung dalawa naming kakampi naman nag segway sa tower para masira.
[You have slain the lord]
"Recall na kayo guys. Sama-sama sa lord. Assasin, likod ka muna tapos yung mm para free hit! Nag dedefend naman yung kalaban eh." chat ko sa team.
Papalapit na sila sa base ng kalaban inuna namin yung support nila after nun yung mm pero ako din inuna ng kalaban nung onti nalang buhay ko at kalahati na kampi ko ginamit ko na SS ko para ako at sila ma heal.
[wipe out]
"Gg mga sir!"
Nasira na yung nexus and we know what that means...
[Victory!]
After ng laban kinommend all ko yung mga kampi niya at nireport ko Axis ng hindi nakikita. Nilagay ko siya as intenional feeding at low level skill. After nun, pinatay ko na phone ko.
"Ayaw ko na makipaglaro sayo! Kala ko naman magaling ka kasi nasa epic ka na, yun pala boosted ka!" pangtrashtalk ko.
"Matagal tagal na kase akong di naglalaro!" sagot sa akin ni Axis.
"Excuses!" sigaw ko sa kanya.
Nag claim ng reward tapos chineck yung mail.
"SINO NAG REPORT SAKIN?! ARGH." inis na tanong niya.
"Buti nga sayo tatanga tanga kasi maglaro! Tignan mo yung support naging mage na, yung standing pa 10 0 24! Ikaw ano? Yung kills mo na KS (kill steal) mo lang, yung deaths mo ang lala! 10 deaths ka pa! Bwiset ka!" pageexplain ko.
Lumabas si Maryl at nakita niya akong nababadtrip. Yey magfofoodtrip na kami!
"What the fuck just happened?" bati niya sa amin.
"Si Lawreign kasi inaaway ako!" sumbong ni Axis.
"Di kaya Maryl, si Axis kasi bobo maglaro!" sumbong ko naman.
At binigyan niya kami ng confused look.
Lumabas din si Carlo.
"Kumusta? Gumawa na ba kayo ng bata?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.
Napatigil sila at binigyan ako ni Maryl ng deadly glare.
"Reign tara milk tea para di ka badtrip. Inaaway mo nanaman si Axis eh." yaya ni Maryl sa akin na halatang pagiba ng topic.
Biglang akong tumayo at ngumiti ng napakalaki. "Tara milk tea hehehe."
Kinuha na namin bag namin at lumabas na kami ng lab. Bumili kami ng milk tea sa canteen naming mala-5 star restaurant sa laki since yun ang pinakamalapit.
_____
Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 8: Laboratory Work • © mxylms