After the holidays have come to an end, it is now time for students like me to go back to my usual routine from break. Resetting my mind-set would be a good idea since the week after for back-to-school is the week for the quarterly exams and then would be followed by the announced Parents and Teachers' Conference and distribution of report cards. With this kind of fact, it is another problem to be faced by me.
On the very first day, with my board room just located not far from school, I came very early, resulting for me to be the first person who got inside the classroom. I was surprised of this too. I was expecting that there would be other classmates of mine that have already entered inside, but that was not the case.
"If the others won't come here before those four would, I'm sure that they would bombard me with their annoying, same reactions."
As I waited while sitting on my seat, I began hearing the sound of footsteps coming from the outside. As the seconds go by, it was getting louder as it was closing in.
At some point when it stopped, the doorknob of the classroom's door rotated slowly, and when the door went open wide, I faced towards the direction to know who it was.
"Aahhh…."
Looking to the person, it was Francis 'the usual early bird' that came inside.
Staring at him, Francis looked quite surprised when he saw me, yet somehow, we were questionably staring at each other, likely wondering the same about our early presence inside. Weirdly, Francis looked away and lowered his head as he slowly began in moving forward towards his seat.
Good grief, should I do the honour in taking the first step? I sigh.
"Oi Francis. Good Morning. Did ya enjoy your break?" I noticed the awkward situation between us so I decided to take the first move.
Francis, on the other hand, was surprised again, probably because I put the effort in talking first.
"Whoooaa, this kind of happening is one of those 'once in a blue moon'."
With a mix feeling of relief and regret, I shook my head as Francis' very energetic aura and mood came back to him real quick.
"Hahaha, Seriously? As the usual, that's the first thing you noticed? And hey, this isn't the first time it happened you know."
"Nah, hahaha. I'm fine, and I really enjoyed my time. And is that so? I guess I haven't noticed it since I only know that you usually came almost late, or very late to class." exclaimed Francis, her very words got me a little pissed off.
'Are you mocking me!?' I reacted in mind.
"Well, that's good then." I then calmly replied with a shaking, grinning face for being pissed at.
"It's really good to see you back, Bro Zaki!"
"Jeez, you're so loud as always."
"That's because I'm Francis!"
The two of us then shared about each other's experiences during the break, especially about the fireworks and other events during the holidays while we were waiting for our other classmates to arrive, and especially for the time for class to finally start again.
"Whooa, you two really are a pair of early birds." Facing to the newly arrived person, it was Kevin's loud voice that startled us.
"But today, bro Zaki got here before me and is the first person in the classroom." Francis responded quickly, and somehow I get the feeling that he's so proud of me when he said it.
Seriously, this guy is surely mocking me.
"WHAT? Oi Zaki, did something good happen in the holidays?"
"No, nothing happened. And hey, what's wrong with just wanting to come early?"
"Nothing is wrong with that but, it is kind of surprising though."
"Hahaha, it's always that surprising, huh?"
Not you too Kevin. Tsk, now you have let me lost my good image on you.
"Oh, hey there folks!"
"Good morning baby boys!"
With a minute has gone by, Romeo and Kenneth both went rushing as they saw us chatting.
"Good morning too bro."
"MORNING!"
"Yow".
"Hey Zaki! No one wants to go against us, I guess they are really scared to try and have a rematch, haha."
"All was just so Ez. I got bored in the middle of the game."
"Want me to slap your face? You almost got us wiped out on our last game."
"Hahaha, just kidding, peace bro!"
Out of the blue, Romeo and Kenneth began arguing to each other.
"Hey hey hey, what is this? Did you guys just hangout during the holidays?" Francis suspected.
It looks like Francis quickly caught up by hearing the conversation of these two.
"Yeah, we played bet games for days." On the other hand, Romeo replied with a chill face while not having a bit of guilt.
"That's no FAIR!" exclaimed Francis.
"We just went there for the bet game Francis, and we went home immediately when we're done with it." Kenneth confronted Francis.
"But even so!"
"Just let it slip Francis, we can't do anything about it." As usual, Kevin didn't mind about it and has likely understood the situation well.
"How about you Kevin? How come you're not mad like him, did something happen?" Kenneth asked.
"Nah, we had our out-of-town trip very early. That's also why I haven't been able to contact you guys during the break."
Oh, okay. I guess his schedule was already occupied. But I wonder, what if he hasn't had any trip during the days? Would he get disappointed as well? I'm really curious if he has another side, haha.
"Oh well, now that school is back, we're here again." Romeo remarked.
"Not to mention next week's quarterly exam, man I'll be having nightmares starting later at night."
"Oh no, that is really a bad news." Kenneth and Francis both followed through and made pitiful faces.
"Why not study for once Francis?"
"For now, we need to reset our mind-set, right?" Romeo and Kevin then respectively suggested.
Agreeing to the suggestions, every one of us nodded in unison, and with the exams fast approaching, we braced ourselves for the worst.
Along with our preparations were sleepless nights and no time was wasted on unnecessary things. When classes were dismissed, we went directly to the library to quietly study. But in my case, and maybe to any other student part-timers out there, was different. After class, I only spent 2 hours together with the gang at the library in which had decreased my working hours along together with my wage.
After arriving back at my board room, I also did a self-review every time I came back from work. Noticing the crisis ahead of me, I barely got enough time for the day to study, so I then decided to not work at this incoming Saturday and Sunday.
On the other hand, while in the middle of my work, I took my chances to talk to the manager, telling him in advance of my situation.
When weekend strikes, I then used all my time of the day to prepare, and had gotten a few yet enough hours of sleep to recover my mind from the fatigue, regaining my energy back for my studies.
Eventually, the examination days has then started.
Students with their deep eye bags were sitting down at their respective chairs while the questionnaires' were being distributed from the front up to the back.
Meanwhile, the teacher was sitting in front of the class, and then has gone roaming around the area to prevent us, or more likely some shameful students from cheating.
Taking a careful peek of my surroundings, some had their eyes focused towards their own paper, while the others' were roaming around just like our teacher, and in the end, they got a warning from him as they were caught in the act. A day like this continued until the last examination day has ended, yet students weren't that much happy about it. Most likely because they would have to see their grades starting next week, but at least, most of the pressure has been lifted off on our shoulders.
As for me, it remained the same as another problem has arisen. With my calmed mind, I was trying to think of a way to solve it. The exam results were released during Sunday so it already freed us some of our worries, yet the bad news is that this incoming Monday, is the day for the Parents and Teachers' Conference.
-----*-----
Early in Monday morning, all of the parents and guardians of each student have most likely came and were inside the classroom.
Not for long, the meeting has started together with our homeroom teacher who was facilitating them.
Hearing them from down below with their somewhat noises, I guess they were having their own fun stuffs too and probably had some serious subjects that are being discussed. While they were busy, all of us students were staying outside as requested, going around the campus or maybe just sitting on a bench, like us, in waiting for the meeting to end.
"Hey, what do you think we'll do after this?" Once again, the energetic and lively guy asked.
"You're always on the fun stuffs, huh?"
"Most probably we will be joining our parents or guardians for the day. I can't promise that I'll go and hangout with you guys today."
"He's right on point. I think the same goes for me too." Kevin, Kenneth and Romeo respectively followed.
"Hey Francis, don't you want to spend time with your family too?" Kevin asked.
"Well, you guys really do have a point there."
As soon as the bell rang, the people from each classroom slowly went outside of the room and had flooded the pathway. Accordingly, most of the students were taking their time in finding their parents or guardians, especially that some of them tried calling by using their mobile phones.
On the other hand, Kevin, Kenneth and Francis have gone ahead first after they instantly found theirs, meanwhile Romeo and I were left behind at the place, patiently waiting for ours.
"So your parents finally got to come, huh?"
"Well, that's not exactly right." Looking away, I replied with a shaking nervous face.
"Yow, Hanzaki! There you are--- and oh! You too Romeo!"
"Eeeehhh!? Uncle Sam? Why are you here at my school!?" Romeo jumped off of the bench as he saw Manager Alvarez.
"Well, I had to attend someone's PTC."
"Really? Who is----- wait, do you even have a---"
"AAHHH! I'm sorry Romeo, I don't have time to talk. I got to go back to the place, see ya!"
Glancing at me for a moment, Manager Alvarez quickly went off ahead of us.
'Nice going Sir! Your help is very much appreciated!' I happily reacted in mind.
I guess the manager caught up to the situation. I was supposed to meet up with him, yet unknowingly he stumbled upon me who was still with Romeo.
He should've signalled me secretly, but oh well, I'll just have to thank him later at work.
"I wonder who it could be." On the other hand, Romeo was still thinking as he was quite disturbed of what he has known just recently.
"You're still waiting, right Rom? Sorry, but I have to go ahead of you." Taking my leave, I quickly dashed away from my spot.
"Huh? You're not waiting for your parents? And wait, what you meant by earl----- Hey!"
Once again, I evaded another critical moment thanks to the manager and with my secret still safe.
After that, the usual days at school and work had continued to pass by for me until the last quarterly examinations have ended which was in March.
The same thing also happened with the last Parents and Teachers Conference, Manager Alvarez decided to cover up for me again.
All the remaining days went normally well and the school year is about to end with all that's left is the Recognition and Graduation Ceremony. The remaining days were spent to our mandatory practices. The practice varies by schedule depending on what time of the day a certain section is assigned. Luckily, my class was assigned early in the morning, giving us the opportunity to hangout wherever we would like afterwards in the afternoon.
Yet on the other hand, I would only get a 3-hour bonding time with my friends due to my curfew for work.
-----*-----
March 19, 2021, Saturday, and 3 more days remaining until the ceremony.
On our group chat, Francis was busy in trying to make us heed his call, trying to convince us in joining his planned fun goings for today.
His message goes like this; since it is only days 'till the ceremony, we wouldn't be able to see each other for some time when summer break starts.
With this, the rest of us got no choice and have responded 'going' to Francis' request. At 'AYALA CENTRIO MALL', we agreed to spend the day at the place.
Arriving at the entrance, Francis was already in standby in waiting for us. As expected of the head of the trip. Followed by my arrival, Kenneth was next, and 10 minutes after we waited then came Romeo and Kevin who arrived together. When all of us had assembled, we headed inside the mall without wasting any precious time.
For starters, we first went to the arcade area of the mall and have spent most of our time there.
At noon, the four of them were somewhat arguing to each other on what restaurant we would be eating in. While on my side, I was not happy witj this. I would need to spend some of my savings in order not to get left behind.
After eating, we sat down for an hour while chatting just like the lazy kids we were, but of course except for me who has gone restless because of work.
We then went window shopping from place to place and have hit the karaoke after.
With our not-so-good skills in singing, our voices have enveloped the entire room as we were laughing while one of us was singing in front without embarrassment, especially when it was my turn where they irritatingly had the loudest of their laughter.
"I hope you're all going to die sooner." I quietly and secretly cursed them at my side.