[Mandy's Diary Today]
A sea of red-robed people had filled the hall where the graduation was being held. I sat next to Candice who was busy chewing her gum while looking around the place. You could say, I excelled enough in college that I was chosen to be the student representative giving a speech. For the sake of Gandalf's beard, that was the first time I stood on a podium in front of countless eyes whose ready to judge me. I felt more frightened compared to when I was presenting my thesis.
I swallowed hard, moistening my parched throat like a barren desert without a cactus, then looked around again. I could see my mom stood out in the designated section for parents. She was already excited with Norah Fields, Candice's mother, chattered like a drug salesman offering his wares.
No, Mom's not a drug salesman. She was a marriage counselor and couple therapist. Before this, she forced me to follow in her footsteps. But, how could I be someone who listened to other people's complaints about their private lives! My ears almost burned every time I heard other people talk about their personal affairs.
"We will have Amanda Gilbert deliver her speech."
Damn. That's my name. That means I had to stand behind the podium to deliver my speech. Relax, Mandy. relax. Luckily, I took a relaxation class while studying here. Candice elbowed me in the ribs, flashed her gray eyes to warn me. The next second, I was standing and walking solemnly towards the podium while occasionally spraining because of the stiletto heels I was wearing. Ugh, if only Mom hadn't lectured me about how women's looks were the first impression to anyone, I'd be too lazy to wear stilettos. After all, what's so good about wearing stilettos? What I had was my feet were getting swollen as big as an elephant's ass. I'm telling you, stilettos were not healthy. I dare you to not use it as often as possible.
Come to think of it, I'm a wise person.
"Okay, focus, Mandy. Now, you are standing in front of many people who are casting dagger-like gazes, piercing your eyes," the angel on my shoulder warned time and time again. I took a deep breath, filled my lungs with air, and began to recite the lines of my speech.
If my calculations were not wrong, for almost three minutes I was already chattering happily reading a speech in front of many people with a gesture that successfully made some of the graduation participants shed tears. I thought to myself, I didn't feel like giving sad words... so why would everyone wet their eyes? Never mind, I'd just continue to finish my words.
"This is the end of our journey.. ready to be released into the real world. Like a dove when it's flown into the sky. Maybe four years is not a long time.. some even said it was quite short. But the memories of the days when we were still in college.. will never be lost, even if someone tries to erase them from your memory. Some of us certainly feel how annoying killer lecturers are, piling up assignments, squeezing deadlines, and C-grades lining up neatly on the final paper.
"But, of course, apart from that, we still have the opportunity to get the guidance of our favorite lecturer; handsome lecturer… smart lecturer… charismatic lecturer…. Falling in love with classmates and taking them to the movies despite being rejected so many times—" my eyes stopped moving to one of my grad friends sitting behind Candice, "like John Kennard, for example."
Spontaneously, all the guests laughed at my last sentence while John's face turned red like a boiled crab. However, the boy smirked and rubbed his head. He then waved as if the was a star.
"And many other things that I can't just describe," I continued, changing my expression and making other gestures that caught the attention of the people who filled the hall. "The question is, what are we going to do after we get out of here. Apply for a job? Devoted yourself? Or in another case and it's very desirable for some of you… to marry a handsome prince?"
"That's me! I want to marry a handsome prince!" in place, Candice suddenly raised her hand with a wide smile showing her teeth.
For the sake of Zeus' thunder rod, why would she act such a fool?
"Yes. Surely some of you want to marry a handsome prince who is rich so you won't have to work so hard anymore." Ignoring Candice's stupidity, I covered it with a short laugh. More accurately, a dry laugh. "It's okay even if one day, one of us marries a rich prince and decides to do nothing but sit back at home. The knowledge we get will still be useful even if it is not in the field of work."
Once again, I heard Candice attract the attention of the people in the hall with loud applause. Just like me, all the other guests cast monotonous glances at her, causing Candice to grin widely and reposition her seat.
I took a deep breath. Lucky for Candice that she was my best friend. Otherwise, I felt like I'd gladly throw the graduation hat to land right on her face.
"Perhaps, that's all I want to say. Whatever we will face in the future, will be different from what we have lived so far. May we all be able to achieve each other's wishes and dreams. Thank you very much."
As soon as I lowered my head low, boisterous clapping filled the hall, making my cheeks flush and heat up at being appreciated this good. Well, at least I made it through this speech without the usual embarrassing incidents.
Just as I was thanking myself in my heart, my foot tripped over my graduation robe as I stepped out of the podium, knocking me down on the floor followed by a commotion in the hall. Everyone laughed at me! What a cruel world! Why did you never be on my side?!
I quickly got up from the floor, held my gown on my head, and rolled up my graduation gown while baring my teeth to hide my embarrassment. Even Candice was giggling in her seat, gesturing at me with a trembling body, not caring that her lifelong best friend just had a serious embarrassing incident!
Thank God, my mom didn't laugh too. Instead, she buried her face in her palms, ignoring the laughter in the hall.
Anyone, bury me alive.