2 : Laughing Stock

It felt like running the whole twelve legs of the Amazing Race. I was expecting other teams to be waiting for me and applauding me when I got to the History building. I opened the door of Room H312, ready to see Phil smiling and telling me that I’ve won a million bucks.

Then the mirage faded away.

The grinning faces of the other teams turned into questioning stares and badly disguised snorts of laughter. My hair must’ve been glued to my face with sweat. But that’s good. At least the hair will shield my rapidly turning-tomato face from their view.

The professor, a balding middle-aged man with an extremely round front that’s threatening to rip his plaid shirt, gave me a forced calm smile that made him look constipated. His impatient pen tapping gave him away.

I can feel myself shrinking as I smiled apologetically and bowed my head, making a beeline for the nearest vacant chair. But as I took one step forward, the floor started to stand up.

No.

I was falling face down.

With an unceremonious thud and clattering of things, I made my first friend.

No more pretenses. Right then and there, the whole class erupted into booming laughter. Even the swelly-bellied professor couldn’t contain his glee. He jammed his fist in his mouth as an attempt silence himself, but all it did was make him look like someone choking.

I hope he explodes.

I decided that I hated him right that moment.

“Please get off me,” was my muffled request.

“I am so so sorry! Oh, let me help you up. Yeah. Right after I get up. Wait. Umf!”

I took the outstretched hand and unwillingly heaved myself up. How I wish the floor would turn to liquid and swallow me. But cruel life never passes up an opportunity to kick the crap right out of you. So there I still am, red as a beet in the face, desperately trying to regain my composure. The clumsy git that fell on me kept muttering “I’m sorry” as she followed me to the back of the class.

There goes my “good first impression”. And to think that I spent a good part of last night picking out the perfect first day outfit – intellectual but not nerdy – just to slam my face on the floor in front of forty heartless strangers. And a pig of a professor. Anger, humiliation, and dread coursed through my veins as I threw aside my backpack and slumped on my desk.

I am officially the laughing stock of History class.

1 : Moment of Insanity

I’m scared as hell.

It’s a brand new year, a brand new school, a brand new start.

I’m so scared.

It’s my first day in college. So many different people running around a gigantic campus and no familiar face. This is traumatic. Having come from a relatively small high school, I’m used to getting from room to room within five minutes. But here in this massive place, I have no idea where anything is, and I know I’ve seen that statue before.

Oh yeah. I’ve passed that a million times this morning.

The bell rang a couple of minutes ago to signal the start of classes, and I am nowhere near the right room! I turned my head desperately, hoping that the door with RM H312 written on it would suddenly materialize in the middle of this marble floor. I must’ve looked so pathetic because someone snatched the wrinkled paper I am holding, on which was written my class schedule and their corresponding rooms, and checked it.

“You’re in the wrong building. History building’s all the way at the other side of the campus. You must’ve been looking at your M-W-F schedule. This is the Literature building, and you have that M-W-F. Today’s tuesday.”

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. All the way at the other side! That is like, a hundred hectares away!

“You can borrow my skateboard if you want.”

A skateboard. Of all the wheels in the world, a skateboard is available. I thought this is supposed to be a high-end school? Where are all the rich kids with kick-ass cars who can drive me to Pluto in three minutes flat? I am going to be late. So late. My professor is going to kick me out of that class on my first day. Where is the ground when you need it to swallow you up?

“Or…not?”

Okay. I need to speak. Say something.

“Oh. Oh um…I… Thank you so much. But I… I really don’t know how to use a skateboard. But thank you so much for offering. And pointing me to the right building. I’ve been going around in circles the whole morning and I-I can’t find the room and I’m really panicking ‘cause it’s the first day and I want to make the right impressions and now I am so dead…”

“Whoa. Hold up. I’d like to stay and chat, but I really have to get to class too. Don’t worry, I had the same problem when I was a freshman. Trust me, you won’t be alone. See ya.”


With a wink and a half-smile, he left.

My angel left me alone to fend for myself in this big big world.

Who was that guy anyway?

But before I can even make the slightest guess, a second bell rang, I don’t know for what, but it certainly gave me a jolt. Come on legs, I need you to work now. This run will be worth a month’s workout. Now off to the other side! Where the grass is greener? I hope so.

DVDs

Here are sample picsc of the DVDs. Boxed ones are for 60 each. Buy more and nice discounts or freebies will be given. The ones in the yellow slips are 3 for 100. :)