ONLINE CLASS SERIES #1: LOVE ON ZOOM

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ngayong week na 'to ay puro lang nakalaan sa mga college applications. Halos lahat ng universities ay ngayon mag-lalabas ng results. Ang iba naman, ngayon mag-eexam. Kaya mabuti na lang wala kaming pasok.

I woke up too early to be in the Zoom Meeting. Today will be the Essay exam for the second screening.

I'm not that nervous because many people think that I'm really good at writing essays. One of the reasons why I chose Journalism. 

"Okay. You have to answer this essay in an hour. No more extensions. You may begin now." The proctor said.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. One hour lang? How can I write and finish an essay for just an hour? Kanina hindi ako kinakabahan. Pero ngayon, kabang-kaba na ako.

Wala akong choice at sinimulan ko na. Nag-salita ang proctor na 10 minutes na lang. Kaya dali-dali pa rin ako mag-sulat.

"Times up. Submit it through the Google Forms now."

I submitted my essay but I am not satisfied. I didn't do good in this part.

Bumaba ako para kumain ng lunch. Nakita agad nila Dad ang lungkot sa mata ko.

"Okay lang yan, Den. You have two back-ups universities pa naman." Mom said. "Ay. Diba ngayon results ng FEU?" Mom asked. I nod.

"Go check it later. You did your best, Den." Dad said, smiling.

After I washed the dishes, I went to my room and opened my laptop again. I checked the portal of FEU. And I just saw that I passed. Siguro okay na nga 'to. At least meron na akong pinasahan sa isa sa mga university na inapply-an ko.

The next day Miguel called me. Nagpapasama siya sa akin na tignan ang results sa UP. I said okay, so here we are.

"Go check it na." I said. "It's 3:00PM na."

"Baby, I'm nervous." He said, like he was about to throw up.

"Check it. I know you will pass." I smiled.

Hindi na siya sumagot. Siguro nag-type na siya ng Email niya sa portal. I looked at him while he's looking at his screen. He looked shocked.

"Baby!" He said. "I passed." I'm crying for him. I'm so proud of him. Finally, he's an Isko.

"I'm so proud of you, Miguel. Congratulations." I said.

"I love you."

After two days, Miguel called me and said He also passed DLSU. He told me that I should check my CEU Email because the results will be out today.

Just like that, I passed CEU. I have passed 2/3 universities. I'm not sure if I will pass UST. But at least, I have back-ups.

After a week, nagka-pasok na kami. 'Yung ibang universities tapos na mag-bigay ng results at ng exam. Pero ang UST ngayon pa lang.

I am on a Zoom Meeting, listening to the lecture. But I feel like I'm not absorbing anything. My phone beeped and immediately checked it.

Miguel Willson:
you look like nervous
chill
dahil yan sa ust no?

Den Rodriguez:
yes

Miguel Willson:
just relax
you did well, baby

I just reacted a heart reaction to that message. After the class, I was hesitating if I should check my portal or not. But again, Miguel convinced me to open it so that I won't be nervous for the next few hours. At para rin magka-alaman na.

I logged in to my portal. "Aaaaa." I'm screaming and jumping. I saw that I passed!

"Ate wag ka ngang maingay. 'Di ko marinig na pinapanuod ko." Dali-dali akong yumakap kay Talia. "Weird mo, ate."

"Ano meron dito?" Dad asked. I pointed to my laptop and he went there. "Congrats, 'nak. Told you, you did well." He hugged me.

"You deserve it." Mom said.

After that week, Miguel went to my house. He bought me foods and we watched movies. "So saan ka na mag-college? You have three choices oh." He asked.

"UST, syempre. How about you?"

"UP. Dadalhin kita sa Sunken Garden pag face to face na." He kissed my forehead. "Doon tayo mag-date."