A Game with Kismet | Suarez II

Chapter 5

What denotes a general belief that the powers of the state to make and enforce rules are justified and proper?

Great.

I grimaced when I saw the first question. Surely, it was discussed. Pero natabunan ng lahat ng ni-review ko kagabi ang isip ko. I am certain I didn't read this last night.

Number one pa lang, pero wala na sa transes na binigay ni Suarez. "Sinabotahe niya ba 'ko?" Kinakagat ko na naman ang mga kuko dahil sa kaba.

Kaya ba ganoon kabilis ay parang bigla siyang bumait?

Pambihira!

If it's too good to be true then it might be! Ang tanga mo, Ammy!

There's a growing lump in my throat when I read the next question and again, I am not familiar with it.

He is playing dirty with me!

I answered all the questions; even those that I wasn't sure of. Tinandaan ko na lang ang mga number; para kung may time pa mamaya ay mabago ko. I can't sacrifice skipping them, dahil kapag biglang naubos ang oras nang hindi ko namamalayan, malaking puntos ang mawawala sa akin. Kahit hindi sigurado lahat, mas mabuti nang may sagot.

"Make sure to shade the circles properly. Tandaan niyong machines na ang nagtse-tsek ng mga papel niyo."

"As much as possible, erase the irrelevant marks on your paper."

Mahigpit sa exam ang school namin. Tatlo ang instructor na nagbabantay sa amin. Umiikot sila sa buong room para siguraduhing walang pandarayang nagaganap.

Nasa kalagitnaan pa lang ako ng exam ay nagsalita na ang isang instructor.

"Okay, everyone," malakas niyang sabi. "Time—"

"Ma'am?" Sabay-sabay na nagreklamo ang buong klase.

All of us looked at her and reacted as if she did a crime. She responded with a laugh. "Time update lang. You still have one hour and thirty minutes to answer."

Lord, ano na namang trip mo noong ginawa mo 'tong isang 'to? Alam na nga niyang kinakabahan kami, nag-e-enjoy pa ata siya.

Frustration is all over my system. Mas marami pa ang sagot na hindi ko sigurado dahil hindi ko nabasa sa transes na binigay ni Suarez. It's my fault for not scanning my notes and just relying on the reviewer he gave me.

Kung wala lang akong trabaho kahapon, may time akong magbasa ng notes or I could've not gone to work to allot more time for my review. Masiyado akong nakampante sa transes ni Suarez.

"496 . . . 499, 500." Thirty minutes before the examination time is over, I counted all my answers. Masama ang kutob ko sa mga sagot ko, but all I can do is to trust my memory and instinct. After recounting it twice, I stood holding my paper.

"Videl, are you done?"

I'm done with the frustrations. Gusto ko nang magpahangin sa labas. "Yes, Ma'am."

Nagtinginan ang lahat sa akin. Mula kanina, tatlo pa lang ang nakatapos at lumabas. Usually, I maximize my time and I don't leave the room without the time being over. But reading all the questions I am not sure of repeatedly, frustrates me.

"Sana all."

"Ammy, punta kang chapel. Ipagdasal mo kami."

Nag-react ang mga kaklase ko. Caela made a face when I looked at her. Isang chapter na lang, I mouthed at her line.

I passed my paper after ensuring that my name was written on the front page. I took two bags with me as I left the room: one school bag, and one bag of rage.