Ludic Selcouth #1: Cracked Beat

Hit #28

My hands are cold while Signy is scrolling through the website. I turned my back at her and started pacing back and forth while trying so hard to calm my nerves.

“Zemi, can you please stop doing that? Youʼre making me dizzy,” naiinis na sabi ni Signy pero nakatutok pa rin naman ang mata sa laptop. Tumigil ako at huminga nang malalim.

“Just look for yourself, Zemira.” tumingin ako sa kaniya at umiling. “Iʼm nervous.” seryoso niya akong sinulyapan bago nagpatuloy sa pagsscroll sa website.

“Did it finally loaded?” tanong ko. Dahan-dahan siyang tumango. Kinagat ko ang labi at hindi mapakaling umupo sa tabi niya. I immediately averted my eyes from the screen of the laptop, itʼs better to look at the ceiling. Kumalabog ang puso ko nang mag-ring ang cellphone na hawak ko. I bit my lips and answered it.

“Zemira, have you seen the result?” panimula ni Lucien sa seryosong boses.

“Signy is already checking it,” kinakabahan kong sagot. Iʼm really tensed. What if my name isnʼt there? What if... what if I didnʼt pass the board exam? I feel like I'm gonna throw up because of jitters.

“Why donʼt you look for yourself?”

“Iʼm nervous.” he chuckled.

“Donʼt you have faith on yourself?” pasimple akong sumulyap sa laptop at nakita kong puro pangalan na ang nandoon. Muli akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

“Itʼs not that... Itʼs just that, what if I didnʼt pass?” kabado kong kinagat-kagat ang labi. I slightly jumped from my seat when Signy suddenly squealed. Kinakabahan akong napatingin sa kaniya.

Napatayo siya at niyugyog ang balikat ko. “OH MY GOD ZEMIRA!” she shook my shoulders even more. Pilit akong lumayo sa kaniya dahil nahihilo na ako.

“What is it?” mas lalo siyang ngumiti nang malawak dahil sa tanong ko.

“YOU PASSED!” after saying it, the door of the hospital room suddenly opened and confettis exploded. Pumasok si Lucien habang hawak-hawak pa ang confetti. Heʼs also holding a box of cake on his other hand. Nakangisi siyang lumapit sa 'kin.

“Congratulations, Engineer Devlin.”

I was still in shock. I think I suddenly get petrified because I couldnʼt move. Bahagya pang naka-awang ang labi ko at paulit-ulit na kumukurap-kurap. Nanghihina ulit akong napa-upo sa sofa at huminga nang malalim.

Did I really pass it? I passed?

OH GOD, I PASSED!

Muli akong napatayo at hinila silang dalawa para mayakap. “Shit... I passed...” naluluha kong sabi habang mahigpit na nakakapit sa kanilang dalawa. Lucien laughed and tapped my head.

“Why are you so shock? You shouldʼve expected it. You graduated as Cum Laude ang you have already proven you competence.” lumayo ako sa kanila at pinaypayan ang sarili.

Shit. I am really an engineer now.

Ngumiti ako nang malapad at agad na nilapitan si mama na nakahiga sa kaniyang hospital bed. Naluluha siyang nakatingin sakin at masayang nakangiti.

“Ma! Engineer na ako!” I hugged her carefully.

Iʼm so happy!

Marahan niyang hinaplos at hinalikan ang tuktok ng ulo ko. “Congrats, anak...” dahil doʼn ay tuluyan nang nagsilabasan ang mga luha ko. Lumayo ako sa kaniya at nagpunas ng luha. Everything is worth it. Everything finally paid off.

“Letʼs celebrate!” sigaw ni Signy kaya bahagya akong natawa. When she says celebrate, ibig sabihin mag-iinom kami.

My phone rang again. Tiningnan ko iyon at nakitang nagriring ang group chat namin ng Ludic Selcouth. Medyo napawi ang ngiti ko at biglang kinabahan. Bahagya akong lumayo kina Signy at sinagot ang video call. Agad na lumabas ang mga mukha nina Rush, Zath, Castriel at Paesyn.