Finally had our first day of class. The word “finally” usually implies that we’re waiting for something with excitement, but this time I just don’t know how to start this paragraph properly and don’t want to further think of a better intro. Our fellowship program has this compulsory masteral program attached to it, so a couple of days ago Uni-Horned Beef Jerky Alanis Whore, The Black Mariah, Lakitu, and I dropped our chemo-ing to attend in UP Manila…. the Freshmen Orientation!!! Complete with Students’ Handbooks. The powerpoint slides showed us stuff like “Grades: 1.0, 1.25, etc.” and “A grade of incomplete means etc.” and I realized that we really cared about this stuff…. decades ago. We looked around at all the incoming masteral students, and we were surprised because we were expecting really old dudes. To our surprise, WE were the old dudes, or maybe we’re just wrinklier and look totally drained of life force.

While frantically roundsing this morning what should UHBJAW text me but: first day of class pala ngayon, at 11am! Start of classes in twenty minutes! So I immediately ceased my chit chat with the patient while making timpla those damn chemicals. I tend to get so engrossed with their stories while I fix their meds, more specifically I get engrossed at some of their seemingly genuine… calmness. And even peace. Truly it must have been a long dreary process to get there, but there’s just something inspiring about it all.

The four of us got to the classroom late, unprepared as fuck. To the level of:
Prof: Are you officially enrolled?

We just looked at each other, because we actually didn’t know. Uni-Horned Beef Jerky Alanis Whore saved us all with an unintelligible string of words:

Uni-Horned Beef Jerky Alanis Whore: Sir, uhm, Form Five, but not, I was told, or the Office, Registrar, did not. Ahoy.

Something fantastic like that. And the lecture started without further incident. It was only later that we were told that we are not officially enrolled yet because… hindi pa kami bayad ng tuition fee. AHAHAHAHAHAHA.

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