So when will this end, it goes on and on

I think I’m psychic or something. It’s either that or maybe I really have strong instincts when it comes to certain things. So today was my first day at UP (University of the Philippines) review classes and I felt somewhat calmer to know that I would be in a whole new environment far, far away from my school. Erm, I was wrong.

I sat in the middle and gazed around coolly, trying to look totally blase as if I had done this a million times before. Inwardly I was panicking. New environment. Shit. And I don’t know a single person here! Then, to my relief and surprise, I saw Patsy’s mom through the tall glass windows beside the door. I leaned forward on my chair and saw Patsy standing beside her mom. Oh my God. What the hell is Patsy doing here? I wondered. I knew Patsy didn’t want to go to UP, and that she might be leaving for the States this year. But I was so relieved to see a familiar human being that I jumped up to meet her anyway. We’ve drifted apart ever since she went hot and heavy with Michelle but what the hell. We had some history, at least. Besides, that ominous feeling about certain people I dislike in school showing up there was growing stronger. Patsy is friends with everyone. Remember the rule of the jungle? Survival of the fittest; eat or be eaten. It couldn’t hurt to be friends with a strong predator. I was like a kitten, thrown amongst the lions.

Patsy was equally surprised to see me, and after signing her name for attendance she took the seat in front of me (the seats at my side were already occupied). Patsy told me she took the review class because she wanted to do something for the summer. Wow. If I had the luxury to do that, the last thing I would choose to do is to spend all my afternoons practically going back to school. Unfortunately, review classes are a necessary evil for me–if I do not pass UP I don’t know what will happen to me.

We talked some more about whatever we’ve been doing lately, then Patsy looked out the window and said, “Oh, Kathe is here.” My blood ran cold. Kathe is friends with Coco (Nicole). Aloud, I said, “Don’t tell me Coco’s going to show up.” But I guess I really must be psychic because my worse fears came true a few minutes later. Kathe then sauntered in the classroom with Nicole, Tintin and (Oh shit, I groaned inwardly) Nenok following closely behind her.

Welcome back to ________ __ ___ ____. Have a pleasant summer.

You remember Nenok, right? During my anti-cheerleading days when I was rallying against it like I was some activist or something? Well she was one of my biggest enemies then. A big rah-rah, go batch go! kind of girl. She also has a terrible temper and talks like a market vendor when pissed. Like most of the other girls I dislike at my school. Tintin is Nenok’s girlfriend. Or rather, Nenok is Tintin’s girlfriend because the latter is a butch. I don’t like Tintin either because she is equipped with typical Filipino humor–50% insulting, 40% corny and 10% funny. I never laugh at her jokes even though the whole class is practically rolling on the floor with laughter. Nicole–well, I’ve been her group mate in Chemistry and although she was the leader she made me do our investigatory project when you all know that I have zero scientific aptitude. We got an 82 in that, the lowest in the class. Oh well, I did my best. Better than no project at all, right? Kathe–she’s okay, I guess. I hear a lot of rumors about her but gernally, she’s one of the people in school I don’t pay much attention to.

So, yeah. Those are the people I will be stuck with for eight days. On the last day, for 13 hours. Oh, the irony! The tricks Fate plays on us!

I think I’m gonna be sick.

Nicole said hi and took the table behind me. When Tintin passed by my table, she grinned and said, “Doesn’t it suck that Coco’s here?” She was probably kidding, but I felt a bit guilty when she said that.

About ten minutes later, we all took this mock UP exam for four hours. Jesus Christ. The first part was okay, Language-something. It had questions in English and Filipino grammar and to my surprise, I found the Filipino part quite easy although I had to read the questions very slowly. It’s a whole lot easier than Spanish, that’s for sure. Then we had Math for an hour–I guessed about 90% of the answers because I left tangents and the amount of work done far, far behind me when school ended. Science was okay, but I need to brush up on my Biology. Reading Comprehension was a piece of cake. But that test left me with a growling stomach afterwards. Then we had to stay 30 minutes longer to check the answers and to be informed about the rules and stuff.

Cute guy check: unfortunately, there wasn’t anybody hot enough to make going to review classes the highlight of the entire summer. Well, there was this guy with tsinito eyes–I’m guessing he’s Chinese–that looked okay but I’m not really into Chinese guys. So whoop-de-do. I’m going back to school in April but this time it’s coed, not all girls.

Wonderful.