The human mind is a wonderful thing, that even with all the advancements in science and modern technology is still unexplainable. It can grasp concrete concepts; it can grasp math — simple arithmetic up to algebra. It can even gasp and explain abstract ones, like philosophy and ethics.
But there are still some things that the mind can not fathom.
Yesterday was to be considered as the first ‘reality jolt’ for us vacationers, because it marked the end of our blissful, problem-free summer holidays. It was the enrollment day. For the first time in ages, I was back again to school, wearing the stuffy white uniform and walking under the stifling heat of the sun.
But it was worth it. Because I got to see my friends again. Frederick, Chenyl, Gian, Paolo, Jinggay, Kams and I all walked from corner of the university (our building) to the other (the seminary gym, a.k.a. enrollment site). Because we really haven’t seen each other for a long time, we were all quite noisy. Yes, we do have contact with each other — through text, IM-ing, but it’s just not the same, you see.
Unfathomable Thought #1: How love (of a friend) works
Chenyl and I met up early, because we both feared the long lines that may come with the late hour. A few minutes later, Fred joined us. And then it was Gian, who came in second-to-the-last (no one can ever beat Paolo for being the tardy king) caught the wave of students flocking to the medicine building. Chen and I were tinkering with her IPod, when Fred shouted,
“Sino pa bang hinihintay natin?” the words came from the heat.
“Si Gian,” Chen and I chorused.
“Oh, okay,” Fred demured. “Sabi ko nga, eh, hintayin na natin siya,”
Unfathomable Thought #2: How we can talk about nothing and still feel fulfilled
After getting our registration forms and our ID’s validated for the next school year, we all strolled around to the car park to grab a bite to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
The conversation shifted from what we had done in the summer, to losing weight, to cars (there were 4 boys in the table, after all), to neighbors, to music, to television shows, and to other topics that I can’t remember. When Kat joined us, the noise level doubled. We were all sitting at one long table, but there were at least three conversations going on simultaneously. It was fun. ^__^
Unfathomable Thought #3: How ‘No Plans’ became our un-official motto
Due to the traffic, we decided just to meet Nicole in España. Gian, Pao and Lance couldn’t come with us because they had other stuff to do. We were to go to TriNoMa, the new mall in the right next to SM North to check it out.
The FX ride to the mall was fun, mostly because Kat and Fred bonded with the driver. The mall was spanking new. So new, in fact, that the official grand opening is still sometime in June. There were only a handful of stores open, but the food court had already been filled. Frederick took us on a tour, showing us where the different fountains were to be placed. The structure, being an Ayala Mall, was very reminiscent of Alabang Town Center. It would be a cool hang-out place, because there were many places built for such bonding moments with friends and family.
We were all in the mood for coffee, and Starbucks usually was our place. Unfortunately, the Starbucks in TriNoMa has yet to open, so we walked over to The Block, the new extension of SM North. We walked around and around, took a break at Crazy Crepes, and found that, also, there were no Starbucks in the building.
“Ang pinkamalapit na pinakamatinong Starbucks, yung sa Morato,” Kat said.
“Sige! Morato tayo!” everybody else chorused.
So we took a beaten down cab and went to Tomas Morato. At last, we were in coffee heaven. The reasons why we wanted to go to Starbucks (in Morato) specifically are thus:
a. The atmosphere is nice (music, scent)
b. The couches are soft
c. The lighting is great for pictures
d. The barista’s are cute
Unfortunately when we got there, all of the couches are filled with people with books in front of them and Ipod earphones shoved into their ears. Why the hell were these people studying? It’s the summer break, for goodness’ sake!
We took the chairs on the balcony, which, in retrospect, was okay, because Kat had a pack of smokes with her to vaporize. Time flies when you’re having fun, it was said, and sure as hell, before we’ve exhausted all of our topics, it was already six o’clock in the evening.
“Nagugutom na ako,” I moaned, looking at the various food establishments littered in the area.
“Parang gusto ko nga rin ng burger,eh,” Kat agreed.
“Ako rin!” I said. “Brother’s Burger tayo!” she said, pointing to the burger joint across the street.
Hurriedly we went out of the coffee shop and ran inside Brother’s Burger. Everybody ate, except for Fred who only lived a few minutes away anyway. I had to bring back a burger for my brother in return for all of the nice things he’s done for me over the week.
At exactly seven, we all said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I hitched a cab ride with Fred to Quezon Ave., the nearest MRT station.
Unfathomable Thought #4: How family never lets you down
You see, I live in Laguna, and if there are only three options for me to get home: the bus station in Lawton, the bus station in Buendia, and the bus station in Landmark. Since I was a few minutes away from Makati, I opted for the train ride. Besides, my parents both worked in Ayala Ave., and there was still the slight chance that I can catch them from work.
But in the middle of the train ride, my phone died. Which frustrated me to no end, because I was just about to reply to my mother’s question if I wanted to go home with them. As soon as I got off the train, I searched for the nearest payphone and called her office. Nobody was answering. I called home and my brother picked up.
“Nasaan ka?” he asked.
“Sa MRT station sa Makati,” I said. “Paki text naman sila Mama, o. Low batt na kasi yung phone ko, paki sabi magbu-bus na lang ako pauwi.”
“Okay,” he said. There was a pause, and then he was talking to my mother over his cell, telling them what happened to me. “Magbus ka na lang daw. Nasa Pasay road na sila eh. Mahirap pa magkakitaan pag wala kang phone.”
“Okay,” I said. “Thanks.” I walked through SM and Landmark to get to the bus station. And wouldn’t you know it, as I was looking at the signs, I saw my mother, waiting for me!
Hooray!
I was saved from falling in line! Yay!
“Mahirap kumuha ng bus kapag umuulan,” she said and proceeded to call my father, who was circling around the area until my mother and I met.
To tell you, it was such a relief to be in that car going home.
Unfathomable Thought #5: How parents work
I could tell from the silence in the car that my father was a little pissed off at me. He was hungry so I offered him the burger that I bought for my kuya. He took one bite and put it down.
Ouch.
It was so quiet and I was so tired that I scooted back to rest my eyes. A few seconds after my eyes closed, my mother and father talked about the whole ordeal. I didn’t hear any bad stuff, and soon they switched onto other topics.
When we got home, I immediately changed my clothes, charged my phone and replied to the text messages that I got. We had dinner downstairs and as my father and I washed our hands, he let me kiss him on the cheek.
Yay, forgiveness!
And there you have it. Some of the things that the mind can not explain. At least my mind can’t. It still surprised me how humans work. We could be so predictable one second and totally surprise ourselves the next.
