Quite Sober

Suddenly, I am no longer under the heading “Baby Dent”. The jostle in the train and the narrow streets of Manila are now supremely familiar sights that the novelty of going through them melted away. The maze-like building allocations of the university lost their mystique and even the frequent demonstrations in front of the cold and imposing Supreme Court could barely extract a raised eyebrow from me.  Somehow, in the vast and unfamiliar manor that is the university life, I have successfully made my way to the foyer.

The shelving away of the summer modules was trailed by a dizzying intoxication on freedom. On these dying days of the sunny season, dawn awakenings were unnecessary. Bathing no longer required intensive countdowns – 35 seconds for shampoo, 60 for conditioning, 60 for soaping – and breakfasts can be leisurely. Dates with the television were not hindered by jealous paper requirements and sleeping times were no longer bossed by rigid schedules. 

But this little window for breathing also means a time of reflection. Though not overly dramatic and an affectation…but it does have lasting consequences. The mind can wonder on past mistakes and resolve to improve the attitude for the next semester. This can be dreadfully difficult, but not impossible. The greatest of challenges, after all, resides in competing with one's yesterday self.  A little summer sobriety does pay.

29 March 2012

8:30 pm

I used to dread the punishing heat that comes with the otherwise blissful summer holidays, like a ghoul stubbornly clinging to a pleasant guest. However, as I cringed in trepidation as soon as February was ripped away from the calendar, it came as a welcome surprise when cloudy days came in succession and the occasional showers eased the plants, and my temper.

Today, the skies were as gray as I like them to be. Their contrast against the water-darkened leaves of the trees painted a rather fetching picture, with my windows as frames. These, along with my favorite set of curtains of rich dark brown enhanced with wispy shadows of dark blue print, eased my mood.

I adore cool colors and I view sunny days with distaste. I like my room cool and dark enough as to make the bulb shine stronger. It gives me the feeling of being in possession of my niche in this world, where I can reflect with abandon and savor the company of my mind. The frequent and nasty rumbles of the vehicles outside are just proof that a world beyond me exists and that I can always stay inside to ponder its aspects, and venture out to wrestle with its challenges.