Playing Catch-Up (Part II)

It was 5:00 a.m. Monday. I awakened in bed and stood up stretching, eager to continue catching up on missed school work.

Regrettably, I was the first person in the room to get up. Michelle, Ella and Charissa were still sleeping and there were no leftovers in the refrigerator.

Good thing, Ella kept some boxes of cereal in the compartment. I opened a box and poured some of it on the bowl, after which it was seasoned with a pack of chilled fresh milk.

"Mmmm..." I happily reacted upon eating the cereal.

After finishing a bowl of cereal, I took a bath and changed to a new set of clothes. Just as my wet hair is about to be combed from the dresser, Michelle and Ella both yawned awake.

"Good morning," Michelle greeted me with a yawning voice. "You're up early?"

"I had to," my response to Michelle's question. "There's a lot more to catch up."

With a premium smartphone on hand, I went outside to the hallway and tried to contact Claire. But after several ringing sounds, I was greeted by the teleprompter saying, "The subscriber cannot be reached. Please try again later."

I dialed Claire's number a few more times but she failed to respond on each occasion. Desperate, I reluctantly returned to Ella's room walking around in frustration.

"What's wrong?" Ella questioned anxiously as she prepared breakfast.

"I couldn't contact Claire," my taut voice replying to Ella. "I need to copy some philosophy notes as soon as possible."

"It is possible she's still sleeping," Michelle commented.

"You're probably right," I reluctantly admitted. "But seriously time is not on my side."

I continued walking around trying to figure out a way to make up philosophy class. But just as my mind was about to run out of options, an idea suddenly popped.

"Wait a minute," I stopped walking and exclaimed to Michelle and Ella. "There is one classmate who can help me."

"Who?" Michelle and Ella asked in sync.

"It was Kyla," I answered back. "But her number is not listed on my phone."

"Don't worry I have Kyla's number," Michelle announced. "Remember, we're teammates."

So Michelle handed her smartphone to me and I dialled Kyla's cell number. Two rings later, a voice emanated through my ear.

Kyla: "Hello? Who's there?"

Christine: "It's me, Christine."

Kyla: "Oh Christine. How can I help you?"

Christine: "Kyla, are you on your way to school?"

Kyla: "Yeah. Why did you ask?"

Christine: "Kyla, I need your notebook so badly. I missed two classes already, and time is not on my side."

Kyla: "Christine, I don't use a notebook anymore. But I do have a USB stick that you can borrow. However, we do have an assignment for the week, and the deadline is this Wednesday."

Christine: "What is it?"

Kyla: "Something about Machiavelli. Anyway, there are still two days to do so you have time for that."

Christine: "Great. But I still need your USB, though."

Kyla: "Okay then. Come at the school gym and wait for me there. See you then."

Christine: "Definitely."

Not long after I hung up the phone, Charissa aroused from her deep slumber. She went straight to the table where Ella already placed plates of sausage and waffles.

"Christine, where are you off to?" Charissa inquired me.

"Going to the gym mother," I replied back. "My classmate Kyla is waiting for me there."

"Well Christine since you're healthy enough, I can fetch you home after class," Charissa naturally suggested. "Is that okay?"

I sat down for a moment and thought about Charissa's offer. My mother and friends waited with bated breath for me to make a decision.

"What if I experience an independent life?" my urgent suggestion ringing through Charissa's ears. "I'm already 22 and at this point my mind leans towards a life of freedom and self-confidence."

"But Christine?" Charissa disagreed with my rebuttal. "You're still mentally unprepared to handle the rigors of living independently. Even Michelle had to return home at Karina's after school. This grind may not help you in the end."

Charissa approached me from her seat and offered a piece of her mind.

"Listen," Charissa said. "During my college years, the thought of living at a dormitory or condominium never crossed my mind. I was always the type of student who goes home after class and gets pampered by my parents every time. College may not have been easy but I somehow survived the experience."

After stroking my cheek, Charissa gave one last piece of advice to me.

"Christine, what's most important is for you to finish your studies," she proclaimed. "Nothing more or less. You can do it kid, I promise."

Reluctantly I nodded and graciously accepted Charissa's reasonable offer with no regrets. Then Michelle stood up and walked towards me.

"Don't worry Christine," Michelle uttered. "I can still drive you to and from school every day, remember that."

"But what about your right arm?" I questioned Michelle's motives.

As I worriedly pointed out her injury, she suddenly took off her sling to reveal the wounded arm is fine once again. We were extremely surprised at Michelle's swift recovery.

"The scar is still there but other than that, my arm is good again," Michelle commented. "Charissa can drive both of us home. Is that okay with you?"

"Don't worry," Charissa nodded in approval. "I can take both of you home."

As Ella and Michelle finished their breakfast, I bade Charissa goodbye and walked straight to the gym. Upon arriving, an empty and dark gym greeted me.

Shortly after, a shadow lurked from the distance. As it moved slowly, the figure was revealed to be wearing spectacles, short hair, a loose shirt, athletic shorts and rubber shoes.

"Kyla?" I called out. "Are you there?"

"Christine," Kyla shouted gleefully. "Great to see you this early."

As the school employees eagerly opened the lights, Kyla delivered me her USB stick and smiled confidently.

"Take care of it," Kyla earnestly advised me. "I've been using this baby for five years now and all my important files are there."

"Don't worry Kyla," I replied back. "You'll receive it back once class starts."

After politely bidding Kyla goodbye, I promptly returned to Ella's room, opened my laptop and carefully copied the files for philosophy. A few hours later, class was about to begin and Michelle, Ella and myself gladly left the room for the campus.

But upon entering the classroom for philosophy, Claire suddenly walked towards me and instantly revealed something important.

"Christine, philosophy class is free cut today," Claire gleefully announced.

Kyla also arrived on time to hear Claire's message. With that, the three of us headed to a cafeteria for a little talk.