Countdown to Midterms (Part III)

Inside the classroom, Michelle opened her laptop and played a clip of our newscast assignment. While watching the video, Ella and I could only chuckle as we messed some of our lines.

"We talked so awfully, didn't we?" I remarked on Ella.

Then again, perfection is not a necessity in this project, so we simply brushed off the mistakes. Regardless, any aspiring journalist would not accept such gaffes on a daily basis, so lesson learned.

Ten minutes in, the professor arrived and immediately made an announcement.

"Students," she eagerly opened. "For your midterm project, all of you must produce a live talk show inside the studio next week."

"You heard that?" Michelle enthusiastically pointed out to me. "We're having a talk show next week."

"But who will be our distinguished guest?" I promptly asked her. "We haven't even selected one yet."

"It is up to you to invite a guest of your choosing, so pick wisely," the professor added. "Also, I expect a beautiful set so good luck."

The professor winked her right eye after she had finished speaking. Then the whole class immediately went to work.

"So who will host the talk show?" one of our male students called us out.

"Me!!!" a female student immediately stood up and raised her hand. "I definitely want to host this talk show."

"All right then," he happily announced. "You will be our host next week."

"I think her lovely face looked recognizable to me before," Michelle commented favorably on the lady. "She was my classmate in philosophy class last term."

"Can you relate to us who she is?" Ella questioned back. "We're a little curious."

"Girls, her name is Debbie," Michelle divinely revealed to us. "She was affectionately named after Debbie Gibson, a popular 80s teen star."

"Debbie Gibson?" I fondly recalled. "My mother was undoubtedly a self-confessed fan of hers. She even possessed Debbie's debut album inside our cabinet."

"Anyway, Debbie also happens to be a local disc jockey at a popular Manila radio station," Michelle continued. "She has appeared in television commercials and even posed for some teen magazines."

As the three of us looked keenly at Debbie, we were quickly enamored by her innate grace and sparkling beauty. Even the entire class could merely watch in considerable awe as she delivered us a taste of her fluid and deep voice.

A few hours later, Michelle, Ella and I were inside the classroom taking up video production. Just then, Amanda made her way to the room and immediately stared at our friend Ella.

"What's up my friend?" Amanda sarcastically greeted her.

Rather than confront her arch-enemy, Ella turned her head back and looked intently at us. It was clear she wanted no part of Amanda's meddlesome ways, so she shook her off like that incident was was nothing.

Minutes later, the professor arrived on the scene. With a USB stick on hand, he promptly played to us a short music video of a popular Filipino rock band on the computer.

Shortly after, the professor closed the computer and walked in front of us. At that point he made an important announcement.

"Students," he promptly opened. "For your midterm project, I will divide you into four groups and each must produce a brief music video. Any concept and theme will do, as long as the song is from a Filipino singer or band."

Almost immediately, students began grouping themselves accordingly. As Michelle, Ella and myself sat together, we were joined by twins Jaime and Jamie and another male student.

"Girls meet Kevin," Jamie promptly introduced him to us.

Kevin shook hands and happily welcomed us. As we acquaint ourselves to this handsome man, Jamie decided to deeply reveal some things about him.

According to Jamie, Kevin was once a childhood friend of him and Jaime. They used to be neighbors at a posh village in San Juan until he moved with his family to Makati prior to entering high school.

While in high school, Kevin soon discovered his innate passion for singing and promptly joined the glee club. Upon entering college, he continued his pursuit of singing and became a member of the university choir.

Around the same time, Kevin also formed a rock band consisting of his former high school buddies. His bandmates also wound up attending the same college as him, albeit in differing professions.

At that point, Kevin promptly displayed his singing chops in front of us.

"Your voice is so deep and full," Michelle commented on his abilities. "No wonder you are so good at singing."

"It was no big deal," Kevin responded favorably. "My parents were also part of a choir."

After the group leaders submitted their lists to the professor, he stood up to deliver some final words.

"Students, we will not have class next week," the professor gleefully announced. "All of you will have two weeks to adequately prepare and complete the project. Are we clear with that?"

"Crystal," the whole class shouted fiercely in unison.

Minutes later, the professor decided to dismiss us. Just then, our group huddled outside for a short pep talk.

"Guys, I have a suggestion," Kevin eagerly asked. "Why not use my band for the music video?"

"Hey that is not a bad idea," Ella remarked on Kevin's practical proposal. "So, do you already have a song in mind?"

"Definitely," Kevin nodded enthusiastically. "In fact we already recorded it as part of a three-song EP that was released last month."

"Great to see it coming Kevin," Michelle fervently said. "The only thing missing is a concept. We should talk about it this weekend. What do you think?"

Almost immediately, every member of the group nodded at Michelle. Our video production project is off to an auspicious start.

Friday morning followed a Monday schedule. At philosophy class, the professor announced a 300-word essay on Albert Camus' famous quote.

"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide," Camus once quoted.

"Kindly submit the 300-word essay on or before next Monday," the philosophy professor politely said. "Insert it in my mailbox during your free time or place it properly on the desk prior to class."

Then for photography class, the substitute professor carried out an individual assignment given to him by our absent fellow. He then introduced to us an extremely sensitive topic for the project.

"You must capture pictures related to poverty and homelessness," the professor eagerly announced. "The story you narrate in these images must be compelling, concise and intimate."

And so the week of high anticipation drew to a close. With that, the midterm season looms for all of us.