Chasing Gavin
Chasing after the golden snitch
It's summer again...gone are the days of note-taking, lectures, exams, and the customary scene of students lurking in one corner, along with the loads of gargantuan books of every thickness, grasping the lingering minutes for the occasional cramming. It felt like I merely sped through an entire school year, overlooking events as new-fangled ones turn up before I could even notice the previous ones drift away hastily. And you know what? It seemed as though as I went through them as quick as Harry Potter chasing after the Golden Snitch, exhilarated to get his hands upon the glistening, silver Quidditch cup.
It felt like it was barely yesterday when I went home from school upset about book I nearly lost from the library. Time went so fast, I wasn't even able to glance about to see how many hours have gone already...I was too busy making my way through the demanding world of the average mortals. I was too engrossed in trying to breeze through the year so I could enjoy the delight and contentment that summer simply endows me with.
* * *
I came home from my final exam day...feeling the rapture of being able to mutter, "Finally..." or must I say, bellow and declare, "Finally...it's over!" I felt the heavy heap of burden elevate from my back, replaced by the running thoughts of what-to-dos in my head. I had a pretty hard time just trying to decide on what to do next, and next to that, so then and there. I ended up watching the television, ignoring the strike of the clocks every hour...hardly aware of the existing beings just about me...creating my own world in the clouds like a depraved little pixie, lost in treasure island.
I had time kept between the strong grips of my fingers. And yeah, I was getting pleasure from it. There I was...literally gaping blankly at the panel. "But hold on a minute...wait...am I supposed to be gluing my eyes on the set? I've homework to do!" That notion passed through my driveled thoughts...eventually making me stand up and panic. Silly of me to think about that...so I slapped myself and mumbled, "oh yeah...it's summer already. How could I fail to remember?" So I sat back and tried to calm down, smiling at myself for being absent-minded (How dim-witted of me to forget!). Anyway, that wasn't an extreme case of absent-mindedness that I had to ponder about. I had enough mind-numbers that supplied me a whole school year already, and it's doubtless that another one could make matters even worse than they already are.
But after that simple incident, I gave in to try and hark back to the previous school year. I heard myself making silent giggles as I traveled back through the past months. I was reminded of my occasional naps during my math class, my obvious reactions after waking up from my slumber, and my unavoidable trips to Neverneverland and Diagon Alley. Too busy sleeping rather than listening, I realized my slip-up after receiving the consequences of my persistent daydreaming.
Sometimes, daydreaming is my way to escape and flee from boredom. I could do it almost anywhere, like for every so often I do it in the classroom. I sit there, enjoying my sole instances within the four corners of the depleted place. Nothing much of interest happens there, nothing but the sheer enjoyment you earn from appreciating the dull and droning sight of the blackboard. Leisurely, I would feel my thoughts flying off to elsewhere, from the blackboard's non-entity-ness to the parallel world's exhilaration. It's fun, I'm telling you...fulfilling, I must say. But definitely not recommendable...unless you would like to risk yourself into an embarrassment that you leave an impression to your teacher...only that it's not a very pleasant one.
During breaks, I was fond of dropping by the library to check out a number of books and to get a tip-off about some recent news on the bulletins. Aside from that, I enjoyed cracking jokes to my friends in the library. I find it really thrilling when the librarian misses us giggling under our breaths, trying to hide behind the shelves to keep ourselves from laughing our heads off in the wrong place.
There was this time when I ran towards the general stocks section, hoping that my friend would soon look for me so my plan would work perfectly. Eventually, my friend found my crouching underneath the shelves, giving her one annoying grin. I tried to hold my grin as I pulled out an old book, whispering at her in a serious tone, looking sideways as if I'm on a lookout, "I saw ancient China...got sucked into the book! Can you believe that?" I was pretending to be this cartoon character I saw on TV. But due to my weakness (having fun in the library), we were almost asked to step out of the library. So much for crossing over the lines.
Apart from dawdling around the library, I also enjoyed my Social Studies subject. I love history. The thought of it jogs my memory regarding my long gone adventures to infinity and beyond; those times when I had my head in the clouds, miles away from my endless attacks against the throbbing bouts of reality. Though history tackles about reality itself, it's a different issue along with different people with lifestyles poles apart from what I have. When the bell rings for my Social Studies class, it means that it's time for me to go aboard the simple time machine. I got the pet name komunista from my teacher back then because I was known in class for wearing a red button with a yellow star right in the middle. I was exceptionally proud of that, not because I was a komunista, but because I gain recognition just for showing off my button. Eventually my mom nagged me into leaving it at home, worried that I might get into more trouble if I carry on wearing it.
* * *
Presently I'm trying to hurl my thoughts out of boredom. But it's just too difficult to do that. Too difficult that I feel like I'm a rotting pile of horse manure. Boredom barely hangs out with me when I'm in school, because I had friends around for me to chat with. If I used to think that lingering restlessly during my math class wasn't such an exciting way to enjoy my class hours, now I've realized that that is nothing compared to having my computer to keep me company all day-as what it's doing right now.
It's hard to believe that only a week has passed and I'm already missing school. Another week more and I'd probably start my countdown to the first day of classes. How could I just want something I used to hate so much come back? I guess I got too attached to the previous year. I miss conversing with my friends in the cafeteria, cracking jokes that aren't exactly that hilarious. I miss updating them with the latest know-how's that I have heard over my brothers. I miss my daily trips to the library. To cut it short, I miss school.
* * *
It's summer again...gone are the days of note-taking, lectures, exams, and the customary scene of students lurking in one corner, along with the loads of gargantuan books of every thickness, grasping the lingering minutes for the occasional cramming. It felt like I merely sped through an entire school year, overlooking events as new-fangled ones turn up before I could even notice the previous ones drift away hastily. And you know what? It seemed as though as I went through them as quick as Harry Potter chasing after the Golden Snitch, exhilarated to get his hands upon the glistening, silver Quidditch cup.
It felt like it was barely yesterday when I went home from school upset about book I nearly lost from the library. Time went so fast, I wasn't even able to glance about to see how many hours have gone already...I was too busy making my way through the demanding world of the average mortals. I was too engrossed in trying to breeze through the year so I could enjoy the delight and contentment that summer simply endows me with.
I guess hurrying through the year was one bad idea. It's like darting towards the end of the obstacles to get the prize right away. In reality, it only gives me momentary pleasure.
I figured that the summer holiday isn't something for me to look forward to after all. It's akin to Harry being kept inside his cupboard-that cold, cramped, and empty cupboard. The school year has ended, but it's not all bad like I describe it. I was able to earn my own appreciations for doing well this year. I came across my own doses of ups and downs all right, I survived the circumstances and I'm utterly proud of that. That thought is enough to lift me from this state of being in a huff.
Right now I feel just like Harry Potter-beaming proudly as he gapes at the Golden Snitch in his hand.
