I suppose that was when it started to sink in: I am sick and this is how it feels to be infectious. My optimism dwindled as I moved from one monobloc chair to the next, filling out forms and answering questions about previous illnesses and immunizations. At the end of the line that snaked its way inside the UP Health Service, a family medicine resident waited to examine incoming freshmen. “Inuubo ka ba?” “Hindi po.” “Naglalagnat?” “Hindi rin po.” “Meron bang may TB sa pamilya?” “Wala po.” Could the good doctor not see that I was perfectly normal? After a series of inhales and exhales, I was told that I would not be allowed to enroll until I obtained medical clearance from a lung specialist. I also needed treatment. I expected the verdict, but that did not make it any less devastating.
Sa totoo lang, tamad kasi talaga akong mag-memorize. Inis na inis ako noon dahil kahit ilang oras kong aralin ang Biology, alam kong hindi ko naman kayang kabisaduhin ang lahat ng terminolohiyang nasa libro ko. ‘Yun ang mahirap, dahil may mga tanong na kapag hindi ko alam ang sagot, hindi ko talaga alam. At kapag nanghula ako at tumama, alam kong suwerte lang ako kaya tumama ang hula.