Inside a Nerd's Mind

The Morning After

“Ethan! Ethan! Wake up!” Zachary shouted pumped with adrenaline energy. “We are going to be late!!!” He has never been late in his life even once. He believes in punctuality as a form of formality or being professional. He always arrives 5 minutes before the set time which is why I understand why he’s getting all this energy.

But because of the lazy and tired ass I am, I decided to lay in my bed for 5 more minutes ignoring Zachary’s warnings.

Oh, what a mistake that was!

I was greeted by the sun’s bright morning rays that were getting through my window. The sunrise is usually a reminder that I need to get up and get ready for school.

“Huh. It definitely is morning.” I said to myself as I haven’t woken up with the sun’s rays this bright and the sun itself so high in the sky already.

I squinted while looking for the watch that I set on the table. I reached for it and read “6:30 AM”. Woah! That is 30 minutes until our first class starts and school is 10 minutes of a walk away.

All the fatigue was sucked out of my body as I felt all the energy in my body channeled through me and pumped me awake. “HOLY s**t!” I exclaimed.

“Head for the showers while I try to prepare our snacks.” Zachary brilliantly and worriedly said.

I ran for the showers as a pack of wolves was behind me and I was running for my life. I immediately twisted the knobs to get my hair wet and grabbed the shampoo. Even in these kinds of things, I always have a routine. So, I shampooed my hair and then grabbed my kojic acid soap and applied it to my face. Afterward, I grabbed the body soap and rubbed my whole body with it. My neck, my arms, my chest, my stomach, my butt, my legs, and obviously not my feet as the soap would wash it when I rinse – you know it. Is it weird? Am I the only one who does that? Well, my whole routine must be weird but it is what I am used to and why I stick to it. Then, I grabbed my loofah gloves – yes, I also exfoliate, we have to keep our body deeply cleaned – and applied soap as it and lathered up and cleansed my skin. The end part is where I rinse. You have to be a madman to not rinse and go out of the shower. Ugh! I can’t imagine people doing that.

I hear Zachary knock and say “Are you done yet!? Do not play games while in the shower. We have no time for it!”

“Woah, he snapped,” I said to myself while laughing quietly inside the shower. “I am almost finishing, just drying myself,” I said to him.

“Well, dry outside! I need to shower.” He complained.

I stepped out of the shower half-dry and half-wet while seeing his things already packed and ready-to-go and a hot cup of coffee and sandwich ready for me at the table.

“WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG???” He fumed as he stormed into the shower.

“Woah, Zach is not really messing. I only took 5 minutes in the shower.” I joked to myself. He really does care about his reputation. He does not want to get his records tarnished.

I finished drying up and wore my school uniform except for the button-up polo. I did not want to get it creased or stained while I’m still getting ready, that would make my morning more miserable than it already is.

I got to my table and drank the coffee.

“AAAAH!” I screamed as I burned my tongue and forgot that it was still hot.

“We have no time to lose.” I cheered to myself. I soaked the corner of the sandwich into my coffee so that it can be easier and faster to chew. And because the coffee actually tastes good on a sandwich. Do people actually do that? No? Only me? Okay.

I was drinking my coffee when Zach ran out of the shower wet and naked while only covering his private parts with his previous clothes. “I forgot to take a towel!” He shrieked as he ran to get one.

I laughed and blurted out hot coffee through my nose.

“This is not funny. We only have 20 minutes left and the 10 minutes is for our walk to school.” He said worried as he was drying himself.

I left my cup of coffee half-full in the kitchen. As I was walking back towards my room, I saw my mother’s door opened and she was sleeping soundly. I see a natural smile on her face like sleeping is the only time she is actually happy or the only legitimate rest that she gets from all the work she has done – or maybe she’s dreaming? But what is she dreaming about? That left me curious. That is why when I get ready for school, I do not wake her up because I know that she was exhausted from yesterday’s work and need to get ready for today’s work. I do not bother her with my own problems. I am glad I have my mother here to provide for our needs.

“Get dressed already!” Zachary yelled.

“Shhh!” I whispered. “Mom is sleeping.”

“Just get dressed.” He said annoyed. “We are already going to be late.” He added.

Before dressing up, I have to brush my teeth. I still have that morning breath mixed in with the coffee and the sandwich. I spent a whole minute brushing my teeth while Zachary is staring at me looking either annoyed or angry. I do not know. I can’t tell which or maybe it is both.

I got into my room, put on the rest of my uniform, and grabbed my bag.

“Do you have everything that you need?” Zachary asked.

“Do YOU have everything that you need?” I replied back.

He didn’t react and just walked through the front door.

Until we heard a noise. The noise was getting louder and louder every time we get near the door. I heard a combination of trumpets, drums, dogs barking, and people cheering.

We both looked at each other and wondered what there is out there.

Did we forget anything today? Did we overlook something?

I grabbed the doorknob and opened it.

It was a parade.

A parade!

Oh, how more miserable this day has got.

I took a deep breath as Zachary channeled all his energy into his anger. I can literally see fumes coming out of his face and lava erupting out of his head.

We cannot ride public transport and it would be difficult to run as the streets are flooded with people. The road is occupied by the parade and the sidewalks by the spectators.

But let us not get anger ahead of ourselves but appreciate the moment in front of us. It is not every day that we see a parade like this. With majorettes in the front twirling batons. Not just normal batons, but they light it up on fire and twirl them like there is no tomorrow. Beside them are the cheerleaders putting all their energy into their smiles and in their graceful movements. They sing a cheer that everyone in the street chants to.

It was a new and refreshing sight until –

Wha-

WHat i-

WHAT IS THAT?

Better yet, where is that coming from?

I heard a whisper, through my ear.

It is unintelligible. I cannot understand it.

I hear muffling, mostly gibberish.

It was so close that the person whispering to me could essentially be hugging me.

But there was no one beside me.

No one is even hugging me.

No one is invading my personal space.

I look at the people around me. It is all a blur. There is movement everywhere. They are moving so fast my brain cannot comprehend them. I cannot understand what is happening.  I can’t – I don’t –

I tried to look for Zachary in the crowd full of people.

All I can see is the silhouette of the crowd and all I can hear is the cheer of the people.

The world is spinning.

My mind is aching.

My eyes are closing.

And I hear someone shout faintly at the distance.

“Ethan!”