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SEVEN SCRIPTURES For SEVEN THINGS THAT SLAVES ABSOLUTELY NEED DURING HELL WEEK

(King James Version)

I. FRIENDSHIP

1. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17.17; oy! Nay number 7!)

2. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17; hey, ikaduha na pud!)

3. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

4. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:13-14)

5. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you (John 15:15)

6. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (Philemon 1:3)

7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7; and finally, another number 7)

II. TRUST

1. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (Psalm 37:3)

2. It is better to trust in the lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes (Psalm 118:8-9)

3. But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute (Psalm 141:8)

4. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whose walketh wisely, he shall be delivered (Proverbs 28:26)

5. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation (Isaiah 12:2)

6. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9)

7. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe (Timothy 4:10)

III. PATIENCE

1. Better is the end of a a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

2. In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19)

3. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4)

4. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass (Psalm 37:7)

5. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1; Psalm 130:6)

6. Be patient therefore, brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold,the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain (James 5:7, 2 Peter 1:6)

7. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise (Hebrews 10:36)

IV. HUMILITY

1. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:19)

2. By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

3. A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit (Proverbs 29:23)

4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4; Luke 18:14)

5. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

6. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalth thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee (Luke 14:10)

7. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, andbe clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud,and giveth grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5)

V. SACRIFICES

1. And Samuel said,Hath the Lord as gret delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6)

2. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise (Psalm 51:16-17)

3. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6)

4. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13)

5. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices f thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (Psalm 107:22)

6. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness (Malachi 3:3)

7. Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience (Hebrews 9:9)

VI. PERSEVERANCE

1. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12)

2. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass (Psalm 37:7)

3. How long wilth thou forget me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilth thou hide thy face from me? (Psalm 13:1)

4. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)

5. My brethren, count it alljoy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience (James 1:2)

6. And I willbring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, the Lord is my God (Zechariah 13:9)

7. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9)

VII. LOVE

1. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5)

2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:39)

3. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35)

4. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12)

5. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good (Romans 12:9; Romans 13:9)

6. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (Galatians 5:22)

7. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14; 1 Timothy 6:1)

My Three Hundred Reasons Why I Won’t Quit Hell Week

(part 2)

151.        I love her more and more each passing day, so kaya ra ang Hell Week

152.        Karon pa ko mu quit hapit na mahuman! Buang!

153.        I want to know if Sharon could make me do something really humiliating

154.        She was sick when we started this Hell Week; I want her to be Hell-thy again (nye!)

155.        I want to get something for Christmas man gud, and if I quit, mag-away mi, or dissatisfied sya, wala ko’y madawatan

156.        I’d learn self control kung mapikon na gyud ko

157.        It gives me an excuse to wear a beret

158.        Idol man gud nako si Che Guevarra (but Joros looks more like him, di ba?)

159.        I’m actually setting her up na makonsensya siya when all of this is over, kay nagbinut-an man gyud ko

160.        Pag makonsensya na gyud sya og ayo, o maluoy na siya sa ako, o, mas dali ra gyud siya ma-in love sa akoa!

161.        If she falls in love with me, ay heaven gyud, bisan Hell Week pa nga 7 times more!

162.        Hehehe, karon ra gyud ko na nakadeskarte og ayo (I know I’d regret having put this in, but joker man gud, sayang kung dili iapil)

163.        Therapy man pud diay sa akoa, labi na kung makita nako siya nga mukatawa o mupahiyom

164.        It gives me an excuse to be near her constantly (and get to hear her sneeze; mura gyud og iro!)

165.        It enhances my skills at provocation without getting out of bounds

166.        Basin pa diay, tungod ani, maka-crush pud siya sa akoa

167.        It sharpens my typing skills

168.        It gives me an excuse to use the computer

169.        It will give my friends a reason to view my Friendster profile and read my blog

170.        Makapadako sa akong braso

171.        Makaugnat sa akong kusog

172.        Makainat sa akong pasensya

173.        I’d learn how to cook ube jam (patay ka Abel! Bitaw, a new type of ube man gud ang gamiton nako. I already know how to cook it…I think)

174.        Pila na kaha ang among moments to remember tungod ani…

175.        Because, whenever she’s near me, my heart sings (ang title sa kanta kay “Jezebel”. Di bitaw, “Love of a Lifetime”, “When I See You Smile”, ug “Unwell”, promise!)

176.        Daghang photo opportunity

177.        Sikat ko tungod sa chika chika nila! Feeling artista!

178.        Makapuga sa utok, dili mag atrophy

179.        I’d get to be acquainted with the unvarying cuisine of the eateries near her boarding house

180.        Benign tachycardia

181.        Ever since Hell Week, paspas na ko mu-type

182.        Ever since Hell Week, maayo na ko magbinutbot

183.        Ever since Hell Week, mas nahimo kong mainampu-on

184.        Ate Bebie (she sells cellphone load) is getting rich

185.        Hadlok ko makasuhan, dayon ang akong best friend nga lawyer pa gyud ang kwa’on ni Sharon, intawon, pildi gyud!

186.        Boring man kung dili palisdun

187.        Adrenalin junkie man gud ko

188.        It’s good for my urinary system (pirme man ko maka-ihi sa tension, so dili ko magka-UTI)

189.        It’s good for my heart (tachycardia)

190.        It gives me a reason to walk

191.        Walking with your bestest best friend is very nice

192.        However, if we’d walk while holding hands (pa-swing swing pa), kana ang pinaka-maayo. Busa gapadayon ko kay basin pa diay…

193.        I’ve made friends na sa fruit vendors sa Bulua

194.        It enhances my reasoning skills (kay mu-explikar man gyud ngano dili pwede buhaton ang usa ka butang)

195.        Tungod ani, I’ve realized Sharon needs to do things her way. That’s very, very important!

196.        Gakasuya na sa akoa ang uban namong classmates na lalake

197.        I’ve gotten the chance to cook chicken curry na red

198.        Hapit na ang Christmas party, hadlok ko ma-evict sa bahay ne koya

199.        Gakalingaw ko ni Sharon ug sa iyang mga ideas

200.        One week ra man pud bitaw

201.        After all this, maybe she’d draw me another of her sketches, hatagan dayon ko ug note

202.        I’d get to listen to “Sa Kanya” by MYMP and laugh

203.        Being in love with your best friend is so wonderful

204.        She’d get to sing me something after all this, agi pahalipay og paghupay sa akong kahago bunga sa mga butang nga iyang gipabuhat kanako

205.        I think I’m obsessive: kinahanglan tiwason ang gisugdan.

206.        I don’t like to put in: “Reasons for quitting: NAHADLOK”

207.        It gives me an excuse to salute her

208.        It gives me enough time to verify nga apo ba gyud siya ni Hitler o dili

209.        Tungod ani, I’ve verified nga tsada ang shape sa iyang ulo

210.        Before this, I’ve never been as excited to wake up in the mornings, and never so tired when I go to sleep at night

211.        Tungod ani, ga-agik’ik na ko in my sleep

212.        Makatawa ko’g huna-huna sa “before friendship” and “after friendship” period namo, from being strangers to being the best of friends

213.        Hell Week Friendship Gym

214.        Am I Real? A true friend? Is my love true? This is one way to find out

215.        I can take a good deal more scaring than before

216.        Basic requirement nga magpauto ka from time to time aron mahimo mong best friends

217.        Give and take man ang friendship; after this, ako na pud, bwahahahahahah!

218.        I’m looking forward to the time na si Sharon na pud akong ipaluto og chicken curry, but this time, blue ang sauce!

219.        No fear

220.        Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy

221.        Naklaro na gyud nako nga in-love ko ni Sharon (kanang in-love nga AS IN!) kay wala man nabag-o akong pagtan’aw sa iyaha bisan wa siya’y ligo, gaubuha, ug gihupong ang mata

222.        Ginadumdom nako kanunay ang what happened sa Friday, December 9, 2005. If I quit, mawala ang magic and meaning

223.        Pareho ra man gud mi nga walay buot

224.        Lahi ra gyud ning mga Baula, dili magpapildi

225.        Matod pa sa akong Ate Lydia, magpugas aron nay ma-ani!

226.        No pain, no gain

227.        No guts, no glory

228.        No ID, no entry

229.        No blowing of horn

230.        No other person in this world gives me greater satisfaction in doing drudgery for (nadaot ang grammar da!)

231.        I see the light at the end of the tunnel na man gud. Dili tungod kay kamatyonon ko ha!

232.        She is my sister in faith, ug dapat “submit to one another” man gud. Bahala one-sided pa karon, mabalanse ra kana eventually

233.        Hadlok sya nga kontra kay natudluan na nako siya unsaon pagsumbag

234.        Pirme na hinuon mi uban panihapon tungod ani, usahay malibrehan pa gyud!

235.        Comfortable na mi with each other, dili na conscious (char!), tungod ani

236.        I could’ve sworn natubuan ko’g buhok!!! Tungod tingali sa kalo

237.        Kining gugma lagi makabuang

238.        No riches in the world could buy the friendship that I have with her now

239.        All the gold in the world could be melted down, and it would only be gold plating compared to the friendship that I have with her now

240.        Gahulat ra ko sa panahon nga kantahan ko niya og love song

241.        Pakals man pud gud sa Friendship Day

242.        Basta in love, grabe ang energy

243.        Basta in love, grabe ang courage

244.        Basta in love, grabe ang humility

245.        Basta in love, grabe ang pagka-dense

246.        Corny ang love story sa uban kung ikumpara sa atoa. Kini gyud tsada, naa pa’y Hell Week!

247.        Seven is such a lovely number

248.        Take 0.25 kg of airborne ube, peel and cube, boil till soft. Mash, mix in condensed milk, cook over low heat in a carajay, taking care not to let your copious sweat drip into the mixture, and let cool. Give to Abel because Jesse loves Sharon so much

249.        Because of this, even the lowly ube makes me smile

250.        There’s sunshine even at night because of this

251.        I’m sure she’d miss me this Christmas because of this. Amiiinnnnniiiiin!!!

252.        Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than hearing her say “Well done!”, except, perhaps, she telling me “I really love you” or her telling our children “Be like your father” or our grandchildren “Your lolo is my best friend”, or our great grandchildren “Oy, palihug, ayaw na ninyo siya ipatumbling, tigwang na intawon kanang inyong Tatay Boy!”

253.        With her, La Vita E Bella!

254.        I’ve never played truant before with anybody else and enjoyed it as immensely as with her

255.        Adik ko ni Sharon

256.        She is like URTI: she leaves me breathless

257.        Now, I couldn’t imagine my life without her

258.        Iron sharpens iron

259.        She had begun a symphony in my life, and I would like to see her finish it in me, with me

260.        After this, I could take a lot more scaring, but I thing magpakurat-kurat ko aron mautrohan. Dili lang deretso, aron dili pangka

261.        I’d like to know her favorite songs man gud

262.        Gusto nako ang chance nga maka-karaoke ko and sing the songs that she would like me to sing for her, and do it before the entire class. Hint for a task! hehehe

263.        I love her, I love her, I love her, I love her, I love her, I love her, I really love her (each time, lahi ang pag-pronounce, kay lahi-lahi man ang permutations of love)

264.        Walay dili makaya tungod kay para ni sa iya

265.        Dili nako makaya nga makita siyang gahilaka o maguol. Dili gani nako gusto nga makita siya nga gauboha!

266.        I’d like the chance nga magtan-aw mi og Kung Pow, Orange County, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, together, kami lang

267.        I’d like the chance to watch a sunrise from a mountain peak with her

268.        I’d like the chance to go scuba diving with her

269.        I’d like the chance to go jamming with her, puli-puli mi mag lead

270.        I’d like to sing “Hey, little, devil, I’m gonna make an angel out of youuuuuuuu!” after sa Hell Week

271.        I’d like to get to sing “Especially For You” for her isip presentation sa usa ka Med Council activity

272.        I’d like to hear her introduce me to her friends as “Si Bullets, akong B.F.” and she’d mean it both as “best friend” AND “love of my life”

273.        I need someone with a head for details, kay impiyerno gyud kana sa ako

274.        Because, matod pa ni John Meyer, “I’m tired of being alone…”

275.        I’d want to sing a love song for someone

276.        I believe in “Semper Fi “ sa Marines

277.        I’d like the chance to watch war movies with her again (wala na since “The Great Raid”)

278.        Whenever I’m exhausted, all I had to do is look into her eyes, and take comfort in the fact nga mas gikapoy pa gyud siya kaysa sa akoa

279.        I’d like the chance to teach her some arnis moves

280.        I’m at peace whenever we are together, just sitting, not talking, contented with each other’s company, like when we watched  the same twilight sky that was colored by the Hand of God.

281.        I can’t help but smile whenever I see her look at me, and pirme ni gakahitabo kung Hell Week

282.        Basin pa diay, after all this, a kiss…

283.        Kung mag-uban mi, “Beauty and Madness”; siya si “Beauty”, ako ang “Madness”. Tungod gyud ni sa Hell Week

284.        Dili ko muback-out, kay dili nako makaya ang Hell Lifetime

285.        Siya man gud ang gusto nakong makauban nga ma-shipwreck sa desert island. All I had to do is tie a rope on her and she could swim us out towards the nearest inhabited island

286.        Kung senior clerks na mi, it’s gonna be hell. Practice makes perfect

287.        Kung PGI na mi, hell gihapon ang pagprepare for the board exam, and I need her help

288.        Kung doctors na mi, hell ang paperwork…paspas ko mu-type, and organized sya mag-note taking, so dapat partners mi

289.        What kind of fool would pass up the chance to be with her, Hell Week or not?

290.        After seven days of torture, rest. And happiness.

291.        Matod pa sa kanta sa Side A, “You are/perfect…”

292.        Tyranny can never last. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

293.        I’d like for her to teach me how to play “So Slow”

294.        I’d like to teach her how to cook. We’d start with the proper technique for boiling water

295.        Tsada ang iyang stethoscope, ug gusto ko muhulam kung kinahanglan nako

296.        Tsada ang iyang notes, ug gusto ko makagamit, especially during sa pagstudy para sa board exam

297.        Kaya man gud nako magbilar kung kauban siya

298.        Best friends gud; she ain’t heavy, she’s my brother (nye!)

299.        At this point, if I were to lose her, I don’t know if I could take it

300.        She is the reason, my all in all, why I’m willing to undergo anything (but, of course, I’d negotiate for better terms, kay dili lang baya pud ko doormat, heheheh!). It has been quite hard so far, but it has really been fun. I am a proud person by nature (a trait that is truly Baula, and I think is a congenital defect among Ilocanos), but I’d swallow it if it really would make her happy. To see her smile is heaven. To hear her laugh is to hear angels sing. So far, during Hell Week, she’s been happy. And that is enough for me. I’d like to make you happy, Sharon May D. Erasquin, even if it would mean that I’d be your slave for a week. I draw the line at handbags, lipstick, and high heels, but if you could convince me to wear them, I’d do it. I trust that you won’t  do it out of malicious intent. I want to make you happy, Myatz. I love you very much. And that is why I won’t back out of Hell Week. Because we are friends forever.

PROLOGUE (December 8, 2005)

     I’ve first heard about Hell Week from my war buff friend. This is the time when Navy SEALS in training were subjected to seven days of food deprivation, physical exhaustion, and sleep-deprivation. Live rounds are used during training exercises, so the risk of injury or death is significant. It is said that, by day 4, the recruits start hallucinating. And these are seasoned soldiers, among the best in their units, selected for their aptitude, courage, and endurance. Nevertheless, about 30 percent never make it. Perhaps the most famous drop-out is Timothy McVeigh, a decorated Desert Storm veteran but was sentenced to die for bombing a building containing an ATF federal office and a day care center.

     I’m about to enter my personal Hell Week, and I hope I won’t go the way of psychopathic has-beens who washed out during training. My Hell Week shall test my endurance, creativity, and, perhaps, even my culinary skills. It shall be seven days of humility. And the most depressing point about the whole thing is that it’s all of my own making.

     This is how it all began: December 6, 2005, Sharon and I were studying at Dunkin’ Donuts. Past midnight, we’ve had enough of The Genetics of Albinism, the Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus, and Mechanism of Action of Sulfonylureas, so we’ve decided to take a break. And that was the beginning of the end. That was when Hell Week came to be.

     Sharon is a med school classmate, the love of my life, and we’ve just become best buddies. At that time during our break, our talk got around to personal fears. I told her (boasted, really) that I don’t scare easily. She said that the people who tried to startle me were probably not creative enough, or didn’t really know me that well enough to manipulate my fears against me. “I do not think that you could startle me. Even my sister couldn’t. You’ll never give me a fright,” I told her. “You really think so?” “I’ll be your slave for a week if you could startle me in any way. “ “I want that in writing.” So she gave me a piece of paper, and I wrote the terms of the agreement for what was going to be called “Hell Week”.

     Among other things, if she were to be successful at her first attempt or could make me cry, I was to cook chicken curry (with red sauce!), and I was to butcher the chicken myself. I was to be at her beck and call for seven days. And I was not to complain during the entire exercise. However, if she fails, she was to take me out for snacks. Furthermore, if I turned the tables on her and SHE was the one who got a shock while trying to startle me, I get to choose another friend to take along, and she now has to provide snacks for two people instead of just for me.

     The agreement was good for a year. After she had checked the agreement and we’ve put both our signatures, I gave it to her for safekeeping. We sat for a while, just grinning. She had a look about her that I could not describe at that time. I just knew that she looked really beautiful, smiling impishly. It was just later that it struck me: she looked smug. That should’ve been a warning. As it was, I was really confident that she, who feared ghosts and cockroaches, who cringe at shadows and scary stories, will never succeed.

     But hubris does not go unpunished. Nemesis struck when I was unaware. Before I continue, let me state that I was without sleep for more than 30 hours, was running on caffeine and adrenaline, and was at my most vulnerable. I was not in my best condition. Had I been otherwise, the thing that happened afterwards wouldn’t have had happened. But, December 7, 2005, some 12 hours after we signed the agreement, the end came.

     Sharon and I were having snacks. She had tempura. December 7, American time. Tempura. Japanese food. The anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. That should’ve sounded off alarm bells, but it didn’t.

     A thing about the paper plates where the vendors put the tempura in: they are really tiny. And handling the toothpicks (with which one spears the tempura in lieu of a fork) are quite tricky. As it was, Sharon had some difficulty handling her food. A tempura slid off her plate, nearly falling off. She gave a startled yell. I turned, and said something really stupid: “Kurata nako oy!”

     That was that. Without much effort, without intending to, she succeeded. And, with that, Hell Week was put into operation. Read on!

Basic Requirements

1. I was to answer roll (magreport through text) every 7 A.M. (yep, it’s a special number to us)

2. I was to salute her every time we meet, and every time we part for the day

3. I was to wear a military hat (it was good I found my brother’s beret) at all times, except during classes and when I’m in the library

4. I was to go to her and report every 11 A.M., unless it very inconvenient to do so or she wishes us to meet at another time.

DAY 1 (Saturday, December 10, 2005) “Normal Turns Paranormal” 

Mission: make a Japanese flag; wear a polo, slacks, and black leather shoes; I was also to fulfill the basic requirements (salute, military hat, journal, report at 11 A.M.); Neneth, Nikki, Ivan, Lousyl, and Alexis also had to read my first task card.

     The first day of Hell Week, and it was also our Surgery quiz. This is gonna be tough, I thought. Sharon really plays hardball. I used to watch with pity those poor SAOP and APO plebes being subjected to humiliating exercises while wearing formal clothes. Now, it has suddenly become my turn.

     Let’s do this in the spirit of fun, she had said. Easy for her to say, I thought; after all, she doesn’t have to look like a second-rate VietCong army official who is about to be thrashed by Chuck Norris in a bad B-movie.      

      I was to make a Japanese flag. I gave her that idea, because I mentioned to her that December 8 (in America, December 7) was the anniversary of the raid at Pearl Harbor. The requirements for the tasks, by the way, was that the basic ideas must come from me. It was to teach me to be careful with what I say.

     That day, MJ had perhaps the most extreme reaction, one that Sharon found funny. She gave me a look of distaste and gave me a once-over. Meanwhile, the rest of my classmates, especially my friends whom read the task card, chuckled.

     Pride is the toughest dish to swallow. But it was just starting. I accompanied her to the clinic so that she could get some medicine. When we approached the nurse, she stared at my head. I remembered that I had a beret on, and I automatically reached for it to take it off. However, I caught a glance of Sharon looking at me, and I remembered. So, there I was, hat askew, trying to maintain my composure while the nurse was staring at me like I was some freak. Now, remember, I was wearing a brown polo, black slacks, and nice shoes, while I had this furry, smelly thing on my head.

     Sharon said that I was a fashion disaster. Oh yes, you could bet your Schwartz book that she had a lot of fun that day.

     Later that day, Ivan and the gang decided to have a movie marathon. I told Sharon about it, and she really, really begged to come along. So, she went with us. I asked if it would be okay if I’d wear a balaclava instead of a beret, as it suits my fatigue pants better. I guess she was so happy to be coming with us sa overnight movie marathon that she said YES. Payts! The thing was, we ended up talking and joking and laughing the night off, and ended up watching only one movie. We slept at 4 in the morning. and by the time we woke up at around 7, Sha was running a fever. Oh no, the talks that would come later…

DAY 2 (Sunday, December 11, 2005) “Human Bait”

Mission: Homework ni! I was to make a list of 300 sensible reasons why I should go on with hell week; find 7 Scripture passages on Friendship, Trust, Patience, Humility, Sacrifices, Perseverance, Love; make ube jam for Abel (these to be passed on Monday).

      Sharon woke up with a high fever that day, and we had to take a taxi to her boarding house. We had lots of fun the night before, sure, but now, she had to pay for it with her health. I really felt bad about it. She doesn’t deserve such things.

     When Jhessica and I dropped her off, however, she managed a wan smile (she still looked beautiful). I remembered to salute as we left (part of the requirement), and went to prepare for church. I worried over her the entire morning (not to mention that I really found it hard to keep from nodding off).

     I slept a bit after lunch, intending to do my “homework” later that day, when I woke at around 3 P.M. to the sound of incoming text message. It was my dear Master, and her temperature had risen again. I had to go to be near her.

     On the way (of course, I had to wear my balaclava), I decided to buy her bananas, Gatorade, and paracetamol. Everything was all right until I went to the mini market at Bulua, whereupon the vendor gave me strange looks. I guess I looked like a bank robber. I had hoped for a commando image, but with my gaunt, unshaved appearance, I looked more like a POW.

     I got a reprieve, however, when a woman got on the jeep I was riding, and yelled “They’d never get my nuclear weapon!” in perfect English. She was apparently quite crazy. It was hilarious! People around her immediately gave her a wide berth, and she even managed to disembark without paying. At least, there still are some people that are crazier than I am. After that, nobody minded my fashion sense. Compared to that woman, I was a perfectly sane guy.

     So, finally, I arrive. I did my best to be her personal nurse. Not the wet kind ha. A memorable thing was that her temperature at one point was 37.7. It was also around this time that we noticed that my beret had a number: 7.

     This number kept cropping up, and had become a sort of symbol: 7 days in Hell Week; the terms and conditions drafted on December 7; Friendship Day is scheduled to be at December 17. Sharon, if you’re reading this, remember this date: July 7, 2007. It’s a Saturday, the same day that Hell Week started and shall end. A sign? Heheheh!

     I helped her make a snowman head dress. Her ex’s sister had asked her to do it. He keeps on pestering her with such things. It was getting on her nerves, and mine as well. To give him something to squirm about, I made a point to sit beside Sharon and actually have fun making the thing with her. Well, what happened afterwards is between Sharon and me. Sa kanya pa rin babalik, sigaw, ng damdamin….It was quite funny (especially what happened on Monday), but it’s not for public consumption. Her ex did a number 149, though. If you don’t know what that means, you don’t deserve to know.

DAY 3 (Monday, December 12, 2005) Untitled

Mission: submit homework (done on Sunday); an additional requirement was to provide my Master a copy of a report on the anatomy and histology of the Hypophysis

    I liked her reaction to my first installment of the 300 reasons (nakahangyo kay I was her nurse the previous day, and had little time to complete the task). She laughed and smiled and was happy. That made it worthwhile.

     She still had fever and cough. It was a bummer for her, because she had wanted to really give me a hard (yet fun) time with my tasks. Nursed her the best way that I could. If I could only take half the pain, I would, really. Why not ALL her pain? Aw, ayaw pud, I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid.

     I think it was also around this time that she started making me finish everything on my plate, and not to leave a single grain of rice on it. She could really be strict whenever she puts her mind to it, or maybe it’s just that she’s got a really good handle on me.

DAY 4 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005) Untitled

Mission: Retrieve bag of rubber bands; make final installment of 300 reasons; give Abel his jam 

     Since Sharon was still recuperating, she hadn’t the energy to really give full steam to her creative torturing. Sayang.

     I gave her the second installment of the 300 reasons for not quitting Hell Week and her share of the ube jam. She was surprised (buotan pud diay gihapon) nga nagdala ko for her.

     She had stomach pains (it turned out she took her medicine on an empty stomach), so we bought antacid at the drugstore. This meant that we had to go through the XU main gate, where most of the students would be using.

     Met a lot of strange looks on the way in. The guard nearly gave me a salute, but caught himself, and just cleared his throat.

     We decided to go to the Lucas Hall water fountain so that she could take her antacid. Now, Lucas Hall is where nursing students hang out. Wa gyud nagpalibak: naa si Mama Rica. Bullets, what happened to your head? No, I think I know. Ivan told me. Sharon just stood there, grinning wickedly.

     We would’ve studied at her boarding house, but she felt tired (or maybe it’s just because we finished a whole loaf of bread and a can of liver spread). She was just reclining, looking really wan. Why don’t you sleep, and I’d go. You could study later, I told her. She agreed. I nearly forgot the salute, but she didn’t. Oy, oy, oy!, she warned me. I laughed. Sick or not, she’s still sharp. I saluted, our fists met (our version of the high five), and I was dismissed for the day.

DAY 5 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005) Untitled 

Mission: Take an inventory of the bag of rubber bands Today, we had our final PCS-2 quiz for the year. 

     I reported to her at the library, and we had an early lunch. It was an easy day of Hell Week, considering that all she had wanted me to do was count all the rubber bands. Well, it was quiz day, after all, and everyone was preoccupied with studying.

     I thought that this was going to be a walk in the park. What I hadn’t counted on was the questions people invariably asked. By now, many of our classmates knew what was up, and why I was wearing a beret. But, here I am now, thirty years old, a medical student, segregating this bag of rubber bands by color (guess how many colors? Seven!) and forming them into a chain so that I could more easily count them.

     First year students would come over just to ask. Drex and Ismael grinned when I told them that it’s “Goma Para Sa Gugma” day.

     She had that impish smile again, one that I find really cute (during ordinary days) and really frightening (now, at Hell Week), when she decided upon my task. Oy, maayo imong gidala ang lastiko. Kaybalo na ba ka kung pila…?

     Got dismissed early because she had to buy gifts. Hehehe, that could only mean that she’s got one for me, too. Later in the evening, she texted that my next task would be to make Alexis wear a headband. Now, I warned Alexis that she’d be making me do something like this. He said that headbands make him dizzy, as it constricts his cranial vessels, being that he doesn’t have any hair to absorb some of the tension (I remembered asking him why he didn’t wear one during his badminton matches, and he gave the same reason. It’s just that I forgot). So, I suggested to Sharon that we’d make him wear a band out of crepe paper. Mas maayo, para murag calamay! Had a long laugh over that one.

     I nearly forgot: Broxyl pestered her kung hangtud kanus’a ba gyud ko niya paantuson, among other things. He should be interested: I promised him, Lu-an and others ice cream if ever Sha and I gets to be. There, Sha, no secrets!

DAY 6 (Thursday, December 15, 2005) Untitled 

Mission: Bring her the rubber band chains, bring red crepe paper ribbon for Alexis

And, of course, she made me wear these rubber band chains as a wig. Sic Semper Tyrranis!

While walking to school, I told her that I don’t think it’s good for us to make Alexis to wear a red ribbon around his head. She thought over that one. There was no reply, and I thought that was the end of the matter.

It wasn’t. Later that day, I met Alexis and told him that I need for him to wear the ribbon around his head for a while. No, Sharon told me na IKAW ang musuot. So, that was how I ended up looking like a revolutionary Che Guevarra wannabe. And I wore this bisan sa among Christmas party later that day. I got to take it off when I sang "Ang Bayan Ko". Rebolusyon!!!

Overnight dayon sa ilang Bagas, and photo session dayon! That was the time we had the “Circle of Friends” photo. She was the one who thought up the title, and no other would be more apt. She’s really good!

I almost forgot: she made me keep my mouth shut. She just told me to buy a pad of paper. And she gave me 5 minutes to do it (we were in the library at that time). Five minutes to run up and down 4 flights of stairs and 40 meters? Mygudness, wat did I do to deserve this? Oh, yes, this was all because I made a stupid, stupid bet….

But I managed to negotiate for an extension. I had a reason: I wanted to buy her a sketchpad as a Christmas gift. She loved to doodle, and she seemed most contented when she’s putting pencil to paper, and I’d do anything to make her happy. So down the stairs and out to Ororama I ran, hoping against hope to make the time…

Of course, I didn’t get back on time. And, worse, I finally learned what the pad of paper was for: it was to be my sole means of communicating.

Tabi-an ra kaayo ka, Bullets. This is what I get for teasing her earlier. I had since forgotten what I was kidding her about, but I sure did regret having said those things at that time!

It was hard. And funny. We had lunch at Sugar and Spice, owned by high school classmates of mine who got married. Please don’t be there, please don’t be there… I thought, for it would be hard to explain why, all of a sudden, I’d be not my usual garrulous self with them.

They were there. And they greeted me when they saw me.

I had no choice: I feigned a sore throat, and ordered for us (yep, she told me that I had to order).

It was one of the hardest, because our conversations were what made our friendship really special. We could talk for hours about anything. Having to write things down put a damper on spontaneity and wit. Funny, but I missed her, and we were together the whole time! Evidently, she did, too, because she did not make me keep my mouth shut the whole day.

DAY 7 (Friday, December 16, 2005) Untitled

One day left…freedom is nearing! And I could finally be free of the stupid beret forever! Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedommmm!

It was a hectic day, as it would be the last class for the year. It was soooo good of her to let me off the hook on one task: she had wanted me to make a rug out of the rubber bands that I had inventoried and made into a chain (she could be WICKED at times). However, I still had to wear that smelly beret. Not only was I beginning to look like Che Gueavarra, I was also getting to SMELL like him. After when he was executed.

Fridays are often magical, and this was especially so. After we had dinner, we went to MacArthur Park. I didn’t know that they lit the entire place up, and made the obelisk into a sort of a Christmas tree. Everything was so yellow and bright and clean. It was really a magical moment.

This was also the day when we first prayed together. We needed to. At once, that time was happy and heavy.

We left, knowing that our friendship could withstand anything by God’s grace.

After Hell Week, Friendship Day!!! But that’s for another blog.