Hello there, fellow Hivers! How are you doing today? I hope all is well.
May has been a busy month for me and my colleagues as we approach the deadlines for our academic-related activities. Being in the final week of my freshman year, there's been a lot of stress and pressure. Thankfully, I'm not mentally exhausted so far and managing well.
Our current focus is on creating a book website, which is a requirement for one of our subjects. It's a make-or-break situation for this semester, so my groupmates and I decided to have a sleepover and work on it overnight to make significant progress.
The meetup place for our sleepover is over an hour away from my home, about 16 km. I felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. Nervous because it was an unfamiliar location, and I was concerned about getting lost. But at the same time, I was excited to explore a new place I had never been to before.
We agreed to meet at Robinsons Galleria South, a newly constructed mall in San Pedro, Laguna. When I arrived, I was amazed by its size and vastness. The ambiance was beautiful and serene.
Before meeting up with my friends, I wandered around, entertained by the things I saw. It was something different from what I'm used to in my area.
The place wasn't crowded, which was a relief for someone like me who easily gets overwhelmed by large crowds. I felt like I could breathe more freely and enjoy the cool air conditioning. There were fewer people around, reducing my anxiety about being noticed. In fact, I could probably do a tumbling there without anyone even noticing haha.
After taking a few clicks and capturing some moments, I finally joined my friends and suggested grabbing a snack first. I was hungry after the long journey, hahaha. They noticed that I was taking photos and I explained that it was for my blog. I also mentioned that I had taken some photos before meeting them. They seemed confused at first, but after explaining it to them, they understood.
I was curious about the mix-and-match options at Jollibee, so I decided to give it a try. I believe it has become popular due to its affordability and the mouth-watering menu it offers. However, Jollibee wasn't the first to introduce the concept of mix and match. If I'm not mistaken, McDonald's was the trendsetter, but their prices became too expensive over time. So now, I prefer exploring other alternatives that are equally delicious and worth it.
The place was busy, with every table occupied, but we were fortunate enough to find a spot easily. People patiently waited for their orders while the busy crew members prepared the food. The chatter of the customers blended together, creating a buzz of indistinct conversations. There was also a long queue of people waiting in line for their turn. I'm not particularly fond of such crowded settings, but I had to endure it for a while. I hoped the food would help alleviate the discomfort.
We were waiting for another friend who was running late due to some important matters she needed to attend to. Fortunately, we enjoyed the food while waiting, and Jollibee never disappoints.
A few moments after she messaged us that she was near the meetup place, we decided to go outside and wait for her. She arrived after a few minutes, and then we headed to our friend's place.
It felt liberating to walk in a place I had never been before. As we made our way to my friend's house, I enjoyed witnessing their bustling night market, something we don't have in my place. Even though it was around 6 pm, the streets were still busy. I expressed my amusement about their lively place, and they chuckled, saying it was quite normal. I come from a rather dull subdivision, so that explains a lot, haha.
Finally, we reached my friend's home and greeted his family as a sign of respect.
We worked tirelessly throughout the night, leaving us sleepless. However, it was all worth it. Alongside our determination to complete the project, we shared stories that kept us entertained and helped us get to know each other better.
While we were busy working on our project, we received a pleasant surprise from my friend's family. They were incredibly generous! If earlier we had Jollibee, this time they treated us to McDonald's. It was the perfect snack to enjoy while working on our website. We were truly grateful for their kindness. Thank you so much!
Several hours passed, and two of my friends decided to take a power nap. We agreed to leave the place for an hour and return to our respective homes. Personally, I couldn't sleep, perhaps due to the caffeine I had consumed earlier.
As the sun began to rise, the roosters started making noise. We said our goodbyes to our friend and departed from the place. I felt surprisingly energized, but upon reaching my home, I went straight to my bed and called it a day.
If you've made it here, thank you so much for reading. I always spend several hours just to complete this, which might seem like an exaggeration to others but trust me, it's not 😅. So, the thought of someone reading my work already warms my heart (∩˃o˂∩)♡. Until next time, bye!
