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Jake Malaya

​a study night

i pricked myself awake
and widened my crusty dehydrated eyes
fixated them against the searing blue screen
held my finger over the mouse that never fit my hands
scrolled mindlessly through prints of lecture notes
hoping all this was printed in that mental photocopier with the ink that barely runs

leaned forward so as not to let my spine sleep
leaned back again so as not to let my body snore
stretched my neck so it doesn’t get stiff
sighed because it was already getting stiff anyway
eyed every person passing by like a vigilante
envying how freer they all seemed

because in my mind
instead of being trapped in mental cages, mock-up stages
i traveled continents, traversed dimensions, crossed multiverses
explored every cranny of opportunity, experienced every possible emotion
flew away like a jay, blessed others like an angel
and best of all, imagined and rewound all of those dreams like overused film tapes

sadly bound by that blood pact and an overwhelming promise
i could only just dream of better days
while i sat behind the coveted plastic desk
in a rowdy dormitory too messy for its own good
mindlessly complying
endlessly pining

but the curtains for the scene beckoned to close
so i bid farewell to the lecture notes
closed my laptop with a resounding click
that was enough for the study night today
eat, school, sleep
i guess i’ll carpe diem another day

About the Author

Jake (16) is an aspiring writer and a high schooler from the Philippines. When he isn't too busy in school, he's writing all his WIPs simultaneously in front of his laptop. He currently has that ever-growing pile of books to read, beautiful scenery to capture in pictures, and stars to reach. The world's your oyster, kid.
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