July 31, 2007

TARDINESS

I'm not one for being late. That much I can tell you. If I can, I always try to be on time or even earlier, if it can be possible.

I'm not a big fan of being late…

It's either I'm early, or I don't show up at all.

I hate the extra attention that people give late comers.

I mean, yeah, the attention will only last for about 2.5 seconds, maybe even more. Some people tend to forget about that little incident and just move on with their lives. I can accept that. It's very unlikely that I can force anyone to take the whole thing of me being late very seriously. After all, they DO have their own lives to live, right?

But what really ticks me off though, are the people who don't seem to be aware as to how much I value my time. They think that me being late is actually a minor thing. And to tell you quite honestly, it is.

But then again, I'm just not that type of person.

I even came home early and dressed up real quick just so I'd arrive on time for my review session today.

And look where that took me…

No one was available to take me to where I was due to go in, oh, about 5 minutes. My brother was snoozing – I can't blame him since he just had a night shift, and I can't totally understand why he'd need to sleep the whole day off. But then I call my mum and verified if they were the ones who were going to drop me off at the review center…

She said yes, and also mentioned that they were just a couple of bocks away from home and that they'd be arriving any minute. I, patient little lamb that I am, actually felt relieved for the time being. I trust my father's driving capabilities. He must've been a race car driver in his past life or something. That's how fast he can go when circumstances call for it.

So I waited.

I didn't really mind the time that much, since we had time to spare.

But then when I wait for 20 minutes, with no parents showing up, I literally felt my patience snap.

I decided I won't be attending my review session anymore.

The clock said 3.30 PM…but to the review center, it was already a quarter to 4pm. See why my time is important?

And what the hell am I supposed to do with 15 minutes left to get there?

Teleport myself to the review center?

It's not like our car would be the only one cruising the road – no matter how much I wish that were the case, but it's not.

They arrived at promptly 3.31 PM. Mum quickly ushered me to go downstairs and get in the car. I stubbornly refused to be moved from my seat and protested that since I was going to be late anyway, I might as well not attend the damned review session.

I told her that much and she said we can still make it in time…that I was only going to be late for a couple of minutes…

A couple of minutes?

If I weren't so damned angry and pissed off, I would've laughed. That phrase would have to be the understatement of the year, I suppose. A couple of minutes might mean 15 minutes…maybe even more.

And what the hell am I supposed to do with 45 minutes left to spare in analyzing a complicated situational examination?

How am I supposed to accomplish that when I'm late for "a couple of minutes"?

They have NO idea about the damage those "couple of minutes" can incur.

But then I realize something important…they're not even forcing me to go.

They just…accepted that I wouldn't.…no further questions asked…

And then before I knew it, I'm angry to the point of tears.

They don't even CARE what I do.