Day 101: Back to Reality

The first day back after semester break always feels like a cruel joke. One minute, you’re lounging in your pajamas at noon, binge-watching shows with zero guilt, and the next, your alarm is screaming at 6 a.m., reminding you that the grind waits for no one.

I rolled out of bed reluctantly, my body protesting every movement as if it were offended by the idea of productivity. The weather wasn’t helping either—it was drizzling, one of those gloomy mornings that made you want to crawl back under the covers.

“Eddie, we’re late!” Faisal’s text buzzed on my phone. Typical. He’s the king of procrastination but somehow always manages to pin the blame on someone else.

When I finally made it to campus, the energy felt... off. It wasn’t the excitement of the first day of a new semester or the chaos of midterms. It was a strange limbo, a mix of tired faces and reluctant footsteps. Everyone looked like they were mourning the loss of their freedom, clutching overpriced coffee cups like lifelines.

My first class was Financial Accounting. Just the name of the subject makes my head hurt. The lecturer, Mr. Hamid, wasn’t the strictest, but he had a talent for making the simplest concepts sound terrifying. “I hope everyone is well-rested,” he began, his smile too cheerful for 8 a.m. “Because we have a lot to cover this week.”

Amanda, seated beside me, whispered, “He says that every week.”

I smirked but didn’t respond. The truth was, I wasn’t ready for any of this. My brain was still in holiday mode, and Mr. Hamid’s detailed breakdown of cash flow statements felt like a foreign language.

After class, our group regrouped at the campus cafe. It was our unofficial ritual—a post-class debrief session over overpriced lattes.

“How was everyone’s break?” Amanda asked, sipping her black coffee like a corporate executive.

“Too short,” Faisal groaned. “I didn’t even finish my Netflix list.”

Yusof raised an eyebrow. “Your Netflix list is 90% rom-coms.”

“Hey, rom-coms are emotionally fulfilling,” Faisal shot back, unbothered.

Amanda shook her head. “And now we’re back to emotionally draining group projects. Speaking of which, did anyone read the email about our next assignment?”

Silence.

Amanda sighed, her patience clearly wearing thin. “We’re doomed.”

The rest of the day was a blur of lectures, awkward reunions with classmates, and endless mental notes about upcoming deadlines. By the time my last class ended, I was dragging my feet back to the dorm.

Sitting at my desk later that evening, I tried to get a head start on the week. My notebook was open, my pen poised, and yet my mind wandered. Back to the carefree days of the break, to moments when the biggest decision I had to make was whether to order nasi lemak or maggi goreng.

“Focus, Eddie,” I muttered to myself. But the more I tried, the more my brain resisted.

By 10 p.m., I gave up and texted the group chat.

Me: “Anyone up for mamak?”

Amanda: “You just had dinner.”

Faisal: “Always.”

Yusof: “I’ll join if you promise not to complain about deadlines.”

Me: “No promises.”

As I sat with my friends later that night, sipping a hot teh tarik and laughing over Faisal’s latest antics, it hit me: the grind was back, but so was the camaraderie.

Lesson of the day: Reality may hit hard, but it’s easier to face with good friends and teh tarik by your side.