" DIVERSION ROAD "

by : katherine sheena


Breathe in.

Breathe out.

And Cole took a deep sigh. She’s standing in front of the hospital where she enrolled for her training. The traces of the hard rain form last night was still in panorama. Few raindrops pouring and the cold climate haven’t changed.

Cole’s wearing her favorite long sleeved sweat shirt and her black skinny jeans, pairing it with white sneakers. She rolled up her sleeves, it’s fifteen before seven in the morning in her watch.

Cole mumbled to herself, “Hmmm. Too early to catch the early worm!”, and then she approached the main door.

“Hi, goodmorning! I am for IVT training,” she told the man in gala uniform.
“Oh yes mam, they’re in the board room, take the stairs, second floor,” the man replied.

But instead, she meandered in the hall and read every posting in the bulletin board. She took notice of the clock hanged in the post and finally decided to walk off upstairs.

Few trainees were already in the line for the registration. Cole lined up and search out for her pen and license. Out of boredom, she started stamping her foot. The cold weather is quite going back to normal and she can already feel her sweat surging from her neck. It’s Cole’s turn.

“Can I have an official receipt? I don’t have one yet, “ Cole informed the registry officer, ”here’s the proof of payment”. She handed over the paper.

“You can ask Sir Nave for the official receipt at the next table then go back here for registration”, the officer answered. Cole turned, “I’m about to lose my temper. Chill Cole, stay calm, this won’t take long”, she muttered to herself. And languorously advance to the next table. “Sir Nave?” Cole asked. “Yes?” the young man in his mid-twenties answered back. Cole pulled herself together and notified Mr. Nave of the official receipt.

After the matter was settled, she went back to the registration area but she had to line up again. “ Is this the line for IVT?”, a girl moved towards her. Cole, to her surprise, almost slipped her tongue out,”Uh-Uhm. Yes.” She signed up and pick up her materials.

She entered the boardroom, almost full but there are still some seats in front. She preferred to sit in the third row, next to the aisle. More and more students were coming, others were in a group, some had already new acquaintances, and the room was getting raucous. Cole, instead of joining them, put out her materials and started reading. Then a voice asked, “Is this seat taken?” Cole faced up to see who it was. A woman in thirties smiled. “Uh, no. Not yet.” Cole responded in a monotone and went back to reading again. Cole was never like this before, out casting herself. Not until she met Khalil. Her childlike boyfriend who wants to lock her away from others, even from her friends.


He’s always jealous of the people around Cole. The squeaky sound caught everyone’s attention, even Cole, it was some sort of sound system technicalities. The lecture was about to start.

Cole laid full attention to the lecturers the whole day. For nine whole hours she locked up herself in her seat, with no one to talk to. But surely, she could hear the loud chat of her classmates. How she wished she could bond with them, but her memory of what Khalil told her before she left irked in her mind.

“Do not entertain anyone especially boys, alright? Are we clear?” Khalil notified Cole while waiting for a ride.

Cole just nodded. The bus arrived and Cole gave Khalil a goodbye kiss.

“Remember what I told you ..” Khalil whispered. “ Be good.”

And she waved goodbye.


“Any idea?”she heard a voice. And Cole was alarmed and went back to herself again.
“ Yes.. Miss?” Mr. Nave pointed her out. “Any idea or suggestion on how will you group yourselves for the practical exam?

“Uhm, yes Sir. Maybe you could randomly select our partners?” Cole stuttered. The idea was favorable for her because she doesn’t know anyone yet and she will be having a hard time looking for a partner.

“Hmmm. Good idea but it will take much time to regroup you.” Mr. Nave responded. “Another idea, anyone?”

“ Sir, Can we just pick out our partners? I believe majority of us already knew each other.”, a guy from the back asserted.

Cole got upset because of the idea and the fact that Mr. Nave agreed with him.

“Damn it. This can’t be happening to me.” Cole grumbled. She fretted on never finding a partner.

“ Can you be my partner?” she knew she has heard this voice before and she was right. It was the middle-aged woman who sits right next to her.

“Oh,yes, my pleasure” she replied.

Cole let out a sigh of relief.

 to be continued…