How Machiato Saves the Day

Today started just like any ordinary day: I wake up at 6:30, took a bath, drove and arrived at my school 20minutes late. We're supposed to have our Physical Education classes this morning, but my choice of P.E havent start functioning yet. So I spent my first 2 periods pursuing Mathematics understanding hopelessly in attempt to get something on before the trial.


Our trial HSC starts this Monday. Trials, the last chance you're given to score well in order to improve your UAI record before the final HSC Examination in October. We spent the whole day, all periods, doing trial examination past papers until my right hand ached from too much writing. But yet everything went as usual, just another ordinary day with a more diligent mood.


But it turned the other way around on the last period: Economics. We were given a multiple choice pop quiz with last year's trial. And for some reason I failed to concentrate at all to do it properly.


When we discussed it, I found that I havent yet understand the concept of different types of taxes: average, marginal, proportional, and my questions for further explanation from the teacher was frustrating. Still I cant get a grip on the concept, and several other concepts.


It was as if my brain had a sudden breakdown, right before the trial.


As I grew frustrated, I had a pointless argument with a classmate which left me even more annoyed than ever. I tried gamely to refocus my mind to another multiple choice paper given, but failed completely. My eyes felt like burning, I wanted to concentrate, but I cant. And thats frustrating.


In the way back home, I decided to seek consolement in a cup of Caramel Machiato, hence I made a maneuvre to the nearest Starbucks.


As I waited for my hot Caramel Machiato to cool up a bit, I sat and read and tried to finish my novel for English Paper 1 on Monday. I noticed how everyone in the coffee shop seemed unburdened, smiling and gesturing and laughing and talking to each other just like another day. How I long to do that.


The first sip was phenomenal. Having stopped all contact with caffeine for the past few months, my throat sang as the warm chocolate-velvety liquid passed through, leaving a warm afterglow in my stomach. I stopped reading and put down my novel to gaze outside, gazing without direction, taking a minute to rest in the chaotic day. All with yet another sip, and another.


On my way back home, I realized that Coldplay was right. We do live in a beautiful world. And sometimes a boost of caffein is all we need to recall that fact.