We were all stunned after the few words that Dr. Arañego had said. As if there was some sort of authority within those few words or within his personality, that even those two rude gentlemen beside him were silenced.

I thought to myself, "I AM FINISHED!"
I imagined that time that all my dreams were falling and crushing down.
I screamed at the interviewers! I have been so gutsy and cocky! I let my emotion overtook me! "I am damned!", I said to myself.

He looked at me again - eye to eye. Its just a very short distance from my seat to theirs.

But then..

I saw him chuckled. And with a smile on his face, he uttered, with that husky, old voice of him..
"You are one gutsy, crazy son o' hell!", then he laughed so hard, like he's crazy or something.

I don't know whether I'm gutsy on a good way or whether the other way around. But I'm so confused.
It's like he was just that old man with a downcasted face that stared me all the time, with no words, no nothing, and then, here he is - laughing so hard, I mean sooooooo hard that tears almost fell from his eyes because of too much joy.

Then, he stood up. He walked towards me, and I saw that he was just wearing a pair of slippers. Come on! He was the Dean of MD Department, for crying out loud! And he was just wearing a polo shirt, an old pants, and a pair of slippers. It was like, "Oh, I've got a wrong impression on this old man!"
I thought he was some kind of a lonely, rugged and rude old guy who was not serious on his profession. He's appearance, and the way he dressed that time - was a picture of simplicity and HUMILITY.

Then he uttered,
"Stand up, young man."

"Of course sir.", then I stood up and uttered, "I am sorry sir."

"For what kid? Sorry for what?", he was still chuckling and smiling.

I felt so timid after I realized that I almost screamed at them. I felt shy and a little embarrassed for myself. So I looked to the ground and replied, "For all that had happened here, and all that I have said on the two interviewers, Sir. I became too emotional, to the point that I could not controlled myself when I should've."

He pat his hand on my shoulder then he uttered, "If you felt that bad for yourself, feel free to utter an apology to them, but I think they're not mad. I think they were the one to give you an apology. But by the way, before say that apology of yours, CONGRATULATIONS."
He grabbed my hands and shook it.

I looked at his face in awe. I was shocked, that I couldn't even reply in disbelief in all that he had said. Its like my mind loaded for a few seconds to grasp all what he had said, and all thay I have uttered on that cool Dr. Arañego was, "Pardon sir?"

He then laughed so hard again, turned his back and went on his seat.

I looked upon the two gentlemen beside him and they were also chuckling. They were smiling. They were happy.

I scratched my head in disbelief and I still don't understand what's happening. I said to myself, "Hello? We are just yelling on each other just a few minutes ago! And now you were all smiling and chuckling, what are you, CRAZY?" I still don't understand.

Then the two gentlemen, walked towards me - with a huge smile on their faces and said, "Congrats, you passed the interview. We were sorry for being rude. Believe me Red, you're the toughest person we had ever faced in this room."

That time, I've got it! It was all a set up! They were just trying to intimidate me
to look if I am serious enough to catch that dream I have always dreamt. All I have said was, "Thank you so much."
I really don't know what was my reaction that time. But I was just beyond belief.

Many interviewees fell on their trapped. They were really good actors. I believe, even you readers, believed that they were cruel and rude. Well, they're not. They were all actually cool and nice.

The two gentlemen, shook my hands, congratulated me again, and returned to their respected seats. So, I sat again on the HOT SEAT and just waited for them to speak.

Now, Dr. Arañego, stared at me again, and with his old husky voice again, he uttered, "Son, we will explain all the hell that you will be going through in this University. Consider this as a tip and also your briefing. These are all important things, are you willing to listen?"

His husky voice, gives me goosebumps. I replied, "Yes I am, sir."

And he uttered with a huge smile on his wrinkled-skin face, "YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME BOY, DO YOU?"

Then, I started to become more curious!

(To be continued) ❤️❤️❤️
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